GrrlScientist is an evolutionary biologist, ornithologist, aviculturist, birder and freelance science and nature writer. A native of the Pacific Northwest, she relocated from Seattle to NYC with her parrots after earning a BS in Microbiology (emphasis in Virology) and PhD in Zoology (Ornithology) from the University of Washington. In NYC, she was the Chapman Postdoctoral Fellow at the American Museum of Natural History for two years, pursuing part of her "dream" research project by reconstructing a molecular phylogeny of the parrots of the South Pacific islands. GrrlScientist and her five parrots are currently relocating to Germany, where she will continue writing her blog while also writing a book and learning German. (Meanwhile, her parrots will continue to nibble on her extensive personal library.) If you appreciate GrrlScientist's writing, you can help pay her living expenses by hiring her to "blog" your conference, speak at your club or write articles for your publication (or by clicking on the Paypal button below). If you read an essay on this blog that you especially enjoyed, please nominate it for inclusion in 
tags: octopus's garden, coral reef, marine life, subway art, AMNH, NYC, NYCLife
This image is a gift to my friend PZ Myers, on the occasion of his 92nd birthday, which is today. Cephalopods are PZ's favorite critters and so, because this octopus is hanging around the AMNH subway platform, I thought it would be a fitting tribute to give a photo of this mosaic to him, both for the subject matter and also as a reminder of the happy time when I met him, his wife and daughter in NYC.
I have taken dozens of pictures of what you see here, but because I have a broken arm, the previous images were far too blurry to be suitable. Hopefully, this one is good enough (even though I know it could be lots better)!
Octopus's Garden
Coral reef mosaic [detail]
can you name the fish and the coral species?
as portrayed in tiles on the downtown stairway landing of the NYC subway stop (A-B-C)
at 81st and Central Park West. (ISO, no zoom, no flash).
Image: GrrlScientist 2008. [wallpaper size].
Happy birthday, Paul!
Read more about the AMNH tile artworks and see the AMNH tile artworks photographic archives -- with all the animals identified.
Humanities & Social Science
Comments
Ha! I laughed out loud when I read this. It's good to see you still have a sense of humor even with a broken wing. And I think the picture is a worthy birthday gift for P.Z.
Posted by: HerpGrrl | March 9, 2008 8:21 PM
His ninety-second birthday? Is that in squid years?
Posted by: David Harmon | March 9, 2008 8:30 PM
Perfect photo for PZ's birthday!
Posted by: Gretta | March 11, 2008 12:52 AM