Credit: Andrew Gordon, North Arlington

The weather continues to cooperate with our nature walks! This morning’s group, led by the Bergen County Audubon Society, traversed DeKorte Park. Among the many species seen were Osprey , White Crowned sparrow, Yellow-rumped warblers, Gadwall and Northern Shoveler Ducks.

If you missed out, fear not: Join us this Friday, April 22, back at DeKorte for our Earth Day Celebration: Return of the Raptors! The program runs from 1:30 to 3:30 pm and begins at the Environment Center with a talk on how and why Eagles, Osprey and Peregrine Falcons have returned to our area, plus why you might see them in your backyard. Then we’ll head out to DeKorte Park to look for these and other winged marvels.

To register for the free Earth Day Celebration, click here. Information: greatauk4@gmail.com or 201-230-4983.

A big thank you from the NJSEA to the talented folks at Spectrum for Living’s Adult Training Centers (ATC) for their donation last Thursday of 15 nesting boxes. The men and women constructed the bird boxes, which are critical for spring migrants like Tree Swallows who depend upon them as their seasonal homes. They were installed along DeKorte Park’s Lyndhurst Nature Preserve. Participants came from the Teaneck, North Haledon, Carver, Westwood, Edison and Ringwood ATCs. The NJSEA, and the Tree Swallows, applaud your efforts!

Rich Brown sent this photo of an Eastern Towhee he saw on Saturday on the Kingsland Overlook in DeKorte. Nice work, Rich!

Join the Bergen County Audubon Society tomorrow morning for a nature walk of DeKorte Park from 10 am to noon, during which they’ll be looking for recently arrived spring migrants. The walk meets outside the Meadowlands Environment Center.

On Friday the 22nd, the BCAS celebrates Earth Day with “Return of the Raptors.” The event, from 1:30 to 3:30 pm, begins with a talk on raptors in the Environment center followed by a walk around DeKorte.

Both programs are free. Register here. For more information, email greatauk4@gmail.com or call 201-230-4983.

Join the Bergen County Audubon Society tomorrow morning for a nature walk of DeKorte Park from 10 am to noon, during which they’ll be looking for recently arrived spring migrants. The walk meets outside the Meadowlands Environment Center.

On Friday the 22nd, the BCAS celebrates Earth Day with “Return of the Raptors.” The event, from 1:30 to 3:30 pm, begins with a talk on raptors in the Environment center followed by a walk around DeKorte.

Both programs are free. Register here. For more information, email greatauk4@gmail.com or call 201-230-4983.

Dennis Cheeseman sent these photos from Mill Creek Marsh. Dennis says it best:

LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE! The mud was flying as these Mallards battled it out.

Mickey Raine sent his photos of this stunning Great Egret that he photographed at DeKorte on Tuesday. Mickey wrote: While first standing on the raised walkway to the Gazebo and the Pavilion, immediately after seeing one of the Ospreys pass by overhead, there is was . . . The elegance in flight traversing just above the water across the way in the distance.  This beautiful winged specimen appeared as if to say, “Hey, buddy, have you forgotten how graceful I am . . . The King of Richard DeKorte Park?”  It was so nice to see this lovely figure grace the landscape in full display of the most wonderful physical attributes in motion.

Spring not only brings a beautiful array of colors to the Meadowlands in the form of flowers, trees and shrubs. It also brings out our beloved flying jewels, the warblers. Awaited by birders from all over New Jersey, warblers are some of the smallest birds found in North American. They are known for their amazing migrations, travelling from South America to as far away as northern Canada and all the way back again.

These beautiful, tiny, fidgety birds seem to never stop moving, springing from branch to branch and tree to tree.  You could find Warblers in the tops of the highest trees and some species living on the ground, hidden in the thickets and brambles of their particular habitat. There are about 16 warbler species that breed in New Jersey and up to 35 species pass through during May, some much more common than others.

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Great teamwork today on the construction and installation of an Osprey nest by Meadowlands naturalists and scientists! There are hopes that a pair of area Osprey will soon claim the platform as their new home and begin work on a nest. Many thanks to the Bergen County Audubon Society for donating toward the cost of the platform!

Join the Bergen County Audubon Society for two great events at DeKorte Park next week. Fist up is a nature walk on Tuesday the 19th from 10 am to noon, during which they’ll be looking for recently arrived spring migrants. The walk meets outside the Meadowlands Environment Center.

On Friday the 22nd, the BCAS celebrates Earth Day with “Return of the Raptors.” The event, from 1:30 to 3:30 pm, begins with a talk on raptors in the Environment center followed by a walk around the park.

Both programs are free. Register here For more information, email greatauk4@gmail.com or call 201-230-4983.