One of the birds that NJMC Naturalist Mike Newhouse and his dauntless band of banders banded last week was the young male Indigo Bunting above.

Karin La Greca of the Meadowlands Environment Center writes:

Our youngest Diamondback Terrapin, Squishy, is growing and in need of a new fish tank. I was wondering if anyone has a tank that is capable of holding water that they would like to donate.

The tank will need to be at least 36 inches long with a height not exceeding 21 inches.

Please e-mail me at Education.Information (at) njmeadowlands.gov

Thank you!

Jim Wright, who keeps this blog, will be giving a talk and slide show on his book “The Nature of the Meadowlands” on Friday, Sept. 27, at 8 p.m. at Allendale Borough Hall, 500 Crescent Ave., Allendale.

Signed copies of the book will be available for sale after the program, with proceeds going to benefit the NJMC’s educational programming.

As a bonus, recent wonderful and whimsical wildlife wood-carvings by the legendary Stiles Thomas will be on display.

The Star-Ledger review of the book is here.

Contact Jim Wright at 201-469-7349 for more information about the event.

Megan Helsel writes:

Not the greatest cellphone shot, but check out the harvest moon by kayak in Mill Creek!

(Thanks, Megan!)

Folks who enjoy birding along Disposal Road should be aware that two new speed bumps have been installed on Disposal Road near the access point of the North Arlington DPW (as you travel towards Schuyler).

These bumps were installed in order to create a safer roadway and, in particular, a safer intersection.

As always, be on the lookout for vehicles on all stretches of the roadway.

Mike Girone writes:

I put together an album from Tuesday’s “reunion” on Saw Mill Creek trail with the blue-taped juvenile Peregrine:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/80696806@N06/sets/72157635626483025/

Despite not having the actual band numbers, this is probably still likely the same blue-taped falcon seen exactly 1 month earlier on August 17 on this trail:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/80696806@N06/sets/72157635170720765/

Pretty cool that both times it’s been observed, it has had success hunting at DeKorte. It really is a perfect place for these young hunters to learn their craft! (Thanks, Mike!)

As promised, here’s the full bird list from Tuesday’s walk — a wonderful morning for a walk in the Meadowlands.  We had eagle, falcon, raven, cardinal, seahawk (Osprey) and more. Go team!

(A big thank you to Denise Farrell, Marie Longo and Ramon Gomez for their help in compiling the list!)

Full list follows. Continue reading →

The Meadowlands Environment Center in DeKorte Park is offering two great nature-themed programs in coming days.

First, the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey offers a program on New Jersey’s threatened and endangered birds tomorrow afternoon (including Peregrine Falcons, like the one on right), followed by a talk by the legendary NJMC naturalist emeritus Don Smith on Sunday.

Both talks promise to be excellent.

Details follow.

Continue reading →

We are going with Patrick Carney’s Teaser answer (Mourning Underwing) and Denise Farrell’s answer (Sweetheart Underwing).

Denise points out that both moths resemble the one in the photo, and adds: “Makes ‘confusing fall’ warblers seem easy.   (Thanks, Patrick and Denise!)

More than 30 folks joined us for a beautiful walk in Harrier Meadow this morning. We tallied more than three-dozen species.

We hope to print the full bird list later this week.  The only down-side: It was too windy for NJMC Naturalist Mike Newhouse’s bird-banding demonstration.

A big thank you to everyone who participated.