NJSEA Naturalists Gaby Bennett-Meany, Drew McQuade and Alashanee Mooney were out in the DeKorte impoundments this performing maintenance on more than 50 Tree Swallow Nesting Boxes. The trio cleaned out the boxes and fortified them, helping the hundreds of Swallows that flock to them each spring. The Tree Swallows send their thanks to Gaby, Drew and Alashanee!
I often am reminded of this story when spring arrives in the Meadowlands, so my apologies if you have heard this story before. But since I am a senior citizen I get to tell it as much as I want.
Many years ago I was on a bird walk with a group of people from a local nature group when suddenly a striking black bird with brilliant red markings shot by us like a Ferrari with wings. The leader barely looked up until someone asked “What was that?”
“Oh that?” the leader answered back flippantly. “Just a Red-winged Blackbird.” Just a Red-winged Blackbird? How could someone speak so off handedly about such a magnificent bird that has meant so much to me?
The Bergen County Audubon Society is hosting an Earth Day walk and “Creating a Certified Wildlife Garden” program on Sunday, April 22, at DeKorte Park.
The day begins with a nature walk through the park from 10 am to noon. Then, at 1 p.m. in the park’s Meadowlands Environment Center, the BCAS will tell you how you can make your backyard a haven for wildlife by creating a BCAS Certified Wildlife Garden. Following the program Bergen Audubon will lead a native plant walk around the park.
For more information on the BCAS Certified Wildlife Gardens program, click here
For more information on the BCAS Earth Day activities, contact Don Torino at greatauk4@gmail.com or 201-230-4983.
Red-winged Blackbird
Some more cool photos from Mickey Raine from a recent trip to DeKorte. Love the Robin below appearing to curiously watch the Red-winged Blackbird calling above!
American Robin
Cormorant
Cormorant
Canvasbacks
Great Egret
Great Egret
Join the Bergen County Audubon Society next Tuesday (April 17) for a guided walk through Losen Slote Creek Park in Little Ferry, one of the last hardwood lowland forests in the Meadowlands. They’ll be looking for spring migrants like warblers and flycatchers.
The walk lasts from 10 am to noon. For more information contact Don Torino at greatauk4@gmail.com or 201-230-4983
Tree Swallow – DeKorte Park
Many thanks to Mickey Raine for sending in a variety of shots taken over the past week at various Meadowlands locations. Highlights include Tree Swallows in flight and our first photo in quite a while of a Black-capped Chickadee!
Tree Swallow – DeKorte Park
Black-capped Chickadee – Laurel Hill Park
Belted Kingfisher -DeKorte Park
Belted Kingfisher – DeKorte Park
Northern Cardinal – Laurel Hill Park
Gadwall – DeKorte Park
We rarely receive photos taken at Schmidt’s Woods in Secaucus, so we have to thank Mickey Raine for these recent great shots of a Northern Flicker and Red-bellied Woodpecker. In addition, we’ve added some of Mickey’s photos of a graceful Red-tailed Hawk taken on Disposal Road, just off DeKorte Park. Thanks Mickey!
Common Merganser
Thanks to Dennis Cheeseman for these great photos he took during lunchtime today at DeKorte!
Double-crested Cormorant
Northern Cardinal
Mickey Raine captured a Muskrat working on his time in the marsh at DeKorte last week, along with a Northern Shoveler and Northern Harrier. Thanks Mickey!
Mickey Raine took these beautiful scenic photos at Mill Creek Marsh last Saturday along with a Northern Mockingbird and Gadwalls. Thanks Mickey!
