Nearly 400 folks turned out for River Barge Park Day on Saturday, which celebrated the opening of the Meadowlands Commission's latest park -- a 5.5-acre riverside park in Carlstadt.
The day featured free guided tours of the park, free pontoon boat rides, free birding with experts, and free kayak lessions.
We also saw nearly 40 species of birds throughout the day (full list to be posted later this week, schedule willing).
(Thanks to all who participated!)
NJMC Naturalist Mike Newhouse took a group of educators on a morning bird walk along the Kingsland Overlook Trail and the Marsh Discovery Trail.
The group had 30 species, including Dunlin, some Cedar Waxwings (above) and an Indigo Bunting.
We are posting the full list of birds seen on the walk -- think of it as a sneak preview for this weekend. (Thanks for the list, Mke!)
Continue reading "Sneak Preview: DeKorte Park This Weekend" »
Ever wonder what a World Series of Birding Checklist looks like?
Here's the 2012 checklist for the prize-winning Meadowlands Marsh Hawks team.
They saw 139 species in less than 24 hours in Bergen County -- but couldn't get a Black-capped Chicadee.
(Thanks to team members Mike Newhouse, Chris Takacs and Mike Wolfe!)
Mickey Raine writes:
A few years back, my wife Elaine and I noticed how many of the Praying Mantis egg casings we spotted during the winter in Mill Creek Marsh were either gone or destroyed by the following spring, therefore producing very little in the form of new population.
Many of these sacs were either lying on the ground, completely exposed to any predator or poorly hanging on to excessively thin stems of invasive vines, again not properly protected from the harsh elements.
Upon careful study and research of how the Praying Mantis reproduction usually succeeds, Elaine had a much better idea of how to raise the odds of survival.
This past winter, when we found disturbed egg casings (above), Elaine attached them to bamboo skewers and secured them onto branches, using higher gauge string.
All have survived the winter beautifully.
As an extra precaution in the event no others in the marsh area survived, we kept one of the casings in a jar. When the babies hatched, Elaine took a couple of photos and immediately took the jar with the babies over to Mill Creek Marsh, where she released them in a safe spot.
(Thanks, Elaine and Mickey!)
Our latest "Focus on the Meadowlands" for wildnewjersey.tv blog features an Indigo Bunting, landfill sandpipers and a Monk Parakeet.
The link is here.
Don Torino, who leads many of our walks with Bergen County Audubon, writes about the recent butterfly invasion and the public's apparent disconnect with nature in his latest post on the wildnewjersey.tv blog.
Don writes that at a local nursery "there was a strange thing happening. No one seemed to notice these butterflies. There were no second glances, no comments, no smiles, no recognition at all. I suddenly felt lonely. I wanted everyone to enjoy this experience with me. After all, this didn't happen every day. So to the embarrassment of my wife. I said in a loud voice, 'Look at all the butterflies!' Still nothing. Nobody even lifted their heads to acknowledge the fluttering jewels that were everywhere I looked."
The link is here.
We had a slightly wet but invigorating Third Tuesday of the Month walk at Mill Creek Marsh in Secaucus. Highlights of the 30 bird species we saw included several Forster's Terns, four types of shorebirds and some great looks at the often elusive Yellow Warblers.
Full list follows.
We photographed this Question Mark on Saturday morning at DeKorte, with wings open and wings closed. Also has a Mourning Cloak, Silver-spotted Skipper, a dozen+ American Ladies, several Red Admirals, sulphurs, Cabbage Whites and a Black Swallowtail.
Photo pointing out the "question mark" symbol on the butterfly's wing follows.
We had a great Mother's Day Walk in Ridgefield, with walks at the Ridgefield Nature Center and Skeetkill Creek Marsh and stops to see the nesting Monk Parakeets (above) and the nesting Bald Eagles.
In all four dozen of us participated in the event, including a budding birder or two (right).
Highlights included five warbler species and those majestic Bald Eagles.
The next event brought to you by the N.JU> Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society is River Barge Park Day this Saturday in Carlstadt. Check this blog for the latest info.
Full list and pic of a Red-belled Woodpecker from the Ridgefield Nature Center follow.
Continue reading "Sunday's Ridgefield Walk: the Full list" »
Marco Lips asks: How many Black-crowned Night Herons can you see in the photo?
No, not the above photo -- the one that follows!
