Bill Bonner of the HP Artists' Collective took these photos of a Tree Swallow (above) and Midges (below) at DeKorte Park last weekend. Now, if we could only get the swallow to swallow the Midges.

Both youngsters have left the nest but last we checked, Mom and Dad were still feeding them.
   More nest news to follow — the Meadowlands is one big nursery these days.

                                                   Photograph by Kristin Mylecraine, NJAS

    Linda Gangi reports that the two teams of young birders that Kristin Mylecraine and she fielded for the World Series of Birding last Saturday  tallied 84 and 85 species in 11 hours:

   "Highlight birds for the day were Glossy Ibis, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Cape May Warbler, Blackpoll, Yellow-throated Vireo, Common Raven (left) and Rough-winged Swallows.

   "The team met at DeKortePark at 7am, briefly birded the immediate area and then headed over to Garret Mountain.  By 11 a.m. we had tallied 55 species.  

  Click "Continue reading …" for more of Linda's report — and why getting lkids involved in the World Series of Birding is a great idea.

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    We are pleased to announce that on Monday, this blog reached 50,000 page views.

   We officially launched the blog last summer as part of our efforts to highlight and celebrate all of the Meadowlands' natural wonders, and we have been heartened by your response.

   We'd like to thank everyone who has been following this blog, and all those who have contributed bird sightings, photos and suggestions.

   We look forward to many exciting posts ahead. With your help, we just might top the Tri-Colored Heron, White Ibis and Snowy Owl  sightings of the past year. (Not to mention that Great Spangled Fritillary.)

   Please spread the word!

   If you have suggestions on ways to improve this blog, e-mail us.

   We saw these guys hanging out at Harrier Meadow on Friday. That's a Glossy Ibis on the left and a Snowy Egret on the right, for those keeping score at home.

   We have not seen the Glossy Ibis today, but if we do, we will send out an e-mail and have a walk for anyone who wants to see this beautiful bird. 

   E-mail Jim Wright here if you want to have your name added to the e-mail alert list.  

    Thanks to all who joined us on the first annual Mother's Day Walk in Ridgefield.
    The weather was great, and so was the walk.
     Roughly 20 people visited the thriving Ridgefield Nature Center, the Monk Parakeet Colony nearby, and the Skeetkill Creek Creek Marsh.
   Highlights included Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, several Northern Flickers (above), more than two-dozen nest-building Monk Parakeets, and a Short-billed Dowitcher.
    The Meadowlands Commission would like to thank Bruce and Karen Riede of the Ridgefield Environmental Commission and Don Torino and Bergen County Audubon for hosting the event with us.

  Click here for more posts on Ridgefield and and here for more posts on Monk Parakeets.

   Click "Continue reading…" for more photos and the full list of birds (thanks, Don!)

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    The Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society are hosting a free Mother's Day Walk in Ridgefield on Sunday at 8 a.m.

  The walk will also include a trip to Skeetkill Creek Marsh (above), with a stop to see the Monk Parakeet colony along the way.

   Click immediately below for more information and directions.

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If you see a bunch of Eagle-eyed young birders  birding in the Meadowlands on Saturday, don't be surprised.

    Linda Gangi, a friend of this blog, fellow NJ Auduboner Kristin Mylecraine will be leading two Youth Teams for the World Series of Birding Day. 
     (Next week, Linda will let us know how well they did and what they saw.

     Click here to learn more about the World Series of Birding.
     Click "Continue reading …"  to read more about the young WS birders.

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