Louisianna Water Thrush

“Riparian Melody: A Louisiana Waterthrush at Tibbetts Brook” intertwines art, technology, and ecology. In April 2020, among 40,000 iNaturalist observations from Van Cortlandt Park, one report of a Louisiana Waterthrush—rare for this elevated area—caught my attention. Investigating this unique sighting, I frequently visited the location, finding no immediate water sources. Utilizing GPT-4, I analyzed a 200-meter radius of data from iNaturalist, which suggested that the bird could have been seeking a nesting site, indicating a diverse and healthy ecosystem. DALL-E 3 generated visual interpretations of the habitat, informed by the iNaturalist data, but defaulted to a generic thrush, possibly due to a data deficiency for the specific species.

I consulted GPT-4 on methods to encourage the Louisiana Waterthrush’s return to Van Cortlandt Park’s forests, informing our volunteer restoration activities. The final painting was done with Gansai watercolors, a medium new to me, providing a fresh perspective to my work.

This art reflects a synthesis of AI analysis and field observations, aiming to support an environment where the Louisiana Waterthrush can prosper once more. As we strive to unearth Tibbetts Brook, we hope that our restoration efforts will herald the return of this bird to the Bronx.