The Snowy is perched on a railing on the Marsh Discovery Trail, visible from the Transco Trail.

Can probably be seen from the western spur of the Turnpike if you are a passenger… Photo above taken from Transco Trail with a 400mm lens, highly cropped.

(Thanks to the NJMC’s Drew McQuade for pointing out the bird.)

Allan Sanford reports:

“The Killdeer are stacking up on Disposal Road already. Started seeing them a few days ago.”

(Thanks, Al!)  (A sure sign of spring!)

Don’t birding class visited DeKorte Park last week; highlights included a Bald Eagle.

Don Torino, who will be leading two Birding for Beginners Classes for Bergen County Audubon at DeKorte Park next month, addresses the age-old question “What Exactly Is Birding?” in the his latest column for the South Bergenite.

Here’s a sample:

Maybe when it comes right down to it there is no way to put birding into just a few sentences.

Maybe the singing of a Wood Thrush or the call of a Killdeer invalidates human language when it comes down to explaining the joy of watching birds in the wild. Perhaps when a new birder witnesses the beauty of a Red-winged Blackbird and the brilliance of a Scarlet Tanager words will not be necessary to explain why we love what we do.

The link is here.

Ray Duffy reports that yesterday:

I had an Eastern Phoebe at Schmidt’s Woods [in Secaucus].  Fox Sparrows and juncos are singing.

I had 1 American Woodcock calling last night at 8:30 at Laurel Hill [in Secaucus] in the woods behind the bathrooms.

(Thanks, Ray!  The Meadowlands Commission and Bergen County Audubon Society are holding a Woodcock Walk next Monday at 6:45 p.m. in Laurel Hill, so it’s great to hear that the woodcocks are returning .)

Directions to Schmidt’s Woods and Laurel Hill are in the right-hand column of this blog.

The Meadowlands Commission is pleased to announce that Mill Creek Marsh in Secaucus  is open to the public again. It had been closed because of all the heavy snows this winter had made footing difficult.  (Spring can’t come soon enough.)

Louis Balboa shared these recent Disposal Road shots. including the American Kestrel above.

Not to dwell on the food chain, but can anyone ID what the Northern Harrier is eating? (Thanks, Louis!)

Ron Shields took this sunset shot from Disposal Road last week. (Thanks, Ron!)

Five years ago, as part of the N.J. Meadowlands Commission’s Oral History Project, we interviewed lots of folks about the region in the old days. We are going to reprint the best of them here, every Tuesday, for 11 weeks. This week: Don Smith. 

Note: Don is giving a talk about the region’s marshes this Sunday from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Meadowlands Environment Center. Scroll down for more info.

Don Smith, born and raised in Little Ferry, is a long-time naturalist who knows the Hackensack River and its marshes better than just about anyone.

Don has been with the Meadowlands Commission for most of its 40-year history.

In this audio interview, Don has plenty to say about his childhood, his efforts to fight pollution and save wetlands, and some of the challenges the commission faced — especially in the early years.

Click “Continue reading…” immediately below to hear Don’s comments. Continue reading →

This week’s Meadowlands Environment Center talks feature two of our favorite topics, Albert Einstein and the marshes of the Meadowlands.

On Tuesday afternoon, MEC educator Dr. Victoria Madden will tell you all about the amazing scientist, and on Sunday afternoon longtime NJMC naturalist Don Smith will talk about the region’s amazing wetlands.  Best to register in advance.

Information on both events follows.
Continue reading →

Chris Takacs writes:

Got a distant cropped photo of Eurasian Green-winged Teal today at River Barge Park. Other birds of note, Redhead pair, American Coot, and Lesser Scaup, all on river by the boat docks.

(Thanks, Chris!)