The Teaneck Library is hosting an exhibit on the Hackensack River. Per the library’s website:

Hackensack River Stories, by Rick Mills, gives the viewer 350 years of the river’s history in 16 narrative collaged signs on the Greenway, spaced between New Milford to Bogota. “Finally, riparian restoration work on the Hackensack River Greenway lead to a turning point. I began to research local environmental, topographic and cultural place histories, which formed the basis for my new work.”

For more info click here

For a video on the exhibit click here

The next Bergen County Audubon Society Meadowlands Nature Walk is this Sunday, March 4, at DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst. The walk takes place from 10 am to noon. We’ll be looking for raptors and early spring migrants. For more info contact Don Torino at greatauk4@gmail.com or 201-230-4983.

We would like to thank everyone for being respectful on Saturday and viewing the Snowy Owl on the Kingsland Landfill from a distance. Trespassing on the landfill is prohibited. In addition, getting too close to the owl will likely scare him away.

A very special visitor touched down on top of the Kingsland Landfill on Saturday: A Snowy Owl!!! The owl was on top of the landfill for about 30 minutes before taking off and hasn’t been seen in these parts since. Photos by Ron Shields. Thanks Ron!

Please note: Photos are digiscoped. The landfill is closed to the public. Trespassing is prohibited.

Northern Harrier

As promised, here’s the second batch of great shots by Joe Koscielny taken at this past Tuesday’s Bergen County Audubon Society walk at Mill Creek Point Park in Secaucus. Missed out? Don’t fear. The next BCAS Meadowlands Nature Walk is Sunday, March 4, at DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst from 10 am to noon. For more info contact Don Torino at greatauk4@gmail.com or 201-230-4983.

Northern Harrier

Northern Harrier

Bald Eagle

House Sparrow

Bergen County Audubon Society led a great walk at Mill Creek Point Park in Secaucus on Tuesday, where a variety of species were seen. Thanks to Joe Koscielny of BCAS for these awesome photos! We’ll have a second batch later in the afternoon.

Northern Harrier

Northern Harriers

American Black Ducks

Northern Mockingbird

Bufflehead

Bald Eagles

The WNET-PBS nature program Peril & Promise this past Saturday interviewed Conserve Wildlife Foundation Executive Director David Wheeler and Jim Wright, who runs the Celery Farm and Beyond blog and is the birding columnist for The Record newspaper.

The segment, filmed at DeKorte Park, celebrated last weekend’s Great Backyard Bird Count. Wheeler and Wright spoke about challenges facing migratory birds from climate change, the Meadowlands’ environmental comeback, and how to track birds year-round through resources such as eBird and web cams.

Read the story and watch the video here

Cedar Waxwing Dining on Serviceberries
Credit: Jim Macaluso

Ok, so I know that March is just a week away and we are all beginning to think spring, perhaps maybe a little premature. We most likely are still in for some freezing temperatures and maybe even a few more snow days. But I am definitely sure that it is not too early for us to be thinking about the most significant part of a bird’s habitat, and for that matter any wildlife: the native plants.

Native plants are the foundation of any vital and  healthy wildlife habitat. Our native plants provide  the seeds, fruit, nuts, and even the insects that our birds need to live, survive and thrive through the winter and into migration. And especially through the most critical time, nesting season. This is when the plants  will  also provide the high protein and high fat that birds feed their young, more specifically the insect life that is produced from native plants .

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Golden-crowned Kinglet

Let’s start the day with some great shots by Stephen Michaels taken at DeKorte this past weekend. Thanks Stephen!

Northern Shovelers

Great Blue Heron