Magnified Midge and More

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Our latest post on the wildnewjersey.tv features a magnified midge, a special sparrow and a resting raven.

We thought we'd highlight the Midge here because this week's Tuesday Teaser featured the Midge almost Midge-size.

This guy was photographed at the NJMC Administration Building in DeKorte Park. Likely a part-timer since he had no ID.

The link is here.

Tuesday Teaser Answered

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The above photo by Marco Lips could have been of distant "pepper birds," a mixed flock of \European Sstarlings and Red-winged Blackbirds, but no.

It was a flock of pesky (but non-biting) Midges — which just might be Tree Swallows' meal of choice of these days.

Thanks to all who answered correctly.

Don’t Forget to Help the Marsh Hawks

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Help the legendary Meadowlands Marsh Hawks! 

They are preparing for their second World Series of Birding on Saturday, May 12. They will be competing in the county-wide category, trying to see as many species of birds in Bergen County in 24 hours as they can  — and raise money for a new native butterfly/bird garden planned for the Carillon area on Disposal Road.

Last year, the Marsh Hawks raised hundreds of dollars for bird research in the Meadowlands.

For more information on supporting the Marsh Hawks, download the Pledge Sheet here: Download Pledge sheet

Or e-mail Team Captain Mike Newhouse at michael.newhouse (at) njmeadowlands.gov.

If you contribute $25 or more, you will have a chance to win a spiffy official Meadowlands Marsh Hawks cap and T shirt. Make checks payable to the N.J. Meadowlands Commission.

Big Year Update

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Yikes! Tomorrow is May 1 already, so we are asking for Meadowlands Big Year participants to e-mail us their totals so far (if they have not done so already. 

There's still eight months left, so feel free to jump in and join the fun. It costs nothing to participate, and we are offering some nifty prizes.

If you are competing off the radar, please e-mail Jim Wright at jim.wright (at) njmeadowlands.gov so we know you are out there. 

Much appreciated, and good luck to all.  Thanks to those who have updated their numbers already!

Competition details are here.

Rare Species Sightings Wanted!

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The Conserve Wildlife Foundation writes:

The New Jersey Endangered and Non-game Species Program (ENSP) collects data for, not just rare birds, but all of the state’s endangered, threatened, and special concern species. 

A Rare Wildlife Sighting Report Form is available on ENSP’s website for download as well as instructions for completing the form.  A complete list of all of the species tracked by the state — such as the Eastern Box Turtle above –can be downloaded here.

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Our Next First-Sunday Walk: Losen Slote Park, Little Ferry

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We hope you' be able join us on Sunday, May 6, for our annual spring walk at Losen Slote. This is primetime for warblers and other migrants, and we hope to see our share. As we did last year, we'll try to groom the trails and clean up any litter we find along the way.

When we did a little scouting trip on Thursday, we noticed the trails were muddy/puddled in a few places, so waterproof boots are a good idea if you've got them.

A post with the list of birds we saw last May on our Losen Slote walk — including 11 species of warblers — is here.

Full event listing follows.

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