We need to take time to recognize the fantastic efforts of husband and wife team Mickey and Elaine Raine in helping to increase the Monarch Butterfly population at DeKorte Park. Mickey and Elaine have been nurturing dozens of caterpillars in their home garden that they were asked to care for by several organizations.

It seems these soon-to-be butterflies were exposed and vulnerable to predatory birds and wasps. Mickey and Elaine set up enclosures in their own garden to ensure the caterpillars matured into beautiful butterflies and have since introduced them to their new Meadowlands homes, namely Jill’s Garden in DeKorte Park and Harrier Meadow in North Arlington. We’ve included a few photos of butterflies released at DeKorte.

Thank you Mickey and Elaine for your enthusiasm, passion and love of butterflies and all Meadowlands wildlife!!!

Rich Brown sent in these shots of an American Kestrel, who provided some nice poses at River Barge Park on Saturday. Thanks Rich!

A sincere thank you to the more than 250 people who participated in yesterday’s Kaleidoscope of Hope Walk at DeKorte in memory of Lyndhurst resident Diane Castle. September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and the charity walk raises money for the Kaleidoscope of Hope Foundation. The organization raises funds for ovarian cancer research and increases awareness of the symptoms of the disease. For more information on the foundation click here

This morning we released a pair of Monarch butterflies into Jill’s Garden at DeKorte after nursing them as caterpillars. The NJSEA planted more milkweed plants this year thanks to a grant from our friends at the Bergen County Audubon Society. Some of the caterpillars were in danger from predators, prompting our Natural Resources Department to take them in. More butterflies will be released later today.