The Meadowlands Blog

Video: All about Tree Swallow Nest Boxes

MONK PARAKEET VIDEO

Falconers in the Meadowlands

  Falconer Erik Swanson of Lodi and two colleagues brought their raptors to the Meadowlands Environment Center earlier this week for a talk and flight demonstration for Melissa Manzella and her  AP Biology Class of Lyndhurst High School.
  Some of the raptors on display were like no other you have ever seen -- including a Gyrlin. The name pretty much tells the story: It's a Gyrfalcon the size of a Merlin.

   Click here for photos of the Gyrlin and other raptors.

VIDEO: UGANDAN CHILDREN'S CHOIR PAYS US A VISIT

 
   The Meadowlands Commission was proud to play host to the Watoto Children's Choir from beleaguered Uganda on Monday.  This internationally known choir, composed of orphans, wanted to see local nature on a day off aduring their six-month North American tour.
    Meadowlands Naturalist Gabrielle Bennett-Meany (blue coat, above) gave the 17 young singers and their team a walk along the Marsh Discovery Trail and a visit to the Environment Center's Discovery Station in the afternoon.

 At night, John Sloan of the McDowell Observatory gave them a look through the research-grade, optical telescope.
   The choir is giving a free concert in Kearny tonight (Tuesday, Nov. 18).
   Click here for more information on the choir.
  
   Click "Continue reading..." to see a video of the Watoto Choir's impromptu song at the observatory.

MARSH RESEARCH: Innovations

    

   One of the Meadowlands Commission's missions is to revitalize and diversify the region's wetlands.

   To replace the invasive species phragmites, a tall inhospitable reed that tends to dominate a marsh, NJMC has been planting all sorts of native marsh grasses in marshes throughout the 14-town district.

   To measure the success of those efforts, the NJMC's Meadowlands Environmental Research Institute has been using some innovative methods, including the use of helium-balloon photography (see video above).

   On Thursday, MERI is holding a workshop for wetlands professionals on the use of such remote techniques to monitor marsh vegetation.

    More about the workshop here.

NEW OBSERVATORY: The video

   

   Here's a sneak preview of the new William D. McDowell Observatory in DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst.

   The 2-minute video features an interview with Observatory Director John Sloan.

   Free viewing sessions for the public begin next Monday night at 8.

   More info here and here.

HARRIER MEADOW: The Video

   Harrier Meadow in North Arlington is a 70-acre wetlands mitigation site restored by the NJ Meadowlands Commission.
    Once a year, for the Meadowlands Festival of Birding (Sept. 13 and 14), the site is open to the public.
    Here's a sneak preview, with an interview with NJMC naturalist Michael Newhouse.
    Click here for a previous post on Harrier Meadow, with information on plans for guided tours that you can sign up for.

CONSERVATION: Tree swallow study

   
    Tree swallows are thriving in the Meadowlands once again, thanks to an innovative nesting box program.

  And the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission now has the data to prove it.

  With a huge boost from 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.

    This year, with the help of GPS devices, the Meadowlands Commission naturalists Mike Newhouse and Gabrielle Bennett-Meany are keeping track of tree-swallow activity in all of the nesting boxes.

   They found that more than 60 percent were occupied by nesting pairs, with 610 eggs laid and more than 480 nestlings  successfully fledged as of July 15.

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