Due to flooding conditions at Losen Slote Creek Park, tomorrow’s (April 17) Bergen County Audubon Society walk has been changed to DeKorte Park. The walk lasts from 10 am to noon.

For more information email greatauk4@gmail.com or call 201-230-4983.

Why not come out to DeKorte Park and enjoy stunning views like these kindly provided by Mickey Raine. Have a great weekend everyone!

Great Egret

Jill Weiss got these great photos on Wednesday of Egrets at DeKorte. Note to newcomers: There’s an easy way to tell Great Egrets and Snowy Egrets apart: The Great Egret has a yellow bill and black feet, while the smaller Snowy Egret has the reverse, black bill and yellow feet. Meadowlands photog Mickey Raine notes that he tends to find more Great Egrets at DeKorte and far more Snowy Egrets at Mill Creek Marsh. Thanks Jill for the photos and Mickey for the tip!

Great Egret

Snowy Egret

Snowy Egret

Join the Bergen County Audubon Society on Tuesday (April 17) for a guided walk through Losen Slote Creek Park in Little Ferry, one of the last hardwood lowland forests in the Meadowlands. They’ll be looking for spring migrants like warblers and flycatchers.

The walk lasts from 10 am to noon. For more information contact Don Torino at greatauk4@gmail.com or 201-230-4983

Thanks to Mickey Raine for these recent photos of an Osprey taken near DeKorte Park that seems to have his eye focused on the photographer before taking a hearty meal.

Great lunchtime shots of a Goden-crowned Kinglet at DeKorte Park today by Dennis Cheeseman. Thanks Dennis!

NJSEA Naturalists Gaby Bennett-Meany, Drew McQuade and Alashanee Mooney were out in the DeKorte impoundments this performing maintenance on more than 50 Tree Swallow Nesting Boxes. The trio cleaned out the boxes and fortified them, helping the hundreds of Swallows that flock to them each spring. The Tree Swallows send their thanks to Gaby, Drew and Alashanee!

I often am reminded of this story when spring arrives in the Meadowlands, so my apologies if you have heard this story before. But since I am a senior citizen I get to tell it as much as I want.

Many years ago I was on a bird walk with a group of people from a local nature group when suddenly a striking black bird with brilliant red markings shot by us like a Ferrari with wings. The leader barely looked up until someone asked “What was that?”

“Oh that?” the leader answered back flippantly. “Just a Red-winged Blackbird.” Just a Red-winged Blackbird? How could someone speak so off handedly about such a magnificent bird that has meant so much to me?

Continue reading →

The Bergen County Audubon Society is hosting an Earth Day walk and “Creating a Certified Wildlife Garden” program on Sunday, April 22, at DeKorte Park.

The day begins with a nature walk through the park from 10 am to noon. Then, at 1 p.m. in the park’s Meadowlands Environment Center, the BCAS will tell you how you can make your backyard a haven for wildlife by creating a BCAS Certified Wildlife Garden.  Following the program Bergen Audubon will lead a native plant walk around the park.

For more information on the BCAS Certified Wildlife Gardens program, click here

For more information on the BCAS Earth Day activities, contact Don Torino at greatauk4@gmail.com or 201-230-4983.

Red-winged Blackbird

Some more cool photos from Mickey Raine from a recent trip to DeKorte. Love the Robin below appearing to curiously watch the Red-winged Blackbird calling above!

American Robin

Cormorant

Cormorant

Canvasbacks

Great Egret

Great Egret