Striking images of the Meadowlands’ marshes, sunsets, and flora and fauna captured by photographer Marco Lips will be on display at the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission’s Flyway Gallery through August.
   The exhibit, “Quintessential Meadowlands,” opens on Tuesday, July 6 and runs through Friday, Aug. 27. 

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  Environmental Reporter Jim O'Neill's story on shorebird migration featured the Meadowlands. The story ran in The Record today. It's a good read. Link is here.

  We checked in on the osprey nest in Carlstadt yesterday evening to find the family in fine fettle.

  In the photo above, four Ospreys are visible — although the nestling behind the red screening is admittedly hard to see.

   The nest has been registered with the New Jersey Osprey Project. It is officially Nest 042-B-001.

   Here is a link to a South Bergenite column on Ospreys this spring.

   On the "jump" is a  photo with an arrow pointing to each Osprey. Nos. 1 and 2 are the nestlings; 3 and 4 are the proud parents.

   No. 1 is hardest to see, hence the enlarged number.

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   The big Butterfly Day at DeKorte Park may be over, but there are still plenty of butterflies around. Please stop by and see for yourself. Best time is a sunny day between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

   If you missed today's noontime Marsh Discovery Trail walk — and the three Least Bittern sightings — don't despair.
   The Meadowlands Commission and Bergen Audubon are leading a free walk on the trail at 10 a.m. on Sunday, and we will be looking for these guys. (Click here for more info.)
   All three Leasts were perched midway up the phrags, which was a switch — we typically see them at the water's edge or in flight.
   Also seen on the walk: Osprey, Ruddy Ducks, lots of Forster's Terns, Black-crowned Night Heron.
   (Thanks to Dennis Cheeseman for the group shot, and thanks to Chris Takacs for the bittern shot. I had guaranteed that we would get good birds today because I did not take my camera.)

    The NJMC's Jim Wright writes the "Nature Next Door"  column for The South Bergenite."  His latest column, on shorebirds, follows.

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    Save the date: Well-known  bird photographer and author Kevin Karlson will offer a full day of free programs at DeKorte Park, home of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC), on Saturday, Aug. 21. 
   The event, sponsored by the NJMC and the Bergen County Audubon Society, will kick off with a shorebird walk along DeKorte’s Shorebird Pool at 8:30 a.m. Another free walk is slated for 10:30 a.m.
   Also on tap: an hour-long  mini-seminar on Bird IDs at 1 p.m. and a preview of Kevin's new book on Cape May at 2:20 p.m.
   Stay tuned for a big announcement regarding Kevin Karlson Day.
   To rsvp, contact Don Torino  of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or 201-636-4022.

Brian Thompson of WNBC filed this report last week on remediation efforts at the Richard P. Kane Natural Area in Carlstadt and Little Ferry. Hundreds of acres of Phragmites have been cleared in order to make way for native marsh grasses.

 
   The New Jersey Audubon Society is seeking volunteers for a new Shorebird Survey. Citizen scientists will be asked to count shorebirds at specific sites for at least 15 minutes at least three times a month.
   To participate, you'll need to attend a shorebird ID workshop on Saturday, Aug. 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at DeKorte Park. To register or get more information, e-mail the NJAS' Nellie Tsipoura here.
    A note from Nellie follows.
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 Chris Takacs reports:  Male Kestrel on Disposal Road at DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst Tuesday evening. 1000+ peeps off the Saw Mill Trail, but almost along the 1-E landfill, so too  far away to view them. 2 Ospreys, 20 Great Egrets, 15+ snowy Egrets, 6  Black-crowned Night Herons, 2 Laughing Gulls among 200+ gulls which were mostly  Ring-billed and Herring.
   Monday 4:30 a.m. at Clay Ave. Wetland: 2 Virginia Rails vocalizing.