Please note: The Meadowlands Environment Center in DeKorte Park now has limited access on weekends.
As always, the park itself will remain open from dawn to dusk, and a park attendant will be on site and available if you need assistance.
The Environment Center will continue to be open on weekends for regularly scheduled walks and programs. Continue reading
A quick visit to Laurel Hill earlier this week found a totally rebuilt Common Ravens’ nest and two Common ravens nearby.
Ravens last nested here in 2011, and the nest was totally washed away by Hurricane Sandy in the fall of 2012.
The photos below show each of the ravens perched on a different light pole at Laurel Hill, plus a very large mystery bird in the distance. ID help would be appreciated. It appeared to be an adult, and an older one at that.
Dennis Cheeseman photographed this female Red-breasted Merganser in Teal Pool near the parking lot yesterday. (Thanks, Dennis!)
To prove that spring must be around the 
corner, we are pleased to remind you of two upcoming walks — an American Woodcock walk in late afternoon on Saint Patrick’s Day (Monday, March 17) and a Harrier Meadow walk at 10 a.m. on Tuesday March 18. The Woodcock Walk is at Laurel Hill — we’ll look for Common ravens as well.
(To be clear: We will not be taking any woodcocks for a walk on March 17; we’ll be taking a walk to hear them peent and watch their courtship display. We are foolishly hoping the snow and cold weather are gone by then. Last year’s walk was cancelled because of rain, but 2012’s walk was pretty cool.)
Details follow.
Stephen Buckingham writes:
I witnessed a standoff by Disposal Road this past weekend between a Red-tail and an opossum. The Red-tail wanted to eat the opossum, but after fluttering around the opossum trying to figure out whether it was a good idea to move in for the kill, the Red-tail thought better of it and left.
Thanks, Steve!
This has been a great winter for owl-watching along Disposal Road. Not only are the Snowies still around, but earlier in the year we had some great sightings of Short-eared Owls and Barn Owls as well.
Fred Nisenholz was nice enough to share several of his Short-ear shots. (Thanks, Fred!)
Note: Next week’s South Bergenite will feature a column about Short-eared owls, featuring NJMC naturalist Mike Newhouse and one of Fred’s photos. (Thanks, Mike and Fred!)
(Also a big thank you to everyone else who sent in owl pix.)
Photo by Fred Nisenholz
Don Torino’s latest column for wildnewjersey.tv is called “Snowy Owls, Cabin Fever, and Signs of Spring.”
Here’s a sample:
As my cabin fever was beginning to reach epidemic proportions, I knew myself and many others were in dire need of a remedy for dealing with impassable trails and closed parks for the last two months.
This time we were going to beat the upcoming “Snowmageddon” and sneak in a long overdue field trip to DeKorte Park, the sure cure for what was ailing all of us.
There is something about a Snowy Owl that helps people forget. As we stood along a snow filled Disposal Road, maneuvered around icy puddles, pulled down our woolen hats over our ears we watched with wonder, some for the first time, a magnificent Snowy Owl perched for all to see on the nearby landfill.
There was no talk of tomorrow’s snow fall, no worries about the morning commute or even if our towns would have enough salt for the roads. We just took in its beauty and talked about how lucky we were to be there on this day. It’s amazing what a single bird can do for the human spirit.
The link is here.
Disposal Road is a great place to view and photograph winter raptors, but everyone should be aware that it can be a busy and dangerous roadway at times.
The narrow roadway may look to be in the middle of nowhere, but it is a major connector road next to an active construction zone.
Please park your vehicle off to the side of the road as far as possible. Do not park on a curve. And do not leave your vehicle door open on the road.
If you see one who has parked his or her vehicle in the middle of the road or has left a vehicle door open, please ask them to move immediately — before an accident occurs. Much appreciated.
Saw a distant Eastern Meadowlark perched along Disposal Road near the school bus parking lot today just after noon.
(Thanks to Chris Takacs for pointing it out.)
Also on hand, 100 American Crows having some sort of a convention, and the usual raptors.
Stephen Buckingham writes:
Check out the action in the attached from Saturday on Disposal Road. The little Harrier didn’t stand a chance once the big one caught her trying to eat a rodent in peace and quiet. A split second later the little one was gone and the big guy took her place (and meal).
(Thanks, Steve! Coming Thursday: Steve’s Red-tail vs. Opossum shot.)