We have a blockbuster walk scheduled for tomorrow -- starting at 10 a.m. at Mill Creek Marsh. At the walk's conclusion (noonish), we'll drive down to Laurel Hill County Park (bring your own lunch) and to see if we can see the new (?) tenants of the Common Ravens nest.
Very exciting.
Event info follows. Note: We'll walk in a light rain but lightning cancels.
Continue reading "Tomorrow's Free Walk: Mill Creek Marsh + Laurel Hill" »
We had great weather, a great group of 48 folks (including 10 children), and great birds on our four-stop Mother's Day event in Ridgefield.
(Although we all decided that we had a great time, this Baltimore Oriole was still sitting on the fence.)
We will post a full list of birds later in the week -- birds that included Bald Eagles, a Black-and-white Warbler, a Redstart and Semipalmated Sandpipers. (Thanks to everyone who particpated!)
We are proud to announce that the Meadowlands Marsh Hawks have won their division in the World Series of Birding!
The team of Mike Newhouse of the N.J. Meadowlands Commission, Chris Takacs and Mike Wolfe tallied an unofficial 139 species in one day for Bergen County, and raised money for our new native plant garden and New Jersey Audubon as well.
Congrats to the team, and to all the folks who competed in the World Series yesterday!
Some results can be downloaded here:
We hope to publish a full list of the Marsh Hawks' 139 birds later in the week.
The first time we counted the ducklings swimming with their Mom in the Shorebird Pool at DeKorte Park last week, we came up with 10.
A few frames later, we counted at least a dozen (picture below).
Busy Mom -- but aren't they all!
Continue reading "A Dozen Ducklings Say: Happy Mother's Day!" »
Three-dozen nature photographers visited DeKorte Park this morning as part of a seminar and field trip featuring Moose Peterson.
Between us, we had at least 43 species.
The Great Egret above was probably the most photographed Great Egret in the world for a minute or two this morning. Is that a small eel in its mouth?
Some of us were lucky to get a Marsh Wren singing, plus a bunch of other nice shots.
(Thanks to Peggy O'Neill, Ramon Gomez and Doug Morel for their sharing their sightings!)
Full list follows.
Continue reading "Bird List from DeKorte Park Saturday Morning" »
Today is the big day: The World Series of Birding.
We wish all competitors well, and may they find the birds of their dreams.
Go Marsh Hawks!
Herb Houghton sent us these photos of two classic Meadowlands birds, the Osprey and the Red-winged Blackbird.They were both photographed at DeKorte Park.
(Thanks, Herb!)
One of my favorite destinations in the Meadowlands is the Hackensack River, and starting on May 19, accessing this winding 50-mile-long waterway is going to get a whole lot closer for everyone who lives in Bergen County.
No, nobody’s moving the river. But the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission is opening a new park in Carlstadt. River Barge Park includes the first public boat ramp on the west side of the Hackensack River since just about anybody can remember.
The 5.5-acre park features all sorts of cool features, like a fishing dock, a 17-slip marina, a stretch of shore line to launch kayaks and canoes, an educational pavilion, and a promenade with picnic tables and wonderful views of the river and the Manhattan skyline just 5 miles away. There’s ample parking on-site for vehicles and trailers.
I have paddled my kayak from River Barge Park on two occasions to preview what’s in store for paddlers, and both occasions were memorable.
Continue reading "Our South Bergenite Column: River Barge Park Day " »
The legendary Meadowlands Marsh Hawks are competing in the World Series of Birding this Saturday, in part to raise money for a new native plant garden for birds and butterflies by the AmVets Carillon on Disposal Road.
We are happy to report that we broke ground for the garden (above) this week.
Your donation to the Marsh Hawks will help this dream garden come true.
A recent post on the plans for the new garden is here.
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 and send them to Mike Newhouse, NJMC, One DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst 07071.
Thank you!
Our latest "Focus on the Meadowlands" for wildnewjersey.tv features a couple of river raptors -- the Peregrine above and an adult Bald Eagle over the Saw Mil Creek Wildlife Management Area -- plus a shot of kayaking by River Barge Park, which opens on Saturday, May 19.
The link is here.
Now through Sunday, DeKorte Park's Shorebird Pool levels will be lower.
We have already seen Stilt Sandpiper and Short-billed Dowitchers (first reported by Ray Duffy -- thanks, Ray!), along with the yellowlegs and Least Sandpipers.
We are hoping for Soras! Let us know if you see any!
