Kearny March was hopping this morning, with 250 Ruddies rafting to the south of Gunnell Oval.  Lots of American Coots and Northern Shovelers as well. Ron Shields reports seeing a Pied-billed Grebe chilling with the Ruddies the other day.

The Meadowlands Commission and the Ramapo Foundation are entering a team in the 28th annual World Series of Birding this May, to benefit a bird research project in the Meadowlands. 

We're going to see how many birds species we can see in Bergen County on Saturday, May 14.  Trouble is, we need a name — and we need your input.

So far, two names have been bandied about. Sorry to say, we are not  convinced that either gets the job done. Can you come up with a better name for our eagle-eyed crew?

Here are the choices:

A.) The Great Bergen Herons

B.) The Ramapo Raptors

C. Your choice here.

Please e-mail Jim Wright with your ideas at jim.wright (at) njmeadowlands.gov.  (Not sure why the link did not work — sorry!)

Greg Gard reports: "During my late afternoon visit to DeKorte, I saw 5 Greater Yellowlegs 'working' the Saw Mill Creek mudflats. No Bald Eagles or Horned Grebe for me today." That's Greg's photo above. (Thanks, Greg!)

NJMC naturalists Gabrielle Bennett-Meany and Michael Newhouse installed 20 new Tree Swallow nesting boxes in Mill Creek Marsh by boat earlier this week.

A few Tree Swallows arrived to inspect their new digs but we did not see anyone move in. We did see (and hear) a Peregrine Falcon zip past the boat on a strafing run toward  Green-winged Teal, a Bald Eagle, a Red-Tail and a Northern Harrier.