Jimmy Macaluso got this great shot of a doe and a Red-winged Blackbird bonding yesterday at Teaneck Creek. Either that or we have a very lazy Red-winged Blackbird that prefers passenger service to flying.

It’s that time again – The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and Bergen County Audubon Society present the 16th Annual Butterfly Day on Sunday, July 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Richard W. DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst! Rain date is Sunday, July 27.

Schedule to come as the date draws closer.

DeKorte Park is located at 2 DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst.

Contact: Don Torino at greatauk4@gmail.com or 201-230-4983.

Due to inclement weather, the William D. McDowell Observatory will be closed tonight, Wednesday, May 28.

BCAS President Don Torino Doing What He Does Best – Connecting People With Nature

Bergen County Audubon Society President Don Torino’s radio show, The Nature Connection, debuted this past Sunday, May 25, on WFDU(FM) 89.1. The program airs the fourth Sunday of each month from 6:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. on Fairleigh Dickinson University radio.

Programming is also streamed through the station’s website, https://wfdu.fm/ If you missed the show, you can listen on the archives page.

The Nature Connection’s goal is to engage and encourage people to get out in the environment and raise awareness of the crucial importance of protecting our precious natural resources and wildlife for generations to come. Read all about the Nature Connection.

Has the Bergen County Audubon Society piqued your interest? Visit the BCAS website to learn more about the organization and its vast array of public programs, including a plethora of area nature walks.

Don’s first show focused on the Teaneck Creek Conservancy. He spoke with guest Kathleen Farley, PhD, Executive Director of the Conservancy.

The woodlands includes trails, Eco-Art and much more. The Conservancy offers an array of public activities, including guided walks, an Eco Book Club with the Teaneck Library and Community Science Saturdays.

Visit the Teaneck Creek Conservancy for all the details.

The next edition of The Nature Connection airs on Sunday, June 29. Don will be speaking with BCAS Education Director Marie Longo. Topics include Monarch Butterflies, Native Plants and how listeners can help nature thrive in their own backyards.

Common Yellowthroat

Kick off June by joining the Bergen County Audubon Society for a nature walk at magnificent DeKorte Park! They’ll be looking for late spring migrants and more. The walk is from 10 a.m. to noon.

Meet outside the Meadowlands Environment Center, 2 DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst.

Contact: Don Torino at greatauk4@gmail.com or (201) 230-4983.

NJSEA Chairman John Ballantyne introduced himself to this photogenic Red Fox Vulpes Vulpes along Disposal Road on the way into DeKorte Park yesterday morning (May 22). Red Foxes, one of the many amazing wildlife species found in and around the park, and throughout the Meadowlands, represent a return to a more balanced ecosytem.

Thank you Chairman Ballantyne for these great additions to the blog!

Black-eyed Susan

Native Plant Day 2025, held on May 17 in DeKorte Park, proved to be an outstanding success. The event, hosted by the NJSEA and Bergen County Audubon Society, included native plant walks, talks and presentations.

Local environmental groups provided a plethora of information and kid’s activities. The program attracted some 300 to 400 visitors, who gained knowledge of how they can help native flora thrive in their own backyards.

Below are photos from Native Plant Day, Courtesy NJSEA and Bergen County Audubon Society

Bergamont

Northern Harrier

Take advantage of an opportunity to access Harrier Meadow, a significant nature preserve that is usually closed to the public. Your Bergen County Audubon guides will highlight endangered species and how everyone can do their part to help their survival. The walk goes from 10 a.m. to noon.

Harrier Meadow is located off Disposal Road in North Arlington.

Contact: Don Torino greatauk4@gmail.com – (201) 230-4983.

We had a great time installing Tree Swallow boxes with The Arc of New Jersey this past Wednesday, May 1. With their generous contribution of 10 bird boxes, the Tree Swallows of Dekorte Park now have new, cozy nesting spots.