Black swallowtail

Many thanks to Joe Koscielny for these photos of butterflies taken this month during a Bergen Audubon walk in DeKorte Park. See the array of beautiful species for yourself at this Sunday’s Butterfly Day at the park!

The family-friendly, free event runs from 10 am to 3 pm. We’ll have butterfly walks, talks, milkweed plants (while supplies last) and kids activities including a scavenger hunt, costume contest (ages 12 and under), face painting, crafts and more!

For more info and to register click here

Black Swallowtail

Monarch

Monarch

Silver-spotted Skipper

Broad-winged Skipper

Idia Moth

Despite the heavy wind keeping the moths at bay, Tuesday evening’s Moth Night at DeKorte Park was a great success! How can that be, you ask? Some 150 visitors were treated to an engaging presentation by Flo Rutherford of the Bergen County Audubon Society and an informative talk by Dr. Elena Tartaglia of National Moth Week.

Kids participated in indoor and outdoor activities and learned which type of caterpillars turn into which butterflies and more.

Though only a couple moths were seen due to the heavy winds, everyone had fun outside searching for the moths and we received many complements on the program. The moth pictured above landed on one of the trees painted with a mixture provided by the BCAS of sugar, maple syrup, honey and other ingredients to attract moths. It was great to see a record number of families attending.

Thank you everyone for coming out and to the Bergen County Audubon Society for their hard work in making the program a success!

Here’s a photo gallery from Moth Night 2018

:

Many thanks to Belleville Scout Troop 350 and MetLife Stadium employees for their very generous donations of nest boxes to the NJSEA.

Belleville Troop 350 donated 24 nest boxes as part of Matthew Meany’s Eagle Scout project while MetLife Stadium staff constructed more than 60 of the structures! We thank you, as do the Tree Swallows who will no doubt love their new homes next Spring!

The wait is over! Tonight is Moth Night, Tuesday, July 24, from 8:30 to 10 pm at DeKorte Park. In case of rain, we will still be holding a talk about moths by the Bergen County Audubon Society inside. You’ll learn the importance of these amazing, lesser-known cousins of butterflies and gain a new perspective on the misunderstood creatures and how they benefit the environment.

If the weather holds up there will be kids activities outside, including painting trees to attract moths and a scavenger hunt.

If you have any questions please call 201-460-4619.

The countdown is on to Butterfly Day this Sunday, July 29, from 10 am to 3 pm at DeKorte Park. There’s a great story with a video on the festival in today’s Record featuring NJSEA Naturalist Gaby Bennett-Meany and BCAS President Don Torino!

To read the story and watch the video click here

Bergen Audubon and the authority will co-host their ninth annual Butterfly Day, open to the public, at DeKorte Park on July 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event includes butterfly walks, talks, onsite experts to help identify the various butterflies and free activities for children, including a scavenger hunt, face painting, and a butterfly costume contest for those 12 and under.

To register for the free event and for more info click here

For more info and registration click here

Least and Forster’s Terns

As promised here are some more fantastic photos taken by Joe Koscielney on Tuesday’s BCAS walk at DeKorte. All about the Least and Forster’s Terns today!

Least Tern

Least Tern

Least Tern

Immature Forster’s Tern

Forster’s Tern

Forster’s Tern

Thanks to Dennis Cheeseman for these great early morning DeKorte photos of a Forster’s Tern and an Osprey in flight!

Forster’s Tern

Joe Koscielny got some great photos during Tuesday’s Bergen Audubon walk at DeKorte Park, including these Terns in flight and more. More photos from Joe to come!

Least Tern

Forster’s Tern

Great Egret

Mallard and Ducklings

House Sparrow

Three images of native USA wildflowers in bloom in pollinator garden patches in the New Jersey Meadowlands at Richard W. DeKorte Park.

Regina Geoghan sent in these beautiful wildflower photos she took yesterday at DeKorte.

Regina writes: The wildflower pollinator patches are blooming beautifully and adding cheerful color to the DeKorte Landscape.  Kudos to Gabby-Bennett-Meany and her landscape workers for all of their hard work to make this happen and also to Don Torino and the Bergen County Audubon Society for  the support provided for milkweed and other plantings.

Thanks Regina!

Two images of native flowers in bloom in pollinator patch areas of Richard W. DeKorte Park in the New Jersey Meadowlands.

Growing up in the New Jersey Meadowlands I witnessed firsthand some of the worse things that man can do to his environment. But over the years I have also watched our Meadowlands return from the brink of annihilation, transformed from a place that was once thought by some better left for dead to one of the most incredible environmental come back stories in my lifetime.

Not only a New Jersey success story but a shining example of what can be accomplished nationwide when enough people care to do the right thing. Butterfly Day at DeKorte Park on Sunday July 29^th is a true celebration of that triumphant return.

Continue reading →