What a double-header — a guided walk, and then a talk and signing by "Meadowlands" author Thomas F. Yezerski (above). They are both this Sunday at DeKorte Park, and they both are free!

First up is SuperBird Sunday guided walk, which starts at 10 a.m. The 90-minute walk, sponsored by the N.J. Meadowlands Commission and Bergen County Audubon Society, includes valuable prizes for the first person to see a bird that an NFL team is named for — Raven, Cardinal, Eagle, Falcon or Seahawk. (Not to worry: legendary birder Bob O'Link, pictured at right, will not be on this walk.)

Following the walk will be a free talk and artist's reception for Thomas F. Yezerski, the author/illustrator of the acclaimed children's book "Meadowlands: A Wetlands Survival Story." A link to that post is here.

Full details on both events follow.

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This week's "Focus on the Meadowlands" post on the wildnewjersey.tv features:

* a Northern Shoveler (at right)

* A recent Lesser Yellowlegs at DeKorte (go figure)

* DeKorte Park's amazing observatory.

The link is here.

Dennis Cheeseman managed to photograph the Western Palm Warbler seen by Rick Wright at DeKorte yesterday.

Not the most elegant shot, but…  (Thanks, Dennis and Rick!)

Rick Wright posted on JerseyBirds that "there was a Western Palm Warbler in the parking lot of the Meadowlands Commission Dekorte Park [Wednesday] afternoon, looking quite at home in the warm weather. The pond on nearby Clay Avenue had three Greater Yellowlegs."

Thanks, Rick.

In honor of Groundhog Day, here's a video we did in June 2008, before the blog was up and running.

We will check on Lyndhurst Larry today and report any activity.

The one-minute video features a woodchuck looking out of its den on a path in DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst, when Junior butts in. (Best played with audio on.)

For more information on this abundant Meadowlands mammal, click here.

Note: We realize that it is a bad idea to take hang out in front of birds' nests or mammals' dens in an effort to get a family portrait. The animals feel threatened and cannot escape.

For this video, we used a trick we learned minutes earlier from a professional video cameraman: You put the video-cam on a tripod not too far from entrance, hit "record," and walk away.

Later on, you come back, retrieve the camera and see what you caught on video. 🙂

Dennis Cheeseman saw this freshly minted butterfly in DeKorte Park today — on Wednesday, Feb. 1.  Seems early, no?

It's February 1, and we are asking for Meadowlands Big Year participants to e-mail us their totals so far (if they have not done so already. 

At last count, four birders have announced they are competing in this friendly competition to promote birding in the Meadowlands — two in district and two outside.

We have two totals thus far.

As a side contest, they are competing against the NJMC's Mike Newhouse as well.

There's still 11 months left, so feel free to jump in and join the fun. It costs nothing to participate, and we are offering some nifty prizes.

If you are competing off the radar, please e-mail Jim Wright at jim.wright (at) njmeadowlands.gov so we know you are out there. 

Much appreciated, and good luck to all.

Competition details are here.

Dennis Cheeseman offered this DeKorte Ducky Daily Double for yesterday's Teaser.

The duck at left is a male Gadwall. The duck on the right is a female Bufflehead.

Congrats to all who answered correctly.

When looking ahead, sometimes it's a good idea to look back.

Here are some nature highlights from February 2011:

February 3: Winter Sunset, Valley Brook Ave.

February 4: Of Heath Hens and Passenger Pigeons

 February 10: Dark-morph Rough-leg on Disposal Road

February 15: Mill Creek: Common Teal, Gray Ghost, Plus

February 17: Pheasants and More

February 23: 'New' Disposal Road Raptor

Highlights from February 2010 (including a Northern Shrike) are here, and highlights from February 2009 are here.