The once-ubiquitous chestnut tree, which at a time was New Jersey’s largest tree species, is now nearly extinct. But there may be hope for the future. A story in today’s Record tells how scientists are researching the possibility of growing hybrid chestnut trees to spur a comeback. Read the story here.
There’s an interesting, informative piece in the Washington Post about why bird species seen or heard in movies and on television are often geographically incorrect. The story tells why vultures seen in the 2013 Lone Ranger movie, which is set in Texas, are an African species, and why birds calls of species not found south of Pennsylvania are heard in a television series set in Florida. Read the story here.
Patrick Carney found this Surf Scoter at Overpeck County Park this morning, a rare find in these parts. The beautiful, large sea duck is normally seen farther south in the state.
The first Ospreys of the season have been sighted over the past week at DeKorte Park and Laurel Hill Park. Here’s Chris Takacs’ first Osprey photo of the spring, taken today while the raptor was getting ready for lunch on a pole along Disposal Road.
Mickey and Elaine Raine sent this cute pic of a quartet of Gren-winged Teal in marching formation at Mill Creek Marsh as well as the crow below. Can someone tell us if this is an American Crow, Fish Crow, or a different species? Thanks!
On this past Sunday morning nine Black-Crowned Night Herons stood like sentinels along the banks of a small marshy area constrained by the New Jersey Turnpike and surrounded by countless other stone and asphalt structures of our Garden State.
Like many of our Meadowlands birds and birders we all seemed oblivious to the roar of the cars, trucks and airliners overhead. These most regal and stately of birds seemed to ignore the gazing binoculars as one of our group members dropped her binoculars, looked up at me and said “The birding is wonderful, you are so lucky to live here in the Meadowlands!” The comment at first took me by surprise. It was music to my ears and such a wonderful thing to say, but I was taken back, not use to hearing those kind and flattering comments.
Chris Takacs got a shot of this Eagle perched sentry-like on the Transco Trail in DeKorte Park this morning. Look up and you may see him with his eyes trained on you.
There’s a story in today’s Record about the Tenafly Nature Center tearing down an old, ineffective fence and building a new one around its wildlife garden to prevent deer from eating the plants that attract pollinators from honeybees to monarch butterflies. Nature Center representatives want to enclose part of the garden in netting to let visitors observe the butterfly species as they progress through their life cycle, with visitors being able to enter the area with foam brushes soaked in a nectar-like liquid, and see the butterflies land on the brushes to feed. Read the article here.
Join us this Monday, March 21, from 6 to 7 pm for Evening Yoga at the Meadowlands Environment Center.
Adults of all ages/levels welcomed — focus on alignment, flow and warmth followed by a restorative pose to unwind the body and mind for bed. Open to all levels of students-beginner to advanced, ages 14 and up. Poses can be modified to accommodate all levels. Additional session on Monday, April 18.
Cost is $10. To register, click here.
Hope to see you Monday!
We’ll end the week with a dispatch from Central America. Sandy Sorkin has been in Costa Rica and sent the amazing photos below that he took at Rancho Naturalista, the country’s premiere birding lodge. Enjoy courtesy of Sandy, and have a great weekend!
Gray-necked Wood-Rail
Gray-necked Wood-rail
Spectacled Owls
Laughing Falcon
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Female Passarini’s Tanager
Long-billed Hermit
Palm Tanager
Great Potoo
Green Thorntail
White-necked Jacobin
Summer Tanager