The next Bergen County Audubon Society twice-monthly Meadowlands Nature Walk takes place this coming Sunday, Nov. 1, at the Mill Creek Marsh Trail in Secaucus, from 10 a.m. to noon. Expert BCAS guides will help identify birds and other wildlife. A spotting scope will be in use so everyone gets an up-close view of the sites on this free walk, which is open to all ages and experience levels.

They’ll be focused especially on raptors, waterfowl and fall migrants. You’ll also have an opportunity to see the dozens of stumps of Atlantic White Cedars in the Marsh, the last vestiges of a primeval forest that once covered a third of the Meadowlands for hundreds of years. They are beautifully photographed above by Mickey Raine.

The walk meets at the entrance to Mill Creek Marsh Trail, 3 Mill Creek Drive, Secaucus – park in Mill Creek Mall next to Bob’s Discount Furniture.

Don’t forget to turn your clocks back an hour Saturday night!

Information: greatauk4@gmail.com or 201-230-4983

See you on Sunday!

It was three years year ago that my wife and I escaped our Moonachie home chest high in water carrying our two beagles on our shoulders , the look of shock on the faces of our scared and frightened   neighbors that escaped the most horrific natural disaster of my lifetime along with us will never be forgotten and forever etched in my memory , it was an event that nightmares are made of.

As we all stayed close waiting for help to arrive , many of us not knowing each other’s name and at most maybe recalling nodding good morning to one another as we rushed off to work in previous mornings would now be forever connected by mother nature’s infinite fury . There was no need to say anything, it was apparent by everyone’s   sad almost expressionless faces that we may never have anything or any place to return to.

As it turned out many of my neighbors have never comeback home , the damage to their humble homes too devastating and the destruction much too overwhelming for them to return, I still wonder where some of them went and are they OK , something I may never know.

Hurricane Sandy was our wake-up call , a slap in the head by mother Nature and her stern reminder about who is really in charge , no Doppler radar , iPhone, laptop,Video Game ,APPS or text message could protect us on that horrific night and today no Madison Avenue or political pundits nifty catch phrases will bring us back . My neighbors need still need help and hopefully this 3 year anniversary will bring them the assistance they deserve and the peace they so much want ,We will never really ever be stronger than any hurricane or super storm , we are human, but time will tell if we have become smarter or more resilient than we were before Sandy slapped us around and had us down for the count that October

We need to finally make the commitment to face climate change , build smarter and except the fact that nature has put us on notice , live with her in harmony or face the awful consequences

Nature Zombies Sour My Mood!

Notify the CDC, Homeland Security and Dr. Phil : Zombies are real and the Apocalypse is upon us ! Be warned that these zombies could be your neighbors, co-workers, government officials or, even as we speak, a member of your very own family! And their victims will be all of us if we allow this epidemic to spread.

Unlike the familiar Zombies of movies and television, these particular species of zombies have no obvious tell-tale signs. At first, they may seem like you and me but soon after a short conversation with these night-walkers you will realize why they are referred to as the “walking dead.”

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The next Bergen County Audubon Society twice-monthly Meadowlands Nature Walk takes place this coming Sunday, Nov. 1, at the Mill Creek Marsh Trail in Secaucus, from 10 a.m. to noon. Expert BCAS guides will help identify birds and other wildlife. A spotting scope will be in use so everyone gets an up-close view of the sites on this free walk, which is open to all ages and experience levels.

They’ll be focused especially on raptors, waterfowl and fall migrants. You’ll also have an opportunity to see the dozens of stumps of Atlantic White Cedars in the Marsh, the last vestiges of a primeval forest that once covered a third of the Meadowlands for hundreds of years. They are beautifully photographed above by Mickey Raine.

The walk meets at the entrance to Mill Creek Marsh Trail, 3 Mill Creek Drive, Secaucus – park in Mill Creek Mall next to Bob’s Discount Furniture.

Don’t forget to turn your clocks back an hour Saturday night!

Information: greatauk4@gmail.com or 201-230-4983

See you on Sunday!

Mickey Raine sent in some sunset photos that he took at Mill Creek Marsh yesterday and they are nothing short of absolutely spectacular. Mickey writes:

Yesterday afternoon I wanted to check out the foliage at Mill Creek Marsh and to also see if any new arrivals from the world of birds would be swimming about.  Checking the tidal chart, around 2:30 was low tide, but I wanted to get there between low and high. The Giants-Cowboy game would be in progress, but the traffic was not an issue once the game began.

I arrived at about 5 PM, and realized that the autumn colors were not in full display, yet; however, there was something crisp and beautiful with the sky, and the tonal quality was ideal for photography.  The moment I entered through the gate, there to greet me just beyond to the east was a wonderful skyline view of Manhattan, prominently exhibiting the new 432 Park Avenue skyscraper, now the second tallest in the City.

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One of the best things about leading the Bergen County Audubon Society as President has been the opportunity to meet so many devoted, hardworking people in many small communities around Bergen County that are committed to conservation and making the environment a better place not only for the wildlife but also for their entire community. These unsung heroes have given of themselves with little recognition and often with personal sacrifice. So it is in their honor that we are proud to announce our winners of the 6^th annual “Bergen County Audubon/Harold Feinberg Conservation Award.”

This year’s winners are: Gerry Byrne, Jill Homcy, Jayson Hajek, and James Preisendanz.

This award is named in honor of Harold Feinberg, our longtime member and field trip chairman for many years. Harold has been a mentor and an enthusiastic supporter of our endeavors and has always given freely of his expertise with a combination of patience and knowledge that few possess.

Please join us on Wednesday December 16th 7:30pm At Teaneck Creek Conservancy when we will present the awards to this years honorees. For more information, contact greatauk@gmail.com or 201-230-4983.

Click continue reading below for information on this year’s winners.

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Which bird is a wizard? The Merlin of course! Richard Brown sent these photos he took yesterday of the small falcon species at River Barge Park in Carlstadt along with a Golden-Crowned Kinglet at DeKorte. Thanks Richard!

Jim Wright attended the guided nature walk with the BCAS earlier this week at Laurel Hill Park in Secaucus and posted a full report on his blog, including a list of species seen.

Have a great weekend everyone!

The plants are in the ground!

One month ago the Bergen County Audubon Society awarded a $3,500 grant to the NJSEA for songbird and pollinator plantings at the Lyndhurst Nature Reserve in DeKorte Park. Supervisor of Park Planning Katy Weidel reports that workers today and yesterday planted approximately 2,500 plugs of Common Milkweed and Rose Mallow (Hibiscus) as well as 250 Black Cherries (fruit consumed by over 30 species of birds – host plant for Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and Viceroy butterflies) and Red Chokeberry (fruit for the birds and nectar for the butterflies).

Katy tells us that the plants will increase foraging, cover, and nesting habitats for a variety of songbirds, and provide a nectar and larvae sources for butterflies. Thanks to the BCAS for its generosity!

Chris Takacs got this shot of a banded White crowned Sparrow near DeKorte Park today. Chris reports that the numbers on the band indidcate that the sparrow may have been marked during the Harrier Meadow banding project.