The Scarlet Tanager is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Wonderful photos by Mickey Raine at Mill Creek Marsh. The Tanager is not often seen in these parts, we’re lucky to get a couple a year at DeKorte. We’ll have more photos tomorrow morning.

Take mom out for a nature walk this Sunday morning! The Bergen County Audubon Society’s annual Mother’s Day walk starts at 10 am at the Ridgefield Nature Center, Shaler Boulevard at Ray Avenue. We’ll walk around the 5.4-acre natural area and visit Skeetkill Creek Marsh, with a stop to see Monk Parakeets on the way. For more information email Don Torino or call 201-230-4983

Monarch Caterpillar on Swamp Milkweed

To be sure we in the environmental movement have many battles to fight and countless challenges ahead. Issues from climate change to saving endangered species make our grass roots efforts more important than ever. But very often many of the people we ask for help feel they want to do more and sometimes feel powerless when some of these issues seem to get more overwhelming and complex.

But this year, this spring, right now, there is something positive and important we can all do to help a species on the edge. We can all make a trip to a local garden center and bring home some milkweed, plant it in the ground, and you just have helped a species on the brink and nearing the endangered species list: the Monarch Butterfly.

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