Thanks to Mickey Raine for these spectacular magic hour/start of sunset shots taken at DeKorte on Saturday. Happy New Year Mickey!!
Monthly Archives: December 2018
Reminder: Kick Off the New Year with a Nature Walk at DeKorte Park!
Welcome in 2019 with the Bergen County Audubon Society next Tuesday for their annual New Year’s Day Nature Walk, which is being held at DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst. We’ll on the lookout for ducks, raptors and wintering birds. The walk runs from 10 am to noon and the park closes at 12:30 p.m. For more information contact Don Torino at greatauk4@gmail.com or 201-230-4983.
Kick Off the New Year with a Nature Walk at DeKorte Park!
Welcome in 2019 with the Bergen County Audubon Society next Tuesday for their annual New Year’s Day Nature Walk, which is being held at DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst. We’ll on the lookout for ducks, raptors and wintering birds. The walk runs from 10 am to noon and the park closes at 12:30 p.m. For more information contact Don Torino at greatauk4@gmail.com or 201-230-4983.
Bald Eagle at Losen Slote
Rich Brown took this awesome shot of a Bald Eagle at Losen Slote Creek Park in Little Ferry yesterday. Rich reports: I spent a couple of hours this afternoon at Losen Slote Creek Park. At one point I counted five Bald Eagles at one time (two adults and three juveniles), flying and perched across the fence towards Mehrhof Pond.
BCAS/Harold Feinberg Conservation Awards Presented Last Night
At its meeting last night the BCAS proudly awarded its 9th annual “Bergen County Audubon/Harold Feinberg Conservation Awards.” The recognition is bestowed upon those who heroes who have given of themselves with little recognition and often with personal sacrifice.
Congratulations this year’s winners: Record environmental reportes Scott Fallon and Jim O’Neill; and author, educator and mentor Judy Cinquina.
Conservation award is named in honor of the late Harold Feinberg, BCAS Board member and field trip chairman for many years. Harold was a mentor, an enthusiastic supporter of our endeavors and always gave freely of his expertise with a combination of patience and knowledge that few possess.
For more on the winners keep reading!
NJSEA Milestones!
Yesterday the NJSEA presented its yearly service awards and the Natural Resources Department was represented in style! These are the folks who take care of our parks, lead nature walks at special events, perform field resarch and surveys, and run our pontoon boat and canoe tours. So let’s hear it for the following:
Left to right: Cathy Vonk (5 Years), Gabrielle Bennett-Meany (25 years), Drew McQuade (5 years) and Angelo Urato (35 years!)
Upcoming BCAS Meadowlands Walks This Sunday (Dec. 16) and Tuesday (Dec. 18)
Losen Slote Creek Park
Join the Bergen Audubon Society for two great upcoming Meadowlands walks! This Sunday, Dec. 16, they’ll be in Little Ferry at Losen Slote Creek Park and the new Mehrhof Pond Wildlife Observation Area. Losen Slote is one of the last remaining lowland forests in the Meadowlands. The Observation Area, which opened this Spring, offers stellar views of waterfowl and other birds.
Then, onTuesday,Dec. 18, they’ll be at Laurel Hill Park in Secaucus, on the lookout for ducks, cormorants and wintering birds.
Each walk runs from 10 am to noon. For more info contact Don Torino at greatauk4@gmail.com or 201-230-4983.
Mallards, Mergansers and More at Mehrhof!
Mallards
Many thanks to Dave McClure for these cool photos taken at Mehrhof Pond in Little Ferry during yesterday’s light snowfall!
Female Hooded Mergansers
Female Hooded Merganser
Male Hooded Merganser
Male Hooded Merganser
Gulls
More Photos from Mehrhof
Black-capped Chickadee
As promised, here are some more great photos taken by Joe Koscielny at the Bergen County Audubon Society’s Mehrhof Pond Wildlife Observation Area/BCUA Walk in Little Ferry led by David Hall on Dec. 1. Thanks again Joe!
Orange-crowned Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Ring-necked Duck
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
White-throated Sparrow
Don Torino’s Life in the Meadowlands: Eagle Watching Time Is Now!
Courtesy Dee De Santis
It’s cold outside for sure. The Winter winds are already blowing and it is a time when many folks tend to huddle inside and wait for the warmer days ahead to venture outdoors. But if you choose keeping your toes warm over having a real adventure then you will be missing one of the most spectacular winter shows nature has to offer: the arrival of the Bald Eagles.
As we speak Bald Eagles are gathering in places from the Meadowlands to the Highlands, from the Hackensack to the Hudson rivers. From our reservoirs to our lakes Bald Eagles are assembling to spend the winter. And if that is not enough to stir your ancient primeval spirits our resident Eagles are now working on their nests. They’re gathering sticks and grasses in their never ending quest to bring forth our next generation of the symbol of our nation.
Of course this was not always the case. In fact there are more Eagles in our area now than in more than 100 years. But their comeback was no accident.