The Meadowlands Blog

$100 REWARD FOR "MEADOWLANDS GYRFALCON" PHOTO

    The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission is encouraged to hear of recent – if unconfirmed -- sightings of a very rare raptor, the Gyrfalcon, in the Meadowlands.

   In the interest of getting photographic confirmation of this large falcon in the Meadowlands, the NJMC is offering a $100 reward for the first usable photograph of a Gyrfalcon clearly taken in the Meadowlands. 

    A Gyrfalcon would be a significant find and a major addition to the list of birds seen in the 30.4-square-mile district -- and yet another reminder of what a valuable natural resource the Meadowlands is for all sorts of wildlife.

   Although there have been occasional Gyrfalcon reports in the district over the years, none that we know of has been confirmed. The NJMC wants confirmation for scientific reasons, and that is why it is enlisting the public's help.

   To report a documented Gyrfalcon sighting or for more information, click here or by contact us by phone  201-785-6604 (NJMC Staffer Jim Wright's cellphone).

   The image (of a white-morph) Gyrfalcon above is by John James Audubon.

GYRFALCON UPDATE, FRIDAY AFTERNOON

 

  

At least a dozen hawk-eyed birders are in the Meadowlands today as part of an impromptu "Team Gyr," trying to find that rare Gyrfalcon that has been seen (but not confirmed) in the Meadowlands.
   One birder who scoped out Laurel Hill early today told us he did not see the Gyrfalcon but did see an adult Bald Eagle fly over.
  One reason for the hoopla was this bird report from Pennsylvania on Wednesday:
    "About 3:30 this afternoon Gordon Yoder caught a Gyrfalcon at the Little Gap Raptor Banding Station.  Unfortunately he was alone and did not have a camera."  Since a Gyrfalcon has tremendous range, it has raised hopes of a Meadowlands sighting as well.
    Another reason for the hoopla: Check this link to Google Books, and raptor experts Clay and Pat Sutton's Gyrfalcon description in How to Spot Hawks & Eagles:  They call the Gyrfalcon "The ultimate quest for raptor spotters, the rarest and hardest of all North American hawks to find."

BIRD BANDING ARTICLE

 
   The Record's Jim O'Neill did a story on the Meadowlands Commission's bird-banding study today.
   If you've been to the Meadowlands Festival of Birding or a weekday Harrier Meadow walk, you may have seen a bird-banding demonstration by the NJMC's Mike Newhouse and Erica Mueller.
   This story gives you a great overture of the entire study. Read it here.

NIFTY COLUMN ON THE MEADOWLANDS

  

Mary Ellen Schoonmaker, a columnist for The Record, had a wonderful column about the Meadowlands on Thanksgiving.
   Read it here.

WANTED: GYRFALCON IN THE MEADOWLANDS

     

A falconer has reported to the Meadowlands Commission that he has seen a Gyrfalcon in the district twice in the past week. Another birder  reported earlier in the month that he had seen a Gyrfalocon-like raptor in the district as well.
    Although unconfirmed, the sightings could be significant. It would be quite a bird for the district, and the Meadowlands Commission would love to document the bird's presence with a quality photo of same with a clear Meadowlands backdrop. We will offer a suitable reward to use the photo.
     So keep a camera handy and call us if you get a solid shot of our phantom bird. In the meantime, birders are organizing "search parties" for the Gyrfalcon this weekend. We will keep you informed of any progress.

  More on Gyrfalcons here.

  How should you pronounce "Gyrfalcon"?  Click here (with your computer's sound card on).  (Answer: Jeer-falcon).

   Click "Continue reading ..." for more on the Meadowlands Gyrfalcon reports.
 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

HARRIER MEADOW: DECEMBER WALKS ANNOUNCED

 

   The Meadowlands Commission is pleased to announce two guided Harrier Meadow walks for December, on Wednesday Dec. 3 and Wednesday Dec. 10 – both at 9 a.m.

     The walks will be led by NJMC Naturalist Michael Newhouse. We hope to see Snow Buntings and all sorts of waterfowl and raptors, including Rough-legged Hawks and possibly Bald Eagles.

   Click "Continue reading ..." for more information.

PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS

    The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission is pleased to announce the winners of its 2008 photo contest.
    First place in the Environment Category went to Irene S. Docatis of Lyndhurst for "Blowin' in the Wind." pictured here. She also took top honors in the Community Category for "Water Park Play."
    Ernie Fragetta of Lyndhurst won first place in the Economy Category for his photo, “Sunrise in the Meadows.”
     All entries will be on display in the Flyway Gallery in DeKorte Park during December. 

    Click "Continue reading ... " to see the other two first-place winners and the complete list of winners.

TUESDAY TEASER 112508

    Can you identify this bird?

   For answer, click on "Continue reading..." immediately below.

  For more Tuesday Teasers, click here.

PROFILE: ENVIRONMENTAL GURU OF THE MEADOWLANDS

   

The Record had a wonderful full-page story on Sunday about Francisco Artigas, head of the Meadowlands Commission's research arm.
    The story, by Scott Fallon, is a must-read for anyone who cares about environmental progress in the Meadowlands. Click here to read it.
    Click here for a video of Francisco talking about his unique method of aerial-photography in marsh reserach.

KEARNY MARSH, 3 P.M., FRIDAY

MONK PARAKEET UPDATE

   The wild Monk Parakeets of Ridgefield look to be doing well.
   We stopped by to check in on them last week and found more than two dozen sunning themselves in nearby trees. It seemed a bit odd to see a parakeet on a tree with dead leaves, but that is the way it is in this region.
    Karen Riede of the town's Environmental Committee says the Monk Parakeet population is around 30-- as it was last year about this time -- and that the birds are perfectly acclimated.
   "They all grew up right here, and this is the only home or environment they know," she says.
    The birds have been in Ridgefield, Edgewater, Fort Lee and other spots for so long that there is a strong likelihood that  this beautiful, colorful (if a tad loud) bird will be to the state list.

   A prevous post on the parakeets is here.