Due to the State of Emergency, DeKorte Park will be closed on Sunday, Jan. 19.

The William D. McDowell Observatory will be open tonight, Wednesday, Jan. 15, from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Viewing sessions are for ages 10 and up.

For questions, please email info@njsea.com or call 201-460-1700 between 8 am and 4 pm weekdays.

The NJSEA is currently experiencing technical issues with its phone system and is working to resolve the matter.

Please email info@njsea.com for general questions or plans@njsea.com for zoning or construction inquiries.

Thank you.

Due to extreme weather conditions, the William D. McDowell Observatory will be closed tonight, Wednesday, Jan. 8. The next scheduled viewing session is Wednesday, Jan. 15, from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Guitarist Steve Kelman, a musical staple of NJSEA-BCAS events, will perform during the NJ Meadowlands Eagle Festival this coming Sunday, Jan. 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Meadowlands Environment Center, located at 2 DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst. The event is co-sponsored by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and the Bergen County Audubon Society.

Steve performs throughout the Hudson River Valley and Northern New Jersey in cafes, restaurants, festivals, fairs and farmers markets. He offers an eclectic blend of blues, country, bluegrass, folk, traditional and rock. From time to time he is also a musical accompanist to Master Storyteller Jonathan Kruk. His recent recording, “Up from Water,” is available on streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music.

When you see/hear Steve, pull up a chair and enjoy the tunes!

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 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.

A food truck will be onsite throughout the day.

For more information contact Don Torino at 201-230-4983 or greatauk4@gmail.com

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

Be on the lookout for hawks, falcons and other birds of prey with the Bergen County Audubon Society as your guide. Meets at the AMVETS Memorial Carillon on Disposal Road in North Arlington. The walk is from 10 a.m. to noon.

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

Birders braved freezing conditions yesterday morning to participate in the Festivus Eve Nature Walk at DeKorte Park and saw some amazing birds, including the American Pipet above courtesy of James Falletti. Bergen County Audubon Society President Don Torino led the proceedings. We shouldn’t be surprised. Don and the nature walkers are a very hardy bunch!