Many thanks to Jim Macaluso who took these great photos today, Saturday May 6, of an exquisite, extremely rare Meadowlands visitor: a Black-legged Kittiwake!

Please note: The William D. McDowell Observatory has reopened. It is open to the public every Wednesday evening, weather permitting. May through August hours are 8 to 10 pm. Observatory operating status will be posted on www.njsea.com and 201-460-4001 by 3 p.m. each Wednesday.

Keep your eyes peeled for spring migrants, shorebirds and warblers during this nature walk led by the Bergen County Audubon Society from10 a.m. to noon. Meet at the Meadowlands Environment Center, 2 DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst.

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

Happy Friday from this incredibly cute baby fox!

Earlier this week staff from the NJSEA Meadowlands Research and Restoration Institute (MMRI) launched an artificial floating island into the Kearny Freshwater Marsh as part of a new conservation project. The 16×16 foot temporary structures are constructed of wood, and then covered with sand to recreate the type of habitat that these birds use to breed.

The initiative, created by MRRI, seeks to encourage local endangered species such as Least Terns and Black Skimmers to nest on a sand-covered artificial floating island.

The Floating Islands include tern decoys constructed by volunteers to help attract Least Terns and other colonial nesting waterbirds. The critical nesting shelters, also built by volunteers, will provide fledgling Least Terns protection from predators. MRRI will also be installing a sound box to assist in attracting the terns, and remote cameras to capture live video, which will then be monitored by MRRI biologists and ecologists.

The NJSEA extends a huge thank you to the Maywood Boy Scouts and Fair Lawn High School wood shop students who constructed the nesting shelters and decoys, and to the Bergen County Audubon Society for coordinating the effort with the troop volunteers and students.

Keep your eyes peeled for spring migrants, shorebirds and warblers during this nature walk led by the Bergen County Audubon Society from10 a.m. to noon. Meet at the Meadowlands Environment Center, 2 DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst.

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

Native Plant Day will soon be upon us! Take advantage of this great opportunity to explore DeKorte Park and its beautiful array of valuable native plants while learning how you can directly help to increase the health of birds, wildlife, pollinators and habitats. Join us at DeKorte Park on Sunday, May 21, from 10 am to 2 pm.

For more information contact:
Bergen County Audubon Society: Don Torino, greatauk4@gmail.com 201-230-4983

NJSEA: Brian Aberback, baberback@njsea.com or 201-460-4619

As promised, here are more incredible bird shots courtesy of Joe Koscielny. Joe took the photos from the newly reopened Marsh Discovery Trail in DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst. Check out the trail and many others; the park is open daily from 7 a.m. to dusk.

Many thanks to Joe Koscielny, who captured a spectacular variety of bird photos last Friday from the newly reopened Marsh Discovery Trail at DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst. We’ll have more from Joe later today. Thanks Joe!

The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority along with the Bergen County Audubon Society welcome you to a special Earth Day Nature Walk and Marsh Discovery Trail Reopening Celebration. The event takes place Friday, April 21, at 10 a.m. The walk will be preceded by a trail reopening including remarks from NJSEA staff and members of Bergen Audubon. These include a brief history of the trail and its critical significance to the Meadowlands wildlife and eco-system. Light refreshments will be provided. Keep your eyes peeled on the walk for Tree Swallows and other resident birds.

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

For more information, contact Brian Aberback at baberback@njsea.com or 201-460-4619