For Earth Week, the Meadowlands Commission is recycling old sneakers.
   If you are attending the Bergen Audubon talk about the Birds of the Meadowlands tonight (Wednesday evening), attending the Earth Day events at DeKorte on Thursday, or just visiting the park this week, bring those old sneaks along.
   More info here: Download Nike Poster with NJMC

Alice Leurck photographed this Bald Eagle equipped with a transmitter at Bergen County's Overpeck Preserve this past weekend on a Bergen County Audubon Society field trip. It was either flying to or from the Meadowlands, we believe. :- )

According to Alice, Don Torino of BCAS e-mailed the state DEP; they responded that they don't think New Jersey has transmitters on Eagles, but they will check into this. Can anyone help?  (Thanks, Alice!)

Gil Hawkins, executive director of the preserve, says this was the third instance of a Bald Eagle with a transmitter seen  this year. Two eagles with transmitters were seen flying together.

The New York State DEC has an eagle/transmitter program. (Link is here.) We have contacted them as well.

  
  Dave Hall of the Bergen County Audubon Society will give a talk about the birds of the Meadowlands tomorrow (Wednesday) night at 8 in the Meadowlands Environment Center.
   The talk, part of the BCAS monthly meeting, is free and open to the public.
   If time and the weather allows, we will visit the McDowell Observatory to view the night sky after the meeting. And don't forget to bring your old sneakers to recycle!
   Details follow.

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   We saw some great birds at Harrier Meadow today, beginning with a Northern Flicker at a bird-banding demonstration by NJMC Naturalist Mike Newhouse and his trusty volunteers. 
    Among the attractions — a male Northern Harrier, plenty of Greater Yellowlegs, a nice variety of ducks and a host of Tree Swallows who insisted on showing off.
    We'll post the full list and many more pix later this week. Thanks to the 30 people who joined us for the walk…

  Can you ID this tree next to Losen Slote Park in Little Ferry by its buds?
  Pic of the full tree is below.

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   Tomorrow's Harrier Meadow Walk and Bird-banding Demo is all set for 10 a.m, though be aware that the bird-banding has been a tad slow.
   The good news is that an American Kestrel can easily be seen working the top of the (closed) Erie Landfill, and a pair of Ospreys have been fishing and gathering nesting materials nearby at DeKorte. Hope to see you tomorrow.
   Details on the walk follow, but be aware you will need to sign a standard release to visit this site, which is usually closed to the public.You can download the release here: Download HARRIER Release.

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Julie McCall reports seeing Barrn Swallows, Forster's Terns, Hermit Thrush and Woodcock at DeKorte on Saturday.
   Her report follows (Thanks, Julie!):
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Here are a few of the major blog posts from last April, in case you're looking ahead:

     April 20: Raven vs. Redtail

     April 23: Muskrat at DeKorte

     April 24: The Barn Swallows Are Back

 
    Ray Duffy had Blue-headed Vireos at Schmidt's Woods in Secaucus this a.m. He and a few others saw two Forster's Terns over the tidal impoundments at DeKorte today. Photo of Forster's Tern at right was taken today.  We also had Common Merg flying, Savannah Sparrows plus plenty of Gadwalls and No. Shovelers at DeKorte.
    Other recent sightings in the next post.