Don Torino's Column: Your Backyard Jungle
August 28, 2019
Don Torino's recent Meadowblog column about exploring your own backyard is worth a read.
The link is here.
August 2019
Meadowland Birding Fest Is Sept. 14
August 27, 2019
The annual Meadowlands Birding Festival is Saturday, Sept. 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. -- with a dawn walk in legendary Harrier Meadow.
The event features bird walks and talks, raptor visits, children's activities, and pontoon boat tours.
Most of the events are free.
Highlights include a keynote talk by renowned author Sharon Stiteler "The Bird Chick" and a live raptor demonstration.
The event is sponsored by the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority and the Bergen County Audubon Society
Get more info and register is here.
Video on the Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum
August 26, 2019
This nature-art museum is awesome -- and local.
A nice NJN video I happened upon -- featuring Blauvelt Museum board president Jim Bellis and artist Kathy Sheeter.
More on the museum here.
Advice Needed! Squirrel w/ Rude Wound
August 24, 2019
Sorry for the rude photo, but I wonder if anyone has any advice regarding this backyard squirrel, which appears to have a nasty wound on its back.
I thought it might be mange but it looks more like an open sore.
My Column: Red-shouldered Hawks Rebound!
August 22, 2019
For the past few nesting seasons, the celebrated (and endangered) Red-shouldered Hawks of Allendale and nearby Ramsey have done a disappearing act when nesting.
Many folks would see them flying with nesting material and (later) prey, but the whereabouts of the nest remained a mystery. I looked high and low, to no avail.
Then I got a tip. The Red-shoulders had nested successfully once more.
The homeowners confirmed that the nest has been active the past few years, but asked that I keep the location a secret.
I have -- but I did write a column about it, in The Record's Better Living section today. I was also fortunate to get some photos of a parent flying from the nest and a nestling shortly before it fledged.
Their secret is safe.
You can preview or download the Red-shoulder column here:
Download Bird Watcher Jim Wright 082219 TheRecordBergenEdition_20190822_BL03_0
(With the help of a few birder friends, I did a free e-book about Allendale's Red-shoulders several years ago. You can download it here or read a hard copy at the Allendale Library.)