The folks at eBird are helping with research into the steep declines of Rusty Blackbirds, and they need your help. According to the website….

Please help provide information on Rusty Blackbird migration by searching for Rusties this March and April in any potentially suitable habitat [like Mill Creek Marsh and DeKorte Park!] and reporting those sightings to eBird.

You can scout anywhere throughout the Rusty Blackbird’s range — across the eastern United States, throughout the Midwest, and into Canada (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rusty_Blackbird/id). 

This wetland-loving species can be found in some surprising places, so don’t be surprised if you catch a sighting or two in a place you wouldn’t consider a birding hot spot. 

Rusties can be found in many habitats from beautiful bottomland hardwood swamps to waterfowl management areas to flooded ditches by the side of the road, so feel free to get creative in your search for this bird!

More info here.

The president of Bergen County Audubon Society, Don Torino, stopped by N.J. Meadowlands Commission offices  earlier this week to present a check for $1,500 to NJMC Executive Director Marcia Karrow for restoration work in Harrier Meadow.

The purpose of the project is to improve the habitat by bringing more  native shrubs, trees and flowers to Harrier Meadow.

Harrier Meadow is a 70 acre* site is located within the Saw Mill Creek basin. It is part of the New Jersey Meadowlands which is a IBA (important birding area) location and a critical habitat on the Atlantic flyway.  It was acquired by the NJMC in 1996 from the Land Reserve and Franklin Contracting Company. 

Harrier Meadow  was initially part of a large marsh system influenced by Kingsland Creek and Sawmill Creek. 

Bird banding by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission has shown that the area is important breeding and migratory habitat for Savannah Sparrows and American Kestrels as well as many shorebird, heron and passerine species. It is, of course, is an important habitat for a New Jersey  endangered species, the Northern Harrier, for which it is named.

(Thank you, Bergen County Audubon Society!)

For the second time in four years, we had our first Osprey sighting in the Meadowlands on St. Patrick's Day — making it an O'Sprey.

Ron Shields reports:  "Photographed [the Osprey] on Disposal Road Sunday afternoon.  I believe that's a white perch on the menu (below)."

The day before, Chris Takacs saw our first-of-the-year Great Egret sighting. Weather may be currently dreary, but spring is almost here.  (Thanks, Ron and Chris!)

It's tough to call a 90-minute walk "amazing" when the walk was in the rain, through snow and slush,but eight of us adventurous souls waethered the weather and were treated to a first-of-the-year Great Egret (for us) and FOY Greater Yellowlegs and some other nifty sights. Full list of 30 species follows. (Thanks to all who participated!)

Continue reading →

We in the Meadowlands have watched One World Center go up to our east for several years now. As the exterior of the new skyscraper nears completion, Record columnist Mike Kelly describes what it is like to look out from the top of the new building.  The link is here.

Myke Malzone's photo of one of the Ridgefield Park Bald Eagles is wildnewjersey.tv's Photo of the Week this week.  The link is here. (Congrats, Myke!)

A few weeks back, the Photo of the Week was Bruce Harman's pic of a Merlin dining on a Snow Bunting. The link is here. (Congrats, Bruce, too!)

….If you can get out of your driveway.  Wear waterproof boots and clothes. 

Does anyone what this bird is, and why it is significant?

By the way, we are out of Tuesday Teasers and may start running some classic Teasers from Tuesdays past unless we get some material.

The first Teaser ever was posted on Labor Day 2008.

Marco Van Brabant took this atmospheric shot of the snow flurries in the Meadowlands this weekend. (Thanks, Marco!)

More snow is expected later today, but sounds messy, not photogenic.