Among the concrete and iron, surrounded by the deafening traffic noise, and in-between the malls, warehouses, roads and endless lawns, there is an Osprey nesting on its steel tower tree, a Peregrine Falcon hunting its prey high atop an office building forest and the Bald Eagle now taking up residence in its busy suburban backyard […]
I am an unapologetic proud child of the Meadowlands and consider myself more fortunate than many other kids of my day. Although I grew up with very little in the way of material things, from 12 years of age I had the privilege of growing up wandering the fields, meadows and creeks of a unique […]
As another Earth Day approaches, after so many years, I have to sit back and take a breath when I think about how long we have been coming together to celebrate our love for the planet. Since 1970 great things have come from this very special grassroots day. The concept of clean air, clean water […]
Credit: Susan McTigue “So What Did You See Today” That is how the conversation usually starts as birders pass each other on the trail. “What did you see? Anything good?” The discussion continues over the shoulder as they slowly drift in opposite directions which ends with a nod of the head, a faint good luck […]
It seems most of our lives are spent waiting for something or other. It might be waiting to grow up, waiting to graduate, waiting to land a new job or waiting to retire. Sometimes we are just waiting for a phone call or just waiting on hold, waiting to reboot and waiting to download, waiting […]
BCAS President Don Torino has graced this page with many of his insightful, poignant, emotive and educational columns over the years. Now Don has collected 35 of his essays in his new book, “Life in the Meadowlands.” The book is available at cost here and will soon be ready in Ebook form. Congratulations Don on […]
This Thanksgiving is a very special one for sure. We have much to be thankful for and more deserving people than we can ever begin to say thank you to as well. This year we will finally be back with family and friends while still mourning the people we have lost. We will be reflecting […]
A white frost covered the green grass this morning and although I tried to pretend the chill did not nip my fingertips the cold early morning wind in my face reminded me winter was not far off. With the oncoming Meadowlands winds, icy trails and cold toes, old friends are here again to greet me. […]
On a recent beautiful October morning I strolled around our Bergen County Audubon Society Butterfly Garden at Overpeck Park. But this time not with a shovel or butterfly guide, not even with a watering can or a new wildflower to plant. Among the fallen leaves, autumn sun and subdued but still magnificent colors, I was […]
“What’s inside that flower Mr. Don?” a little girl asked me as we walked around our butterfly garden. We both stared together into a large, white hibiscus with a pink center. I honestly could not remember when I last looked that long or closely into a flower. My fascination got the better of me and […]