This week I saw my all-time favorite heavy metal band, Iron Maiden. Their catalog includes a 13-minute song called “Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” which tells the story of the epic Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem about a sea captain who kills an Albatross, and the nightmare that follows. If you can stand some loud music for 13 minutes, check out the song, with lyrics, here

Thanks to all the budding environmentalists who entered this year’s Bergen County Audubon Society Eco Art Contest! Winners were announced at this past Saturday’s reception at the Meadowlands Environment Center. Complete list of winners is listed below photos.

The theme for this year’s contest was Plants For Birds.  Students in participating Audubon Adventures schools were invited to enter the contest. Six schools participated: Saint Joseph Academy in Bogota (SJA);  East Brook Elementary in Park Ridge (EB); West Ridge Elementary in Park Ridge (WR); Washington School in Little Ferry (LF); Oradell Public School; Bergen 4-H Garden Club in Garfield

 

5^th Annual BCAS Eco-Art Contest Winners List

Grade 2

1^st Place-Elena S. (SJA)

2^nd Place-Noah R. (OPS)

3^rd Place-Liam Z. (SJA)

Honorable Mention-Addison A. (SJA), Mia D. (OPS), Lydia F. (OPS),

Billy M. (SJA), Alejandro R. (SJA)

Merit-Isabella A. (SJA), Morgan C. (SJA), Gabrielle M. (SJA),

Chloe T. (OPS), Allison Z. (OPS)

Grade 3

1^st Place-Hailey P. (SJA)

2^nd Place-Marisol S. (SJA)

3^rd Place-Mya T. (SJA)

Honorable Mention-Kathleen B. (OPS), Maya E. (OPS), Sebastian F. (SJA), Natalia V. (SJA), Kayleigh W. (OPS)

Merit-Yostina A. (SJA), Eve A. (OPS), Isabella M. (SJA), Emily S. (OPS),

Grade 4

1^st Place-Aurel E. (SJA)

2^nd Place-Sharon S. (OPS)

3^rd Place-Mikaila R. (SJA)

Honorable Mention-Rianna B. (SJA), Aubrey E. (OPS), Janelle M. (SJA), Jayden T. (SJA), Theo Z. (SJA)

Merit-Brandon M. (SJA), Krystyna P. (SJA), Thomas R. (SJA), Isabelle S. (SJA), Layla W. (SJA)

Grade 5

1^st Place-Aubree W. (OPS)

2^nd Place-Lydia R. (SJA)

3^rd Place-Annabelle D. (EB)

Honorable Mention-Olivia B. (SJA), Joshua F. (SJA), Kenneth K. (SJA), Amanda M. (SJA), Raymond V. (SJA)

Merit-Charles D. (EB), Victoria G. (WR), Myla L. (SJA), Omar L. (SJA), Nirvana R. (SJA)

Grade 6

1st Place-Naia M. (SJA)

2^nd Place-Aaron A. (SJA)

3^rd Place-Daniella A. (SJA)

Honorable Mention-Abigail D. (SJA), Divangel G. (SJA), Tamas K. (OPS),

Aidan Lavalle (SJA), Carina Rios (SJA)

Merit-Mia C. (SJA), Ryan C. (SJA), Mia M. (SJA), Mateo O. (SJA),

Anthony S. (SJA)

 

Grade 7

1^st Place-Alexander M. (SJA)

2^nd Place-Catalina M. (SJA)

3^rd Place-Gillian S. (SJA)

Honorable Mention-Neil B. (SJA), Aleli D. (SJA), Emily F. (SJA),

Ivelisse V. (SJA), Vivel V. (SJA)

Merit-Calista D. (SJA), Ryan D. (SJA), Petra F. (SJA), David M. (SJA),

Kalib M. (SJA)

 

Since it is now June it means it’s time to visit my favorite “Lazy Birding” hotspot, the bench under the Serviceberry trees at DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst.

I can sit, rest, relax and let the Orioles, Cedar waxwings and Catbirds just come to me as they flock to feed on one of their favorite foods of the season, the sweet little purple berries of Amelanchier Canadensis or Serviceberry.

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Look closely through the reeds and you’ll see this adorable mallard family at DeKorte. Babies on left, mom in the middle and dad on the lookout on the far right. Thanks to our own Mimi Sabatino for the photo!

Hope to see everyone at DeKorte for Moth Night on Thursday, July 27, from 8:30 to 10 pm!!! The event is sponsored by the NJSEA, Friends of the East Brunswick Environmental Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society. To register click here

 

Our newest contributor, Lior Abitbol, sent in this cool sequence of a Great Egret catching and enjoying a crab for lunch over the weekend at DeKorte. Thanks Lior!

 

Another gloomy day. Ugh…   Well, we hope some more great photos by Joe Koscielny from Sunday’s Harrier Walk help lighten your mood!

We’ll start the day with some fantastic Harrier Meadow walk photos from Sunday. These are from Joe Koscielny. Thanks Joe!

Spotted Sandpiper

Tree Swallow

Steve Ceragno had a busy and fruitful weekend birding at DeKorte. Check out these highlights: the Red-throated Loon, a Common Yellowthroat and a Marsh Wren. Thanks Steve!