The last two Mondays, I asked folks to identify these four flora and fauna below (from a place we've always called Belch island, above, on Lake Wawayanda).

The correct answers:   Blueberry, Pickerel Frog. St. John's Wort and Sassafras.

Thanks to all who answered.

Many years ago, I donated the carving of Icky the Hungry Heron to NJ Audubon's Lorrimer Sanctuary in Franklin Lakes.

Earlier this week, I paid my ol' buddy a visit and read his biography to a bunch of inquisitive day campers who kept Icky and me on our toes.

A big thank you to Mary Birrer and Lorrimer for all their help.

The Meadowlands Birding Festival at DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst is on Sunday, Sept. 12, and it's fast-approaching.

The keynote speaker is Gabriel Willow of NYC Audubon and Wave Hill (great guy, great speaker).

Bergen County Audubon's Chapman Award will be presented to Steve Quinn (great guy, great speaker).

This event is outdoors, and rain or shine. Restrooms are available onsite.

For more information contact Don Torino at greatauk4@gmail.com or 201-230-4983.

You can see the schedule here. Did I mention it's free?

A white-throated sparrow calling, with an inset of the Sound ID app. CourtesyKevin Pero/Macaulay Library.

My latest column for The Record and other USA Today newspapers in New Jersey is all about the amazing new Sound ID app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. It has a few bugs but it is a game-changer.

Here's the column:

A friend asks for I.D. help on this caterpillar. It looks vaguely familiar -- a moth caterpillar perhaps?

iNaturalist suggests it is a dagger moth caterpillar -- American.

You can read more about this moth here.

By the way, once it becomes a moth, don't pick it up.