The NJ Meadowlands Eagle Festival will be here before you know it – Sunday, Jan. 12, at the Meadowlands Environment Center! The event, co-hosted by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and the Bergen County Audubon Society, takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The snow date is Sunday, Jan. 19, at the same time.

We have a host of guests, children’s activities and presentations planned to celebrate the majestic raptor and encourage an appreciation for the awe-inspiring symbol of our country. NJSEA and BCAS guides will conduct Eagle walks. Bring your binoculars; witnessing an Eagle in flight or perched is simply breathtaking.

In addition, BCAS President Don Torino will give a talk on the “Return of the Bald Eagle,” and Bergen Camera will conduct a “How to Photograph Raptors” program.

Visitors will have the chance to stop by the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey table and say hello to Larissa Smith. Larissa is the Foundation’s Senior Wildlife Biologist and coordinates volunteers for the NJ Bald Eagle Project. The volunteers monitor and protect over 300 Bald Eagle nests statewide.

The Flat Rock Brook Nature Center is bringing live birds of prey so that visitors can learn about and experience raptors up-close. A Native American Display will feature Marcey Tree In The Wind, an active Ramapough Lenape Nation Tribal Member, and her husband, Tony Moon Hawk Langhorn, an active Member of the Unkechaug Nation. Bald Eagles are highly revered and considered sacred within Native American culture and traditions. Learn why and much more from Marcey Tree In The Wind and Tony Moon Hawk Langhorn

There will be plenty of children’s games, crafts and table giveaways, courtesy of the BCAS, NJSEA, Conserve Wildlife of New Jersey, the New Weis Center, Flat Rock Brook Nature Center, the SOAR (Sharing Opportunities, Advancing Realities) science education group and others.

The BCAS Frank M. Chapman Award will be presented at the Festival. The award’s namesake, a native of West Englewood (now Teaneck), was inspired by birds in the woods and fields of Bergen County to make them his life’s work. Chapman was the author of early, popular field guides. He was also a leading curator of birds at the American Museum of Natural History.

In addition, recipients of the Harold Feinberg Conservation Awards will be honored. Harold Feinberg was a longtime BCAS member and field trip chairman. He was a mentor, an enthusiastic supporter of Bergen Audubon endeavors, and always gave freely of his expertise, with a rare combination of patience and knowledge.

Steve Kelman, our favorite bluegrass/folk singer-guitarist, provides a fitting musical backdrop to the festival.

A food truck will be onsite throughout the day.

DeKorte Park and the Meadowlands Environment Center are located at 2 DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst.

Contact: Don Torino – greatauk4@gmail.com – 201-230-4983