The Meadowlands Blog

A Walk To Remember

   What can you say about a bird walk that begins with an Osprey catching a fish and a Black Skimmer show  (above)-- all in the first 15 minutes!

  The NJ Meadowlands Commission and Bergen Audubon wish to thank all the birders of all skill levels who participated in the holiday weekend walk.

  The Bergen Record's story on the walk is here, with a schedule of upcoming  NJMC/Bergen Audubon walks.

  Not only did we see plenty of neat birds, but we also saw a few neat butterflies, including a glimpse of one that was either a comma or a question mark.

 For now, it remains a question mark. (Which reminds us -- our next  NJMC/Bergen Audubon walk is a butterfly walk on July 19.

  We plan to post a list of all the birds seen on the July 6 walk when it's available.

  E-mail Jim Wright here is you would like to rsvp for future walks or to join our e-mail alert list for rare bird sightings and upcoming events.

Forster's Terns continue at DeKorte

Forster's Fest

    We have 20 Forsters' Terns by the Meadowlands Environment Center this morning.  The guy with the black patch on the eye is a juvenile.

Cedar Waxwing!

   

Cedar Waxwings are among our favorite birds. Birding photographer Dave Rotondi took this shot recently at DeKorte.

    More on Cedar Waxwings here.

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.

Killdeer with Eggs

    We passed through a North Arlington construction site on the way to check on the progress of a new Osprey nest, and the workers pointed out this Killdeer guarding her nest, right next to a chainlink fence. 

   The nest was just a few feet from a narrow roadway chock-a-block with construction vehicles and machinery. The noise was non-stop, but the Killdeer did not seem to mind. 

   When a construction worker approached the nest, the Killdeer scurried away, making that high-pitched whir they like to make.

   We looked at the ground where the Killdeer had been, and discovered four well-hidden eggs. when we came back the next day, we couldn't find them though they were no doubt in view.

Great Egret in Action

   Birding photographer Dave Rotondi took a sequence of photos of a Great Egret having a meal in DeKorte Park recently.
   (That's a female Common Merg in the foreground.)
   Thanks, Dave.
    Click "Continue reading..." for the full sequence.

Tree Swallows Are Back -- and Nest Boxes Are Going Up

 The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission has begun its annual nesting box program for tree swallows this week, and the beautiful iridescent-blue birds are grabbing up the boxes as soon as they are placed along the edge of wetlands.

   In some instances (see photo at right),  the birds have flown into the nesting boxes while the boxes were still on the boat.

     Tree swallows are a popular bird for many people, not just for their iridescent beauty and graceful speed, but also because they love to eat insects.  It has been estimated that a family of tree swallows can eat hundreds upon hundreds of midges, mosquitoes and other insects in a day. 

     With the help of local scout troops, families and other groups, the Meadowlands Commission has erected some 250 nesting boxes in marshes throughout the 30.4-square-mile district.

    Last year, Meadowlands Commission naturalists used GPS devices to help keep track of tree-swallow activity in all of the nesting boxes.

COMING SOON: Tree Swallow Video

   Click here to read Bergen Record Environmental Writer Jim O'Neill's nifty story today about the Tree Swallow Project.

   "Continue reading..." for more info and pics.

  

Redtail Rescue

  

      NJMC Naturalists Michael Newhouse (above) and Gabrielle Bennett-Meany rescued a Red-tailed Hawk near Disposal Road in North Arlington late Tuesday afternoon.
   An NJMC staffer had seen the hawk, noted that it did not fly away when approached, and called the naturalists.

   Newhouse and Meany saw that the young hawk was emaciated and possibly dehydrated, and the NJMC's Brett Bragin brought it to the Raptor Trust in Millington for rehab.
   We will let you know of the Redtail's progress.

   We hope to release the Redtail in the Meadowlands in a couple of weeks.

  More info on the Raptor Trust is here.

Birding for Beginners

 

  The Meadowlands Commission is partnering with Bergen County Audubon Society for its major March birding event.

    "Birding for Beginners" will be held on Sunday (March 29) from 1 to 3 p.m. at DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst.

    You can learn how to get started birding, learn about optics, and how to identify birds.  We will begin indoors and then venture outside to use our new skills.

 

   Registration is required for this free event.

   Please contact Don Torino at Bergen County Audubon Society at 201-636-4022 or email here.

   Stay tuned for other upcoming events, including a Skeetkill Marsh clean-up in March.

 

 

Duck Heaven

     It may be Friday the 13th, but it doesn't take any luck at all to get great views of waterfowl at DeKorte Park and environments these days. 

    The tidal impoundments have been home to a bevy of birds these days -- not only Northern Shovelers (one is pictured at left) but also Green-winged Teal, Canvasbacks, Pintails (below, flying), Gadwalls, Common Mergs (female is below), Black Ducks, Mallards, Buffleheads, Hooded Mergs and more.

  The Marsh Discovery is now open again for its entire length.

   We mention this in case you are looking for something to do this weekend. The birding at DeKorte Park and elsewhere near the Hackensack River is great.
   Just don't forget your camera.

 

First Great Egret of the Year

     DeKorte Park, March 12, 9:45  a.m.