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    all yr: 2012-now          FOS in NY

    Next: Saint Martin, Trinidad and Tobago.  More: <1>  trinidad_and_tobago.htm  Panama  Dry Tortugas National Park
    2027 Return China card renew
    ABC_Islands_trip.htm
    2024  St. John, USVI.  France & Switzerland.  German, Rotterdam, Belgium, France, UK.  HK.  2024_SepOct_trip.html
    https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?hl=en&mid=1pOOZr2OdywYi8wjpxBkgGcELjxIxXL8&ll=53.55604001036949%2C10.323971450000004&z=10

    2023 HK.   Europe.  Florida Keys & Caribbean.  Forget to retain (1) GPS, (2) GPS holder, (3) cell phone holder and (4) sunglasses when I park my car at his place.  TODO: buy a USB connector because the GPS USB cable is short.
    2022 Florida & Georiga.  Bonaire & Curacao.  Portugal.  <has Vacation History (2007-)>  <bought I-Bond (1/8/2022)>
    2021 Florida.  Oregon.  Texas. 
    2020 Cape Cod & Berkshire, MA
    2019 1. Cayman Islands.  2. Iceland.  Baltic Sea ( Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, northeast Germany and Russia ) [link]   3. Barbados.
    2018 Tucson, AZ.  Pittsburgh, PA.  Bonaire & Curacao.  HK (trips to China).
    2017 Cayman Islands / Bonaire & Curacao / HK (1 day trip to China with Siu Ming)
    2016 celebrate birding 10 year anniversary - 決志: 矢志不渝 、堅定不移地 進行觀鳥, 成為一生一世的嗜好, 天長地久的興趣.
    2016 (Aug-):  HK
    2016 (Jan-Jul): Mexico (4/7)
    2015 (8/14-): Curacao / HK
    2015 (Jan-8/8) log: South Carolina / Seattle
    2014 log: Jamaica / Canadian Rockies / Curacao
    2013 log: New Orleans, Costa Maya, Belize City, Roatan, & Cozumel / HK ( 東龍洲, 1/2 day China with Siu Ming)   Periodical Cicada at SI   
       This is a special photo to me. It is taken by 5 seconds (very long) shutter at Kowloon Park 6:15pm. Luckily the cooperative Black Crowned Night Heron stood still for me.     
    2012 (after Hurricane Sandy) log  
    2012 (Jul-before Hurricane Sandy) log  (Netherlands, UK, Scotland, Norway, Denmark) (birdList.b4_split2_b_and_c.htm)   
    2012 (Jan-Jun) log  (Costa Rica)  
    2011 log  (HK, Punta Cana) 
    2010 log  ( 1. Mar. Caribbean Cruise : Fort Lauderdale / Cozumel, Mexico / Cayman Islands ; 1b. HK ; 2. Nov. Caribbean Cruise : Puerto Rico / St Maarten / Half Moon Cay & Florida) 
    2009 log  (Las Vegas; HK, Mainland China and Taiwan)  
    2008 log  (South Caribbean Cruise - Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Grenada, Bonaire & Aruba; Toronto; Palm Beach, Florida)   
    Photo and Video @ Punta Cana    pic01.htm  others   HK trips
    ducks and geese
    Note on Dragonfly and Damselfly   my insect spider list    Macro   butterflyMoth.htm   frog   kissena_rare_encounter.htm    Postings of NY Birding List   34 TYPES OF TURTLES FOUND IN THE USA
    Favorites in 2013   Favorites in 2012   Favorites in 2011  
    Bees   Wasps   Cricket   myInventory   myNationalPark.htm
    Costa Rica info   Costa Rica, 2012 - Photo    costa_rica_mybirdlist.htm
    Birding in Shetland Islands     Norway cruise     pc_stuff.htm    pc_stuff2.htm    Google Voice    t-mobile (6/2014)   多部未华子   cull_CanadaGeese_at_JBWR.htm
    samsung_s3600.note01.htm   smart_phone.htm   car_problem.htm   pedometer.htm
    myEye_glass.html
    http://www.nycgovparks.org/news/notices   Biblical_problems_caused_by_translation.htm   translation resource
    how_can_i_make_a_very_sharp_phot.htm   flash_wont_sync_in_slave_mode.htm   Camera/Camcorder for birding   cam4underwater   infrared_photography.htm
    snorkeling  
    comet_PANSTARRS.htm    Jamaica_bird.htm   2015plus_jamaica_trips.htm   Glacier   Hay fever   Glacier & Canadian Rockies  
    Curacao-1   Curacao-2   Bermuda   Cancun   Snorkeling Cozumel Reefs (El Cozumele�o Resort) 
    St. Maarten  St. Eustatius
    Saint Martin: The best snorkeling on the island lies on the French side, where the government religiously protects the calm waters, which are populated with schools of brilliantly colored fish. Find a tiny cove and explore the shallow reefs along its shores, especially in the northeastern underwater nature reserve.
    Barbados is called the land of flying fish.
    Cuba [mirror]  Ethiopia [Rockjumper's standard tours (as we classify this PNG tour) are aimed at the keen birder who wants to see as many birds and as much wildlife as possible without extreme effort or arduous hours in the field i.e. the average birder. src]  
    NewFoundLand
    South Carolina   Seattle   Bird in Arizona Desert
    Lead Adventures 3-Week Galapagos program - doc  
    Quito - Monastery of San Francisco - pic1  quito.htm
    The best month for me to visit Galapagos is probably Feb.   https://www.quasarex.com/blog/galapagos-climate-february-weather-in-the-galapagos-islands   https://www.quasarex.com/galapagos/when-to-visit
    List of whale and dolphin species        List of birds of HK   

