Today is the big day: The World Series of Birding.

We wish all competitors well, and may they find the birds of their dreams.

Go Marsh Hawks!

Herb Houghton sent us these photos of two classic Meadowlands birds, the Osprey and the Red-winged Blackbird.They were both photographed at DeKorte Park.

(Thanks, Herb!)

Ray Duffy reports seeing a Wild Turkey in Schmidt's Woods in Secaucus this morning.

(Thanks, Ray!)

One of my favorite destinations in the Meadowlands is the Hackensack River, and starting on May 19, accessing this winding 50-mile-long waterway is going to get a whole lot closer for everyone who lives in Bergen County.

No, nobody’s moving the river. But the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission is opening a new park in Carlstadt. River Barge Park includes the first public boat ramp on the west side of the Hackensack River since just about anybody can remember.

The 5.5-acre park features all sorts of cool features, like a fishing dock, a 17-slip marina, a stretch of shore line to launch kayaks and canoes, an educational pavilion, and a promenade with picnic tables and wonderful views of the river and the Manhattan skyline just 5 miles away.  There’s ample parking on-site for vehicles and trailers.

I have paddled my kayak from River Barge Park on two occasions to preview what’s in store for paddlers, and both occasions were memorable.

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The legendary Meadowlands Marsh Hawks are competing in the World Series of Birding this Saturday, in part to raise money for a new native plant garden for birds and butterflies by the AmVets Carillon on Disposal Road.

We are happy to report that we broke ground for the garden (above) this week.

Your donation to the Marsh Hawks will help this dream garden come true.

A recent post on the plans for the new garden is here.

For more information on supporting the Marsh Hawks, download the Pledge Sheet here: Download Pledge sheet

Or e-mail Team Captain Mike Newhouse at michael.newhouse (at) njmeadowlands.gov.

If you contribute $25 or more, you will have a chance to win a spiffy official Meadowlands Marsh Hawks cap and T shirt.

Make checks payable to the N.J. Meadowlands Commission and send them to Mike Newhouse, NJMC, One DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst 07071.

Thank you!

Brian Anderson has a neat story in this week's South Bergenite about a Rutherford beekeeper. The link is here.

Our latest "Focus on the Meadowlands" for wildnewjersey.tv features a couple of river raptors — the Peregrine above and an adult Bald Eagle over the Saw Mil Creek Wildlife Management Area — plus a shot of kayaking by River Barge Park, which opens on Saturday, May 19.

The link is here.

Now through Sunday, DeKorte Park's Shorebird Pool levels will be lower.

We have already seen Stilt Sandpiper and Short-billed Dowitchers (first reported by Ray Duffy — thanks, Ray!), along with the yellowlegs and Least Sandpipers.

We are hoping for Soras! Let us know if you see any!

If you walk out the elevated boardwalk next to the Meadowlands Environment Center at DeKorte, you'll get some great looks at one of our favorite birds, the Tree Swallow. This was taken with our new Point-and-Shoot.