These two wild turkeys have been hanging out in Rutherford since this summer.

    A thank-you to Jaimie Winters, editor of The South Bergenite, for sharing this photo.

   More on Wild Turkeys here.

   The Meadowlands Commission's Jim Wright will speak on Winter Raptors, as well as a Brief History of the Meadowlands, in a slide show and talk at noon on Dec. 9 at New Jersey City University in Jersey City.

   Wright, who maintains the Meadowlands Nature Blog for the commission and who does most of the photography for the blog, will discuss and show images of raptors seen in the Meadowlands last winter — including Snowy Owls (including the one above), Bald Eagles and Rough-legged Hawks.

   He'll also discuss the region's amazing environmental comeback, and show some great archival photos as well as new photos.

   “Winter Raptors of the Meadowlands,” free and open to the public, will be held at the New Jersey City University Center for Teaching and Learning, Vodra Hall, Room 143, 2039 Kennedy Boulevard in Jersey City. 

   Reservations are required.  For reservations or further information call Dr. Steven Haber, director of NJCU’s Center for Teaching and Learning, at 201-200-3282.

   For directions, click here.

    We made a quick lunchtime stop at the Kearny Marsh yesterday to see what was around.

    Parking in the northeast part of the Gunnell Oval (off Schuyler Avenue), we saw at least six American Coots and a distant Pied-billed Grebe amongst the Canada Geese.

    A stunning photo of an immature Yellow-Crowned Night Heron captured first prize in the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission’s 2009 Amateur Photo Contest, “The Meadowlands: 40 Years of Progress,” the NJMC announced today.

   The winning photo, and other contest entries, will be on display from Dec. 2 to Jan. 3 at the NJMC’s Flyway Gallery.

    Kearny resident Ronald Shields’ photo, “Out on a Limb" (above), placed first out of more than 100 entries received over the past three months. His image captures a young night heron surveying the Mill Creek Marsh in Secaucus from its perch on a tree branch jutting over the water.  

  Laura Frazer of Montclair took second prize for “Reflections,” a beautiful photo of the gazebo and walkway reflected in a tidal impoundment at DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst.

   Ernie Fragetta of Lyndhurst won third prize for “Beautiful Lyndhurst Meadowlands,” which captures a majestic great egret flying across the marshes. The three winners will receive prizes of $300, $150 and $75.  

   Click "Continue reading…" to see the other two winning photos and for more information on the contest.

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    If you are looking to do the Christmas Bird Count this year, there is now one central listing of the dates and locations for each circle in New Jersey. Here's the link.

   For a link to the National Audubon site, which has more about the Christmas Count's history and procedures, results of past counts, etc., click here.

     This guy has been tooling around the tidal impoundments at DeKorte, but he never sits still for a portrait. We managed to sneak up on him on Friday to get this one shot. Needless to say, we heard him before we saw him.

   How do we know it's a male?

     More on Belted Kingfishers here.

   An apparent leucistic American Tree Sparrow was seen by participants on Saturday's Bergen County Audubon Society field trip to Mehrhof Pond. 

   Marco Lips photographed the bird, and BCAS is sharing the photo with readers of the Meadowlands Blog.  (Thanks, Marco and BCAS!)

More on leucistic birds here.

The Meadowlands Commission and BCAS are hosting a trip to Mehrhof Pond on Tuesday, Dec. 15.

   Click "Continue reading…" for more information on the upcoming  walk. You must rsvp by Dec. 4.

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Neil Maruca Reports:

Safety Note:  Duck Hunters were out today on the Saw Mill WMA across from Laurel Hill Park.   The current portion of Northern NJ duck season goes  Nov. 17 to January 2.  There was also some gunfire coming from the impoundment dikes outside to the Wildlife Mgt Area near the WMCA radio towers.

Highlights Kearny East:   Clapper Rail, 3 Red Breasted Merg, Coot, Great Cormorant, Tree Sparrow, 400 Ruddy Ducks, 2 Greater Scaup in with the Rudyies and & 2 Lesser Scaup near the Hackensack River.  Also a white "bibbed" domestic duck in with some dabblers.

Had Carolina Wren and Northern Flicker off Belleville pike,  DeKorte had 9 greater yellowlegs, 200+ GW Teal, 150 Mallards and 50ish Shovelers and Gadwall.