Dennis Cheeseman photographed this Greater Yellowlegs at Clay Avenue this morning. (Thanks, Dennis!)

Here are the final tallies of  the 2013 Meadowlands Big Year contest.

What a year — we had two birders break Chris Takacs 2012 record of 211 species — NJMC Naturalist Mike Newhouse had a total of 220 species, and Chris was not far behind at 213.

The top winners this year are Ray Duffy with 187 species (lives in the district) and Dennis Cheeseman with 171 species (lives out of district).  Jackie DeMarco placed a close second with170 species, and Zach Batren and Mike Wolfe were close behind.  A great job by all entrants!

Each winner receives their choice of a copy of “The Nature of the Meadowlands,” the NJMC’s coffee-table book, or “Meadowlands,” Tom Yezerski’s wonderful children’s book — plus a signed Osprey print from Tom’s book.

In addition — and most important — the Bergen County Audubon Society is donating $220 in Ray’s name to the NJMC for native plants. (Thank you, BCAS!) The top three winners in each category will receive a certificate from the Bergen County Audubon Society at the group’s next meeting, on Wednesday at the Teaneck Creek Conservancy,  20 Puffin Way, Teaneck.

Congrats to all for competing. Most of the tallies are up from last year — a testament to the great birding we had in the Meadowlands in 2013.

We hope you had fun near to home, and saw lots of great birds.

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

Final tallies follow. Continue reading →

Stacy Rosenfeld of the Ridgefield Park Patriot wrote a nice story about the gathering of 12 Bald Eagles by the Ridgefield Park nest. Here’s the beginning of the story:

PHOTO COURTESY OF WILLY THOMPSON

Frigid temperatures and a small break in an otherwise frozen Overpeck Creek, have attracted nearly a dozen eagles to the Ridgefield Park eagles’ nest, and the event was captured on video recording.

On New Year’s Day, approximately 12 eagles gathered in the trees around the nest, according to Stephen Quinn, member of the Ridgefield Park Environmental Commission. A local videographer captured the event, and posted his observations to the video sharing website YouTube.

“These are images one would expect to film in the Alaska Chilkat River Eagle Preserve, not in Ridgefield Park, a mere mile and a half from New York City,” Quinn beamed.

The link is here.

Jill Homcy writes:

Stopped at Laurel Hill at lunchtime yesterday and, boy, what a day! In a quick loop around due to being short on time I saw a bald eagle, 2 peregrines, horned larks, 75 Canada Geese, Gadwall, Mallards, Northern Pintails, Common Mergansers, Hooded Mergansers, Green-winged Teal, Canvasback and a Long-tailed Duck.

Also saw a Great Blue Heron, Great  Black-backed Gull, the usual starlings, cardinals and these sparrows. If I had had more time I’m sure I would have been able to up the species count. There was so much activity on the water it was wonderful.   (Thanks, Jill!)

 Francisco Artigas, executive director of the Meadowlands Environmental Research Institute, writes:

Want to know how cold it is at DeKorte Park any time?

You can check the temperature, wind chill and wind speed from our weather  station outside the building.

Just click here.