Not sure what the weather will be like this weekend, but thought we’d post a few DeKorte snow scenes before the snow got washed away.
(1970 Map of Hackensack Meadowlands)
Fairleigh Dickinson University, in conjunction with the Meadowlands Commission’s Meadowlands Environmental Research Institute, has posted a treasure trove of 346 Meadowlands region-related maps, documents and other archival information on its website.
To access the digitized documents, which date back to 1916, click here and scroll down to Hackensack Meadowlands Papers. The documents are in PDF format.
Information on the site includes:
These are just a few of the highlights from the hundreds of remarkable historical documents available. Happy reading!
Last September, on a guided walk at DeKorte Park, Julie McCall found the caterpillar in the photo above.
On this blog, we asked readers for their help in ID-ing it. One reader suggested it was an Eastern Tent Caterpillar. Patrick Carney suggested Fall Webworm Caterpillar.
We then e-mailed butterfliesandmoths.org to see what they thought — and then forgot all about it. This week we finally heard back:
Thank you again for your submission of Record 927588 to the Butterflies and Moths of North America database on September 3, 2014. Your sighting has been accepted, and your regional coordinator has verified your submission as _Hyphantria cunea_.
(Probably better known as Fall Webworm Caterpillar. Thanks, Patrick!)
For those looking ahead to warmer days and nights, a link to the group’s home page is here.
Link to the sighting record of our caterpillar on the group’s website is here.
The link to the original blog post is here.
Bench or walkway? An inquiring Dennis Cheeseman wants to know. (Also gives you an idea of how much snow we have had at DeKorte Park. (Thanks, Dennis!)
Steve Buckingham photographed this light-morph Rough-legged Hawk on Disposal Road on Sunday. (Thanks, Steve!)
A Dark-morph Rough-legged Hawk was seen along Disposal Road this morning.
(Please be aware of snow-removal operations nearby if are considering going; the roadway is very narrow because of plowed snow, making parking difficult.)
We have three free walks in March, beginning with a Mill Creek Marsh walk on Sunday, March 2. We also have a Woodcock walk at Laurel Hill and a bird walk at harrier Meadow.
Needless to day, we are hoping that Mill Creek Marsh and Harrier Meadow have recovered from the winter snowstorms by then!
Please check this blog for updates.
Details of all three walks follow. Continue reading
Beginning on Saturday, March 1, the 
Meadowlands Environment Center in DeKorte Park will be closed on weekends except for scheduled nature walks and other programs.
Please use restroom facilities before visiting the park.
Just a word of caution when walking on any trails in the next few days: There could be ice under all that snow, so please watch your step.
Got this report from Parrot Alert and thought we’d pass it along in case a birder sees this missing bird.
An African Gray Parrot named Alex was reported missing in Secaucus on Monday, Feb. 17. There’s a $100 reward for finding it. Contact: Debbie Perez – 201-844-5182.
Because of difficult conditions, Tuesday’s Third-Tuesday-of-the-month walk at DeKorte Park is cancelled.