We saw this statuesque Golden Eagle perched on the Bergen County Courthouse on Hackensack, a couple of blocks from the Hackensack River.      

    We hope he stays around.

   Our first Sunday of the month walk is this Sunday. Link to earlier post with full info is here.

    A view of Manhattan and Jersey City from DeKorte Park.  The early sunsets of December and the winter months can be beautiful in the Meadowlands. This was taken around 4 p.m. yesterday.

       This is an important reminder regarding the special Dec. 15 NJMC/BCAS  walk in  Mehrhof Woods and legendary Mehrhof Pond in Little Ferry,'

    Because of security reasons at the Bergen County Utilities Authority site, you must pre-register by tomorrow (Friday).  You'll also need to sign  a standard liability waiver. 

   To expedite  things, you can download the release here: Download BCUA releaase

   Please e-mail Don Torino here or phone him at the number below as soon as possible if you plan to attend. 

   Here are the details of December's third-Tuesday walk:

  Tuesday, December 15, 10 a.m. 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 hundreds upon hundreds of 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.

   Starting today (Wednesday, Dec. 2), the  Flyway Gallery in DeKorte Park's Environment Center will display the winning photographs and other top entries from the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission’s 2009 Amateur Photo Contest, “The Meadowlands: 40 Years of Progress.”

   The exhibition will run through Sunday, Jan. 3.

    A stunning photo of an immature Yellow-Crowned Night Heron captured first prize in  the NJMC announced today.

   The winning photo, Kearny resident Ronald Shields’ photo, “Out on a Limb" (above), and nearly 20 other images will be on display.

   Click "Continue reading…" for more information.

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   Just a reminder that our first Sunday-of-the-month walk with our friends at Bergen County Audubon Society begins at Mill Creek Marsh at 10 a.m. in Secaucus.

   Don Torino did a scouting trip there this morning, and he reports:

   "Good Sparrows, Song, Swamp, White-Throated , White-Crowned and American Tree Sparrows.   

   "Good numbers of Green-winged Teals and Northern Shovelers  and a beautiful Northern Harrier working the Meadows finished up our morning!     

   "See everyone Sunday Morning, Where your gloves and warm hats."

   Click "Continue reading…" for more details.

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    The William D. McDowell Observatory in  DeKorte Park begins a new month of programming tomorrow night with free public programs at 8 and 9 p.m.

   Each evening two major objects in the night sky will be viewed plus one or two other celestial objects or events depending on the observing conditions.

    Pictured at left is the observatory's state-of-the-art telescope with a 20-inch mirror,  housed beneath a retractable dome.

  The telescope, one of the largest in the area, is equipped with cameras to record the stars and planets. Special filters block light pollution.

For detailed information and the complete December schedule, click here.