Christmas is coming and retailers are preparing for the frantic last-minute shoppers, desperate to find something, at this point anything, to show how much they cherish and appreciate their loved ones. This year however there is a sure-fire winner, guaranteed to put a quizzical look on the face of any child. It is the must-have [...]

…or, as his birth certificate will soon say, Desmond Shearwater Ji Won Chung-Finger (Desi for short). Desmond came into this world early this morning, at 6:18 AM to be exact, after 13 hours of labor.  He tipped the scales at an imposing 8 pounds, 7 ounces, and is a full 21 inches in length.  Both [...]

Or, at least he will be a boy when he is born.  Wait, what am I talking about?  Oh yeah, I might have neglected to mention this, but Daisy and I are having a baby come November!  He will be our first child and, as is only to be expected, we are excited, nervous, flummoxed, [...]

…besides a lot of time wasted checking my profile, that is! Yes, I’ve finally taken the plunge and joined Facebook. If you’ve invited me to befriend you in the past and I’ve ignored you, it’s because I’ve studiously avoided all the social networking hoopla. After all, if people wanted to know what I was up [...]

I feel like I owe everyone an apology. It’s been ages since I’ve posted pictures of my children and for that, I am sorry. After all, they are both truly sensational individuals. While 10,000 Birds is older than either of them, Mason and Ivy still tie for first in my heart. They demand more time [...]

Here’s some big news I’ve been waiting to spring on you all – I’m moving! No, not moving away from 10,000 Birds, as much as some of you might prefer the full force of Charlie and Corey’s genius undiluted by my drivel. The move I am about to embark on, along with Sara, Mason, and [...]

The past couple of months have been huge for my brother, Matt (didn’t know I had a brother, did you?) First and foremost, he and his wonderful wife Ursula delivered unto the world my very first niece, Alexa! In that span, another labor of love also came to fruition and now my brother’s very first [...]

May 30 is the sacred feast of Ivynox, the day we celebrate our lovely daughter’s birth. Since this was Ivy’s very first birthday, we wanted to make it special. So, the family made a mid-week excursion to Jones Beach. What a day! A weekday at the end of May seems to be the perfect time [...]

This weekend was a bittersweet one for me. March 17 holds a special significance for the Core Team. While the rest of the world, or at least the portions looking for a good reason to drink and ingest food best eaten drunk, celebrates St. Patrick’s Day on this auspicious date, we honor Masemas, the birthday [...]

I’ve been sitting on this news a long time, but I can finally share that I’ve had my first article published in a respected birding magazine. That’s right, you can now read my inimitable blatherings about birds and blogs both online and in print. How cool is that? Some of you, mainly those with enough [...]

…from the Core Team: Mike, Sara, Mason, and Ivy. We wish you a festive and safe holiday season! Ivy Celebrates Her First Christmas

Cooper’s Hawk October is upon us once again, which heralds the arrival of one of my favorite holidays: Hawk Day. What I particularly like about this day of observance is the way that it is properly observed. What could be more festive than a crowd of enthusiastic birders congregating at Lenoir Nature Preserve, the seat [...]

Adding a second child, even a healthy one like my lovely and robust Ivy, to the Core Team has ensured that we’ve been seeing lots of doctors. I didn’t realize how many we’d visited in the last three months until Mason told Sara yesterday that he wanted to “co-pay some money.” My adorable, adventurous, and [...]

Our little Ivy is one month old today. Isn’t she cute? You don’t have to answer that…I know how really, really cute she is. Our sweet Ivy Bean

Today is the international celebration of Masemas, the birthdate of our beloved Mason Hopkins Bergin. What a kid! Despite my own incredible love for the lad, I have to admit that I’m quite taken aback at how quickly observance of Mason’s birthday has spread. He’s only two, but throughout the United States, millions of people [...]

The view from most Bronx apartments usually lacks for interesting natural or architectural features. We’ve been lucky in that from our window we can see both a decent number of trees, including a magnificent tulip tree, and a cool bell tower of sorts. This tower is attached to a local home for the aged, one [...]

Another year, another Mikemas. We spent the weekend celebrating my 36th birthday, which was Saturday. The festivities included brunch with family, drinks with friends, and a fantastic time at Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion.  Although this radio show, which airs nationally on National Public Radio, is based out of Minnesota, Garrison and the gang come [...]

While the rest of the United States populace is getting jiggy with corned beef and green beer for St. Patrick’s Day, the Core Team celebrates a holiday far dearer to our hearts. Today is the sacred feast of Masemas, observed by showering a certain wonderful boy with gifts, cake, and lots of special attention. Please [...]

The most precious member of the Core Team is finally home where he belongs! Thanks to his robust growth and uncommon cuteness, Mason was released by his medical handlers yesterday into the wilds of the Bronx. It is a testament to his fortitude that he already seems to thrive in this tough environment. Even better, [...]

I am pleased to announce that today is our first wedding anniversary.  That special cake we picked up on Long Island yesterday (from the spectacular Madame Butterfly Cakes) was a fresh, rather than frozen, topper for our wedding cake.  It was superb, just like my wonderful wife. Many of you may know that the first [...]