We have a theory but want to hear from you!

Clue: Maybe it (or a relative) will be around for our second annual Moth Night this summer on Monday, July 22 (part of National Moth Week   Moth Night!

The Meadowlands Commission's Katy Weidel reports:

Carlstadt Pack 51 Cub Scouts planted the rain garden & butterfly meadow planting @ RBP on Saturday in celebration of Earth Day 2013.  

The scouts planted 200 native plants in the rain garden & seeded a 2,000 SF native wildflower meadow. 

All are looking forward to returning to the park once the plants start growing.   (Thanks, scouts and Katy!)

The wildnewjersey.tv blog features an Alice Leurck photo of one of the Ridgefield Park Bald Eagles. Not sure if it is Al or Alice.

The link is here.

What kind of nest box is this — and how can you tell?

Allan Sanford reports:

Highlights from this weekend at the Meadowlands included 2 new arrivals for us — Eastern Towhee and one of my favorites, the Black and White Warbler (above).

Caught him eating a large meal. He finally got that bug down. Enjoyed watching the dive-bombing Forster’s Terns.  (Thanks, Allan! Towhee and tern pix follow.

Continue reading →

Ron Shields photograghed this Black-bellied Plover off the Transco Trail mudflats yesterday morning.

NJMC naturalist Mike Newhouse also saw one this morning at Harrier Meadow.

Our latest Monday Showcase photographer is Tiffany Giovia.

She writes:

I am a graphic designer/web developer living in East Rutherford.

Growing up in Lyndhurst introduced me to the Meadowlands early in life, and especially DeKorte Park.

I have always had a love of my local environment – from the trees and flowers to the history of what the Meadowlands once was and has turned into.

Three more pix, and more of Tiffany's commentary, follow.

Continue reading →

It wasn't quite the flag-raising at Iwo Jima, but the Meadowlands Commission successfully hoisted a Purple Martin nesting box atop a 10-foot-high pole in Harrier Meadow last week.  (From left to right, NJMC naturalists Gabrielle Bennett-Meany and Mike Newhouse, with volunteer Chris Takacs.

Entire sequence (for Purple Martin nesting box junkies only) follows.

Tomorrow: the new box's first occupant.

Continue reading →

Bergen County Audubon Society and the Meadowlands Commission sponsored a great cleanup at Mill Creek Marsh on Saturday in honor of Earth Day.

Roughly 16 of us (many of the folks are pictured above) removed downed tree limbs from Hurricane Sandy and picked up all sorts of litter — some from the shopping center next door and some brought in by the tides. 

We even found our first cow and buffalo (and a chair to display them on).

Thank you, volunteers! You are amazin'!

Earth Day Brunch and Talk,

Kearny Public Library, Kearny

Sat., April 20, 12:30 – 3 p.m.

In honor of Earth Day, the Kearny Library is offering a presentation by the Community Garden Club and a slide show and talk about "The Nature of the Meadowlands," featuring author Jim Wright (who wrote the book for the Meadowlands Commission) and principal photographers Ron Shields of Kearny and Marco Van Brabant (who works in Kearny).

The event is free and features a light brunch. Everyone is welcome. The Kearny Public Library is located at 318 Kearny Ave. For more information on this or other programs, call (201) 998-2666 or visit www.kearnylibrary.org.

(Above: Wright, Shields and Van Brabant. Photo by Mike Malzone. Thanks, Mike!)