Just a reminder: Lots going on at the Fell House, the historic house just down Franklin Turnpike from the Celery Farm Parking Lot.

   This Saturday is the big barn sale, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lots of attic treasures donated from the community, plus baked goods. Park at Archer Methodist Church down the street, or on Cottage Place.

   Sunday, June 27, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. is a free roundtable discussion of the Revolutionary War in Bergen County, featuring the authors and editor of the recent local best-seller "Revolutionary Bergen County": former Bergen County Executive William "Pat" Schuber, Firth Haring Fabend, Carol Karels, Donald Londahl-Smidt, Richard Burnon, some guy named Jim Wright, and Barbara Marchant.  

   Light refreshments will be served, and attendees will get a chance to see the first floor of this amazing house.

   Monday, June 28, is Fell House Night at the Allendale Bar and Grill in downtown Alendale -- 10 percent of the proceeds go toward restoring the house.

  
    My column this week is about one of my least favorite birds (aside from Canada Geese) -- the Brown-headed Cowbird. You'll have to read the column to find out why, but you're probably on the right track already.

   The link is here. Earlier related post is here.

   The neighbor of the Ridgewood resident who first asked about the mysterious Beethoven bird (it goes "tweet-tweet-tweet-TWEET") has not only captured the song and  digitally captured and edited to remove background/traffic noise, but adds that this "is the characteristic song that first attracted me.  I now know that the same bird has at least six variations, and sometimes "talks" after the Beethoven recital, but this copy is just the 5th,  without commentary...

    "[The bird] is about 4" long, with a tightly folded tail a bit over 2" long, sharply defined from the body (body ends: tail begins).  The neck has stripes of tan/gray/black, a tiny triangle of black under the beak. 

   "The beak is short and sharp - looks like a bug-catcher.  The belly is tan-gray and sometimes looked uniform and sometimes faintly speckled  No idea of color of beak or feet.

   "Share around... let's see if it can be ID'd."  (Thanks!)

   Play the Beethoven Bird's song

   Song Sparrow?

   Please leave a comment with your appraisal....

     You can now enjoy free monthly guided walks at Allendale’s legendary Celery Farm Natural Area and the historic Fell House nearby.

  The 90-minute walks, open to nature lovers of all ages and abilities, are designed to acquaint more people with the 107-acre Celery Farm and the 250-year-old Fell House.

   Along the way, walk leaders  Celery Farm Marsh Warden Mike Limatola and Deputy Warden Jim Wright will point out birds, plants and butterflies of note.

   The walks are held the first Saturday of every month at 8 a.m., weather permitting.  The walks begin at the end of Green Way (a right turn off of northbound Franklin Turnpike, just before Crescent Avenue). 

    The walks are sponsored by the Fyke Nature Association, which helps maintain the Celery Farm, and the Concerned Citizens of Allendale, which saved the Fell House and its 2.8-acre property from becoming a townhouse development.

  The walks will be held July through October, on the following Saturdays:

  July 3, Aug. 7, Sept. 4 and Oct. 2.

E-mail Jim Wright here to rsvp or get more info. Check the Celery Farm nature blog, celeryfarm.net for updates and directions to the Celery Farm, Green Way and the Fell House.

   Monday's Mystery was taken at the Warden's Watch of the Celery Farm, just moments after a turtle (slider) laid her eggs. Pretty tidy.

   I think someone said the turtle's call reminded them of Brahm's Symphony No. in D minor, but I could be mistaken.