The Meadowlands Blog

Aerial Photos of Harrier Meadow

     The Meadowlands Environmental Research Institute (MERI), the Meadowlands Commission's research arm, took several nifty aerial photographs of Harrier Meadow last week -- with a helium balloon.

     Harrier Meadow is a Saturday destination for this weekend's Meadowlands Festival of Birding.

   Click here for earlier blog posts on MERI's amazing work.

    Click "Continue reading ..." for another aerial photo looking south from Erie Landfill, plus a couple of photos of the camera-equipped helium balloon being sent aloft.

Harrier Meadow Walk 081809

     Tuesday's Harrier Meadow Walk, led by Don Torino of the Bergen County  Audubon Society, was a big hit despite the haze, heat and humidity.

    We had 25 intrepid participants on the 100-minute walk, and several interesting birds, including several shorebirds, plenty of egrets, a Black-crowned Night Heron and a controversial dove.  (More on the dove tomorrow.)

    We will post a full list when it is available. To those who attended this oven-hot walk, all we can say is "well-done" -- in more ways than one.

  

Don't Forget: Harrier Meadow Walk Next Tuesday

   

 Our first Harrier Meadow Walk for August was a rain-out. We are hoping for better weather and a ton of shorebirds on our second attempt, next Tuesday at 1 p.m.

   This walk is done in partnership with the great folks at Bergen County Audubon Society.

   The walk is rain or shine. Lightning cancels. In case of dubious weather, we will post on this blog on Tuesday at 11a.m. if the walk is on or not.

As always, bug spray, binoculars and sunscreen are a good idea…

   Because Harrier Meadow is ordinarily closed to the public, you will need to sign a standard release to visit the site. Download it here or sign a release on Tuesday:

Download HARRIER Release

Click "Continue reading ... " for directions and information on rsvping.

We had a full-house for our Harrier Meadow walk last Friday morning.
   The weather was great, and so were  the birds -- we had 42 species, including Orchard Oriole and Dunlin (above, amid sandpipers), plus some Diamondback Terrapins sunning themselves on an old truck tire (right).
   For the first time on one of these walks, we did not see a raptor -- until the very  last minute, when one was seen perched in the distance, chowing down on something formerly animate.
   Click here for previous Harrier Meadow walk posts.

   Click "Continue reading..." for the full list, compiled by birder Ray Duffy, and shots of the group, the Orchard Oriole and an irresistible Swan "under arm."

   Thanks for compiling the list, Ray!

HARRIER MEADOW WALK: The list

   The weather could have been better, but the birds did not seem to mind.
   We had 31 species on yesterday's 90-minute walk, including a Barn Owl flying, a Sharpie, a Cooper's and a Redtail or two -- plus a whole lot of ducks.
    Click "Continue reading ..." for the full list.

HARRIER MEADOW WALK: 121708

     We had said that given the dubious forecast, we'd hold the last Harrier Walk of the year if anybody showed up.
   A birder from Pennsylvania braved the elements to participate, so out we went.
   We'll print the full list tomorrow -- highlight was a Barn Owl flying.

HARRIER MEADOW WALK: 111908

    The second Harrier Meadow walk for November was cold and a bit windy but sunny. Five hearty Harrier fans fought the chill for two hours to see more than 30 species.
    According to NJMC Naturalist Michael Newhouse, "We had an excellent view of an Orange-crowned Warbler. We also had 8 species of waterfowl, several Northern Harriers, a Bald Eagle, and Fox and Savannah Sparrows."

  Click here for other Harrier Meadow postings.

  Click "Continue reading..." below  for the full list.

HARRIER MEADOW WALK 111208

(Photo by Sally Teschon)

     Wedneday was another beautiful day for a Harrier Meadow guided bird walk.

    The two-hour walk drew 11 birders and naturalists who seemed to like the low-keyed approach, the beautiful views, the changing season and the serenity of the site.

  Highlights included a close American Kestrel and three other raptor species, assorted ducks, a Belted Kingfisher or two, and a small flock of Cedar Waxwings.

   Click "Continue reading" for a list of birds seen on the walk.

HARRIER MEADOW ON TV

   NY1 did a segment this week on the Meadowlands Commission's Harrier Meadow this week.
   See it here.

HARRIER MEADOW: Upcoming walks

 

  The first Harrier Meadow guided walk for November is booked solid, but there's plenty of room left for the Saturday walk at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 15  as well as a Wednesday walk at 9 a.m. on Nov. 19.

   The North Arlington walks have been well-received so far, and participants seem to like that the groups are limited to 12 people or fewer. Small (and soft-spoken) groups make the walks more collegial, and there's a better chance of seeing birds.
   So far in November, we  have been seeing plenty of waterfowl and raptors of late -- and a few egrets and great blue herons.
   To reserve a spot on either walk, e-mail us.

   For more on Harrier Meadow, including write-ups of previous walks, click here and scroll down.

HARRIER MEADOW WALK 102508

    Saturday was the first Saturday public guided walk at Harrier Meadow in North Arlington. 
   Although the forecast called for showers, the 10 people joined us for the walk were rewarded with great views of Northern Harriers and some good looks at four other raptor species and seven species of waterfowl -- many in abundance.

Click "Continue reading..." below for the full list. 

HARRIER MEADOW: November walks announced

      The Meadowlands Commission is happy to announce three free Harrier Meadow guided walks in November.

 There will be two Wednesday morning walks, at 9 a.m. on Nov. 12 and Nov. 19, and one Saturday morning walk at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 15 – all open on a first-come, first-accepted basis, and space is limited.

 NJMC Naturalist Michael Newhouse will lead the weekday walks. Communications Officer Jim Wright will lead the Saturday walk – but be aware that while Jim knows the site, he is not an expert birder.

   On the last walks we saw plenty of raptors and waterfowl, including the American Kestrel above.

   We are also open to suggestions and requests.  Those who sign up a walk will be notified and updated. Note: You will be required to sign a limited liability release …

    If you are a teacher or member of a nature group that would like a group Harrier walk, e-mail Jim. …