Monday Morning Mystery 030325

Found these guys on a hike along the Palisades yesterday.

One still had a stem. What are they -- seed pods?  If so, what kind? (The quarter is mine, for scale.)

Bald Eagles on Lake Appert

I only saw one of them but always a treat.... (Thanks, Lorie!)

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Monday Morning Stumper Answered

  
   On Monday I wrote:

  Juan Melli took this photo last year.

   What is it, and where did he take the photo?

   The answers: As many of you posited, it is a Spotted Lanternfly. It was photographed at one of its favorite haunts (alas), the State Line Lookout in Alpine, NJ. Congrats to Ali Fragale, who said it was a SLF , either on the Palisades or Hoboken. Congrats, Ali!

More on spotted anternflies here:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-pests-diseases/slf

 

 

My Column: Bird Flu and Bird Feeders

More than 5,000 snow geese died recently from avian flu in eastern Pennsylvania.
Photo credit: Chris Neff, New Jersey Audubon

My latest column for The Record answers a pressing question: In light of all the concerns over avian flu, should you take down your bird feeders?

You can read the column here:

Peregrine Cam Action

I tuned in the Union County Courthouse falcon cam yesterday and was pleased to see a Peregrine perched (below). You can watch it live, above.

Nesting season is around the corner.