Mickey Raine got a bunch of great photos of Tree Swallows and more at Mill Creek Marsh on Friday. Below is a sampling. We’ll have more later.

BCAS President Don Torino, far left, leads a Meadowlands Nature Walk

April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month, and we would like to take this time to thank the Bergen County Audubon Society, and specifically its  president, Don Torino. Don’s tireless efforts here in the Meadowlands and throughout Northern New Jersey have raised awareness about the importance of open space and wildlife preservation and introduced a love of birding to scores of people.

In the Meadowlands, we are very lucky to have Don lead our twice monthly nature walks at DeKorte Park, Mill Creek Marsh and other sites throughout the area. The free walks held on the first Sunday and third Tuesday are open to all age levels. Don points out birds and talks about their characteristics and history and, with his spotting scope, allows  participants to glimpse amazing avian species that they might not be able to see otherwise. His love of birding is truly infectious and has inspired many to take up the practice.

But Don does more than simply look for birds. He also tells people during his near constant talks and walks about how people can build backyard gardens conducive to attracting birds and butterflies, the best plants to attract certain species and in general how you can help the environment. We highly encourage you to check out his “Life in the Meadowlands” column, which is posted every Thursday morning on the blog.

The Bergen County Audubon Society as a whole also deserves our gratitude for planning walks, hosting talks, including by well-known experts and authors, and holding special events. The organization plays a major role in the success of our annual Butterfly Day event at DeKorte Park (this year’s is July 30) and greatly helped us receive a grant that was used to host a River Barge Park Day.

So, we say thanks to this special group of people whose hard work and dedication to raising awareness about our bird population and environmental conservation has made a true difference in inspiring people of all ages to become stewards of our precious natural resources and wildlife.

Those who braved the gusty winds yesterday morning and participated in Bergen Audubon’s Harrier Meadow Nature Walk were treated to sightings of many species. The list includes  Northern Harriers, American Kestrels, a Red-tailed Hawk, Greater yellow legs, Killdeer, Tree Swallows, a Northern Shoveler and the find of the day – an uncommon for these parts Eastern Bluebird.

We have two upcoming walks in a couple of weeks you won’t want to miss. On Tuesday, April 19, from 10 am to noon, we’ll walk DeKorte Park looking for spring arrivals such as Ospreys, early warblers and shorebirds.

Then, celebrate Earth Day on Friday, April 22, with a special raptor talk at the Meadowlands Environment Center followed by a DeKorte walk. The event is from 1:30 to 3:30 pm and begins with “Return of the Raptors.” BCAS President Don Torino will discuss how Eagles, Osprey, Peregrine Falcons and other species have returned to the area after years of decline. Then we’ll traverse the park.

Register for the free program here.

For more information email greatauk4@gmail.com or call 201-230-4983.

Cool story in The Record today about the North American Butterfly Association North Jersey Chapter with many association members talking about the history of the organization, black swallowtails being named the state butterfly and sharing anecdotes. Check it out here.

Quincy Magoo has been photographing in the Meadowlands for several years, and is best known for his soft-focus techniques, as evidenced by the Red-breasted Merganser shot above.

“A sharp focus is over-rated in my book,” Quincy says. “I was just lucky to see these guys in Teal Pool last month.”

Quincy studied at Rutgers. A link is here.

Quincy’s photos of a Fox Sparrow and well-camouflaged Long-Eared Owl follow.

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NJSEA Naturalist Drew McQuade came upon this little guy on the Mill Creek Marsh Trail on Tuesday. Drew writes:

Grabbed these shots of a young terrapin on the Mill Creek trail Tuesday, a first of the year for me.  It’s way too early for it to be from a new nest, so this terp likely over-wintered in the nest from last season.  It was sluggish and dry, so we moved it to a better spot on the edge of the marsh. Also saw a few garter snakes out and about.

Ron Shields snapped these great photos yesterday of a hunting Kestrel hovering over the landfill just across the tracks on Valley Brook Avenue. Enjoy!

As we speak one of the most amazing events in nature is taking place: the spring migration of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Checking out the migration map the hummers have now reached southern Virginia, not far from the New Jersey border.  This incredible and grueling journey of one of the tiniest birds in the world takes it clear across the Gulf of Mexico, a distance of approximately 1,300 kilometres (800 miles). It’s an almost implausible journey which is flown in one stretch, without stopping or even resting.

Your backyard is an important stepping stone, a rest stop and sometimes a nesting place along the migration highway for these magical little creatures. Having the right plants in your garden to help them along may play a big part in their survival.

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Join the Bergen County Audubon Society this Sunday, April 3, for a free nature walk in Harrier Meadow in North Arlington, from 10 am to noon. Harrier Meadow, an incredibly beautiful, 78-acre natural area, is normally closed to the public, so you don’t want to miss this opportunity. We’ll be looking for lingering waterfowl and early spring arrivals.

Meets outside the gate to Harrier Meadow. The meadow is located off Disposal Road, which is accessed from Schuyler Avenue in North Arlington. For directions, click here.

For more information, email greatauk4@gmail.com or call 201-230-4983.

Mickey Raine sent some awesome photos he took of American Kestrel and Ospreys in flight at DeKorte Park yesterday. Mickey writes:

Today (March 29), in the extreme winds, our friend and local bird photographer held in high esteem informed me that an American Kestrel was flying about over the hill just outside of the DeKorte Park entrance.  He was on his way to Secaucus, but I remained to see if I could catch a glimpse of this tiny adorable raptor with the cute, baby face.  It suddenly emerged from over the hill and continued to search for small prey below.

The best of the recent finds was the majestic Osprey couple.  They were flying overhead at DeKorte Park and scanning the water surface for fish.  I could not get the pair in one shot, and I believe that the three photos I have are of the same bird.  You can see a bit of red blood on the belly from an earlier catch.  I did see this one catch another fish, but it was so far away, and the photo was not worth keeping.