The Meadowlands Blog

BIRDING: Black skimmers are here

   

Several shorebirds were zipping around the impoundment by Meadowlands Commission headquarters at Dekorte Park on Monday and Tuesday morning.
  The star of the show was a black skimmer, whose bill cut through the surface of the water like a knife. Great views were available from the boardwalk by the Environment Center on Monday.

   More on black skimmers here.

CHALLENGE: identify the two birds in the photo

ANSWER: Killdeer (foreground) with killfawn.

  Bad joke, cool birds. 

MILL CREEK MARSH: Snowy egret heaven

   

Mill Creek Marsh is a little hard to find, but it is definitely worth the effort.
  It is the one place I'd go if I had to get a photo of a snowy egret in a hurry.
   They are abundant and are typically in range of a decent telephoto lens.

   Mill Creek Marsh is also amazing because it is home to a "forest" of cedar stumps -- including some that are hundreds of years old.

   Click here for directions and more information.
   I was there at low tide the other day and took a bunch of shots.

Click "Continue reading" for more photos.

BIRDS: Baltimore Orioles

  
   Out by the Amvets memorial carillon on Disposal Road in Lyndhurst, a pair of Baltimore orioles have been hanging out on a regular basis.

   In the video below, they are taking a bath in a puddle near the base of the memorial.

   

More about Baltimore orioles here.

 

Hello, Summer

  Summer kicks off today with the summer solstice.
   Don't forget the Meadowlands Environment Center's program on the summer solstice on Saturday. More info here.

WATERFOWL: Mallard duckling video

  It is duckling season across North Jersey. Here, Mom gives the kids a bathing lesson.

Meadowfest: The Video

   

   The fourth annual Meadowfest -- a celebration of the Hackensack River and another way to let more North Jerseyans know about the natural wonders of the region -- took place on Saturday at Laurel Hill County Park in Secaucus.  
   A 1-minute video sample of the fest is above.
   The Record's coverage of the day is here. The Star-Ledger ran an item the morning of the event.

Have a riveting Father's Day

ASTRONOMY: Celebrate summer's arrival

  You can celebrate summer’s arrival and learn more about the Sun on Saturday, June 21, with a visit to the Center for Environmental and Scientific Education in the Meadowlands.

   The event, which runs from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., features the center's Laura Venner talking about NASA’s Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) mission. Laura will bring out special solar viewing equipment for a hands-on experience.

   You'll also learn about solar cycles, sun spots and the apparent motion of the Sun, and get a guided tour of the William McDowell Observatory, which opened earlier this year.

    Check-in at the Meadowlands Environment Center (the first building on the left) in the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission's headquarters at DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst.

  The program will be held in the Astronomy Amphitheater in the Center for Environmental and Scientific Education, a short walk away.

   Participants will receive free space-weather posters, stickers, refrigerator magnets, and 3D cards and 3D glasses.

   Admission is $5; free to members of the Meadowlands Environment Center.  Pre-registration preferred, walk-ins welcome.  

 

 

MEADOWFEST: Coming Saturday

    Make sure to set aside some time on Saturday for the annual Meadowfest at Hudson County Park at Laurel Hill.
   This free event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and  features all sorts of environmentally oriented activities and educational programs, including pontoon-boat cruises on the Hackensack River, hot-air balloon rides, carnival-type attractions & games, food and refreshments, plus live musical performances.

  Rain date is Sunday, June 15.

  More information here.