Monthly Archives: October 2016

Monarch Release

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NJSEA staff released 13 Monarch butterflies in DeKorte Park this week. Staff had moved the caterpillars inside due to predators and the weather. They were placed in a mesh enclosure so that they could progress through the chrysalis stage and emerge as Monarchs out of harm’s way. All of the butterflies were tagged with help from Marie Longo of the Bergen County Audubon Society. By tracking Monarchs’ movements as they migrate south to Mexico, scientists can gain information to aid the unfortunately fast disappearing species.

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Don Torino’s Life in the Meadowlands: There is Hope in Every Butterfly

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Last week, Marie Longo, Bergen Audubon education director, released some of the last tagged Monarch butterflies of the season. One of the many she liberated that day was from a single last caterpillar I found still feeding on a tiny, sad partial leaf of Milkweed. Small and all alone, I brought it home to raise, not very optimistic that it would even survive.

It struggled for a few days, very slow and a bit lethargic but gradually it began to eat. It continued to struggle as it tried to move on to its next stage of life, hanging from the roof of the enclosure for more than a day . But to my amazement it finally accomplished what nature intended and formed that most beautiful of all natures structures, the Monarch butterfly chrysalis.

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Mill Creek Walk Checklist

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What a couple of days for a nature walk! Participants in yesterday’s BCAS Mill Creek Marsh walk were treated to wonderful weather and 21 species including many mallards as well as kestrels, wrens and robins. We’ve got some awesome photos that we’ll post later today. Here’s a complete species list:

Canada Goose
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Mallard
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Snowy Egret
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Osprey
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Northern Harrier
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Cooper’s Hawk
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Greater Yellowlegs
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Ring-billed Gull
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Mourning Dove
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Belted Kingfisher
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American Kestrel
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Blue-headed Vireo
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Black-capped Chickadee
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Marsh Wren
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American Robin
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Northern Mockingbird
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Common Yellowthroat
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Yellow-rumped Warbler
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Song Sparrow
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Red-winged Blackbird
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House Sparrow

Richard Crossley At The Meadowlands Dec. 1!

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We’re pleased to announce that internationally acclaimed birding field guide author Richard Crossley is coming to the Meadowlands Environment Center on Thursday, Dec. 1, from 7 to 9 p.m. The event is presented by the Bergen County Audubon Society as part of its 75th anniversary.

Crossley’s free talk, “Past, Present and Future,” will give insights learned from growing up in the wild British birding scene and travels around the world to living in Japan and settling down for good in the birding utopia of Cape May. He will also give his thoughts about the “Crossley ID Guide” series and sign copies of his books.

Richard Crossley is a renowned birder, photographer and the award winning author of “The Crossley ID Guide” series. Crazy, wildly passionate, driven and single-minded are just a few of the words used to describe his love of birding and the outdoors. For more information on Richard Crossley click here.

To register click here