To wrap up the Meadowlands Commission's 40th anniversary celebration in style, we are working with the Bergen County Audubon Society to offer several nifty nature walks in December.

   They are: another Mill Creek Marsh walk on Sunday, Dec. 6; a Hawk Walk and Talk on Sunday, Dec. 13; and a trip to the Mehrhof Pond and BCUA Mehrhof Woods property on Tuesday, Dec. 15; and a Year-End DeKorte Walk on Tuesday, Dec. 29. (And yes, you are correct; we ordinarily try to avoid using semi-colons. Our apologies for the breach in form.)

  Click Continue reading for the full line-up (and note that the Hawk Walk and talk, previously scheduled for Dec. 6, is now on for Dec. 13.

Sunday, December 6, 10 a.m.
First-Sunday-of-the-Month Bird Walk with Bergen County Audubon Society
This free two-hour walk starts at the entrance to  the Mill Creek Marsh in Secaucus.  We’ll look for winter raptors, waterfowl and other birds in this 225-acre natural area. The Meadowlands Commission restored the site and opened it to the public in 2002. It is a great place to watch birds, take a walk, or just chill. To rsvp, contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or 201-636-4022.  Directions are available on the Meadowlands nature Blog,  meadowblog.net.

Sunday, December 13, 10 a.m.
Bonus  Bird Walk with Bergen County Audubon Society
This free  program at DeKorte Park  begins at 10 a.m. with “The Hawk Talk,” a short slide show by the NJMC’s Jim Wright in the Meadowlands Environment Center’s Visitor Center. The talk  features the raptors that were seen in the Meadowlands last winter – including Snowy Owls, Rough-legged Hawks, Peregrine Falcons and Bald Eagles. After the program, we will look for raptors at DeKorte  and environs. To rsvp, contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or 201-636-4022.

Tuesday, December 15, 10 a.m.
Third-Tuesday-of-the month Bird Walk with Bergen County Audubon Society
This free two-hour guided walk at Mehrhof Pond and the BCUA’s Mehrhof Woods starts at 10 a.m. at the BCUA entrance on Empire Boulevard in Moonachie.  Because of limited parking and logistics, we will be carpooling from DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst at 9:30 a.m.   Mehrhof Pond is a great spot to watch wintering waterfowl, especially Ruddy Ducks. Because the Bergen County Utilities Authority property is generally closed to the public for security reasons, you must sign up for this walk no later than Dec. 4 and sign a standard liability waiver.  No same-day registration will be accepted. To rsvp, contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or 201-636-4022.

Tuesday, December 29, 10 a.m.
Farewell 2009,  Bird Walk with Bergen County Audubon Society
This free two-hour guided walk will take place at DeKorte Park. We’ll look at waterfowl and raptors and whatever else is around. Last year at this time, we had the Snowy Owls and a Eurasion Green-winged Teal. To rsvp, contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or 201-636-4022.