The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission’s (NJMC) highly anticipated guided pontoon boat cruises and canoe tours of the Hackensack River and its marshes begin tomorrow, giving visitors an up-close view of the Meadowlands District’s spectacular scenic beauty and the region’s remarkable environmental comeback.

The first pontoon boat trip is Friday, June 1, at 5:30 p.m., launching from River Barge Park in Carlstadt. The season’s inaugural canoe tour is Saturday, June 16, at 8:30 a.m. It departs from Laurel Hill County Park in Secaucus. Boat and canoe tours run through mid-September.

The two-hour boat cruises are led by expert NJMC narrators who explain the history of the river and its tributaries, including its natural and man-made features, and point out wildlife along the way.

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This video on the Peregrine Falcon's comeback in New Jersey is on the NJ.COM website. (Thanks, Mike Girone!)

The Whimbrel flew out of Harrier Meadow around 12:30 today, disappeared briefly, circled and apparently left for good. Five of us got to see it on our impromptu walk.

Ron Shields got some terrific shots — we hope to post tomorrow.

Don Torino's latest post for wildnewjersey.tv is all about Milkweed and its
pivotal role for the Monarch Butterfly.

Writes Don: Since we are approaching a fiery presidential election, I thought I would throw my hat into the political ring.  I already have my campaign slogan, 'A Milkweed in every yard.'  I am not sure how many states I would win …. but I will take my chances; the Monarchs can certainly use our help."

Don has donated so many Milkweed seeds to the Meadowlands Commission that we call him "Donny Milkweed Seed." 

Guess you had to be there. (Thanks, Don!)

The link is here.

NJMC Naturalist Mike Newhouse spotted a Whimbrel in Harrier Meadow. The bird was still there as of 9:45 a.m.

We think this might be the first Bergen County record for this bird since the mid-1970s.

The commission plans to have an impromptu lunchtime walk at Harrier Meadow for anyone who would like to see the bird between noon and 1 p.m.

Contact Jim Wright at jim.wright (at) njmeadowlands.gov or 201-460-2002 before 11:30 a.m. if you plan on attending. Be sure to bring bug spray!

Yesterday's Teaser was photographed earlier this month at Laurel Hill County Park.

The bird is a young Orchard Oriole. (Congrats to Patrick Carney for providing the right answer.)

A colleague reports:

"Outwater Lane (home of the new River Barge Park) has cats, skunks, raccoons, rabbits, and now yesterday morning, roosters!  Still looking for the  deer."

The photo is by the NJMC's Angelo Urato. (Thanks, Angelo!)

The Meadowlands Commission and Bergen County Audubon are teaming for three great events this month.

We have the annual Kearny Marsh Cleanup this Sunday, a DeKorte Plant Walk on June 10, and a Third-Tuesday Bird Walk at DeKorte Park on June 20.

Info on all three events follows.

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Patrick Carney reports:

"I thought this picture that I took in DeKorte Park over the weekend might be good for a blog. It features a Snapping Turtle and the Killdeer who didn't want him there!"

(Thanks, Patrick!)

If you have been anywhere near DeKorte Park's Lyndhurst Nature Reserve in recent days, you've noticed the accumulation of cottony seeds all over the place.

They are Cottonwood seeds — more about the tree (pictured at left) and the seeds here.

An earlier post on Cottonwood Catkins is here.