We are happy to announce that we will continue with a streamlined standard liability release form for our free nature walks. You can sign one release that will cover you for all our walks in 2012. (Note: Just bring the release with you on the next free guided walk.)
You can download it here: Download 2012 njmc-guided bird-walk release.
NJMC staffer Jim Wright, who keeps this blog, also writes a column every other Thursday for The South Bergenite.
His latest is a look back at 2011.
Here is the column:
Frequent bald eagle sightings, plenty of other amazing birds, plus a new park and launching ramp on the Hackensack River: With 2011 coming to a close, I thought that now might be the time to look back at the newsworthy events in the natural world in the Meadowlands over the past 12 months.
If you like to read good news, then read on.
The year 2011 marked the dedication of a new riverside park in Carlstadt, lots of great nature sightings, and the continued partnership with Bergen County Audubon Society.
We thought we'd celebrate by looking back at 2011, month by month.
Here are some highlights from June:
June 2: Revamped Butterfly Garden
June 7: Glossy Ibis in Harrier Meadow
June 9: Three Active Osprey Nests
June 13: New Sensory Garden at DeKorte
June 14: Full Moon, Kearny Marsh
June 21: Kearny Marsh — Bitterns and Rails
June 30: Nesting Common Nighthawks
Jump-start your year list on New Year's Day with a free guided walk at Mill Creek Marsh in Secaucus. The two-hour walk, sponsored by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission and Bergen County Audubon Society, begins at 10 a.m. and will be held on wide, flat paths with lots of great spots to see wintering waterfowl and raptors.
You'll be required to sign a standard liability release, good for NJMC/BCAS events throughout the year. You can download the release here:
Download 2012 njmc-guided bird-walk release
Full details follow.
Yes, as Rick Wright poinred out, the photo above is from the well-known Rosanne Coggeshall tree.
More on the Rosanne Coggeshall tree here.
We had a great final guided walk of the year yesterday morning, with nine duck species (but no Ruddies), nice looks at a male Bufflehead, and — appropriately — a (distant) Bald Eagle for the last bird of the year.
To all who joined us on a walk this year, thank you!
To all who have yet to join us, what are you waiting for? We'll post the entire 2012 schedule in early January.
Happy Holidays from the Meadowlands Commission and our friends at Bergen County Audubon Society.
Full list follows — thanks to Denise Farrell!
The year 2011 marked the dedication of a new riverside park in Carlstadt, lots of great nature sightings, and the continued partnership with Bergen County Audubon Society.
We thought we'd celebrate by looking back at 2011, month by month.
Here are some highlights from May:
May 3: Tri-colored Heron
May 6: Little Blue Heron at DeKorte
May 13: Kearny Marsh Report
May 14: Treehog!
May 17: World Series of Birding: 127 Species
May 27: Red Knot or Curlew Sandpiper?
The North Pole's got nothing on DeKorte these days. While Santa and the elves are putting the finishing touches on holiday gifts, workers at DeKorte are building a solar carport (above), repairing the Transco Trail (below), and preparing to install a new boardwalk to complete the Marsh Discovery Trail repairs (bottom).
Please pardon all the construction!
Just a reminder that we still have a few signed copies of Thomas Yezerski's acclaimed new children's book "Meadowlands" for sale in the Environment Center at DeKorte Park for a great price, $14.95 — a great holiday gift while supplies last.
The book is available at the Environment Center's Tideland Treasures Gift Shop.
More on Tom and the book here.