Lately some of my days out birding feels more like an old vaudeville routine than a day in the field. A good friend of mine has a problem hearing and I have a big problem seeing but together, as we jokingly like to put it, we equal one complete birder. He depends on me to […]

Our historical idea of the great American conservationist conjures up iconic images of John Muir Hiking in the High Sierras, Teddy Roosevelt on horseback on the western plains and Rachel Carson bringing attention to the environmental disaster of DDT. All those environmental heroes and many more still very much inspire, motivate, and at times give […]

Today the “conk-la-ree” call of the Red-winged blackbirds filled the marshes. Bald Eagles perched high in the trees watched the ice below begin to break apart. Belted Kingfishers rattled over the river and for a while, for at least a short time, a very special time, all was right in the world again.  It seems […]

I was a 12-year-old boy, riding my bicycle in a place and time as foreign to me as could ever be imagined. From just a few miles away my family and I entered a different culture, the Meadowlands. My first home was based in concrete and cars to my new one graced with tides, grasses […]

From the Oradell Reservoir to DeKorte Park, from Frank M. Chapman Trail  to River Barge Park, from Mehrhof Pond to Overpeck County Park and everywhere along the Hackensack River and in-between our Bald Eagles displayed their dramatic comeback to all who had the foresight and willingness to just look up. Bergen County Audubon Society volunteers […]

The year 2021 marks the 80th Anniversary of the Bergen County Audubon Society. As we begin to celebrate 8 decades of birds and conservation we all have to reflect on the many changes that have come upon our wildlife, our birds and our environment in those many years.  Although we like to dwell on our […]

It seems that we can do nothing but wait these days. Wait to one day go to a local restaurant. Wait to be with family again. Wait for the vaccine and everyone waiting for some form of life as we once knew it. At the same time, as we watch the disheartening evening news reports […]

Someone once said that optimism is the heart of conservation. For everyone that works tirelessly to replant the forest, fight to turn back climate change, protect an endangered species or plant a milkweed needs to always have the hope and trust that maybe one day they will make things better for both for wildlife and […]

Since I was a young boy one of my most unwavering beliefs in life has been that any time spent outdoors is almost always better than any time spent indoors. Growing up in the Meadowlands from my early schooldays, later to workdays, and still today, I have always felt more at home outside than in. […]

For many years at this special time of year I have sat down and wrote about all the many things I have been thankful for as our environment and the people around it are concerned. Last year at this exact time I was struggling to get through my hip replacement surgery and trying to deal […]