The William D. McDowell Observatory at DeKorte Park now sports a Geochron Global Time Indicator. It not only tells the time around the world, but it also shows where it is daylight.
Download more info on the Geochron here: Download Geochron
Tag Archives: Meadowlands
Fighting Phragmites
A huge expanse of wetlands along the western spur of the NJ Turnpike was once slated for development for a mega-mall, the Meadowlands Mills project.
Instead, it was preserved as open space — the Richard P. Kane Natural Area. Now, the square mile of marsh — covered mostly by the invasive reed Phragmites — is slated for an extreme makeover.
To read the front-page story in The Record today by Staff Writer Jim O'Neill, click here.
To see The Record video by Staff Videographer Tom Franklin on the wetlands project, click here.
To hear an interview with Richard P. Kane, check out the Meadowlands Oral History Project blog. The link is here.
Observatory Schedule for May
The William D. McDowell Observatory in DeKorte Park has a full schedule for May, including several free public observation nights, a month-long Tuesday-night astronomy course, and a special program on how NASA technology has been applied to everyday life.
Public Viewing Schedule
Observe the skies through the 20-inch diameter telescope of the William D. McDowell Observatory each Monday and Wednesday evening. Because of the later sunsets, the viewing hours will begin at 9 pm.
Each free session focuses on two major objects on the night sky, plus one or two other celestial objects or events depending on the observing conditions.
Observing is weather dependent and will be canceled for that night if the skies are cloudy at the beginning of the observing session.
Click "Continue reading …" to view entire May observatory schedule.
Robin Mom in DeKorte
One thing about American Robins — they don't seem to mind making their nests in the middle of things.
This robin built her nest atop a light fixture above the entrance to the Meadowlands Environment Center, and don't seem to mind all the visitors walking back and forth under their apartment.
She and Pops have been feeding their young — we've seen at least two — like clockwork.
More on America Robins here.
The Meadowlands is looking more and more like an avian maternity ward. Stay tuned for some nifty news.
Monk Parakeets in the News
A bit of news regarding the Monk Parakeets of Ridgefield.
Bill Boyle of the New Jersey Bird Records Committee reports:
"At the Spring 2008 meeting [last month], the committee voted to add Monk Parakeet to the New Jersey State List. The population in Bergen County, which has been present for many years, has been growing and spreading and is unlikely to be extirpated by natural causes."
Click "Continue reading…" for the rest of his comments.
RAPTOR PROWL 010509
If you missed the Meadowlands Commission's free Raptor Prowl and Nature Walk this morning, you missed a great show — beginning with a Snowy Owl perched on a utility pole. We also had the unusual Eurasian Green-winged ( aka Common) Teal.
We will post more pix and a complete list of the 25.5 species tomorrow.
If you want to be notified of future free nature events offered by the Meadowlands Commission, e-mail us here.
Top Snowy, Harrier & Rough-legged Shots
Birder-photographer Kevin Watson took several top-notch Snowy Owl, Northern Harrier and Rough-legged Hawk shots in the Meadowlands during the past week.
You can see them here.
PHOTOGRAPHING OWLS
Several weeks ago, after a Snowy Owl was seen (and photographed) at Liberty State Park, New Jersey birders got into a lively debate about the wisdom (or lack thereof) of using flash photography when taking pictures of owls.
Now that Snowy Owls have been seen regularly in the Meadowlands, the debate takes on a little more immediacy.
We asked David Johnson, head of the Global Owl Project, for his thoughts.
Here's the word:
"From a biological perspective, I would not think that the camera flash would be much of an issue," says David. "There is lightning where many of the owls live, and such a flash is very short-lived. The focus should not be on the flash, per se, but rather on the general disturbance of people being close to the owl. " …
Click "Continue reading …" for more of David Johnson's comments on photographing owls.
MORE ABOUT SNOWY OWLS
Thought we would post some more shots of the two Snowy Owls in the Meadowlands.
Above, a Snowy flies near dusk on Friday. Below, you can see both owls in the same frame.
The white object in the upper-lefthand corner is the second owl.
Both photos been enlarged greatly; they were taken with a 400-millimeter lens.
The word is that heavy snows have severely reduced the number of lemmings on their home turf in the Arctic, and the Snowy Owls and moved south in search of prey on which to feed.
That's one of the many reasons that it is important to stay away from these highly stressed and sometimes starving owls.
Snowy Owls have also been seen elsewhere in New Jersey and in neighboring states in recent days.
More on Snowy Owls here.
MONDAY: ON PHOTOGRAPHING OWLS
SNOWY OWL UPDATE: TWO OWLS!
This morning there were two Snowy Owls in the Meadowlands.
The photo above, taken this morning, is courtesy of Jerry Barrack. If you do see one of these amazing raptors, please keep your distance and do not trespass. These shots were taken through a telephoto lens.
SATURDAY & MONDAY: MORE SNOWY OWL PIX AND INFO
Click "Continue reading …" for more Snowy photos.