Join the Bergen County Audubon Society on a walk through these peaceful parks and natural areas that reflect the connection between the human experience and nature. The walk goes from 10 a.m. to noon.
Meet at Mill Creek Point Park at the end of Millridge Road, Secaucus
Contact: Don Torino – (201) 230-4983 greatauk4@gmail.com
Walking along the BCAS Butterfly Garden path at Overpeck County Park, I was stopped in my tracks by a beautiful Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly. It took me by great surprise. It was the end of September, not a good time to be an Adult Swallowtail, and unfortunately, this beauty was struggling on the ground.
I watched it try its best to get up and fly, but its struggle was to no avail. I carefully picked it up and placed this black and teal colored beauty on some nearby goldenrods in the hope that it would get some strength and live out its time in our garden. But I knew, as nature did, its time was very limited.
Our garden was now winding down; it was time for change. The spicebush took on the glow of the Goldenrods which framed the garden in a gilded light. The Asters stood tall, from the whites to purples and everything in-between. It was now the moment for the White Snakeroot and the Thoroughwort to greet the fall like the painting of an early snow. The swamp sunflower just now blooming as if to say the beauty of the garden is still very much here, just stop a while and take a look.
We made it through another summer together, no season ever the same, everyone different from the other, but always with the same inevitable change.
Sometimes, making it through the seasons comes with personal loss. But even so, like nature it is joined together with a brand new beginning, and yet that is what nature is, always moving ahead, always changing, always bringing forth a new season and renewing life, no matter the circumstances of our life’s journey. Never sit on the sidelines, it is best to go along with her and take it all in and enjoy nature’s beautiful ride.
The last flowers of summer are the first flowers of fall, and eventually even they will become the browns, ambers and russets of winter that are nature’s life energy that will eventually bring on the spring. Yes, it will seem to some like nature has slowed down, but in reality nature is taking a long, deep breath, gaining strength for its time of rebuilding, renewing and rejuvenating itself. The Eagles will fly along our lakes and rivers, the canvasbacks with gather in the Meadowlands, and the Harriers will hunt the grasslands again.
For us, it is a time to slow down just a bit. But that slower pace also makes it the best time to sit back, consider what is important, and connect with nature and each other once again. Since time and immemorial we have become part of nature’s change and ultimate renewal, just as the last flowers of fall and the first flowers of spring .
See you in the Meadowlands
Join the Bergen County Audubon Society on a walk through these peaceful parks and natural areas that reflect the connection between the human experience and nature. The walk goes from 10 a.m. to noon.
Meet at Mill Creek Point Park at the end of Millridge Road, Secaucus
Contact: Don Torino – (201) 230-4983 greatauk4@gmail.com
Join the Bergen County Audubon Society as they lead a walk through one of the last remaining low-lying woodlands in the Meadowlands. The trail may be muddy; boots are highly recommended. The walk goes from 10 am to noon.
Losen Slote Creek Park is located in Little Ferry. Park in the lot adjacent to the soccer field on Mehrhof Road.
Contact: Don Torino at 201-230-4983.
Weather permitting, the William D. McDowell Observatory will open at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 16, for A3 Comet viewing. The comet will be visible from approximately 6:45 p.m. to 7:15 pm. Regular public viewing will then continue until 10 p.m. NOTE: Potential cloud cover or haze may impact the Comet’s visibility. Please bring binoculars if you have them.
The rare, once-in-a-lifetime comet is visible once every 80,000 years.
Please call 201-460-4001 on Wednesday for weather-related updates.
Please Note: The NJSEA offices will be closed on Monday, Oct. 14, in observance of Columbus Day. DeKorte Park will remain open.
Join the Bergen County Audubon Society as they lead a walk through one of the last remaining low-lying woodlands in the Meadowlands. The trail may be muddy; boots are highly recommended. The walk goes from 10 am to noon.
Losen Slote Creek Park is located in Little Ferry. Park in the lot adjacent to the soccer field on Mehrhof Road.
Contact: Don Torino at 201-230-4983.
October is Monarch Butterflies Month in New Jersey, thanks to the laudable efforts of a Mountain Lakes teenager. As reported in northjersey.com, Elizabeth Gillen, 17, has been fighting the good fight since 2020 for the important species in decline. During the pandemic, Gillen and her friends distributed milkweed seeds throughout the State. Milkweed is the only plant on which Monarch Butterflies will lay eggs.
She received her Girl Scout Gold Award for her work in helping monarchs, and establing Monarch Butterflies Month. Kudos to Elizabeth Gillen! Read the full story here
Please note: The Mill Creek Marsh Trail in Secaucus will reopen on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Thank you for your patience.
Thank you to the 600 people who joined the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and the Bergen County Audubon Society at the Meadowlands Birding Festival at DeKorte Park this past Sunday, Oct. 7!
Visitors were treated to guided bird walks, an incredible live raptor show and the NJSEA Meadowlands Research and Restoration Institute giving hands-on demonstrations on building an artificial floating island. The islands are filled with plants and create important habitats for birds, fish and pollinators.
In addition, the day featured talks on Ethical Photography, Peregrine Falcons and Rusty Blackbirds.
We Created a Birding Festival Gallery Below. Enjoy!
Don Torino celebrated his birthday at the Birding Festival