    Tourists to China can finally use the country�s massively popular mobile payment systems

door lock

https://direct.mit.edu/isec/article/48/1/7/117122/The-Peril-of-Peaking-Powers-Economic-Slowdowns-and

https://singjupost.com/transcript-michael-beckley-on-the-end-of-chinas-rise-the-future-of-global-order/

Planets Visible in the Night Sky in New York, New York, USA

  Planetrise/Planetset, Thu, Feb 27, 2025
Planet Rise Set Meridian Comment
Mercury Thu 7:08 am Thu 6:59 pm Thu 1:03 pm Slightly difficult to see
Venus Thu 7:16 am Thu 8:31 pm Thu 1:53 pm Fairly good visibility
Mars Thu 12:58 pm Fri 4:20 am Thu 8:39 pm Perfect visibility
Jupiter Thu 10:43 am Fri 1:30 am Thu 6:06 pm Fairly good visibility
Saturn Thu 7:09 am Thu 6:36 pm Thu 12:53 pm Very difficult to see
Uranus Thu 9:40 am Thu 11:58 pm Thu 4:49 pm Difficult to see
Neptune Thu 7:26 am Thu 7:18 pm Thu 1:22 pm Extremely difficult to see

  Planetrise/Planetset, Fri, Feb 28, 2025
Planet Rise Set Meridian Comment
Mercury Fri 7:07 am Fri 7:04 pm Fri 1:05 pm Slightly difficult to see
Venus Fri 7:11 am Fri 8:28 pm Fri 1:49 pm Fairly good visibility
Mars Fri 12:54 pm Sat 4:16 am Fri 8:35 pm Perfect visibility
Jupiter Fri 10:40 am Sat 1:26 am Fri 6:03 pm Fairly good visibility
Saturn Fri 7:06 am Fri 6:32 pm Fri 12:49 pm Very difficult to see
Uranus Fri 9:36 am Fri 11:54 pm Fri 4:45 pm Difficult to see
Neptune Fri 7:22 am Fri 7:15 pm Fri 1:18 pm Extremely difficult to see
Order/time of rise from the horizon:
Saturn 07:06
Mercury 07:07
Venus 07:11
Neptune 07:22
Uranus 09:36
Jupiter 10:40
Mars 12:54

http://finance.people.com.cn/n1/2025/0221/c1004-40423232.html

“所 谓‘X星连珠’，并无标准定义，甚至不算什么特殊天象。”施韡解释称，因为太阳系八大行星围绕太阳公转的轨道几乎都在同一平面上，“我们通常拿地球公转轨道 面，即黄道面，作为参考。轨道倾角最大的是水星，也只差了7°。这种现象被称为‘共面性’。从地面上来看，这些行星始终在黄道附近运行，几乎每天都在‘连 珠’。因此它们天然地就像是一串珍珠，无非就是离得近些还是远些，或者是在太阳的一侧还是两侧。”
https://www.163.com/dy/article/JP0BCALP05506BEH.html

网 络盛传的“77年难得一见”的说法，记者向DeepSeek咨询了其出处，发现数据来源自百度百科，统计的是七星张角小于30°的情况下，从公元1年至 3000年共发生39次“七星连珠”，平均间隔约77年。对此施韡表示，张角小于30°是前提，此外，该数据讲的是平均，事实上“七星连珠”发生的间隔并不均 匀。

据 说有科学家计算了公元前3001年到公元3000年这6000年间的情况。当张角在5°以下时，“六星连珠”发生49次，“七星连珠”发生3次。如果张角扩大 到10°，“六星连珠”有709次，“七星连珠”有52次。所以施韡认为，不 讨论张角的连珠是没有意义的。

https://www.timeanddate.com/news/astronomy/planet-parade-2025


How unusual is it to have a period where these dark-sky planet parade conditions are met for certain locations on Earth? It only happens on a handful of occasions per century.

According to our calculations, the next period will be in 2036, around March 31–April 1. The next window after that will be in 2060, around November 13–17.

朴 璐美 小 清水亚美  平 野绫 钉 宫理惠 加 藤英美里、小 林优 远 藤绫、泽 城美雪  阿澄佳奈、户 松遥   井上喜久子、堀 江由衣 伊 藤加奈惠、丰 崎爱生

 水 树奈奈
我的幸福婚約

改編漫畫獲得全國書店店員推薦漫畫2021第1位[27]、《這本漫畫真厲害！2021》女生篇第7位[28]、2023年BookLive讀者票選少女和女性漫 畫第6名[29]。
進入2024年時，改編動畫入圍動畫趨勢獎（Anime Trending Award）的年度動畫排行榜第6名|[30]與最佳分鏡獎第5名、最佳背景視覺獎第5名[31]，男主角久堂清霞排名動畫趨勢獎年度男主角獎第9名，女主角齋森美世則排 名動畫趨勢獎年度女主角獎第10名，清霞和美世亦名列動畫趨勢獎年度情侶獎第3名[32]，動畫版飾演女主角齋森美世的上田麗奈榮獲動畫趨勢獎最 佳女主角聲演獎[33]。動畫榮獲年度[最佳]愛情動畫獎.  src
漫畫獲選為「BookLive!讀者票選」戀愛·喜劇漫畫類第3名[34]，亦在該年7月的日本博覽會獲頒金達摩獎最佳愛情動畫獎[35]。wiki
幕 后黑幕part
如 此说著的尧人皇子将视线转向了美世，继续说道：「……给妳添麻烦了。无论是薄刃家或斋森家——所有人皆被我父亲扰乱了理应步向的正轨」

