Credit: Dede Kotler
Take the opportunity to experience Harrier Meadow with the Bergen County Audubon Society as they lead a walk through the beautiful natural area in North Arlington next Tuesday, May 15, from 10 am to noon. The 70-acre natural area teeming with birds and other wildlife is normally closed to the public. We’ll be on the lookout for spring migrants and more!
For more information contact Don Torino at greatauk4@gmail.com or 201-230-4983.
Thanks to Mickey Raine for this great variety of photos taken at DeKorte recently including Greater Yellowlegs, a Cardinal and Forster’s Terns!
Blue-headed Vireo
Thanks to Dennis Cheeseman for sending these photos of a Blue-headed Vireo taken at River Barge Park recently. Our first Vireo photos of the season!
Juvenile Bald Eagle
Many thanks to Dee De Santis who shared these great photos taken yesterday at the new Mehrhof Pond Wildlife Observation Area in Little Ferry, which opened last month.
The public access project is a collaboration of the Meadowlands Conservation Trust, the Bergen County Utilities Authority, the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, the County of Bergen, and the Bergen County Audubon Society.
The Mehrhof Pond Wildlife Observation Area is a great place for bird watching, enjoying nature and peaceful relaxation. We encourage everyone to visit this environmental gem! The Observation Area is located on Mehrhof Road between Dietrich Street and McCabe Court and is open from dawn to dusk daily.
Thanks for the photos Dee!
Juvenile Bald Eagle
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Mockingbird
Northern Mockingbird
Blue jay
Yesterday’s Bergen County Audubon Society nature walk and cleanup of Losen Slote Creek Park in Little Ferry was a tremendous success!
Says BCAS President Don Torino: We had more than 50 species, with many warblers including Hooded and Chestnut sided, Northern Parula plus swainsons, thrush, great crested and flycatchers. Great thanks to everyone who joined us on the walk and cleanup, including Little Ferry Mayor Mauro Raguseo.
It’s that time of year again: The New Jersey Audobon Society’s 35th 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!
Check out this awesome osprey that Jill Weiss photographed near DeKorte Park earlier this week. He’s got that don’t mess with me look, especially while devouring a meal.
The Bergen County Audubon Society is leading a nature walk through Losen Slote Creek Park in Little Ferry followed by a park cleanup this Sunday, May 6. The walk goes from 9 to 11 a.m. and the cleanup starts after the walk and will last until approximately 12:30 pm.
Losen Slote Creek Park is one of the area’s few remaining lowland forests. During the nature walk they’ll be looking for spring migrants, warblers and thrushes.
Please bring gloves and wear appropriate clothes for the cleanup.
For more information contact Don Torino at greatauk4@gmail.com or 201-230-4983.
Mayapple flower
I recall winding up one of our nature walks at DeKorte a few years back when a very nice woman stopped to ask me, “What are those strange plants that look like little green umbrellas growing alongside the building?” “You mean the turtle umbrellas?” I asked with a smile. While they may not actually be turtle umbrellas, they are a great native perennial that by the way really are an important food source to Eastern Box turtles.
Blanketing the forest floor in places like Losen Slote Creek and even in shaded areas of DeKorte Park, Mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum), are one of those natives plants that never fail to make me smile and remind me why I love our native flora so much. (I think in reality they are actually Gnome umbrellas).
It’s that time of year again: The weather is getting better and it’s a perfect time for a stroll through the parks of the Meadowlands. But it’s also prime season for ticks and tick bites, which can be very harmful to you as well as your pets.
For information on ticks and how to prevent tick bites click here and here
Also check out these helpful and informative New York Times articles here and here