We are beginning to get reports of Osprey sightings in the Meadowlands, so keep your eyes peeled.

NJMC Executive Director Marcia Karrow saw one flying in DeKorte last week, Julie McCall had one on Sunday, and Mike Gempp saw one yesterday.

Sightings of these dynamic hawks — the 2012 NJMC Bird of the Year — should soon be daily occurrences.

Here's a link to an earlier post on Ospreys and what to do if you see any nesting activity in the Meadowlands.

The photo above is one of the Osreys from the Carlstadt nest in 2010 — the first successful nest in Bergen County in decades.

R. T. Geoghan photographed this groundhog this past weekend at Mill Creek Marsh.

R.T. writes: "What a great time of year – the Red-winged Blackbirds calling, the Tree Swallows – a symphony better than anyone could possibly compose."

Incidentally, the groundhog did not see its shadow, which means we can expect six more weeks of summer.  (Thanks, R.T.!)

Jim Wright, who keeps this blog for the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission, also writes a twice-monthly column for The South Bergenite. Here's his latest, on the Meadowlands Big year.

 This year, the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission is sponsoring a “Big Year”  — a friendly competition to see who can see the most species of birds in the Meadowlands District for 2012.

The goal is not only to encourage folks to do more bird-watching in the Meadowlands, but also to highlight the wide range of amazing birds we have here.

The results have been gratifying.

As of March 1, we have eight competitors and a tie for the total number of species — 76 — between Chris Takacs and Julie McCall, both of Lyndhurst. Several others inside and outside the district are also faring well.  

Rest of column follows.

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