Jim Wright, who keeps this blog for the NJMC, also writes a twice-monthly column for the South Bergenite. His latest is on the amazing recent bird activity in this region. Here it is:

Don’t just sit there! Grab a pair of binoculars, go outside, and check out the amazing bird activity in the Meadowlands.

From a Snowy Owl in Carlstadt to Snowy Egrets in Lyndhurst, the Meadowlands has been home to some amazing birds in recent weeks.  A Glossy Ibis in North Arlington and a Yellow-headed  Blackbird in Secaucus are two more examples of the diverse and stunningly beautiful array of birds that have been spotted.

And although you may not be able to see some of these winged wonders anymore — the Snowy Owl and Yellow-Headed Blackbird have likely continued on their travels — there are more and more birds arriving in the region and plenty of chances to see them on a free guided walk in the next week or two. (More on that later).

NCMC Naturalist Mike Newhouse points to two reasons why now is such a great time of year to go birding in the Meadowlands.     Continue reading →

River Barge Park and Marina’s  Public Boat Ramp is closed temporarily so that the debris that came in during the last couple of high tides can be removed.

Valley Brook Avenue is flooded. Until the water subsides after high tide, might be more prudent to use the Disposal Road approach when visiting DeKorte today (Thursday).

The William D. McDowell Observatory in DeKorte Park has an exciting month of programming in May — beginning  Monday night.

Free public access is from 8:30 to 10 on Monday and Wednesday nights this month — weather permitting, of course.

Dress for the weather; with the dome open, you are basically outside.

Each evening at least two major objects in the night sky will be viewed, plus one or two other celestial objects or events depending on the observing conditions.

For a South Bergenite column by the NJMC’s Jim Wright about the observatory, click here.

For more information about Observatory programming, click here.

With hundreds of Tree Swallow nesting boxes in the Meadowlands, we thought we’d put up one with our logo on it to see how the swallows would respond.

It was love at first sight — and second sight.  Here’s a sample of photos taken within the first minute of its installation in Teal Pool in DeKorte Park.

To see what might be seen in the Maedowlands in May, we thought we’d show some highlights from last May..

Just click on the text to link to the post.

May 3: Mill Creek Marsh from the Air

May 5: Severe Outbreak of Warbler Neck @ Losen Slote!

May 6: DeKorte Park in Bloom

May 8: Unusual Mill Creek Mammal

May 9: An Early Happy Mother’s Day! (Above)

May 12: The Marsh Hawks Win! The Marsh Hawks Win!

May 14: Ridgefield Mother’s Day Walk: The Full List

May 16: Losen Slote: Warbler Capital!!

May 25: Look Out for Snapping Turtles!

May 31: Industrious Barn Swallows @ Disposal Road

Five years ago, as part of the N.J. Meadowlands Commission’s Oral History Project, we interviewed lots of folks about the region in the old days. We are reprinting the best of them here, every Tuesday, for 11 weeks. This week: Jim Kazalis.

Growing up in Kearny in the 1950s, lifelong Meadowlands resident Jim Kazalis spent much of his free time hunting and fishing with his dad on the Hackensack River near Laurel Hill and exploring local landfills.

In the following audio interview, Jim shares several detailed recollections of his boyhood adventures hunting, trapping and seeking treasure in the Meadows.

Now a Rutherford resident, Jim brings the conversation full circle as he talks about introducing the next generation – his 6-year-old grandson – to the Meadowlands’ wonders.

Click “Continue reading …” below to hear Jim’s stories, read his account about growing up in the Meadowlands, and view archival photos. Continue reading →

Ron Shields photographed these Common Gallinules (nee Moorhens) at the Kearny Marsh on Friday. (Thanks, Ron!)

Just in time for our free  Mother’s Day guided walk, Karen Riede reports:

Above is a photo of the Skeetkill clean up team consisting of students from Ridgefield Memorial High School (RMHS) that were sent to Skeetkill with team leaders  Kathy Meyer and Michele Gillies and RMHS Spanish Language Teacher Olga Escobar.

It was the 10th Annual Town-wide Clean Up Day sponsored by the Ridgefield Environmental Commission. Counting all involved was 130.  Other sites cleaned were Bell Dr., Railroad Ave., Broad Ave. and sites around Veterans Memorial Park, Nature Center, 2 schools and the Community Center.

(Thanks, RMHS! Our walk will be visiting three of those places on Mother’s day )

We have two free guided bird walks with Bergen County Audubon Society on Sunday at Losen Creek Park in Little Ferry. Details follow.

Continue reading →