The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and the Bergen County Audubon Society are thrilled to announce exciting, new details about the Third Annual NJ Meadowlands Eagle Festival. The event takes place on Sunday, Jan. 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Meadowlands Environment Center in DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst. The snow date is Sunday, Jan. 19, at the same time.

We have a host of guests, children’s activities and presentations planned to celebrate the majestic raptor and encourage an appreciation for the awe-inspiring symbol of our country. NJSEA and BCAS guides will conduct Eagle walks. Bring your binoculars; witnessing an Eagle in flight or perched upon a tree is simply breathtaking.

In addition, BCAS President Don Torino will discuss the return of the Bald Eagle to our area, and Bergen Camera will conduct a Photographing Raptors program.

Visitors will have the chance to stop by the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey table and say hello to Larissa Smith. Larissa is the Foundation’s Senior Wildlife Biologist and coordinates volunteers for the NJ Bald Eagle Project. The volunteers monitor and protect over 300 Bald Eagle nests statewide.

The Flat Rock Brook Nature Center is bringing live birds of prey so that visitors can learn about and experience raptors up-close. A Native American Display will feature Marcey Tree In The Wind, an active Ramapough Lenape Nation Tribal Member, and her husband, Tony Moon Hawk Langhorn, an active Member of the Unkechaug Nation. Bald Eagles are highly revered and considered sacred within Native American culture and traditions. Learn why and much more from Marcey Tree In The Wind and Tony Moon Hawk Langhorn

There will be plenty of children’s games, crafts and table giveaways, courtesy of the BCAS, NJSEA, Conserve Wildlife of New Jersey, the New Weis Center, Flat Rock Brook Nature Center, the SOAR (Sharing Opportunities, Advancing Realities) science education group and others.

The BCAS Frank M. Chapman Award will be presented at the Festival. The award’s namesake, a native of West Englewood (now Teaneck), was inspired by birds in the woods and fields of Bergen County to make them his life’s work. Chapman was the author of early, popular field guides. He was also a leading curator of birds at the American Museum of Natural History.

In addition, recipients of the Harold Feinberg Conservation Awards will be honored. Harold Feinberg was a longtime BCAS member and field trip chairman. He was a mentor, an enthusiastic supporter of Bergen Audubon endeavors, and always gave freely of his expertise with a rare combination of patience and knowledge.

Steve Kelman, our favorite bluegrass/folk singer-guitarist, provides a fitting musical backdrop to the festival.

A food truck will be present to provide nourishment throughout the day.

In the coming days, we will be posting articles spotlighting specific organizations mentioned above. Check this page often and we’ll see you on January 12!

DeKorte Park and the Meadowlands Environment Center are located at 2 DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst.

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

Work off those Thanksgiving leftovers by joining the Bergen County Audubon Society for a guided walk this Sunday (Dec. 1) at Mill Creek Marsh in Secaucus. We’ll be keeping an eye on winter waterfowl, songbirds, and raptors. The walk goes from 10 a.m. to noon.

Meet at the trail entrance off the back parking lot of Bob’s Discount Furniture, 3 Mill Creek Drive, Secaucus.

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

Work off those Thanksgiving leftovers by joining the Bergen County Audubon Society for a guided walk at Mill Creek Marsh in Secaucus. They’ll be keeping an eye on winter waterfowl, songbirds, and raptors. The walk goes from 10 a.m. to noon.

Meet at the trail entrance off the back parking lot of Bob’s Discount Furniture, 3 Mill Creek Drive, Secaucus.

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

The Bergen County County Audubon Society is proud to announce the recipients of its 15th Annual Harold Feinberg Conservation Award. This year’s well-deserving honorees are Edna Duffy and Krishna Rege.

Below are BCAS statements on each award winner.

Edna Duffy

Below is the press release from the BCAS:

Don Smith to receive Bergen County Audubon’s Frank M. Chapman Award

Don Smith has been called “Mr. Meadowlands. And just like Frank Chapman has devoted his life to the preservation and protection of our avian wildlife and the habitat they need to live and thrive.

Don grew up exploring and discovering the marshes of the Meadowlands. He is a Little Ferry native, a retired Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission naturalist, outdoorsman, and storyteller. Don Smith himself, is one of the natural treasures of the Meadowlands and one of the key figures in the region’s comeback. Don was on the front lines of the battle to save the Meadowlands.

Don served as the Senior Natural Resource Specialist and Water Pollution/Environmental Inspector for the then HMDC (later the NJMC) for 26 years, from 1972 to 1998. As an inspector, Don patrolled the district and documented sources of water pollution and illegal discharges of waste. He worked in association with State and Federal regulatory agencies to identify hazardous spills in the Hackensack River Estuary and initiated response for containment and cleanup.

Among his many accomplishments is the restoration of Harrier Meadow in 1996. The then HMDC bought the Harrier Meadow site and worked with Ducks Unlimited to design a natural area with native plants to offset wetland impacts from a Conrail project. At the urging of Don Smith, the three open-water impoundments were created.

The impact of the improvements was immediate. Before the enhancement began, 42 bird species were reported. Just after, that number had climbed to 58. Now there have been well over 222 species of birds reported there.

And let’s not forget about the methane burner on Disposal Road. When no one else knew what to do, it was Don who came up with the design to protect the birds from being burned.

Don today, even though retired from the Commission, still watches out for the water, the wildlife and the people of the Meadowlands, and is never afraid to voice his opinion when he sees what he considers all those things he cherishes and loves about our Meadowlands not being honored.

Please join us on January 12 at Our Annual Meadowlands Eagle Festival for our awards ceremony.

Don Torino -Bergen County Audubon Society

Due to anticipated cloud cover, the William D. McDowell Observatory public viewing session for tonight, Wednesday, Nov. 20, has been cancelled. The next scheduled viewing session is Wednesday, Nov. 27, from 7:30 pm to 10 pm.

Folks have been asking if the William D. McDowell Observatory will be open the night before Thanksgiving. The answer is Yes!

Weather permitting, the Observatory will be open from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27. Please call the Observatory hotline on that day (and every Wednesday) at 201-460-4001 for operating status.

Please note that the Observatory will be closed on New Year’s Day.

The Bergen County Audubon Society will lead a walk through this truly spectacular park, replete with scenic walking trails and birds galore. We’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for migratory waterfowl, songbirds and raptors. The walk goes from 10 a.m. to noon.

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

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

Please note: The NJSEA Administrative offices will be closed on Monday, Nov. 11, in Observance of Veterans Day. DeKorte Park will be open.