The first Chimney Swift tower was constructed by the Avian wildlife Center and installed in May of 2009. The photo is courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

My latest birding column for The Record is on the Chimney Swift roost in Ridgewood and the problems that chimney swifts are having due to a loss of nesting sites. 

One solution-- nesting towers like the one above.

   My column is on Page 4 of the Better Living section in the Thursday Record.

   The link is here.

   A great Chimney Swift link is here.

   This female Ruby-throat and her buddy just loved this Cardinal Flower at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary's Native Plant Garden (one of JW's favorite places outside of the Celery Farm).

    In keeping with the red motif, also "caught" this dragonfly there.
  
   (My new book, "Hawk Mountain," done with photographer Kevin Watson, should be arriving any day.)

  If you've been to the wonderful Mount Peter Hawk Watch and continued on down Route 17A, you may be familiar with the Bellvale Store, at the bottom of the mountain. 

   I lived on Iron Forge Road for more than 20 years, and when I came across the above postcard on eBay, I couldn't resist...

   Story is here.

Jerry Barrack (left) and Jim Wright (wright)    Photo by Sally Teschon (Thanks, Sally!)

      Seymour Drakes reports:

    To raise money for the Lillian and Stiles Thomas Scholarship Fund, Jerry Barrack and Jim Wright are donating their future proceeds from two of their popular Celery Farm children's books, "Icky the Hungry Heron" and "Swan Babies."

   Four stores in four towns -- Bookends in Ridgewood, Rohslers Nursery in Allendale, Wild Bird Emporium in Midland Park and Wild Birds Unlimited in Paramus, have all graciously agreed to sell the books.

   Both books feature Jerry's Celery Farm color photography, and both are designed to make youngsters more aware of the natural world around them. The books sell for $12.95 each, and Wright and Barrack can inscribe them by request.

     Click "Continue reading...." for more information...