Awesome photo of a Forster’s Tern sent in last week by Mickey Raine. In fact, we’ve got a whole gallery of these fantastic birds, thanks to Mickey!

We’re thrilled to announce that the Mehrhof Pond Wildlife Observation Area in Little Ferry is open to the public! An opening ceremony took place yesterday. The public now has access to this wonderful site that includes includes watershed, wetlands, forestry and other sensitive natural resources. It’s all framed by an awesome observation blind donated by the Bergen County Audubon Society!

The site is located on Mehrhof Road between Dietrich Street and McCabe Court and is open from dawn to dusk daily.

The Record posted a great video with the BCAS’ own Don Torino here. A story that ran in today’s paper can be found here

The project was made a reality by a collaboration of several entities:

The Meadowlands Conservation Trust, which spearheaded and provided the majority of funding for the project; the Bergen County Utilities Authority, which gave access to its property; the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, whose staff oversaw the project, chose and planted hundreds of native plants, and designed historical and wildlife interpretive signs; the County of Bergen, which funded design and construction of the accessibility ramp to the observation blind, removal of decaying trees and the placement of recycling receptacles. They also refurbished the park benches. And of course, as mentioned above, the BCAS!

We look forward to receiving your photos from this newly accessible environmental gem!

Ankur Sharan captured this scene of what looks to be a couple of mallards diving for a meal at DeKorte Park earlier this month. Ankur also got some nice Terrapin, Red-winged Blackbird, Tree Swallow and Daffodil shots. Thanks Ankur!

It’s that time of year again: The New Jersey Audobon Society’s 35^th Annual World Series of Birding is Saturday May 12, and the Meadowlands Marsh Hawks team will be traversing the region to raise funding for NJAS research to help our avian friends!

All funds raised by the Meadowlands Marsh Hawks go to NJAS to support their research with grassland surveys, shorebird surveys and banding, and work being conducted at Stone Harbor. All of the projects are conducted on species in decline. To donate to the Marsh Hawks click here .

During the World Series of Birding teams of birders set out to record as many species as they can, by sight or sound, over a 24-hour period. The Marsh Hawks will begin their journey throughout the Meadowlands at the stroke of midnight on Friday, May 11, and continue until midnight May 12.

Good luck Meadowlands Marsh Hawks!

Blue Jay

Thanks to Dennis Cheeseman for sending in these photos taken earlier today at DeKorte!

Tree Swallow

Blue-winged Teal

Greater Yellowlegs

Savannah Sparrow

Harbors Seals are continuing to make the Meadowlands their temporary home. Rich Romano found  this pair at River Barge Park yesterday. Thanks Rich!

Tree Swallows were out in full force during last Tuesday’s DeKorte BCAS walk. Never tire of seeing them. Thanks to Joe Koscielny for the great photos!

Forster’s Tern

As promised, here’s more fantastic photos taken by Joe Koscielny during Tuesday’s Bergen County Audubon Society walk at DeKorte, including the returning Forster’s Tern!

Brown Creeper

Brown Creeper

Common Mergansers

Song Sparrow

Daffodils

Well, the weather may have finally caught up to the season, and DeKorte Park is full of spring plants and avian species. Thanks to Joe Koscielny of the Bergen County Audubon Society for these great photos of a variety of species taken during Tuesday’s BCAS walk at DeKorte Park. We’ll have more of Joe’s photos later today!

Daffodil

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

House Sparrow

Great Egret

The NJSEA’s Drew McQuade and Alashanee Mooney saw this Harbor Seal on the docks at River Barge Park earlier today while doing fieldwork. The seals sometimes pay us visits in late winter/early spring as schools of herring begin to head back up river. Thanks to Drew and Alashanee for the photos!