DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst is open today. The observatory is closed tonight.
We had 42 bird species and Diamondback Terrapins on our free public Friday nature walk. We will post the complete list on Wednesday.
Author Archives: NJMC
Backyard Get-Away
DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst is a great place to get away without leaving home.
Admission is free, and the sights this time of year are specatcular.
The park, at the end of Valley Brook Aveune, is open from dawn to dusk daily. The Visitor Center and Observatory will be closed on Monday.
Click "Continue reading…" below to see more photos (taken on yesterday.)
The New Jersey Osprey Project
The Osprey Nests in Kearny and Jersey City, as it turns out, are just two of more than 400 statewide. These amazing fish hawks have their own statewide blog, appropriately called the New Jersey Osprey Project.
According to Ben Wurst, Habitat Program Manager for the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, "Most pairs hatch in late May, early June. You’re more likely to see them when they are around 3 weeks old."
The link is to the New Jersey Osprey Project is here.
DeKorte Finery — with labels
This spring, when you visit DeKorte Park, you can enjoy the plantings even more.
If you'
re not a flora fanatic, you may often see a plant or bud that you have trouble identifying. No more.
The Meadowlands Commission has been busy creating signs to go with the plants, so in most cases you'll be able to stop guessing. Those beautiful flowers above, are Bleeding Hearts, as the nearby sign explains.
The idea is to make the park as enjoyable — and educational — as we can.
Click "Continue reading…" to see more plants in their finery.
MoDo Mojo
The Mourning Dove nest outside the Meadowlands Environment Center popped up in no time. The first time we got a good view of the youngsters was yesterday.
Today, they fledged. And another MoDo nest popped up in a neighboring tree. More on MoDOs here.
Click "Continue reading …" for a photo of the new fledglings.
TUESDAY TEASER 051909
This is the second of three Tuesday Teasers about unusual warblers with with geographical names. Can you ID it?
More Tuesday Teasers here.
Click "Continue reading…" for the answers to this teaser.
Marsh Wren plus
Birder/photographer Dave Rotondi writes:
"DeKorte continues to amaze with its diversity. There's something new around every corner!
"I was lucky enough to have a Forster's Tern display for me and have a Marsh Wren serenade me with its tail straight up in the air. Too bad it was overcast this morning, but I wanted to share these pics with the blog."
Dave also had Cedar Waxwings on the Kinglsand Overlook Trail over the weekend.
Click "Continue reading …" for Dave's shot of the Forster's Tern.
Nighthawks — how you can help!
Common Nighthawks have been seen in the Meadowlands of late.
We saw this guy (above) flying around the former 1-E Landfill in North Arlington last week, and birder Ray Duffy reported seeing one near an Office Building on Chubb Avenue in Lyndhurst a few days earlier.
Nighthawks and other members of the Nightjar family aren't seen that often in these parts — to the point where the New Jersey Audubon Society does not include the Meadowlands in its annual Nightjar study, a project done in cooperation with NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife's Endangered and Non-game Species Program.
That status could change if enough Nightjars are seen and reported here this year.
If you see a Nightjar in the Meadowlands, or want more information about the Nightjar survey, please e-mail Kristin Mylecraine at this e-mail address.
For more on the national Nightjar study, click here.
For a list of the existing Nightjar survey points in New Jersey, click "Continue reading…" immediately below.
Record article on Ravens and a new Osprey nest
NJMC photo by Angelo Urato
As Environmental Jim O'Neill of The Record writes in today's editions, there appears to be a very good chance of a successful Osprey nest in Kearny this spring — the first in recent memory, and only the second along the lower Hackensack in decades. The other is in Jersey City near the PSE&G plant.
The Record's story, which also goes into fascinating detail about the Common Ravens of Laurel Hill in Secaucus, is here. It's an excellent read.
Upcoming walks, paddles, and eco-cruises
As part of our 40th anniversary celebration, the Meadowlands Commission is pleased to announce:
- We are hosting a Father’s Day Canoe Paddle on June 21 at 8:30 a.m. at Mill Creek Point Park in Secaucus.
Click Continue reading…" immediately below for more information on the walks, eco-cruises and paddling tours.