Monthly Archives: September 2012

Our South Bergenite Column: ‘Lost Bird Project’ Up-close

1-LB-posterJim Wright, who maintains this blog for the Meadowlands Commission, also writes a twice monthly "Nature Next Door" column for The South Bergenite. Here is his latest — a look at "The Lost Bird Project."

One of the missions of the Meadowlands Commission is to protect our local environment, and understand the importance of this mission, you need only attend a special free screening of an hour-long documentary tonight  in DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst.

The highly acclaimed film is “The Lost Bird Project,” the story of sculptor Todd McGrain and his tributes to five North American birds that have gone extinct — the Heath Hen, the Passenger Pigeon, the Labrador Duck, the Great Auk and the Carolina Parakeet.

“Our initial goal was to simply tell the story of Todd’s efforts to place the memorials to the five birds near where they went extinct,” says Scott Anger, the film’s cinematographer and co-producer.

“But it quickly grew into an elegy to the birds and a way to connect viewers to the incredible stories behind each one. These five birds went extinct because of callous practices and a complete disregard for the natural world.”

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‘Lost Bird Project’: Vital Advice for Attendees (Scroll down for other new posts)

LostBirdProject_Great Auk_01We are expecting a very strong turnout for the free special screening of "The Lost Bird Project" tonight at 7 p.m.

If you do not have a ticket or have not rsvp'd by phone, please call 201-777-2431 to make sure seats are still available.

We advise you to allow plenty of time to get to the park, find a parking space and get a seat.

More info follows.

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‘Tribute in Light’ from DeKorte Park

1-IMG_0631Roughly two dozen folks were on hand at DeKorte Park to see the twin beams of light emanating from Lower Manhattan to mark the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Most were there with cameras, others were there just to reflect.

This has been an unofficial annual gathering that seems to be attracting more and more people.

If you have suggestions for next year, please let us know.

If you have photos of last night that you'd like to share on this blog, e-mail Jim Wright at jim.wright(at) njmeadowlands.gov.

Reserve Your Copy Now! ‘The Nature of the Meadowlands’

1-Nature of Meadowlands cover
The Meadowlands Commission is pleased to announce an official publication date of Oct. 15 for the coffee-table book “The Nature of the Meadowlands,” by the NJMC's own Jim Wright. 

With a foreword by Governor Thomas H. Kean, the lavishly illustrated, 128-page book illuminates the region's natural and unnatural history —  including its darkest days of a half-century ago and its inspiring environmental revival.

The book also celebrates the amazing landscapes and parks to be found here, including DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst, the Kearny Marsh and Laurel Hill in Secaucus.

In addition, The Nature of the Meadowlands features dozens of striking images, including present-day nature and landscape photography,  pictures of an old Secaucus pig farm, a "Sopranos" landmark, a Harp Seal in Carlstadt, an Eastern Coyote on a Meadowlands landfill, and rare Laurel Hill minerals. In short, expect the unexpected.

“The Nature of the Meadowlands” is a great resource and beautiful keepsake — and the perfect gift  for the upcoming holidays.

More information follows.

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‘Lost Bird Project’: Important Advice for Attendees

LostBirdProject_Great Auk_01
We are expecting a strong turnout for the free special screening of "The Lost Bird Project" tomorrow night at 7 p.m. in DeKorte Park.

We advise allowing plenty of time to get to the park, find a parking space and get a seat.

If you arrive early, you can always mark your seat as "reserved" and visit the nearby butterfly garden, check out our excellent gift shop, or enjoy the Manhattan skyline and marsh views.

For Google Map directions to DeKorte Park, click here.

To learn more and reserve a seat, click here.

DeKorte Bird Report 091112: Sora, Least Bittern w/Map

1-DSCN0557We had a Least Bittern on the Marsh Discovery Trail on the left-side as you leave the gurad-station entrance. Saw it around 5:30 p.m., on the big island before you get to the Ruddy Duck Channel.

Two photographers reported good if sporadic looks at a Sora on the right, just past the first seating area.

Pretty sure I had a Clapper Rail on the edges in the East Pool, but some loud yutes arrived and it disappeared into the reeds before we could get a pic.

1-DeKorte trail guide inside map 8-10

Record Column on the post-9/11 NY Skyline

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The Record's Mike Kelly interviewed Mike Maddaloni — who organized tonight's informal gathering at DeKorte Park to view the Twin Beams of Light — for the columnist's front-page column on Lower Manhattan's new skyline.

The link is here.

A link to Mike Maddaloni's photo from the column, of 1 One World Trade Center from DeKorte Park, here. Another of Mike Maddaloni's photos of the new skyline is featured above.

Remembering Sept. 11 — an Informal Gathering Tonight

Tonight around 8 p.m., a few folks are planning an informal, unofficial gathering in the Visitors Parking Lot at DeKorte to look at the Twin Beams of Light in Lower Manhattan.

Mike Maddaloni writes:

"Thursday night I stayed a bit after dark, chatting with a few other photogs, and lo and behold I saw a sliver of light in the sky.

"We waited until it got darker, and sure enough they were testing the  beams; they seemed a bit duller than usual so I'm holding out till Tuesday for a proper shoot. But I was able to test it, and with the still water from the parking area, its a GREAT spot, reflection in the water, the turnpike really doesn't do much damage to the shot.

"I'm looking forward to gathering with whoever wants for as long as we're permitted Tuesday night."  (Thanks, Mike!)