We stopped by the Secaucus Middle School Cafeteria on Saturday to see NJMC naturalist Gabrielle-Bennett Meany (right) help students from the school's Environmental Club build and paint Tree Swallow Nesting Boxes for the upcoming season.

Over a two-hour work session, 40 students built 50 Tree Swallow boxes for the Meadowlands Commission. The nest boxes will be placed in the nearby Secaucus High School Marsh and Mill Creek Marsh next month.

Environmental Club Advisor Ron Mroz put togther the event. The Secaucus Home Depot provided the materials and other assistance.

A big thank you to all from the Tree Swallows in Secaucus.

Don Torino of the Bergen County Audubon Society, who helps lead the Meadowlands Commission's free twice monthly walks, posted his latest column on wildnewjersey.tv. It's about why sparrows are so interesting. No, really.

Among his favorite places for sparrows — DeKorte Park and Mill Creek Marsh.

Link is here. Fox Sparrow at DeKorte, photographed yesterday, is above.

What's going on in this photo, and why is it good news for the natural areas of the Meadowlands and statewide?

Answer tomorrow.