Just a friendly reminder to please not feed the wildlife in the Meadowlands. Recently we’ve received reports that people are feeding the Red Foxes at Mill Creek Marsh. While it is a natural instinct to want to give animals nourishment and help them survive in the wild, it is actually not a good idea for several reasons.

Feeding wild animals, especially if you are present, makes them more accustomed to humans and more likely to approach people. But the animals are not domesticated, could possibly carry rabies or other diseases and, if they get scared, may attempt to bite.

So please, though it may go against your best intentions and love of animals, refrain from feeding them.

Rich Brown snapped some photos of Osprey getting ready for the weekend at River Barge Park this past Friday. I’m already ready for next weekend!

We hope that everyone took a moment yesterday to honor those who perished in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. In honor of the victims and the new NYC skyline that has risen and shown our resilience, strength and unity, here is a wonderful photo of the Freedom Tower and NYC skyline taken from DeKorte last night by Julia Fuhr. Thank you Julia for sending in these photos that reminds us both of a day never to be forgotten and the comeback so indicative of America’s spirit.

Thanks to the BCAS’ Tom Mitchell and Sharon Ayling for sending photos from their trip on Friday to DeKorte and Mill Creek Marsh. Among them are these great shots of a Cabbage White and Orange Sulphur. We look forward to many more contributions from Tom and Sharon!

David Sibley Will Give a Talk on Birding at the Meadowlands Environment Center on Oct. 6 from 7 to 9 p.m.

One of the questions I get asked the most from new birders is, “What is the best field Guide?” That is a pretty tough question to answer, sort of like asking which one of your children is your favorite. An impossible question to answer because, like field guides, there is something special about all of them.

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Check out these photos of Great Egrets and a heron that Mickey Raine took at DeKorte Park (the egrets) and Mill Creek Marsh (the herons) last weekend. Always enjoy Mickey’s contributions!

Mickey Raine sent a number of cool photos that he and his wife, Elaine, took during a visit to DeKorte last weekend. Love the photos of the two grasshoppers! Mickey reported that there were a great amount of Monarchs all around the park as well as Hummingbird Moths. There’s also some amazing Osprey photos and more that we’ll post later on.

Shayna Marchese took this photo of a Cape May Warbler at Mill Creek Marsh last weekend. This is Shayna’s first contribution to the blog. Welcome, Shayna!
We’re always looking for new contributors. Encourage your friends to send their photos, thoughts and stories to brian.aberback@njmeadowlands.gov

Mickey Raine took these great photos last weekend of a Black saddlebags dragonfly at Millcreek Marsh. How did it gets its name? This dragonfly has distinctive wings with characteristic black blotches at their proximal ends, which make it look as though it is wearing saddlebags.