听 完后，她仍旧不能很好地理解。 尧人的父亲是天皇。尚且不论和帝进行交易的薄刃家，甚至连斋森家也被打乱了节奏究竟是什么意思？

而 且，这些事也带给了美世麻烦，这话中含意到底是…… ？就连清霞似乎也稍有踌躇的样子。

「一 言以蔽之，虽然属下这么说可谓不敬，但推动这一切的幕后黑手皆是…… 天皇，没错吧？」

「所 言甚是。……我很遗憾」

在 幕后操纵这一切的人竟然是现任天皇，这实在是骇人听闻。如此浩大的规模竟源于一人之手，完全超出想像且难以置信。

尧 人把玩着手中的酒杯，然后彷佛在凝神注视著远方一般回顾说道： 「父亲对于梦见的异能者怀抱着特别的畏惧，这要回溯于他皇太子的时代开始」

梦 见之力，可以根据使用者的才华和熟练度来凌驾于皇族的天启之上。
p.s. 天启：预知未来的能力。


在 薄刃家中美世和清霞皆早已耳闻。 天启之力不及梦见。如此一来，自身和一族也许都会被追赶上如今的地位吧，甚至有可能权力会被推翻也说不定。

此 种危机意识自古以来就存在于现任天皇的心中。


「虽 说如此，只要没有诞下梦见的异能者，就不足以构成威胁。父皇虽然也畏惧著薄刃家，但实际上或许并没有想过要采取任何动作。但是有天，薄刃家诞下了薄刃澄美」

由 于澄美的异能「精神感应」觉醒了，因此那孩子不就是有着能产下梦见之子的可能性吗？

为 此薄刃家大力地期待着。 但是相反的，对于帝来说，如果真的出现了梦见的异能者……至今为止所怀抱的单纯不安，就像获得实感般地猛然袭来，会突然带来了强烈的现实感吧。

美 世想着，不会吧。 不会吧，竟然从那么久以前，就已经和此次的事件联系在一块了吗？

「父 皇大概是策划着要比过去更加程度地削弱薄刃家的力量吧」

总 而言之，就算梦见的异能者真的诞生了，如果能让薄刃家彻底地没落、衰败，逐步走向灭亡的话，就不足以构成威胁。

即 使现今已经有效压制住了薄刃家的力量，但天皇还是觉得不够。

突 然，清霞微微地睁大双眼说道：「难道，过去一段时期，造成『鹤木贸易』步向衰微的是……」

「似 乎是父皇从中作梗。他从暗地里彻底地操纵手段，为了不让『鹤木贸易』经济顺利发展，从四面八方暗中对鹤木公司的客户与投资者施压。」

「然 后就如自身所愿，薄刃家就沦落到三餐不继、几近破产的生活中，是这样吗？」

「好 像是这样」


正 如帝所期望，薄刃家被逼到濒临灭亡。然而，帝并不满足于这些。

「父 皇更畏惧著薄刃澄美和薄刃一族的人结婚，诞下流倘著纯正薄刃之血的孩子。」

「血 脉越浓，就越容易生出拥有梦见之力的孩子？」

「至 少，父皇他是这样想的。所以，无论如何也要阻止一族内部的婚姻」 只是，帝也不愚昧，他打算把薄刃家的血外流到跟异能毫无关系的家族。于是， 脑中便浮现出，异能者几乎不再出生、眼看着未来只能走下坡的没落贵族—斋森家。

「于 是，他向斋森家揭露了梦见之力，并给了他们巨额的资金，暗中教唆他们要把薄刃澄美弄到手。只要把她引开，无论薄刃家未来是灭亡还是重新站起来都无所谓。或者， 也不知道是不是从最初就全部算计完了……尽管他是我的父亲， 但我不得不佩服他的执著」

「薄 刃义浪氏曾说过，不知道斋森家的资金来源。那也就是说，是陛下——」

从 斋森家的角度来看，除了做之外别无他法。 无论是金钱还是贵重的血统都能得手，另外提出来的人可是天皇陛下，不论是谁都无法忤逆皇令。

「那 之后的事，你们都知道了吧」 薄刃澄美和斋森真一结婚，而后美世诞生了。并且，美世梦见的异能被彻底封印起来，除了澄美以外的人都认为美世是无异能的……就连帝也。

「…… 大体上明白了。美世离开了斋森家，封印被解开，陛下也暗中注意到了美世所具有的异能吧。关于奥墓的事，目标是我吗？」叹气地说道，清霞也将杯中残余的酒一饮而 尽。

「你 们两人的婚约成立了，清霞也成为了父皇的目标之一。如果久堂家和梦见的力量结合的话，对于他来说没有比这更大的威胁了。奥墓的解放，是打算从物理上拉开你们的 距离，之后只要再想办法将罪责强加到对异特务小队上使你们全体丧失立足之地——另外，要是运气好的话，在与怨灵的战斗中貌似也瞄准着你的死亡，希望你能命葬战 场」

