Meadowlands Birding Festival A Great Day for Everyone!

Thank you to the 600 people who joined the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and the Bergen County Audubon Society at the Meadowlands Birding Festival at DeKorte Park this past Sunday, Oct. 7!

Visitors were treated to guided bird walks, an incredible live raptor show and the NJSEA Meadowlands Research and Restoration Institute giving hands-on demonstrations on building an artificial floating island. The islands are filled with plants and create important habitats for birds, fish and pollinators.

In addition, the day featured talks on Ethical Photography, Peregrine Falcons and Rusty Blackbirds.

We Created a Birding Festival Gallery Below. Enjoy!

The birds were out in full force to enjoy their special day!
Great Egrets enjoy their special day
Birdwatchers at the park’s Gazebo
Tilly the Eastern Screech Owl
Raptor Show – Red-tailed Hawk
MRRI staff talk about Floating Islands
MRRI staff talk about Floating Islands
MRRI staff give an overview of Floating Islands
Rachel McGovern of the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ Gives a Talk on Peregrine Falcons: Flying High In New Jersey
Bergen County Audubon Society President Don Torino Explains How People Can Create Wildlife Habitats In Their Backyards

Don Torino celebrated his birthday at the Birding Festival

Meadowlands Birding Festival This Sunday, Oct. 6, at DeKorte Park!

Join the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA) and the Bergen County Audubon Society for the annual Meadowlands Birding Festival at DeKorte Park and the Meadowlands Environment Center in Lyndhurst.

The family-friendly event includes walks, talks, live raptor shows and kid’s activities. In addition, there is a program on Ethical Bird Photography and a Birdability event to accommodate, include and celebrate all people. 

Guest speaker Rachel McGovern of the Conserve Wildlife Federation of New Jersey will present a talk on “Peregrine Falcons-Flying High in New Jersey.”

DeKorte Park and the Meadowlands Environment Center are located at 2 DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst.

The event runs from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a 7 a.m. early bird walk and opportunity to view bird banding at Harrier Meadow, located off Disposal Road in North Arlington.

For more information, contact Don Torino of the Bergen County Audubon Society at greatauk4@gmail.com or 201-230-4983; or the NJSEA at info@njsea.com or 201-460-1700.

A Stark and Sober Reminder

Patricia Homonylo was awarded the Overall Winner of the international Bird Photographer of the Year Award. Her photo, “When Worlds Collide,” is a powerful reminder of the perils that glass windows pose to avian species.

Her image shows over 4,000 birds that died colliding with windows in Toronto. Homonylo is a conservation photographer who works with the Fatal Light Awareness Program to save window collision survivors in Toronto. “Sadly, most of the birds we find are already dead,” she said. “They are collected and at the end of the year we create this impactful display to honour the lives lost and increase public awareness.” She added that over one million birds die each year from windows strikes, and that’s in North Amercica alone.

The problem is not irreversible. People and businesses can install special windows that dramatically decrease window strikes. Check out advice from the Fatal Light Awareness Program here. You can view all of the Bird Photographer of the Year winners here

Here is a sampling of these remarkable photos.

A photo of a peregrine falcon practicing his hunting skills on a butterfly won the silver award in the bird behavior category of this year’s Bird Photographer of the Year. Taken in California, photographer Jack Zhi said that although he had been photographing peregrines for years, he had never seen them play with butterflies.

‘Feeding Frenzy’ by Jonas Beyer



‘Black Grouse’ by Markus Varesvuo

BCAS DeKorte Park This Wednesday (Sept. 18)!

The Bergen County Audubon Society is your guide for a walk through this absolute gem of the Meadowlands park system. Enjoy and learn about the park’s trails and the many bird species that call this special place home. The walk goes from 10 a.m. to noon.

Meet outside the Meadowlands Environment Center, 2 DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst.

Contact: Don Torino at greatauk4@gmail.com or 201-230-4983.

Reminder: Birding For Beginners With the BCAS This Saturday, Sept. 14, at DeKorte Park

Have you always wanted to start birding but aren’t sure where to begin? The Bergen County Audubon Society’s Birding for Beginners program this Saturday, Sept. 14, is the perfect place to launch your bird watching adventure. This fun and engaging experience covers many facets of birding skills along with tips to help get you going. The program begins at 10 a.m. and is followed by a walk through DeKorte Park.

The program takes place in the Meadowlands Environment Center Auditorium, 2 DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst.

Contact: Don Torino at greatauk4@gmail.com or 201-230-4983.

Birding For Beginners With the BCAS This Saturday, Sept. 14, at DeKorte Park

Have you always wanted to start birding but aren’t sure where to begin? The Bergen County Audubon Society’s Birding for Beginners program on Saturday, Sept. 14, is the perfect place to launch your bird watching adventure. This fun and engaging experience covers many facets of birding skills along with tips to help get you going. The program begins at 10 a.m. and is followed by a walk through DeKorte Park.

The program takes place in the Meadowlands Environment Center Auditorium, 2 DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst.

Contact: Don Torino at greatauk4@gmail.com or 201-230-4983.

BCAS Mill Creek Marsh Walk This Wednesday (Sept. 11)!

Join the Bergen County Audubon Society this Wednesday (Sept. 11) as they lead a walk on the Mill Creek Marsh Trail. The Marsh is a wonderful place for birding. The walk goes from 10 a.m. to noon. Meet at the trail entrance off the back parking lot of Bob’s Discount Furniture in Secaucus.

Contact: Don Torino: greatauk4@gmail.com – (201) 230-4983