Gabriel Willow of New York City Audubon sent along this report from yesterday’s Bergen County Audubon Society walk that covered DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst, River Barge Park in Carlstadt and the Eagles’ nest in Ridgefield Park. We thank NYC Audubon for their interest in the Meadowlands  and their camaraderie!

I hope you’ve all warmed up by now after our chilly (but beautiful) walk yesterday.  I always enjoy visiting the hidden gem of Richard W. DeKorte Park in the heart of the NJ Meadowlands, and it was a pleasure to share it with you all.

A big thanks goes out to Chris, Don, and the other knowledgeable locals from the Bergen County Audubon chapter who showed us around, and to the NJ Sports & Exposition Authority for letting us warm up and use their facilities.

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The BCAS hosted a guided nature walk of DeKorte Park yesterday, then headed to River Barge Park and Ridgefield Park. Eagles were easily the stars of the day. Thanks to Dee De Santis for these great picks of the majestic raptors who never fail to delight. Thanks as well to the New York City Audubon Society for making the trip across the river!

Please note: The Marsh Discovery Trail in DeKorte Park is closed on Monday, Jan. 8, for maintenance due to current weather conditions.

Join the Bergen County Audubon Society for their first Meadowlands Nature Walk of 2018 at DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst from 10 am to noon this Sunday, Jan. 7. They’ll be looking for raptors, ducks and other birds.

Meets at the Meadowlands Environment Center. For more info contact Don Torino at greatauk4@gmail.com or 201-230-4983.

Please note: The Marsh Discovery Trail in DeKorte Park is currently closed and will remain closed Saturday and Sunday due to the weather conditions.

As promised, here’s the second batch of Mickey Raine’s great photos taken on New Year’s Day at Mill Creek Marsh. Thanks Mickey!

Ring-billed Gull at Mill Creek Marsh

Thanks to Mickey Raine for these great New Year’s Day photos from DeKorte and Mill Creek Marsh! We’ll have some more later on. We look forward to many more of Mickey’s shots throughout the year!

Ring-billed Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Ring-billed Gull

DeKorte Park

DeKorte Park World Trade Center Memorial Cove

Thanks to Lisa K NJ for Photo of Our Favorite Eagle Pair!

On a cold, windy winter morning on the banks of Overpeck creek I watched as our now famous pair of Bald Eagles worked diligently to get their nest ready to bring forth the next generation of our most magnificent of all raptors.

In those few moments that I witnessed them moving sticks back and forth in an almost fixated fashion I felt a glimmer of hope for the year ahead. As the wind blew and the cold attached itself to my fingers and toes my faith was renewed for the coming year, that not only would these most incredible and spiritual of birds be well, but also that maybe, just maybe, our birds, butterflies and all of our environment would not only survive but also thrive in the days ahead.

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Due to the forecasted weather condidtions, the William D. McDowell public viewing session on Wednesday, Jan. 3, has been cancelled. The next public viewing night is Wednesday, Jan. 10, from 7 to 10 p.m.

Left to right:
Don Torino (BCAS), George Reskakis, Gaby Bennett-Meany, Mary Kostus (BCAS)

Our own Gaby Bennett-Meany was honored at the Bergen County Audubon Society’s Dec. 20 meeting as one of their 2017 Bergen County Audubon/Harold Feinberg Conservation Award winners.

Gaby, who maintains DeKorte Park, was honored for her “tireless work in transforming DeKorte Park to an incredible pollinator and bird friendly habitat,” BCAS President Don Torino said. “Through her leadership the park projects are now more habitat and wildlife focused, bringing much help to the incredible number of wildlife species that depend on the Meadowlands for their survival,” he said.

“I was very excited to receive the Harold Feinberg Conservation Award from the Bergen County Audubon Society,” Gaby said.The NJ Meadowlands is a very special and important place to many of us. I am delighted that the BCAS and I share a vision of the kind of conservation management that is good for the wildlife and for people to enjoy.

“I am committed and will continue to provide habitat enhancements with our landscape specialists  at our parks by increasing native plant diversity,” Gaby continued. Together the BCAS, Don Torino, and the many other stewards of the Meadowlands are a positive influence contributing to projects and some of the changes we see today in our Meadowlands landscape.

“I quote Chris Takacs, BCAS Field Trip Coordinator, who said ‘When I see the people that are doing the work outside bring their families back to see and enjoy the park, or taking pictures of their projects, that is the feeling you attach with people that are proud and happy with what they are doing.’

“I couldn’t think of a better place to be working and people to be working with!” Gaby concluded. “Thanks BCAS for your confidence in my abilities – I will build upon and persist with the work we started into the future!”

Congratulations Gaby!!!

In addition, George Reskakis of Teaneck, known as the “Weed Warrior” for his work at Teaneck Creek, was honored for transforming the site into one of the most important migratory bird habitats in Bergen County. Way to go George!