「…… 实际上，当时情况确实很不乐观。但陛下还让薄刃新协助，这是怎么回事？」

「他 只不过是为了将你们两人分开，暂时利用的棋子罢了。为了使薄刃家和久堂家能很好地对立，大概是计画着要是能够达到两败俱伤的结局就好了吧」 src
Oscars:
3/2025 Best Actor  -

https://medium.com/@a.moodie17/what-is-the-oscars-obsession-with-the-disabled-76a7aa697751

About the portrayals of the disabled and how they often win the best actor/actress awards in Oscars:
1. Examples of this start in 1988’s Rain Man, where autistic savant Raymond Babbitt (Dustin Hoffman)
2. This kind of Oscar winning performance quickly appeared again a year later in 1989 with Daniel Day-Lewis’s portrayal of Christy Brown in My Left Foot, who had cerebral palsy and yet manged to harness control of one of his feet and forged a career as both an artist and writer.
3. Over the next few years film would see countless Oscars going to actors for characters who were in some way disabled. Like Al Pacino as the blind but quick-witted and fast-living war veteran Frank Slade in Scent of a Woman. Then you have Jamie Foxx as the blind but real soul legend Ray Charles and Nicole Kidman as bipolar-suffering novelist Virginia Woolf.
4. Jack Nicholson demonstrated in As Good as it Gets where he plays a writer with OCD who also comes across as very misanthropic.
   Despite already having an Oscar for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Nicholson took home another best actor Oscar.
5. Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump.
6. Eddie Redmayne as Stephen Hawking (who acquired Motor Neuron Disease while studying at Oxford tells us anything) in The Theory of Everything.
7. Someone who actually is disabled to play a disabled character:
    Won: Marlee Matlin received an historic best actress Oscar for 1986’s Children of a Lesser God, first such award to be given to a deaf actress.
    Lost: Millicent Simmonds (who is deaf in real life) playing a deaf character in the horror film A Quiet Place.
8.


 日 本电影提名奥斯卡最佳国际影片奖竞赛列表
直到目前（2022年）为止，日本电影总共入围过13次奥斯卡最佳外语片奖，位居第五位，仅次于法国、意大利、西班牙与瑞典[7]，其中《入殓师》和《驾驶我的 车》是1956年至2021年间唯二获得奥斯卡最佳外语片奖的日本电影.

中 国大陆电影提名奥斯卡最佳国际影片奖竞赛列表
香 港电影提名奥斯卡最佳国际影片奖竞赛列表
   

From AI -
On March 29, 2025, a partial solar eclipse will be visible in New York City, with the best viewing opportunities around sunrise.
Venus's Position:
   Venus will be in the morning sky, appearing above the eastern horizon about 15 minutes before sunrise, starting around March 20.  On March 29, it is 1 hour before sunrise.
Mercury and Saturn are also visible in the sky during this time.

Planets Visible in New York (3/29/2025)

  Planet rise / Planet set, Sat, Mar 29, 2025
Planet Rise Set Meridian Comment
Mercury Sat 6:15 am Sat 6:32 pm Sat 12:24 pm Extremely difficult to see
Venus Sat 5:45 am Sat 6:33 pm Sat 12:09 pm Fairly good visibility
Mars Sat 12:32 pm Sun 3:40 am Sat 8:06 pm Perfect visibility
Jupiter Sat 9:58 am Sun 12:49 am Sat 5:23 pm Fairly good visibility
Saturn Sat 6:20 am Sat 5:56 pm Sat 12:08 pm Very difficult to see
Uranus Sat 8:45 am Sat 11:05 pm Sat 3:55 pm Difficult to see
Neptune Sat 6:30 am Sat 6:26 pm Sat 12:28 pm Extremely difficult to see
<1>
Mazda is set to halt some of its CX-50 production for the Canadian market from the Huntsville plant in Alabama.  src
It will halt production of CX-50s vehicles bound for Canada, a move prompted by America’s tariffs and corresponding Canadian countermeasures.
From AI:
Mazda will temporarily halt production of CX-50 SUVs at its Huntsville, Alabama plant on May 12, 2025, but only for the Canadian market. This pause is a response to President Trump's auto tariffs, but Mazda will continue to produce the CX-50 for other markets. The pause will not affect overall production volume at the plant. WHNT.com reports that the plant will focus on increasing production for the U.S. market as production for Canada is suspended.
From AI:
In 2023, Mazda sold approximately 44,595 CX-50 units in the US. In 2024, sales of the CX-50 have seen a significant increase, likely due to the addition of a hybrid option, resulting in a nearly doubling of sales compared to 2023. By the end of 2024, Mazda had sold 8,083 CX-50 vehicles in December alone, and overall sales for the year reached 99,797.

Media Report of 2024 in US (1/3/2025)
- Mazda Canada, Inc., (MCI) reported December sales of 4,566 vehicles (all, not only CX-50), an increase of 2.4 percent compared to December last year. Full-year 2024 sales increased 23.2 percent, with 72,226 vehicles sold.
- Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) reported December sales of 8,677 vehicles, an increase of 19 percent compared to last year. Full-year 2024 sales increased 31 percent, with 99,797 vehicles sold.
- In US, CX-50: 2024 whole year:   99,797; December:   8,083   So in 2024 whole year, CX-50 sales is 24% of all models.
       All models: 2024 whole year: 424,382; December: 40,201

Media Report of 2024 in Canada (1/3/2025)
- CX-50: 2024 whole year: 10,759 (15%); December: 847 (19%)
- Sales of CX-50 set new records for December and full year sales, with the addition of the CX-50 Hybrid propelling total CX-50 sales up 36.6 percent versus December 2023. Total CX-50 sales for the year jumped up 88.4 percent, making it the fastest growing model in our lineup in 2024.

