The NJSEA William D. McDowell Observatory will be open to the public from Thursday, Aug. 27 at 10:30 p.m. to Friday, Aug. 28 at 2 a.m. to view the deep Partial Lunar Eclipse. This special viewing session is weather permitting. Please call 201-460-4001 on Aug. 28 for viewing status.

During the near-total eclipse, about 93% to 96% of the Moon will pass through Earth’s shadow. The moon will take on a striking rusty-orange and copper-red glow during this time. 

The partial eclipse begins at 10:33 p.m. and peaks at 12:12 a.m. 

Note: The park will open at 10:15 p.m. and visitors will be able to enter the Observatory at 10:30 p.m. Visitors will not be let in the park before 10:15 p.m.

The William D. McDowell Observatory is located in DeKorte Park, 3 DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst

For more information, visit njsea.com or call 201-460-1700.

There is still time to register for an NJSEA Pontoon Boat Tour of the Hackensack River. The guided, two-hour tours run through Sept. 26. The tours are free; pre-registration is required.

Act quick: A limited number of seats remain and trips book quick.

You can find the registration form at https://www.njsea.com/pontoon-cruises/

Jefry Train and Don Torino

Bergen County Audubon Society President Don Torino welcomes Jeffry Train of “Our Tern” to his radio show, The Nature Connection, on Sunday, Aug. 23, from 6:30 a.m. to 7 a.m.

Jeffry is a founder of Our Tern. Initially formed to protect Hoboken’s colony of nesting terns, the organization has since grown its mission to safeguard all avian life in city environments. Read more about Our Tern here

The Nature Connection airs on the fourth Sunday of each month from 6:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. on WFDU 89.1 FM. The show was inspired by WFDU-FM General Manager and DJ Opie, a frequent participant in BCAS Nature Walks guided by Torino.

“You cannot care about nature until you can connect with it,” Don has said. He also stated that the most critical threat to the environment is a disconnect between people and the natural world around them – thus the show’s name.

Past episodes of The Nature Connection can be heard at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nature-connection/id6795559600

The Bergen County Audubon Society leads a guided walk of the Mill Creek Marsh Trail in Secaucus on Sunday, Aug. 16, from 10 a.m. to noon. The marsh is a great place to see Snowy Egrets, sandpipers and other avian species.

Meet at the trail entrance, off the back parking lot of Bob’s Discount Furniture, 3 Mill Creek Drive, Secaucus.

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

Semipalmated Sandpipers

The Bergen County Audubon Society is leading two great Meadowlands Nature Walks in the coming days. On Wednesday, Aug. 12, they will guide an evening walk through DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst, an environmental gem with perfect sunset views. The walk is from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Then, on Sunday, Aug. 16, join the BCAS on the Mill Creek Marsh Trail in Secaucus, a great place to see sandpipers, Snowy Egrets and other birds. This walk is from 10 a.m. to noon.

The DeKorte Park walk meets in the Meadowlands Environment Center parking lot, 2 DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst.

For Mill Creek Marsh, meet at the trail entrance, off the back parking lot of Bob’s Discount Furniture, 3 Mill Creek Drive, Secaucus.

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

DeKorte Park – Marsh Discovery Trail

Experience Richard W. DeKorte Park on special, guided evening walks led by the Bergen County Audubon Society. The walks take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays Aug. 12 and 26. You’ll learn about the park’s history and the abundant array of birds that inhabit this urban environmental treasure.

Meet in the Meadowlands Environment Center parking lot, 2 DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst.

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

Keep your eyes peeled for egrets, raptors and shorebirds as the Bergen County Audubon Society leads a guided walk through Richard W. DeKorte Park, the jewel of the Meadowlands park system! The walk is from 10 a.m. to noon.

Meet in the Meadowlands Environment Center parking lot, 2 DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst.

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

No need to fret if you missed Bergen County Audubon Society President Don Torino’s interview with Gabrielle Bennett-Meany of the NJSEA on The Nature Connection this past Sunday morning. The show is archived until Friday, Aug. 7, on https://wfdu.fm.

Gabrielle, New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority Manager of Parks, Trails and Open Space, plays a vital role in the health and upkeep of DeKorte Park. The program features Don and Gabrielle discussing her work at the park, its history, its native plants and butterflies, as well as the NJSEA’s Pontoon Boat Tour program.

The Nature Connection airs on the fourth Sunday of each month from 6:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. on WFDU 89.1 FM and is archived for the following two weeks.

The NJSEA extends a hearty thank you to the Bergen County Audubon Society and the hundreds of visitors who participated in Butterfly Day at Richard W. DeKorte Park on July 26, 2026.

People of all ages enjoyed butterfly walks, talks, information tables, and kids’ activities including a Costume Contest. Below are photos from the event.

Join the NJSEA and BCAS for the Meadowlands Birding Festival at DeKorte Park on Sunday, Oct. 4. More information to come closer to the event.

Credit NJSEA

Credit Emilia Lorenz

Credit Emilia Lorenz

Credit Emilia Lorenz

Credit Emilia Lorenz

Credit Emilia Lorenz

Credit Emilia Lorenz

Credit Emilia Lorenz

Credit Emilia Lorenz

Credit NJSEA

Credit NJSEA

Credit NJSEA

Credit NJSEA

Join the Bergen County Audubon Society and experience a DeKorte Park sunset during an evening walk starting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 22. The scenic gem includes three miles of walking trails framed by the New York City skyline.

Meet in the Meadowlands Environment Center parking lot, 2 DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst.

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