We're still putting together the registration forms, but wanted everyone to get a sneak preview of our upcoming pontoon boat cruise schedule.
The two-hour cruises, which leave from River Barge Park in Carlstadt, provide an unparalleled look at the Hackensack River and its marshes.
List of dates follows.
Today's featured photogrpaher is Bruce Harman.
Bruce writes:
"The Green-winged Teal shot [above] was selected as the Wild NJ Photo of the Week.
"I have been making photographs since I was 11 years old, shooting everything from mountains to mosquitoes!
"Nature photography is my passion especially animal behavior documenting feeding, courtship, reproductive, aggressive and mating behaviors.
"You can generally find me along with a group of regulars (photographers) cameras at the ready standing on Disposal Road a/k/a Raptor Way"
Website: www.bruceharman.smugmug.com
Website: www.flickr.com/photos/bruceharman
Three more of Bruce's photos from the Meadowlands follow.
Ron Shields writes:
"The symbol of America was photographed on Friday chasing a large flock of Canada geese off the Kingsland Landfill toward Disposal Road." (Thanks, Ron!)
Ray Duffy reports:
I was at Laurel Hill late Thursday afternoon. I had 2 American pipits and about 10 horned larks behind the Xchange. The birds were working the field where the new construction is taking place (basically if you were on that Cul De Sac road that heads towards the dirt mounds, if you looked towards the Train Station, the birds were feeding in the exposed lawn.
The ravens were still present. I listened for woodcocks (I had them 2/17 last year), but didn't hear anything. Probably too cold and with the snow, it maybe too early.
Thanks, Ray. Sorry for the lag time in posting.
We had a great turnout, great birds, and great weather for our annual Great Backyard Bird Count walk — this year at Mill Creek Marsh.
Highlights included a Sharpie, a Coop, and lots of Shovelers and Green-winged Teal. Ring-billed gulls and Canada Geese vied for most populous and least popular. (Thanks to all who participated, especially our count keepers Justin and Asia!)
Full list follows.
Our next free guided walk is in Harrier Meadow on Tuesday, Feb. 19.The 70-acre natural area is usually closed to the public. Will look for raptors, wintering waterfowl and a surprise or two.
The 10 a.m. walk is sponsored by the N.J. Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society.
Full listing follows.
Mill Creek Marsh is open again as of 9:30 a.m. today.
NJMC staffer Jim Wright, who maintains this blog, writes a twice-monthly column for the South Bergenite. His latest is on that banded Bald Eagle seen on Disposal Road Last month.
Bald eagles have made an incredible comeback in this region in recent years — to the point where they are almost a common sight.
But the Meadowlands had never experienced what occurred in the mid-January: A majestic bald eagle sat atop telephone poles and in trees near DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst for two consecutive days.
The weather was dreary, so the raptor probably wasn’t much in the mood to fly. It didn’t mind if birders and photographers got close, so long as they stayed in their vehicles.
(Unless you are on the other side of a body of water, an eagle will typically high-tail it if you get within 100 yards.)
Equally amazing, photographer Louis Balboa snapped a photo of the bird (above) with a lens that was long enough that he not only was able to see bands on both legs, but he could also read the number and letter on a black double band on its left leg: “9/V.”
Don Torino, who is a leader on so many of the guided walks sponsored by the Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society, wrote his wildnewjersey.tv column this week on the annual Great Backyard Bird Count.
Writes Don: "This week everyone, from a truck driver to a doctor from a first grader to a lawyer and people from every walk of life from around the world, will become a scientist that will help gather critical environmental information to aid our birds.
"The data that is collected will help determine future conservation efforts that will benefit many of our avian species. The event is called the “Great Backyard Bird Count,” and for these special few days many of us will become 'Citizen Scientist' by counting the birds everywhere from our own backyards to local parks, nature preserves, and anywhere that you may find our feathered friends gathering.
The link is here.
We'll post the latest on Friday GBBC walk — hopefully still at Mill Creek Marsh — by noon today.
