This shot of quarreling Tree Swallows is part of our latest post on wildnewjersey.tv.

The post is the entire sequence of the two swallows discussing property rights.

The link is here.

Ron Shields writes:

Last week, I made my first venture of the year  into the Kearny Marsh by kayak and found numerous Great Blue Herons and plenty of coots throughout the impoundment.  

A substantial raft of Ruddy Ducks was still around along with northern shovelers and a sprinkling of Green-winged Teal.The big surprise was an American Bittern which was flushed from the phragmites in back of Gunnell Oval and a half-dozen snipe that  exploded off a mud flat right in front of me.

The Kearny Marsh also yielded a hunting Northern Harrier and a lone osprey. By the way, the wood duck boxes look great! [Ron is referring to new Wood Duck boxes that the Meadowlands Commission put up in the marsh. One is shown below.]  (Thanks, Ron!)

Continue reading →

Marco Lips offered up this Teaser, but didn't supply an answer. (Darn you, Marco!)

Mike Gempp posited that it was one of the big pipes connecting Teal Pool with the Saw Mill Creek Mud Flats/Tidal Impoundment, and we agree.

That said, the other answer — "probably the bottom of his coffee cup" did not sound that far-fetched.  Thanks to all who particpated, including Marco.

The Meadowlands Commission's Jim Wright, who keeps this blog, also writes a twice-monthly column for The South Bergenite. Here's his latest, on the upcoming World Series of Birding:

On Saturday, May 12, before sunrise, a team of three intrepid birders will begin scouring Bergen County for as many species of birds as they can find in one day.

The team is the Meadowlands Marsh Hawks, led by N.J. Meadowlands Commission naturalist Mike Newhouse, and their goal is simple: to raise money for a new native-plant garden for birds and butterflies in DeKorte Park.

The Marsh Hawks, named after one of the region’s signature raptors, a.k.a. the northern harrier,  are competing in the World Series of Birding, a New Jersey event known around the world.

Continue reading →

Chris Takacs writes:

Took this one about 6 p.m. on Monday on Kingsland Landfill from Disposal Road. One of 4 birds I saw and heard Monday. (Thanks, Chris!)

Don Torino, who leads the "Birding for Beginners" classes for Bergen County Audubon Society and the N.J. Meadowlands Commission, has a new post on the subject for wildnewjersey.tv.

"From time to time with whatever we do in life, we need to reinvigorate
ourselves. It's easy to feel a little world-weary or to take things for granted
at times.

As veteran birders, we tend to search more for the infrequent visitor and look past some of the birds we have learned to love over the years. We allow the beautiful azure of the Blue Jay or the wonderful trills of the Song Sparrow go by without a second look.

"But I have a surefire way to bring back the same feeling of excitement and discovery that you felt on your very first day of birding.

"The answer is not in a new book, on a webpage, in a trial bottle, or a new supplement that you can buy on late night TV for $19.95. The answer is simple – introduce someone new to birding." …

The link is here.

Spent a chilly couple of hours on the Hackensack River earlier this week, and saw Osprey on their nests in both Kearny (below) and Jersey City — confirming that all three established nests in the Meadowlands are occupied so far this spring.

We also saw two first-year Osprey nests. Due to their location and the newness of the nest, we are not that confident that they will succeed in 2012, but one never knows.

In addition, we saw a brand-new, occupied Red-tailed Hawk nest just north of River Barge Park.

Along the way, from River Barge Park to the southern end of the district on the river, we also an adult Bald Eagle, a juvenile Bald Eagle (above the docks at River Barge Park), a perched Peregrine Falcon and Forster's Terns. A nice preview of NJMC's pontoon boat rides later this spring.

The third and final Birding for Beginners class is this Sunday at 1p.m. in DeKorte Park, followed by a free 90-minute walk along the Marsh Discovery Trail.

The topic this Sunday: "Field Guides."

Note: We are meeting in the Marshview Pavilion (not the auditorium) of the Environment Center!

Full listing follows.

Continue reading →

Our Meadowlands Moth Night won't be until Wednesday, July 25, but we thought you might want a preview with moth expert Seabrooke Leckie, co-author of the new Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America (This links to her website's info on the book).

Moth Night with Seabrooke Leckie, sponsored by the Friends of the East Brunswick Environmenatl Commission and National Moth Week, is Thursday, May 10, 8 – 11 p.m., at Cultural Arts Center, 721 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick.

More about Seabrooke Leckie follows.

Continue reading →