Daily Archives: May 10, 2010

Bird Report 051010: Eagles, Shorebirds & More

  Still catching up on Sunday posts.
  Kevin Watson reports that "there were 'at Least' 100 Least Sandpipers in the “shorebird pool” at DeKorte [Sunday] morning, and at least 3 Semipalmated, 1 White-rumped and 1Dunlin.
    "An adult Bald Eagle flew over the mudflats towards the E1 landfill, then
turned back north, and was joined by a second bird, sporting a rather
scruffy juvenal plumage.
    "By the retention pond on Disposal Road, a male Orchard Oriole was hunkered down in the weeds, I think the first time I have seen this species below eye level. He made a few attempts at song, but his heart clearly wasn't in it.
  "Photos of the Oriole and adult Eagle are here."

  Rob Fanning adds: "In addition to the birds Kevin already mentioned, there was 1 PECTORAL SANDPIPER, 1 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, many Yellowlegs (95% Lesser), and all 5 species of Swallows late morning/early afternoon. I also saw a RAVEN fly past low over the 2nd parking lot." (Thanks, Kevin and Rob).

   Sounds promising for Tuesday's noon walk on the Marsh Discovery Trail.


DeKorte Swallows and Shorebirds

  IMG_7104

  The Shorebird Pool at DeKorte should be fairly low on Tuesday for our noon to 1:30 p.m. Marsh Discovery Trail walk. We hope to see you there — meet at the entrance near the entrance to DeKorte — sunblock, binoculars and water are all good ideas.  These photos were taken today.

Nifty Tree Swallow Boxes

IMG_6055

    For the fifth year in a row, clients of Spectrum for Living adult training centers have built some beautiful Tree Swallow nesting boxes for the Meadowlands — ranging from simple wooden nesting boxes with perches to some really creative works of art.
   One box from the Ringwood A.T.C. featured a ladder and a little bird swing (pictured at right IMG_6061 ). In all, the clients built two dozen new boxes, several of which are already providing housing by the Lyndhurst Nature Preserve at DeKorte Park.
   "This has turned into a wonderful annual event," says the NJMC's Gabrielle Bennett-Meany. "All the centers work had to have the most decorated nesting box — some are way too beautiful to put in a marsh."
  Bennett-Meany says that the centers also contribute some basic well-built basic boxes to be put to use at the water’s edge.
   According to Jerry Kearns of the Spectrum for Living, the project serves two great purposes: "Besides helping the birds, our clients just love making these boxes. It builds their confidence and self-esteem."
    The adult training centers are located in Ringwood, Westwood, Teaneck, Norh Haledon and Edison.
    Link to a blog post on this project from last year is here.