The Meadowlands Blog

June Observatory Schedule

    On Monday, the William D. McDowell Observatory in DeKorte Park begins a new month of free observation nights on Monday and Wednesdays at 9 p.m.

      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 June  observatory schedule.

Meadowlands Talk in Little Ferry

   The Meadowlands Commission's Jim Wright will give a free talk, "The Meadowlands -- Past, Present and Future." next Thursday at the Little Ferry Public Library. 

    The  6:30 p.m. show will include some great archival shots of the region, as well as some amazing nature photos taken in Little Ferry. 

     The show will run approximately one hour, including a question-and-answer session. The talk, part of the commission's year-long 40th anniversary celebration, is the last one scheduled before next fall.

   (The photo above is captioned: Boating 1907 Hack[ensack River] at Little Ferry.)

   Click "Continue reading..." for details on the talk.

A pair of nifty shots

   Izabela Gard got this shot of two American Goldfinches (the state bird) at the Butterfly Garden bird bath at DeKorte Park over the Memorual Day Weekend.
   Greg Gard got the shot below -- of a Forster's Tern over the nearby Kingsland Impoundment.
   Can Black Skimmers be far behind?
    Thanks, Izabela and Greg!

Butterfly Walk in July

  On Sunday, July 19, the Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society are sponsoring "Butterflies for Beginners," offered free to anyone interested in learning how to identify the butterflies of the Meadowlands.

   Optics for butterflies and backyard butterfly gardens will be discussed, followed by a short walk.  Butterfly aficionados of all levels are welcome.

    The event is from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Jill Ann Zimkiewicz Memorial Butterfly Garden in front of the Meadowlands Environment Center in DeKorte Park, Lyndhurst.

   To RSVP or get more information, contact Jim Wright of the NJMC here,  or call 201-460-2002.

   Click here to see photos of some of the many types of butterflies that can be seen in DeKorte Park and environs.

Jersey City Peregrine Cam update

   Birder/photographer Dave Rotondi reports:  

   "The falcon eggs at 101 Hudson in Jersey City have hatched, and you can see the male and female caring for and feeding the young falcons.  It's fascinating to watch."
  ... But you have to check back a few times if things are slow.
   The link is here.

We had a full-house for our Harrier Meadow walk last Friday morning.
   The weather was great, and so were  the birds -- we had 42 species, including Orchard Oriole and Dunlin (above, amid sandpipers), plus some Diamondback Terrapins sunning themselves on an old truck tire (right).
   For the first time on one of these walks, we did not see a raptor -- until the very  last minute, when one was seen perched in the distance, chowing down on something formerly animate.
   Click here for previous Harrier Meadow walk posts.

   Click "Continue reading..." for the full list, compiled by birder Ray Duffy, and shots of the group, the Orchard Oriole and an irresistible Swan "under arm."

   Thanks for compiling the list, Ray!

TUESDAY TEASER 052609

   This is the third of three Tuesday Teasers about unusual warblers with with geographical names. Can you ID it?

    More Tuesday Teasers here.

   Some nifty spring migrant teasers start next week.

   Click "Continue reading..."  for the answer to this teaser.

Happy Memorial Day!

   

DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst is open today. The observatory is closed tonight.
    We had 42 bird species and Diamondback Terrapins on our free public Friday nature walk. We will post the complete list on Wednesday.

Backyard Get-Away

   DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst is a great place to get away without leaving home.
   Admission is free, and the sights this time of year are specatcular.
   The park, at the end of Valley Brook Aveune, is open from dawn to dusk daily.  The Visitor Center and Observatory will be closed on Monday.
    Click "Continue reading..." below to see more photos (taken on yesterday.)

The New Jersey Osprey Project

 
   The Osprey Nests in Kearny and Jersey City, as it turns out, are just two of more than 400 statewide. These amazing fish hawks have their own statewide blog, appropriately called the New Jersey Osprey Project.
    According to Ben Wurst, Habitat Program Manager for the  Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, "Most pairs hatch in late May, early June. You’re more likely to see them when they are around 3 weeks old."

   The link is to the New Jersey Osprey Project is here.

DeKorte Finery -- with labels

   This spring, when you visit DeKorte Park, you can enjoy the plantings even more.
   If you're not a flora fanatic, you may often see a plant or bud that you have trouble identifying. No more.
    The Meadowlands Commission has been busy creating signs to go with the plants, so in most cases you'll be able to stop guessing. Those beautiful flowers above, are Bleeding Hearts, as the nearby sign explains.
  The idea is to make the park as enjoyable -- and educational -- as we can.
   Click "Continue reading..."  to see more plants in their finery.

MoDo Mojo

   The Mourning Dove nest outside the Meadowlands Environment Center popped up in no time. The first time we got a good view of the youngsters was yesterday.
    Today, they fledged.  And another MoDo nest popped up in a neighboring tree. More on MoDOs here.
     Click "Continue reading ..." for a photo of the new fledglings.