While looking (in vain) for butterflies at DeKorte Park last week, we came an unusually cooperative Black Saddlebags dragonfly.
Author Archives: NJMC
The Observatory’s June Schedule
The William D. McDowell Observatory 
in DeKorte Park has an exciting month of programming in June.
Free public access is from 9 to 10:30 on Monday and Wednesday nights this month — weather permitting, of course.
Dress for the weather; with the dome open, you are basically outside.
Each evening at least two major objects in the night sky will be viewed, plus one or two other celestial objects or events depending on the observing conditions.
For a recent South Bergenite column by the NJMC's Jim Wright about the observatory, click here.
Our Next Walk: Sunday, Mill Creek Point, Secaucus!
Bergen County Audubon Society and the Meadowlands Commission are hosting our first-ever guided walk along the Secaucus High School Boardwalk this Sunday at 10 a.m.
Full info follows. Click here for directions.
See a Cicada? Say Something (To The Record)
Ace environmental reporter Jim O'Neill of The Record writes:
When the 17-year cicadas actually emerge in our North Jersey area, I want to do a follow-up on the story that The Record published recently.
If any of you see cicadas, please send me a quick email about how many, location, etc.? That would be incredibly helpful.
Thanks for any help!! My email is oneillj@northjersey.com
Here's a link to Jim's story:
http://bit.ly/YOqCV5
Industrious Barn Swallows @ Disposal Road
Ron Shields writes:
While his colleagues collect mud and straw as the traditional materials for nest building (above), the smarter swallow (below) contemplates the use of chipped brick or so it seems.
As photographed Tuesday from the bus parking lot on Disposal Road. (Thanks, Ron!) 
We Need Your Big Year Totals!
Get out your binoculars — and send us your Meadowlands Big Year totals as of May 31!
The goal is to see as many different bird species as possible in the 14 towns of the Meadowlands District over the course of 2013 — and also to have fun birding.
To ensure a level playing field, all birds must be seen in areas open to the public, or on guided walks or banding events in such places as Harrier Meadow or the back of the Kingsland Landfill.
The idea is to promote birding in the Meadowlands, and to give area birders a competition that does not require as much travel (and gasoline consumption) as, say, a New Jersey Big Year.
To make this as fair as possible, we have two divisions: Meadowlands residents and non-Meadowlands residents.
More details follow.
What to Expect in the Meadowlands in June
To see what we might be seeing in June in the Meadowlands, we thought we'd take a look at what we saw at this time last year.
Here are some highlights (click on the text to link to the post):
June 5: In Memory of John R. Quinn
June 7: Disposal Road: Spotted Sandpiper Family
June 11: Photographing the Kearny Marsh by Kayak
June 13: Birding at the Butterfly Fountain
June 18: Remembering the Meadowlands of Yore
June 21: Sunset at Mill Creek Point
June 23: Incredible Diamondback Terrapin Action Shots
June 25: Cormorant Vs. Eel
June 30: That Mystery Moth and More
Our Next Walk: Sunday, Mill Creek Point!
Bergen County Audubon Society and the Meadowlands Commission are hosting our first-ever guided walk along the Secaucus High School Boardwalk this Sunday at 10 a.m.
Full info follows.
‘Nature of the Meadowlands’ @ BooksNJ2013
Illustration from Tom Yezerski's "Meadowlands, A Wetlands Survival Story"
Join Jim Wright (author of "The Nature of the Meadowlands"), Tom Yezerski (author of "Meadowlands: A Wetlands Survival Story") 
and many other noted New Jersey authors for BooksNJ2013 at the Paramus Public Library on June 9 from 1 to 5 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public.
At 1 p.m., Jim will participate in the panel discussion “Images of New Jersey,” with Tom Yezerski, author of “Meadowlands, a Wetlands Survival Story,” and Kevin Woyce, author of several photo-driven regional books.
The event will take place in the Gotta Get Back to the Garden (State) Tent.
For more information on BooksNJ2013, "a celebration of books and the people who love them," use this link.
Butterflies Starting To Arrive?
From what we've seen, the butterflies are arriving in dribs and drabs this spring — unlike last year's big mid-May invasion of Red Admirals, Painted Ladies and more.
Chris Takacs saw this dime-size guy on the Kingsland Landfill earlier this week. Eastern Tailed-blue? (Thanks, Chris!)
Let us know about your sightings.