<2>
[4/30/2025]
- US First-quarter GDP contracts at 0.3% rate - the first decline since the first quarter of 2022 (rate was -1%).  First-quarter growth was slowed by a surge in imports as companies in the United States tried to bring in foreign goods before Trump imposed massive tariffs.
- Imports grew at a 41% pace, fastest since 2020.
- The surge in imports — fastest since 1972 outside COVID-19 economic disruptions — is likely to reverse in the second quarter, removing a weight on GDP. For that reason, Paul Ashworth of Capital Economics forecasts that April-June growth [of GDP] will rebound to a 2% gain.  src
[5/7/2025]
From AI:
The first quarter of 2025 saw a contraction in real GDP, decreasing at an annual rate of 0.3%.
The first quarter of 2025 experienced a decrease in real GDP, reflecting a decline in economic activity. This was primarily due to a rise in imports and a decrease in consumer spending.
<3>
香港今年(2025)第一季本地生產總值（GDP）較去年同期實質上升3.1%，好過預期。而2024年第四季的升幅為2.5%。

原文網址：https://finance.mingpao.com/fin/instantf/20250502/1746175287193
<4>
澳門統計暨普查局公布，今年首季本地生產總值（GDP）初步數值為997.8億澳門元，按年實質減少1.3%，整體經濟規模相當於2019年同期的 85.2%。

原文網址：https://finance.mingpao.com/fin/instantf/20250502/1746160031893

From AI:
In the first quarter of 2025, Macau's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) experienced a 1.3% year-on-year decrease in real terms, reaching MOP99.78 billion (approximately US$12.45 billion). This decline is attributed to a strong base effect from the previous year's high growth and shifts in visitor spending patterns. Despite a 11.1% increase in visitor arrivals, non-gaming services declined, impacting overall service exports.
<5>
From AI:
In the first quarter of 2025, China's GDP grew by 5.4% year-on-year. This growth rate was stronger than expected, surpassing analyst forecasts of 5.1%.
Taiwan's GDP grew by 5.4% YoY in the first quarter of the year, up from 2.9% YoY in 4Q24, according to advance estimates. That's the fastest pace since the first quarter of last year and well above market forecasts for 3.6% growth.
In the first quarter of 2025, South Korea's GDP contracted by 0.1% year-on-year, marking the first contraction since the fourth quarter of 2020. This was a decline from the 1.2% growth recorded in the previous quarter and also missed market expectations for a 0.1% rise. The contraction was driven by a downturn in various sectors, including private consumption, government spending, fixed investment, and exports.
In the first quarter of 2025, Singapore's GDP grew by 3.8% year-over-year. This growth was lower than the 5.0% expansion in the previous quarter. On a seasonally adjusted quarter-on-quarter basis, the economy contracted by 0.8%. This was the largest decrease since Q2 2020.
Note written on 5/9/2025:
Air traffic controllers who oversee the Newark Liberty International Airport airspace is in Philadelphia.
The FAA moved them from their previous location on Long Island, New York, to a facility in Philadelphia in 2024.  This move aimed to reduce the workload on the Long Island facility, which also handled traffic for other major New York City airports.

From AI:
Air traffic controllers are not at the airport because of a combination of factors, including a nationwide shortage of qualified personnel, equipment failures, and a stressful work environment that can lead to burnout and leave. Recent incidents at Newark (causing large amount of flight delays and cancellations in 7 days in late April to early May 2025), like the temporary loss of radar and communication systems, have further exacerbated the problem and led to some controllers taking medical leave.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
  • Shortage of Air Traffic Controllers:
    .Opens in new tab
    The U.S. is facing a critical shortage of air traffic controllers, with a deficit of around 26%. This shortage is not new and has been building for years, with current staffing levels being below what is needed to maintain safety and efficiency. 
  • Equipment Failures:
    .Opens in new tab
    Incidents like the recent 90-second blackout at Newark Liberty International Airport, caused by a faulty copper wire, highlight the fragility of the current air traffic control system. These outages can be stressful for controllers and lead to them taking time off, further impacting staffing. 
  • Stressful Work Environment:
    .Opens in new tab
    Air traffic control is a demanding and stressful job with unpredictable hours, and controllers face a high attrition rate. Many don't make it through the initial training, and experienced controllers face a mandatory retirement age of 56, leading to a decline in staffing levels. 
  • Trauma Leave:
    .Opens in new tab
    After a recent equipment outage at Newark, some controllers took trauma leave due to the stressful experience, further impacting staffing levels. 
  • Outdated Technology:
    .Opens in new tab
    The FAA is acknowledging that its air traffic control system is antiquated and needs modernization. This has contributed to the frequent equipment failures and communication problems experienced by controllers. 
  • Hiring and Training Challenges:
    .Opens in new tab
    While the FAA is hiring new controllers, the training process can take up to three years, and about 40% of trainees don't make it through. This slow pipeline of new controllers makes it difficult to address the shortage.
From AI about "7 days large amount of flight delays and cancellation in Newark 2025":
Newark Airport is experiencing delays due to a combination of factors, including air traffic congestion, runway construction, and staffing issues at the Philadelphia TRACON facility. A failure in the telecommunications connection that transmits data to the Philadelphia facility also contributed to the problems.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
  • Air Traffic Congestion:
    Newark is a busy airport with a high volume of flights, which can lead to delays, says Fly BLADE. 
  • Runway Construction:
    One of Newark's runways is currently closed for rehabilitation, which reduces the airport's capacity and further contributes to delays, notes The New York Times. 
  • Philadelphia TRACON Issues:
    The FAA has been slowing arrivals and departures at Newark due to staffing and technology issues at the TRACON facility in Philadelphia, which manages air traffic at the airport, reports USA Today. 
  • Equipment Outage:
    An equipment outage caused a temporary loss of radar and communications for air traffic controllers, further exacerbating the situation, according to CBS News. 
  • Staffing Shortages:
    The FAA has cited staffing shortages at the TRACON facility as a contributing factor to the delays, notes CNN. 
  • Outdated Technology:
    Outdated technology and infrastructure issues have also been identified as contributing to the delays, reports CNN.

