Mae DeVoe, one of the first Meadowlands residents to participate in the Meadowlands Commission’s Oral History Project, passed away on Friday, June 15.

In her honor, the Meadowlands History Blog has reposted an interview with Mae in July 2009.

In the interview, she offers several colorful recollections from a childhood spent exploring copper mines, skating on the old Jersey City Waterworks reservoir and attending high school dances.

Mae also talks about life in North Arlington during the Depression and World War II.

The Hudson Reporter had a neat story yesterday on all our summer events.

Link is here — get your calendars out!

A couple of recent Meadowlands Commission pontoon boat trips on the Hackensack River included multiple Osprey sightings, including (above) this guy with a fish atop the Lift Bridge. There is a new nest nearby.

All told, there are at least four active Osprey nests along the Hackensack River, and a likely fifth.

There is also a possible sixth nest farther inland — and that would be a big first.

We're not saying that we predicted this Osprey housing explosion, but we did make the Osprey the 2012 Meadowlands Bird of the Year, with a special T shirt in its honor.

The T shirt is available at the Tideland Treasures Gift Shop in the Environment Center at DeKorte Park.

(The gift shop is traesure unto itself — you should check it out the next time you are at DeKorte!)

One of the stars of our recent pontoon boat cruises on the Hackensack River is this young Red-tailed Hawk, who is just about ready to fly.

Three weeks ago it was pretty much a fluff ball. The photo on the left was taken last week.

We are also seeing lots of Osprey nests and all sorts of neat birds, including Black Skimmers.

Pontoon boat rides depart from River Barge Park, 260 Outwater Lane, Carlstadt. Weekday trips are at 10 a.m., 5 p.m., or 5:30 p.m.

For a complete schedule of trips and to register online, visit http://www.njmeadowlands.gov/environment/tours.html. Registration forms are also available at the NJMC offices and Meadowlands Environment Center, both in DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst.

Earlier this week we featured photos of an Orchard Oriole at DeKorte, plus photos of Cedar Waxwings and other birds bathing at Jill's Garden's fountain.

Today we thought we'd put 'em together. Photographed yesterday 4:45 p.m. Sometimes you just happen to see stuff — just part of the wonders of DeKorte.

In case you are wondering about the new sign on Valley Brook Avenue near DeKorte Park …

Due to circumstances beyond our control, NJ Transit plans to repair the railroad crossing in front of DeKorte Park next month.

This means that access to DeKorte Park from Valley Brook Avenue will be blocked — most likely for two weeks.

As the sign above says, the work should start around July 7. We appreciate your understanding.

The link to alternate directions and a map is here.

Jim Wright, who maintains this blog for New Jersey Meadwolands Commission, also writes a twice-monthly nature column for The South Bergenite.

Here's his latest, an interview with Dave Moskowitz, who is leading next month's Moth Night at DeKorte Park:

When it comes to bugs with bad reputations, moths probably rank up there with ticks, mosquitos and lice.

In an effort to change the public’s perception — and to show how amazing these insects really are, the Meadowlands Commission and Bergen County Audubon Society are sponsoring the region’s first-ever Moth Night next month.

The free event, which runs from 8:30 to 11 p.m. in DeKorte Park on Wednesday, July 25, is being held in conjunction with the first-ever National Moth Week.  Leading the event will be naturalist David Moskowitz, President of the Friends of the East Brunswick Environmental Commission and co-founder of Moth Week.

Moskowitz spoke with me recently about the event — and explained why you should save the date on your calendars.

The interview follows.

Continue reading →

Joe McKay, the son of a Secaucus pig farmer, is a folk singer inspired by his childhood — he lived down the road from Henry Krajewski, a pig farmer and tavern owner who ran for president in the 1950s.

Joe’s songs are a window on the Meadowlands of yore, before the environmental recovery began.

Joe will be performing tonight at 7 p.m. DeKorte Park in the Meadowlands Environment Center’s Marshview Pavilion.

The event is part of the MEC’s Summer Senior Program, and it’s free and open to anyone age 55 and up.

To register, call 201-777-2431 or 201-460-8300.

The photo, courtesy of Joe McKay, is of some his father’s many pigs.

Roy Woodford reports:

"Finally found the first year mail Orchard Oriole (I think) that everybody has been yammering about.  He was singing up a storm on the Kingsland Overlook Trail … took 45 minutes to track him down and get a few shots."

(Thanks, Roy!)  And yes, "Oh Oh" is short for Orchard Oriole.

Our latest "Focus on the Meadowlands" photos for wildnewjersey.tv feature this pair of Black Skimmers (now seen regularly toward dusk in DeKorte's Shorebird Pool), DeKorte's Daylilies, and the new One World Trade Center skyscraper as seen from the Meadowlands.