The Meadowlands Blog

Our Latest S. Bergenite Column: Blackbirds, Nature Walks

Jim Wright, who maintains this blog, also writes a twice monthly column for the South Bergenite. His latest column is on Red-winged Blackbirds -- and our upcoming nature walks:

You will be happy to hear that spring has arrived. Sure, the calendar says three more weeks of winter remain, but the birds don’t lie.

Last week, on a guided nature walk in North Arlington, bird-lovers were treated not only to three Killdeer -- the first Meadowlands sighting of these eccentric shorebirds this year -- but they also saw a tree filled with male red-winged blackbirds. Can our ospreys and tree swallows be far behind?

The male red-winged blackbirds typically arrive a few weeks before the females so they can lay claim to their nesting areas -- each male with a “harem” of several female red-wings and nests.   

In the months to come, you’ll hear the males’ distinctive call -- “cong-a-reeeeee” -- resounding throughout the Meadowlands.

The story continues below.

The June DeKorte Observatory Schedule

The William D. McDowell Observatory in DeKorte Park begins a new month of programming tonight (Monday, June 4).

Free public access is from 9 to 10:30 on Monday and Wednesday nights  this month -- weather permitting, of course.

Dress for the weather; with the dome open, you are basically outside.

Each evening at least two major objects in the night sky will be viewed, plus one or two other celestial objects or events depending on the observing conditions.

For more information about free public viewing nights and to check out the observatory's website, click here.

For a South Bergenite column by the NJMC's Jim Wright about the observatory, click here.

Yesterday's Losen Slote Walk: The Full List

We had a great autumn walk at Losen Slote Park in Little Ferry yesterday morning -- and carted out a dozen bags of trash in the process. Also had nice looks at a lot of nifty birds and fungi.

Full list of birds is below.

A big thanks to the 12 participants, and to Denise Farrell of Bergen County Audubon Society for compiling the list.

Sunrise, (Closed) Erie Landfill

Andrew Burmeister, one of the NJMC's volunteer bird-banders, got this sunrise shot on Wednesday. (Thanks, Andrew!)

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.

Hello, Summer!

   Today is the first day of summer.
   We took this Friday afternoon in DeKorte Park.

Observatory Schedule for May

   

The William D. McDowell Observatory in DeKorte Park has a full schedule for May, including several free public observation nights, a month-long Tuesday-night astronomy course, and a special program on how NASA technology has been applied to everyday life.

Public Viewing Schedule

     Observe the skies through the 20-inch diameter telescope of the William D. McDowell Observatory each Monday and Wednesday evening. Because of the later sunsets, the viewing hours will begin at 9 pm.

    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 May observatory schedule.

OBSERVATORY SCHEDULE

                                                                                                       Photo by JJ Rusher/NJMC

    If you haven't been to the McDowell Observatory yet, the view above is just a sample of what you've been missing. 

   The observatory, in DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst, is open to the public Mondays and Wednesdays from 7 to 10 p.m.

  Note: Observing is weather dependent and will be canceled for the night if the skies are cloudy or if there’s any type of precipitation.

    Click here for more posts and information on the observatory.

    Click "Continue reading..."  to see next week's schedule and highlights.

NIGHT-SKY EVENT

    In case you missed it last night, Venus, Jupiter and a crescent Moon will appear to be bunched together in the night sky tonight after dusk.
    Look to the southwest an hour after sunset.

     John Sloan of NJMC's McDowell Observatory  at DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst says that Venus and Jupiter should also be visible on Wednesday night when the observatory opens to the public at 7 p.m. -- but that they will be getting low in the sky.
   More on this astronomical event here.

HELLO, AUTUMN!

   

    Fall officially arrives today at 11:44:18 a.m.

   More about the Autumn Equinox 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.

OBSERVATORY OPENING ON MONDAY

   Starting next Monday (Sept.8), the William D. McDowell Observatory in DeKorte Park, Lyndhurst, is opening it state-of-the art telescope to the public every Monday and Wednesday evening, weather permitting.
   The viewings are free.
   The observatory will be open for two hours each night, with 8 and 9 p.m. viewing sessions.

  The observatory houses a research-grade, optical telescope with a 20-inch mirror within a six-meter retractable dome.

   Click “Continue reading…” below for more info.