New York Air Route Traffic Control Center


New York Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZNY) (radio communications: "New York Center") is one of 22 Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs) operated by the United States Federal Aviation Administration.[1] It is located on the grounds of Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma, New York. It is the busiest of all ARTCCs within the United States, and was the world's first en-route air traffic control facility.[1]

The primary responsibility of New York Center is the separation and sequencing of over-flights, arrivals, and departures within its jurisdictional boundaries in order to provide safe, orderly, and efficient flow of aircraft.[2] New York Center is the fifth busiest ARTCC in the United States. In 2024, New York Center handled 2,457,042 aircraft operations.[3] It covers approximately 91,000 square miles (240,000 km2) of the Northeastern United States, including parts of Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania – and including the airspace over large portions of the New York and Philadelphia metropolitan areas.[4][5][6] Its oceanic control area also covers Bermuda.[7][8] Most of the flights handled by New York Center are long-distance flights flying at high altitudes and transiting the region.[9]

The New York Air Route Traffic Control Center control area lies adjacent to those of the Boston Air Route Traffic Control Center, Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center, and Washington Air Route Traffic Control Center.


Philadelphia TRACON facility 

  美 國機場控制塔失聯30秒！5名空管員因創傷休假45天、引發大規模航班取消及延誤
Niagara Falls is a popular winter and fall stopover for large numbers of gulls, sometimes reaching 100,000 birds. The Niagara River provides gulls with ample food (especially fish), shelter, and a resting place during their long migrations from the Arctic to the Atlantic coast. The river's abundance of resources, including stunned fish near the falls and those caught in hydropower plants, makes it a prime feeding ground.

Many ardent birdwatchers consider Niagara Falls, and sections of the Niagara River upstream and downstream of the Falls, to be the “Gull Capital of the World” in recognition of the abundance and diversity of gulls found there during winter months. The Falls area annually supports one of the world’s most spectacular concentrations of gulls, with one-day counts of over 100,000 individuals and 19 species recorded, according to the National Audubon Society.

Even to those not seeking rarities, the sheer magnitude of gulls along the Niagara River can be an awesome sight. Flocks of thousands or tens-of-thousands can be seen above and below Niagara Falls and elsewhere along the Lower Niagara River. In particular, the section of river in Lewiston near the outlets of the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant (on the New York side) and Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Generating Station (on the Ontario side) supports huge, boiling flocks of gulls that soar above the turbulent water and sporadically dive for fish.

Gull numbers and diversity along the Niagara River typically peak between mid-November and mid-January. This timing coincides with the annual buildup of fall migrant Bonaparte’s gulls and the arrival of wintering herring and great black-backed gulls. Among those common species are about a dozen uncommon to rare winter visitants that arrive about the same time. Gulls are attracted to the Niagara River during winter months by extensive areas of open water (i.e., unfrozen) and abundant food resources, especially emerald shiners. Some of the shiners and other small fish may be stunned from turbulence near the Falls and the outlets of the hydropower plants, thus making for easy prey. The critical resources that the Niagara River provides for gulls, waterfowl, and other waterbirds is a significant reason why the River is listed as an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society.  src
I saw Yellow-rumped Warbler on:
12/16/2023
12/10/2022
2/27/2022
1/22/2022
etc.
5/10/2025 (Sat) 
Central Park, with Ivy

Lifer: Ovenbird.  Chestnut-sided Warbler.  Cape May Warbler.
Black-and-white Warbler. 
Northern Parula.
Black-throated Blue Warbler.
Yellow-rumped Warbler.
Waterthrush.
Red-eyed Vireo.  Warbling Vireo.  
I think I don't see Canada Warbler.  Ivy saw Blackpoll Warbler. 
Northern rough-winged swallow. etc.

Photo:
  Ovenbird -

4/27/2025 (Sun)
JBWR & Sunset Cove Park (next to Broad Channel American Park)

FOS: Yellow Warbler.  Barn Swallow.
Great Egret.  Black-crowned Night Heron.  Ruddy Duck.  Bufflehead.  Mute Swan.  Yellow-rumped Warbler.  Cowbird.  Chipping Sparrow.  Song Sparrow.  Osprey.  RWBB.  Robin.  Mockingbird.  Starling.  Crow.  Tree Swallow.  Carolina Wren. Cardinal.  etc.

