Join Bergen County Audubon Society President Don Torino this Thursday, Feb. 25, at 2 p.m. in the Meadowlands Environment Center and learn how you can create your own backyard, BCAS Certified Wildlife Garden. Backyard wildlife gardens provide a beneficial habitat for birds, butterflies and other wildlife. Don will talk about aspects of backyard wildlife gardens including the use of native plants, providing food and water sources, cover, and places to raise young .

The BCAS started the Certified Wildlife Garden Program this year to raise awareness of the importance of ensuring that backyards, schoolyards, business grounds and other areas benefit wildlife.

For more information on the program, click here. You can also contact Don Torino at greatauk4@gmail.com or 201-230-4983.

The event is free. Registration is recommended at eventbrite.njsea.com.

Former staffer Jim Wright has just created  “Duke Farms’ Bald Eagles,” a free, online e-book that should appeal to anyone with an interest in our nesting Bald Eagles in Ridgefield Park and in our nation’s symbol.

The e-book, sponsored by Duke Farms and the Conserve Wildlife Foundation, tells you all about Duke Farms’ well-known eagles, their nest and a new, state-of-the-art Eagle Cam that allowing viewers to watch the nest.

For more information, click here.

Dismal day out there today. If you weren’t lucky enough to get out into the parks during yesterday’s beautiful weather, enjoy these photos from Mickey and Elaine Raine of a chirpy Red-winged Blackbird at Mill Creek Marsh and the Marsh Discovery Trail at DeKorte Park.

NJ Meadowalnds. A landscape scene in Richard W. DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst NJ after a light snowfall.

Blog contributor Regina Geoghan recently penned a beautifully-written column on the joys of viewing trees in winter for Wild New Jersey, accompanied by her wonderful photography.

Regina has a poetic style and flare for detail. She writes: “When the sky is as white as marshmallow fluff and the tree branches are silhouetted against the pure empty brightness; when they are devoid of their colors and leafy glory, each one stands out majestically and seems to have a story to tell of its life. Winter is when the cores and hearts of trees are laid bare to show a beauty that is hidden during the other seasons. Each one is, in itself, a unique sculpture and wonderful piece of nature’s art.”

Read Regina’s full column here here.

There’s a story in today’s Record on feeding birds during the winter and all-year-long. Check it out here.

Mill Creek Marsh is especially beuatiful when covered with freshly fallen snow, as these stunning photos from Regina Geoghan make clear. Regina took the pictures on Feb. 5 and 6. It’s scenes like these that make you want to see another snowfall this year.