Monthly Archives: April 2013

Saturday: Mill Creek Marsh Cleanup

Earth Day Cleanup
DSCN2588-001Mill Creek Marsh, Secaucus
Sat., April 20, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

In honor of Earth Day, the N.J. Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society are doing a cleanup of the Mill Creek Marsh walking trails on Saturday, April 20, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.  

This beautiful 207-acre marsh and park had several downed trees and lots of washed-up debris from Hurricane Sandy, and we want to remove the remaining brush and downed branches. We’ll also clean up any litter brought in with the tides.

Participants must wear work gloves and protective clothing and footwear and sign a liability release. The release will be available on Saturday, and is also ready for download now (see below). Participants must be at least 16 years old; 16- and 17-year-old participants must have the liability release signed by a parent or guardian.  For more information, e-mail the NJMC’s Jim Wright at jim.wright@njmeadowlands.gov or call him at 201-469-7349.

You can download a release here: Download 2013-njmc-cleanup release

Help the Meadowlands Marsh Hawks!

Pledge sheet-1-page-001Help the Meadowlands Marsh Hawks  in our third annual World Series of Birding competition on May 11.

We will be exploring every woodlot, marsh, and mud flat in Bergen County in search of as many bird species as we can find.

In 2012, we had an amazing day where we counted 139 species, which gave us first place in our category.

This year we need your support so we can defend our title against some strong competition  – and create a better wildlife habitat for birds along the Kingsland Overlook trail in DeKorte Park.

More information — including how to contribute — follows.

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Plover Walk, Thursday a.m.

Allan plover1NJMC ace naturalist Mike Newhouse reports that he saw the American Golden Plover again this morning in Harrier Meadow.

If you are interested in going to Harrier at 7:30 a.m. Thursday with Mike in hopes of seeing the plover, you must call Mike by 6 p.m. Wednesday at 410-829-5942. 

Directions are on the left-hand side of this blog.

The photo of the plover, above, was taken by Alan Sanford on yesterday's NJMC/BCAS walk at Harrier. (Thanks, Allan!)

Bird Report: Wednesday a.m., Disposal Road

Alex Bernzweig writes:

"Just finished up a good but brief morning of birding in the Meadowlands. Along the ridgeline beside Disposal Road, I saw 2 kestrels and one Common Raven.

"The mudflats held at least 100 greater yellowlegs and just a few lesser. The bushes along the Saw Mill trail held Swamp and Savannah Sparrows, and finally at the entrance to the trail I found a BEAUTIFUL Vesper Sparrow."  

(Thanks, Alex!)

Golden Plover Continues @ Harrier Meadow

Allan plover1
NJMC ace naturalist Mike Newhouse reports that he saw the American Golden Plover again this morning in Harrier Meadow.

If you are interested in going to Harrier at 12:30 p.m. today with Mike in hopes of seeing the plover, you must call Mike by noon at 410-829-5942. 

The photo of the plover, above, and the two that follow were taken by Alan Sanford on yesterday's NJMC/BCAS walk at Harrier. (Thanks, Allan!)

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