4/19/2025 (Sat) with Winnie, Alan Lo and Linda Mak
Essex County Branch Brook Park
cherry blossoms

Driving To:  Williamsburg Bridge before 9am (toll is $2.25); then Holland Tunnel
Driving Home:  Holland Tunnel (toll is $16.06) then Williamsburg Bridge
Lunch at: Casa Vasca Bar-Restaurant - 141 Elm Street, Newark, NJ 07105 - open 7 days - (973) 465-1350 - Paella $25
4/13/2025 (Sun) whole day with Ivy
Green-Wood Cemetery / JBWR / Sunset Cove Park (next to Broad Channel American Park) / Marine Park Salt Marsh Nature Trail, Brooklyn

FOS: Laughing Gull.  Palm Warbler.  Pine Warbler. 
A lot of Eastern Phoebe (FOS?).  Yellow-rumped Warbler.
Red-headed Woodpecker.  Cowbird.  Red-breasted Merganser.  Ruddy Duck.  Bufflehead.  Northern Shoveler.  Mute Swan.  Osprey.  Chipping Sparrow.  Song Sparrow.  Hermit Thrush.  Mockingbird.  RWBB.  Robin.  Junco.  Mourning Dove.  Starling.  Northern Flicker.  House Finch.  Crow.  etc.
4/6/2025 (Sun) early morning
JBWR

FOS: Cowbird (M and F).  Tree Swallow.  今朝見到雙色樹燕和褐頭牛鸝 今年第一次邂逅
Ruddy Duck.  Bufflehead.  Mute Swan.  Osprey.  Chipping Sparrow.  Song Sparrow.  Mockingbird.  RWBB.  Yellow-rumped Warbler.  Carolina Wren.  Robin.  Junco.  Mourning Dove.  Starling.  Northern Flicker.  Woodpecker.  etc.

Photo:
  Tree Swallow -
  Northern Flicker -
  Chipping Sparrow -
  Mockingbird -
  Carolina Wren -
  Cowbird -

3/29/2025 (Sat) early morning (arrived at about sunrise)
Jones Beach West End & US Coast Guard Station / Cammanns Pond County Park

Northern Gannet, 100+ at least.  Piping Plover, FOS.  Sanderling.  Dunlin, a lot in hundreds or 1000+.  Red-breasted Merganser.  RWBB.  Loon.  Seal. etc.
Boat-tailed Grackle(?).
Cammanns: Yellow-capped Night Heron.  Black-capped Night Heron.  Hooded Merganser (1), most are left. 

Photo:
  Gannet - <1>
3/23/2025 (Sun) whole day with Ivy
Green-Wood Cemetery (alone myself) / Sunset Cove Park (next to Broad Channel American Park) / JBWR / Springfield Park (149 Av, Springfield Bl, 145 Rd, 184 St Queens)

GW: Red-headed Woodpecker.
Sunset Cove: Snow Goose. 
JBWR: Osprey, FOS.  Snow Goose.  Sat 22 Mar 2025 Someone saw 8 Tree Swallows swirling and calling over East Pond. We have no luck.
Springfield: Muskrat.  Yellowlegs.  Monk Parakeet.   Hooded Merganser.  Ruddy Duck.  RWBB.  Eastern Gray Squirrel with cinnamon fur.  Cannot find Kingfisher.

Photo:
  Red-headed Woodpecker - <1>
  Snow Goose -
  Muskrat -
  Yellowlegs -
  Monk Parakeet -
  Hooded Merganser -
  Eastern Gray Squirrel with cinnamon fur -

Note:
(1) In Queens, New York, "Springfield Pond" and "Cornell's Pond" refer to the same body of water located within Springfield Park, where Thurston Creek widens before continuing into the Idlewild marshes.
(2) Atlantic Blue Crab from Springfield Park, New York, NY, US on August 09, 2024 at 11:49 AM by Louis Burns.  src
(3) https://parkodyssey.blogspot.com/2015/04/springfield-park.html
(4) In New York City, while most squirrels are eastern gray squirrels, they can come in various colors, including those with reddish or cinnamon fur, and even black fur, which are still variations of the eastern gray squirrel.
3/22/2025 (Sat) pm early afternoon sunny and warm, then windy, cloudy and colder.  Winnie initiated trip.
Sands Point Preserve (127 Middle Neck Rd, Sands Point, NY 11050), $15
Town Dock (347 Main St, Port Washington, NY 11050)
Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and Youngs Memorial Cemetery, taking good bird pictures at the 3 feeder sites.
Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park Beach, supposed to be a resident of the town to use.  You can always park free in the outside LIRR lots which are newly renovated, and avoid the parking fees.  Do not visit in summer if you are not an Oyster Bay resident.  Even I park my car in the LIRR lots, I may not be able to walk in.  But if I come before the security (says before 9am), I think I can get in.  

Sands Point:  Bee with black body.  Mourning Cloak (seen before at Forest Park on 4/11/2015).  Fly.
Town Dock: Killdeer (only heard).  Canada Goose.
Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary: Woodpecker.  Titmouse.  Black-capped Chickadee.  Nuthatch.  Dark-eyed Junco.  American Goldfinch.  House Finch.  Mourning Dove.  Blue Jay.  etc.
Theodore Roosevelt Beach and Park: Red-breasted Merganser.  Bufflehead.  Long-tailed Duck.
Song Sparrow singing, FOS.  Common Grackle (forget where to see it).  Robin, many.  ...

