Due to inclement weather, tonight’s (Dec. 30) open public viewing at the William D. McDowell Observatory in DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst has been cancelled. The next open public viewing night is Wednesday, Jan. 6, from 7 to 10 pm.

Our backyards can become important habitats for birds like this Baltimore Oriole. Photo courtesy of Patrick Carney

The Bergen County Audubon Society is introducing a new program that the entire community can take part in. The BCAS’ Certified Wildlife Garden program will allow homeowners, communities, schools, businesses, places of worship, nature centers and others anywhere in New Jersey to have their gardens that benefit wildlife certified by Bergen County Audubon Society. Read more about the program here.

Please Note: DeKorte Park will be closed on New Year’s Day and will reopen at 8 am on Saturday, Jan. 2.

Black Swallowtail – Courtesy Alice Leurck

As reported in today’s Record, the State Assembly has voted unanimously to name the black swallowtail as the state’s official butterfly. The black swallowtail was chosen for several reasons, chief among them that it spends its entire lifecycle in New Jersey and can be found in all 21 counties, and is easy to attract to home gardens.

 
Don Torino, President of the Bergen County Audubon Society, says in the article that the black swallowtail is “a great choice, especially for a state that’s so built up, because you can find it in any backyard.”

For those who disagree with the choice, you can voice your opinion in a survey that accompanies the article. We’d love to hear from you here as well and encourage you to voice your opinion by leaving a comment.