The Meadowlands Blog

Next Guided Walk: Mill Creek Marsh, Oct. 7

Save the date: Our next guided walk is Sunday, Oct. 7, at the incredible Mill Creek Marsh, especially beautiful this time of the year. 

The walk, sponsored by the Meadowlands Commission  and Bergen County Audubon Society, begins at 10 a.m. at the trail's entrance, just off Park Plaza Drive. (Directions are on the left-hand side of this blog.)

For a list of birds we saw at Mill Creek during an October walk last year, click here.

For the full listing, click below.

Our South Bergenite Column: Bird-Banding Explained

Jim Wright, who maintains this blog for the Meadowlands Commission, also writes a twice monthly "Nature Next Door" column for The South Bergenite. Here is Jim's latest -- an interview with NJMC Naturalist Mike Newhouse (above) about Mike's bird-banding project.

With autumn upon us, we’re getting a change in winged visitors in the Meadowlands. The shorebird migration is winding down, the raptor migration is in full swing, and some ducks typically associated with the colder months are already arriving.

To get the latest low-down on the avian comings-and-goings along this portion of the Atlantic Flyway, we checked in with N.J. Meadowlands Commission naturalist Mike Newhouse, who has been doing his autumn bird-banding research for the fifth year in a row in North Arlington.

NJMC:  What’s the most striking thing you’ve seen so far this season?
Newhouse: Some birds are starting to migrate a little early this fall. For example; last year we saw our first palm warbler on Sept. 12, but this year we had them as early as Sept. 5. Also, northern shovelers are coming in already. Most ducks don’t starting showing up in good numbers until October, but as of Sept. 17 we have seen flocks of 70 shovelers or more.  

Enchanting Video on Meadowlands

Better late than never, we came across this enchanting video about the real Meadowlands, by Suzana Beites. (Thanks, Suzana!)

Disposal Road Update

This morning we saw lots of American Kestrels perched along the road, plus a Peregrine and a Red-tail, when we drove the road once.

Highlights reported from yesterday afternoon included 10 kestrels mobbing a Cooper's Hawk, Red-tails, a Merlin and two Northern Harriers (including a Gray Ghost above, on a very gray afternoon). 

Valley Brook Ave. late in the day yielded a perched (and dancing) Common Raven, left.

Send us your sightings and photos!

E-mail tab is on the left-hand column of this blog near the top.

Our Latest Wild N.J. Post: Book, Butterfly, Wildflowers

Our latest post for wildnewjersey.tv celebrates the imminent arrival of our new book, the new wildflower garden at DeKorte, and those migrating Monarchs. The link is here.

Greg Gard's Disposal Road Raptor Shots

Greg Grad was nice enough to share some of his shots of the raptor action along Disposal Road on Tuesday -- including the shot above of the banded Peregrine eating its prey in flight.

Below are a couple of shots of a dueling young Peregrine and Cooper's Hawk.

Greg's shot of a Northern Harrier tangling with the upside-down Peregrine is next. (Thanks, Greg!)

Two Awesome Sparrows (You Read It Right!)

Among the birds banded by NJMC researchers last week at the former Erie Landfill were a Saltmarsh Sparrow (above) and a Clay-colored Sparrow (below) -- and photographed by volunteer Chris Takacs. (Thanks, Chris!)

For more on the Saltmarsh Sparrow -- a bird of special concern in New Jersey -- click here.

Disposal Road: Heaven for Raptor Lovers

Yesterday afternoon, the raptor action along Disposal Road atop the former Kingsland Landfill was incredible.

In a 30-minute spane, we saw multiple American Kestrels, a Northern Harrier, three Red-tails, at least one (banded) Peregrine Falcon and what we think was a Cooper's Hawk. 

The raptors were strafing one another and, believe it or not, at times apparently working together to drive a flock of Canada Geese off the landfill.

Included above are shots of a Northern Harrier going after the Peregrine Falcon. (Both are endangered species in New Jersey.

Below are photos of the Northern Harrier with the Peregrine upside-down below her, as well as a Red-tail harassing the Canada Geese.

TOMORROW: Greg Gard's pix of the Peregrine eating prey in flight, plus a duel between the Peregrine and (likely) Cooper's Hawk.

Losen Slote Clean-Up: Thanks to Volunteers

Don Torino of the Bergen County Audubon Society reports:

"On Sunday, Four of us cleaned up 3 bags of garbage and cleared the trail through the meadow that was completely grown over -- 3 volunteers plus me.

"Jackie, Mary and Jack all worked real hard . I just need to get back there with a hedge clipper to finish it off." 

(Thanks, Don and crew. Great job!)

 

The Ron Shields Kearny Marsh Report

Ron writes:

"Here are some images of several close encounters in the Kearny Marsh on Sunday afternoon. 

"The Northern Harrier was a fly-by right off my bow and the plovers were photographed within an oar's reach of my lens.  The Black-bellied Plover was extremely cooperative. 

"The Keegan landfill held at least seven kestrels both hover-hunting and perched on the surrounding poles.

"Wading birds abounded, including several Green Herons."

Plover pix follow. (Thanks, Ron!)

Teaser Answered

After much deliberation and consultation, the NJMC bird-banding team determined that this is an Eastern Wood pewee.

More on Eastern Wood-Pewees here.

Injured Cormorant: Advice from The Raptor Trust

Regarding the cormorant seen this past weekend with the hook through its mouth, Lauren Butcher of The Raptor Trust writes:

"This is a difficult situation -- this young cormorant obviously needs help if possible, but as long as it can fly and swim, it will be nearly impossible to catch.  Wild goose chases don't just apply to wild geese!  

"In cases like this, the only opportunity to capture the bird may be (unfortunately) as it becomes more debilitated from infection or hunger. 

"If you do have the opportunity to look for this cormorant again, you might go prepared with a deep, long-handled net (small holes in the mesh would be best so the bird doesn't get tangled), a beach towel or blanket, some thick work gloves, and a secure cardboard box with air holes, lined with a towel.  (Actually, this is a good bird rescue kit to have for all sorts of situations.)"

The rest of her advice follows.