Photo:
  Mourning Cloak - <1>
  Titmouse -
  Black-capped Chickadee -
  Nuthatch -
  Dark-eyed Junco -
  American Goldfinch -
  House Finch -
  Red-breasted Merganser -

Notes:
1. The Mourning Cloak Butterfly is usually the first butterfly that is noticed in the Spring, and this is because it hibernates in tree holes or other shelters during the winter.
3/16/2025 (Sun) pm cloudy and foggy
Nickerson Beach.  Point Lookout.  This winter I have not visited these 2 places.

Nickerson -
  Oystercatcher, FOS; earlier than any year of 2022 or before.  And earlier than the record made in 2023 (3/18).  So I really break the record.
    Somebody counted 50 of them on 3/15.  Is it an unexpectedly large number?  Probably not.
  Sanderling.  Horned Lark (4) (or Lapland Longspur?); somebody saw 41 of them on 3/14.   Killdeer (4) at parking lot, FOS.
  Somebody saw 1 Piping Plover on 3/14.
Point Lookout - Harlequin Duck (9); there are 2 groups.  九男女  一個男仔冇本事 衹有一條女 另一個就叻 有六條女追住.    Common Eider.  Oystercatcher.

Photo:
  Oystercatcher -
  Sanderling -
  Killdeer -
  Common Eider -
  Harlequin Duck -
 
Next week:
look for Cowbird (4/6; last year: 3/16/2024).  Tree Swallow (4/6).  Osprey (3/23).  American Oystercatcher (3/16).  Piping Plover (3/29).
3/15/2025 (Sat) am cloudy
Crotona Park.  Orchard Beach.
  Crotona Park Greenway, Bronx, NY 10457.  GPS Address: 779 Crotona Park N, Bronx, NY 10460 - address of Group Family Day Care, at the park entrance.

Crotona - Redhead (7).   Hooded Merganser, immature male.  Northern Shoveler. 
Orchard - Titmouse.  Black-capped Chickadee.  Nuthatch.  Dark-eyed Junco.  Red-winged Blackbird.  Red-breasted Merganser.  Bufflehead.  Loon.  White-tailed Deer family (7+).  Shorebird (Greater Yellowlegs?)
Cannot find any Cowbird.

Photo:
  Titmouse - <flying-1>
  Chickadee -
  Nuthatch -
  White-tailed Deer -
  Redhead - <1>
  Hooded Merganser -
  Greater Yellowlegs -

3/9/2025 (Sun) with Ivy
Green-Wood Cemetery (alone myself) location of Red-headed / Prospect Park / Floyd Bennett Field
梅花 (tree at 69th Ave at Forest Hill)

Green-Wood: Red-headed Woodpecker, 1st year.
Prospect: European Goldfinch.  Titmouse.
Floyd Bennett: American Kestrel (2).  Northern Harrier (suggestively identified by Ivy).

Photo:
  Robin -
  Red-headed Woodpecker -
  European Goldfinch -
  Titmouse -
  American Kestrel -
  Red-tailed Hawk -
 
Note:
Mei flowers, or meihua (梅花), in the later winter and early spring, during the spring festival (春節), symbolizing endurance as being the first to flower despite the cold and is one of the Three Friends of Winter.
3/8/2025 (Sat) after sunset
See Mercury again.
2025 年3月8日，火星將與月亮上演一場浪漫的相遇！在太陽下山後，往東南方天空望去，你就能看到一輪明月(not full moon)旁邊，閃耀著一顆紅色的星星，那就是火星啦！
3/7/2025 (Fri) about 6:20pm, after sunset
First time in my life to see Mercury.  I first use naked eye to locate Venus.  Then use binocular to locate Mercury which is near to Venus.
3/1/2025 (Sat) am myself / pm with Ivy
40°44'04.6"N 73°43'25.8"W (Cross Island Pkwy & Hillside ave) - 83-31 243rd St., Queens - fail to see European Goldfinch again
Baisley Pond Park, Coney Island Creek Park Shore / Kaiser Park (last time visit is 1/22/2022), Green-Wood Cemetery

Baisley: Redhead.
Coney Island: Horned Grebe.
Green-Wood: A lot of Robins. Red-tailed Hawk.
Today is our Red Bird Day:  Redhead, Horned Grebe with red eyes, Red-headed Woodpecker (cannot see but find the hole on the tree), Red-tailed Hawk, a lot of Robins.

Photo:
  Robin in flight -
  Coot chasing - <1>
  Horned Grebe - <1>  
2/23/2025 (Sun) am
40°44'04.6"N 73°43'25.8"W (Cross Island Pkwy & Hillside ave) - 83-31 243rd St., Queens

Fail to find European Goldfinch (male). 
American Goldfinch.  House Finch.  Common Grackle.  Downy Woodpecker.  White-breasted Nuthatch.  Orange-crowned Warbler (pretty sure but not 100%).
2/1/2025 (Sat) am
Baisley Pond Park

Redhead, M and F, many, near shore.  Common Merganser (1).  Ring-necked Duck.  Northern Flicker, first year.
今朝睇到紅頭鴨 今年就鴻運當頭

Photo:
  Redhead - <1>   <2>
  Northern Flicker -

1/1/2025 (Wed) am
Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery
Address: 435 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07302

Lifer: Painted Bunting, male.  Kestrel.  Junco.  Cardinal.  Mourning Dove.  White-throated Sparrow.  House Sparrow.  House Finch.  Blue Jay.  Mockingbird.  Starling.