These guys are everywhere these days, if not ubiquitous!

What are they?

Chris Takacs writes:

Saw this guy [Sunday] morning from a distance and very briefly along Saw Mill flats and 1-E landfill.

This is the best shot of a Meadowlands coyote we’ve ever seen. Thanks, Chris!

The Meadowlands Commission and Bergen County Audubon have a full plate of awesome events for July:

* A free nature walk at DeKorte Park on Sunday, July 7, at 10 a.m.

*A free Butterflies for Beginners talk and walk at DeKorte Parkon Sunday, July 7, at 1 p.m.

*A Birding by Boat pontoon boat cruise from River Barge Park  on Tuesday, July 16, at 10 a.m. ($15 person, suggested donation; seating limited; sIgn up now.)

*A free Moth Night at DeKorte Park on Monday, July 22, 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

A free Butterfly Day at DeKorte Park on Sunday, July 28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Details follow. Continue reading →

Ron Shields writes:

The Killdeer eggs in the nest at the bus parking lot off Disposal Road  hatched on 6/21/13. I managed to get a pic of two Killfawns from the batch looking for mom in the early evening.

The Baltimore Oriole chick (below) was found above its nest this morning (6/22/13). After a few feedings by dad, the Oriolette returned to the safety of the nest.  (Thanks, Ron!)

We had a great walk at Laurel Hill on Tuesday, featuring some very nice folks and  — as co-leader
Don Torino boasted — we had “Ravens, Osprey, Peregrine and a Pterodactyl.”

The latter was a lifer for many.

Also had six butterfly species (nice!).

The walk was sponsored by the Bergen County Audubon Society and the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission.

Full list follows, thanks to Denise Farrell. Continue reading →

Our mystery tree from last week has been identified by botanist extraordinaire Edith Wallace as “Siberian elm. Ulmus pumila. Unusual elm as the base of the leaf of symmetrical. Invasive tree in some areas.”

(Thanks, Edith!)

We are switching blog providers, and it will take some time to make all the necessary changes and transfers.

Please bear with us, and e-mail us if you have any suggestions for improving the blog.  E-mail us at jim.wright (at) njmeadowlands.gov (Thanks to Dennis Cheeseman for the groundhog shot!)

Dennis Cheeseman, who took the photo late last week at MCM,  wonders if this duck is early or late….

Not sure, but it is safe to say this No. Sho. is no no-show.

(Thanks, Dennis!)

The Meadowlands Commission hosted local and national media yesterday to promote the region in advance of the Super Bowl — and to keep spreading  the word that this is not your father's Meadowlands anymore.

A link to a TV news clip from Philadelphia is here.

Record Staff Writer John Brennan's blog post is here.

We are posting some of the photos from yesterday's pontoon boat ride as well… (Yes, we had Black Skimmers galore.)

Three more pix follow…

Continue reading →

Pretty crazy-looking skeleton in Harrier Meadow the other day. Anyone know what it is.

Update on last week's Teaser: We put Edith Wallace on the case, and she has ID'd the tree.  Her answer will be forthcoming as time allows. Thanks for bearing with us…