When the Meadowlands Commission got a phone call about an injured, banded hawk in Lyndhurst today, we responded immediately and figured if it was banded it was likely a Peregrine.

When we got to the office where the hawk had been seen on a ledge for more than two hours, there sat the Peregrine.  We hoped that it was OK, but wondered how we could access the ledge if it was injured.  Short answer was, by ladder from the roof. When we checked out the roof  (photo below), the bird flew away…

The young Peregrine was double-banded, bare-aluminum on the right leg, and AR 70 on black over green band on the left leg.

This was the second banded Peregrine we have seen in the past two weeks, and the fourth in the past two years.

We will post  more info as we learn it. (A big thanks to the folks who called us about the bird!)

Regina Geoghan took this shot earlier this week at DeKorte Park. Our gut instinct was a fritillary.

Any suggestions?  (Thanks, Regina!)

Here are the tallies as of July 31  in the Meadowlands Big Year for 2013.

Congrats to all for competing. We hope you are having fun near to home, and seeing lots of great birds.

Keep in mind that some birders are in the Meadowlands all the time, and others get here occasionally, so their birdage may differ drastically.

If you’re name’s not on the list, please e-mail Jim Wright at jim.wright (at) njmeadowlands.gov. It’s still not too late! Sign up now!

Here is the leader board as of July 31:
1. Chris Takacs: 180, (2012 reigning champion, ineligible for prizes
in 2013 as a result, lives in district)
2. Mike Newhouse 176 (NJMC, setting a target number for competitors.)
3. Ray Duffy, 168 (in district)
4. Jackie DeMarco, 155 (out of district)
5. Mike Wolfe,  144 species (out of district)
6. Dennis Cheeseman, 140 (out of district)
7. Jim Wright,  135  (NJMC staff, ineligible for prizes)
8. Mike Turso 126 (out of district)
9. Oliver Stringham, 123  (in district)
10. Julie McCall, 114 (in district).
10. Rob Fanning 114  (out of district)
12.  Roy Woodford 112 (out of district)

The leader board as of June 30 follows. Continue reading →