Snapping Turtle egg-laying season is kicking into high gear, so be careful driving along Franklin Turnpike near the Celery Farm.

Three Snapping Turtles were laying their eggs in my side yard this a.m., and in years past some have crossed the Franklin Turnpike to lay their eggs.

Police are rightfully worried about someone swerving to avoid a turtle and getting into an accident.

(Thanks, Allendale PD!)

A video of a Snapping Turtle laying eggs (including slow-motion) in my yard follows.

You are cordially invited to test your birding skills and powers of observation in  the world's first Art of Birding competition on Saturday, June 6, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the  Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum in Oradell.

The event is free, the museum is beautiful, and free refreshments and door prizes are provided.

Participants from the Fyke Nature Association and the Bergen County Audubon Society will be divided into teams, with the goal of finding and identifying the most birds and most bird species in the paintings and sculpture on display on the museum’s first floor and patio. (Clue: There’s quite a few, but not at all overwhelming.)

Cathy Sheeter, the museum’s wonderful artist-in-residence, will serve as referee and line judge.

The Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum is located at 705 Kinderkamack Road, Oradell.

E-mail Jim Wright at celeryfarm(at)gmail.com  to let him know if you are participating, or if you have any pressing questions about this event.

We hope to see you on June 6.

The Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum’s website is http://www.blauveltartmuseum.com/. Cathy Sheeter’s website is http://www.cathysheeter.com/.

Can you identify the three insects bugs and bird photographed on Saturday at High Mountain Park in Franklin Lakes? (Yes, it's a slightly trick question.)

Checked our side yard this morning and found a female snapping turtle laying eggs. 

In the next week, at least a dozen Snapping Turtles will lay eggs in our yard by the Celery Farm parking lot -- and others will try to cross Franklin Turnpike.

So keep an eye out for turtles, surprised drivers, swerving and sudden braking.

Travel through time and explore the various modes of 19th and 20th century transportation on Saturday, May 30, with the Northwest Bergen History Coalition.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the historic John Fell House and nine other historic homes and museums will be open to the public to tour and enjoy.

Joining the Coalition this year will be Allendale's Jack Granowitz and other antique car collectors who will be stopping at the sites to allow visitors to see the “new-fangled” motorcars of the early 20th century.

I'll give readings of my ghost story  "Phantoms of the Ramapos" -- set in 1938 in Allendale, Ho-Ho-Kus and Mahwah -- several times during the day at the Fell House. 

The fact-based story features the HoHoKus Speedway and an actual bank robbery in Allendale.

More information follows.