The Meadowlands Blog

Don't Forget Sunday's Birding Walk

Just a  reminder to set your clocks back an hour Saturday night -- especially  if you're planning to go on the First Sunday walk  at DeKorte 10 a.m. this weekend.  We are still getting yellowlegs and assorted egrets, and some ducks are arriving as well.

   Here's the listing:

Sunday, November 1, 10 a.m.

First-Sunday-of-the-Month Bird Walk with Bergen County Audubon Society
   This free two-hour nature walk starts outside the Meadowlands Environment Center in DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst,  and runs from 10 a.m. We’ll walk around the 110-acre park, looking for straggling shorebirds, newly arrived waterfowls and other birds.  To rsvp, contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or 201-636-4022.

  

Bird Report 103009

    Sign of the season: Ray Duffy reports that [Thursday] "I made a quick stop at Mehrhof Pond, and there was a float of approximately 75 Ruddy Ducks with 3 Lesser Scaup (1 male snoozing and 2 females preening)."

  

DeKorte Observatory's New Geochron

    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

Help Wanted: Locating Bat Roosts in the Meadowlands

    The Bergen Record had an alarming story on Wednesday about a significant decrease in the Bergen County bat population.

    We at the Meadowlands Commission would like to start monitoring bat populations in our 14 municipalities.  

   At least one municipality -- Ridgefield -- is putting up bat houses (left) in hopes of attracting these beneficial mammals next spring or beyond. A tip of the NJMC hat to Ridgefield.

    If you know of a roost, please e-mail Jim Wright.

    The Record's story is here.

Mystery Warbler Demystified

     Thanks to everyone who e-mailed us last week and confirmed our identification of this warbler. 

    NJMC naturalists thought the bird above was a Black-throated Blue. Most of our warbler-eyed readers agreed.

 

Secaucus: MERI Aerial Photography

   The NJMC's Meadowlands Environmental Research Institute takes amazing aerial photos with an unmanned helium balloon. Pictured above is a shot taken recently in Secaucus, including part of Mill Creek Marsh and Mill Creek Point..

    Click here to see earlier MERI aerial photographs and other projects.

   Click here to link to the MERI Web site.

   Click "Continue reading ... "  to see more Secaucus aerial photos.

Set Your Clock and Mark Your Calendar

    Just a  reminder to set your clocks back an hour Saturday night -- especially  if you're planning to go on the First Sunday walk this weekend.

    The DeKorte walk begins at 10 a.m., and birders arrive early enough as it is.

    Also mark your calendar:  Bergen County Audubon and the NJMC have added another Sunday walk in December:

Sunday, December 13, 10 a.m.
Bonus  Bird Walk with Bergen County Audubon Society
    This free two-hour walk starts at the entrance to  the Mill Creek Marsh in Secaucus.  We’ll look for winter raptors, waterfowl and other birds in this 225-acre natural area. The Meadowlands Commission restored the site and opened it to the public in 2002. It is a great place to watch birds, take a walk, or just chill. To rsvp, contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or 201-636-4022.  Directions to Mill Creek Mall are available here; the marsh is on the north side of the mall.

 

Tuesday Teaser 102709

    NJMC Naturalist Mike Newhouse banded this beauty yesterday. Who is he?

   Click here for more Tuesday Teasers.  

   Click "Continue reading..." for the answer and more about this bird.

Moon Sliver, Dusk

    NJMC Naturalist Brett Bragin took this shot of a jet's contrails and a waxing crescent Moon last week.

    More on the Moon's phases here.

Photo Contest: Deadline is a Week Away

   The 5 p.m., Nov. 2,  deadline is just a week away for NJMC's Amateur Photography Contest, part of our 40th Anniversary Celebration. (Link to more information is here.)

   We now have the rules and the forms on one download. and the prize money is is sweet.

 We'd love to see your photographs!

  Download Web_contest_packet

Great Blue

   Seen last week on the Transco Trail, 100 yards for the AMVETS Carillon.

Christmas Bird Count 2009

 

    Mike Britt reports:

     "The Lower Hudson Christmas Bird Count [which includes the Meadowlands] will be held on Sunday, Dec. 20.

   "For those that have never participated before and would like to...please consider that this is a 'great escape' from the masses doing their last minute  Christmas shopping. 

  Click Button below for info about count in general.

Click "Continue reading...." for local details.

  Click here for posts from the 2008 local count.