Tag Archives: meadowblog.net

Minding the Bees

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     When we put up American Kestrel boxes at the Erie Landfill, we didn't expect so many tenants, and of the "wrong" species.

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  We now have a healthy hive of Honey Bees filling the box.

   What to do?

    We brought in a local beekeeper, who says that the bees should make it through the winter, and that he can transport them to a conventional hive in the spring.

   Since Honey Bees have been under stress of late — colony collapse disorder has killed these bees by the millions in the past few years — we were glad that we have a happy healthy hive in North Arlington.

Bird Report 092209

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     Birders are continuing to get great looks at Soras along the Marsh Discovery Trail at DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst.

    On Monday, you could also see the Wilson's Phalarope from the boardwalk, many Black-crowned Night Herons, Green-winged Teal, and plenty of shorebirds, including Pectoral and Stilt Sandpiper and Long-billed Dowitcher.

    Plus dozens upon dozens of egrets.

Tuesday Teaser 092209

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    We got this guy out of the Hackensack River recently.  Who is he?

   Click here for more Tuesday Teasers.

   What do you think of this sort of Teaser? (Trying to take a break from the bird posts.) E-mail us here.

   Click "Continue reading for the answer and more info.

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The Wheatear Continues at DeKorte

     Wheatear2.njmc   The Wheatear was seen again Wednesday  from 6:55 a.m. through 8:45 a.m. along the Transco Trail. Several good looks  Wheatear njmc at this immature bird — and nice views of that flash of white in the trail when it flew. Very cooperative.

   We will look for it again at 8 a.m. today. If you are coming to see it, please park in the far parking lot near the administration building or observatory. There is a conference at DeKorte today and parking is limited.

 You can call Jim Wright until 11:30 a.m. today if you have questions — 201-785-6604.

  Ray Duffy will post a video later today, and we will link to that …

Northern Wheatear Confirmed!

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   Acting on a heads-up from the New Jersey Audubon Society's Pete Bacinski, we went looking for a Northern Wheatear (reportedly seen on Monday in DeKorte Park) as part of an afternoon exploration.

   We took this photo, ran it past a couple of birding buddies for confirmation (thanks, guys!), and we are happy to report a Northern Wheatear sighting at DeKorte.  

   If you happen to see this early enough, we are having an impromptu walk at DeKorte Park at 8 a.m. to look for the bird (and check out the new big-league mudflats in the Shorebird Pool).  

   Park in the first parking lot and meet at the entrance to the first building on left, the Environment Center.

   More on Northern Wheatears here.

   Call Jim Wright after 7 a.m. at 201-785-6604 if you directions, etc.

Tuesday Teaser 090108

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    Here's a different type of Tuesday Teaser, featuring one of the Route 3 bridges over the Hackensack River. 

    This photo includes a Peregrine Falcon. Where is she?

    The answer could be useful for anyone taking one of our pontoon boat eco-cruises  or participating in an eco-cruise during the upcoming Meadowlands Festival of Birding, just 11 days away.

   Click here for more Tuesday Teasers.

   Click "Continue reading…" to see progressively closer shots.

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Bird Fest & More: Upcoming Meadowlands Events

IMG_6020-1        NJMC naturalist Mike Newhouse demonstrated bird-banding at Harrier Meadow at last year's Meadowlands Festival of Birding. He will reprise the demonstration on Sept. 12 and Sept. 22 at Harrier.

   We have a full slate of events over the next two months, including several walks and the big Bird Fest on Sept. 12 and 13.

    Click "Continue reading…" for the whole lineup.

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Anderson Creek Marsh, Secaucus

IMG_1525-1   We visited Anderson Creek Marsh recently and found some exceptional birding.IMG_1438

   We saw hundreds of peeps, a few Caspian Terns, several Yellow-crowned night herons, plus Snowy and Great Egrets and yellowlegs.

  We also saw a Northern Harrier have a run-in with several terns — all in all, a good day to be on the marsh.

   The marsh is located on the Hackensack River just south of Harmon Cove in Secaucus.

   For more information on Anderson Creek Marsh, click here.

  For more photos, click "Continue reading…"

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Awesome Aerial Photography

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   For incredible aerial photography on a shoestring, it's tough to top the Meadowlands Environmental Research Institute,
   This shot and the ones on the "jump" of this post were taken from a digital camera attached to a tethered helium-filled balloon.

  To see a video of how MERI achieves these amazing shots, click here.

   More posts on MERI are here. MERI's home page is here.

   Click "Continue reading…" to view another photo of the NJMC campus at DeKorte, as well as the Saw Mill Creek WMA tidal mudflat.

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