WTC Cove in DeKorte Park Rededicated

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The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission rededicated its World Trade Center Memorial Cove on Wednesday, Sept. 11, in Lyndhurst. The memorial site, located in DeKorte Park, provides a clear view of the lower Manhattan skyline, including the new One World Trade Center.

The World Trade Center Memorial Cove sustained significant damage from Superstorm Sandy and has been reconstructed. It was recently reopened to the public.

The Memorial Cove consists of a free-form wooden deck with two projecting piers, suggesting shadows of the fallen towers. The piers are proportioned after the World Trade Center, and each one has 110 boards representing the 110 floors of the towers.

The memorial also includes a steel silhouette of the towers and a spot from which visitors can view where the towers stood against the Manhattan skyline. The NJMC’s 9/11 Memorial was originally dedicated in March 2003.

Flooding from Superstorm Sandy ripped the deck and projecting piers from their supporting pilings, requiring the entire deck to be rebuilt. The dedication plaque and serpentine benches were salvaged and reinstalled.

Plantings at the site have been redesigned, using mostly native species, to add color and to attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.

The quote on the plaque is from the 19th century American orator Robert Ingersoll. It reads: “In the night of death, hope sees a star, and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing.”

DeKorte Park Open Late Tonight

1-IMG_0631Tonight, starting around 8 p.m., several folks are planning an informal, unofficial gathering in the Visitors Parking Lot in DeKorte Park to view the Tribute in Light in Lower Manhattan.

Roughly two dozen folks were on hand at DeKorte Park a year ago to see the twin beams of light that marked the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Most were there with cameras, others were there just to reflect.

DeKorte Park’s William K. McDowell Observatory will also be open tonight for free public viewing.

Help Wanted: Barn Swallow Locales

6a00e553bb7c20883401543351f9bf970cKurt Muenz writes:

My friends at Avian Haven, the bird rehabilitators in Maine  are planning a trip to New Jersey later this week. They need to release a Chimney Swift and 2 Barn Swallows — none left in northern New England — and will also be transporting 1 or 2 owls to The Raptor Trust.

The swift is to be released at the Ridgewood, NJ migration staging roost that I’ve been monitoring and reporting on.

As to the Barn Swallows, I’ve been asked to try to identify sites in Bergen and nearby NY/NJ counties where they are still being seen, the more the better. So please keep an eye out for Barn Swallows and email  any sighting reports to me (elkumu@aceweb.com).

Big Year Totals Through August

DSCN9973Here are the tallies as of August 31 in the Meadowlands Big Year contest for 2013.

Congrats to all for competing. We hope you are having fun near to home, and seeing lots of great birds.

Keep in mind that some birders are in the Meadowlands all the time, and others get here occasionally, so their birdage may differ drastically.

If your name’s not on the list, please e-mail Jim Wright at jim.wright (at) njmeadowlands.gov. It’s still not too late! Sign up now!

Here is the leader board as of  August 31:
1. Chris Takacs: 187, (2012 reigning champion, ineligible for prizes
in 2013 as a result, lives in district)
2. Mike Newhouse 184 (NJMC, setting a target number for competitors.)
3. Ray Duffy, 172 (in district)
4. Jackie DeMarco, 157 (out of district)
5. Mike Wolfe, 150 species (out of district)
6. Dennis Cheeseman, 145 (out of district)
7. Jim Wright,  141  (NJMC staff, ineligible for prizes)
8. Mike Turso 131 (out of district)
9. Julie McCall, 127 (in district).
10. Oliver Stringham, 125  (in district)
11.  Roy Woodford 121 (out of district)
*12. Rob Fanning 114  (*totals as of July 31, out of district)

Link to Big Year totals last year at the end of August  is here.