The Celery Farm & Beyond

The Bergen Record's Siskin/Backyard Bird Count story

    The Record hasn't posted James Yoo's  article on the Siskin irruption and Great Backyard Bird Count, so I scanned it.
   Click  the image above to read  an enlarged version.

GBBC: Pine Siskins

 

   When I entered two days of results to the Great Backyard Bird Count folks today, the only bird that was red-flagged was the Pine Siskin.
   I had entered  "11" for Pine Siskins on Saturday and "7" for  Sunday, and both times I was asked to confirm that I indeed had seen this species.
   My guess is a lot of GBBC respondents in North Jersey will have to confirm "Pine Siskins" as well, and in far greater numbesr than I had. I saw a few reports of more than 100 on e-mail list posts.
   It only takes a couple of minutes to enter an observation report, BTW. Link is here.

The Sunday Record has a Great Backyard Bird Count story

   

      The Bergen Record has a story today about this weekend's Great Backyard Bird Count and the Pine Siskin.

   The story, with a photo of a siskin, is on Page 3 of the Local section.

   I will post a link when it is available.

ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS

 

  Ace birder Fred Weber saw a record-setting 192 species of birds at the Celery Farm last year. He was nice enough to share his scorecard -- the Celery Farm bird list available at the Franklin Turnpike parking lot kiosk.
   It is both amazing and fascinating. I will post it, in jpg form, as soon as I can.
    Seymour Drakes said it best: This is the new gold standard for birding at the CF.
    Fred, forever modest, would likely disagree, but this list will speak for itself.
   

GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT

    If you haven't participated in the national Great Backyard  Bird Count, give it a try this weekend -- Friday through Monday.

   You can do as many days as you like, for as long as you like.

   You'll find that once you start keeping score, you'll see a lot more birds and species than you would have thought.

   Note: Last year, Ace was nowhere to be found on any of the four days. Curses!

    Click the button above for more information.

Rob Fanning reports: 0202609

Rob sez:
  This bitterly cold morning (2/6) I was pleasantly surprised to hear the great sound of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS calling (near Greenway).

   I didn't believe my ears at first but I then heard them again, looked up, and saw about 10 birds fly over me (headed in the direction of Pirie Platform).

     I couldn't stay long, but before I left I heard and saw 2 more flybys near Greenway. My first for the CF, and only the 2nd record overall for CF (after Fred Weber 's flock on 11/22/08).

  Click "Continue reading..." for the rest of Rob's report.  (Thanks, Rob!)

New Photo Exhibition

 

    Bob Kane is exhibiting photographs at the Ho-Ho-Kus Library during February.  These have been taken at the Celery Farm over the past three years, most of which show the place in light that Fykers often see but the casual visitor will not. 

  The Library is on the northwest corner of Franklin Turnpike and Warren Avenue in Ho-Ho-Kus, a block north of the intersection of Franklin Turnpike and North Maple Ave.  Hours are: MWF 10-5, TTh 1-5, 7-9, and Sat 10-1 (closed Sunday). 
   Pictured above: Bob's photo, "Stalking Bittern."

New Wood Duck Box

    I am happy to announce that the Celery farm has a new wood duck box -- on Blue Heron Pond.
     Marsh Warden Stiles Thomas and Allendaler Chip McGrath installed the box last week. Stiles also contributed the 4 by 4 and baffle. The wood duck box itself was the one that Jerry Barrack and I bought for our "Duck Enough To Fly" talks.
    Nice job, Stiles and Chip!

SISKINS, finally

 
   I am happy to report that I finally got a Pine Siskin at our feeder -- and a nearby pine --this week...
   It seems like they are hitting feeders everywhere these days,  especially interesting because they were migrating in droves past the hawk lookouts in October.
   More on Pine Siskins here.

THE MARSH WREN CONTINUES

   I have spent hours last summer trying to photograph Marsh Wrens in the Meadowlands -- only to discover a far more cooperative subject by the Boy Scout Platform at the Celery Farm this winter.
     He makes a weird little buzzing sound these days instead of the awesome wind-chime call of summer, but you may never get a better look than you can get now. 
   Sightings of this little fella at the Celery Farm appear regularly on eBird.
  He's a big deal.
  See him while you can.

  More on Marsh Wrens here.