New Jersey Outdoors

NJO has a new location!

2010-06-25T16:14:00.003-04:00

We're in the process of making a switch to http://njoutdoors.wordpress.com/ - please continue to follow the blog at its new home! NJ Outdoors is expanding with more contributors in a number of different areas. We plan on having a constant flow of new material covering everything from birding and hiking to gardening and fishing! Like to surf? Send in a column! Have some cool photos from a recent camping trip? We'll post them!

Please send us an email at newjerseyoutdoors@gmail.com if you would like to be a regular contributor to the blog, or if you would like us to post your story, event, or pictures.

Thanks, everyone!

Wordless Wednesday: Clever Gulls

2010-06-09T14:28:00.002-04:00

Jersey Fresh!

2010-06-08T10:15:00.003-04:00

The 2010 growing season has already begun for most New Jersey farms, and there are plenty of opportunities to reap the delicious rewards! It's too late to purchase a CSA share (check out our food blog at Party of Two for updates on our Honeybrook Organic Farm CSA) - but there are plenty of other ways to join in on the Garden State's rich agricultural tradition.

Community and roadside farmers markets are an excellent way to find fresh and local produce in your area. Different markets offer different things - you will undoubtedly be able to find fruits and veggies in plentiful amounts, but some markets may also have stands selling cheeses, pickles, freshly baked breads and baked goods, and locally raised meats.

There are also some wonderful Pick-Your-Own opportunities throughout the state. Most PYO farms offer some combination of tree fruits (apples, peaches, etc) and berries (strawberries, blueberries, etc).

Check out the Department of Agriculture's Jersey Fresh website for listings of all the different stands and farms in your area, as well as a list of what types of produce are currently in season.

Wordless Wednesday: Shorebirds

2010-06-02T09:42:00.003-04:00

As always, click on the images for larger versions.

Wordless Wednesday: Chuck and Dee

2010-05-19T11:08:00.004-04:00

(click image for larger version)

World Series of Birding

2010-05-14T17:31:00.003-04:00

New Jersey's World Series of Birding begins at midnight tonight! Teams from all over the state and country will compete to see who can identify (through sight and sound) the most species of birds within the state of NJ in a 24-hour period.

Our team will be competing for the 2nd year. Check out our recent blog post for updates and please consider supporting the team! Thanks, everyone.

Re-Purpose New Jersey!

2010-05-11T18:23:00.002-04:00

Rutgers University is hosting a Re-Purpose event where anyone can come and donate clothing, electronics, and other unwanted items. The following locations will be accepting donations from noon - 8pm on Wednesday, May 12th, and from 9am - noon on Thursday, May 13th:

• Busch: Richardson Lot 58B & Silvers Lot
• Livingston: Sidewalk between Quad 1 & 2 off Avenue E.
• CAC: Hardenburgh Hall Lot 20 & Stonier Lot 35
• Cook: Newells Lot 99a & Nicholas Lot 76
• Douglass: New Gibbons Lot 74A

Simply show up and donate! You can find more information (and volunteer) on the event's Facebook page or on the Re-Purpose New Jersey website.

Ag Field Day / Rutgers Day

2010-04-19T13:44:00.004-04:00

If you ask the loyalists on the Cook and Douglass campuses what April 24th is called, they'll emphatically tell you it's "Ag Field Day". The annual event in New Brunswick has now been transformed into the broader, University-wide "Rutgers Day", but on the fields and farms of Cook/Douglass, they're hanging onto the 104-year old moniker.

Throughout the day there will be various tours, demonstrations, and lectures all over campus. On the big lawn on Cook/Douglass, the NJ Folk Festival will be held with live music, craft tents, artists, and food trucks. Read more about the food at Party of Two, our food blog.

The Ecology and Evolution Graduate Student Association will be leading tours throughout Helyar Woods and Rutgers Gardens during the day. It all kicks off at 8am as Brian Clough (member of our Scarlet Knight-Herons World Series of Birding team) leads a birding tour through Helyar Woods. Last year I co-led this tour with Charlie Kontos. We had a great turnout and ended up seeing a good number of bird species. Helyar Woods can be a great spot during migration, and there are sure to be a number of warblers and other songbirds flitting about. We had great looks at a Scarlet Tanager last year during the walk.

At 10am the husband-wife pairing of Kenneth Elgersma and Ai Wen will lead a "Scalies and Slimies" tour through the woods looking for any amphibians and reptiles they can turn up. We found a lone salamander last year during our bird walk, but they are sure to turn up more than that. The woods are home to a variety of snakes, turtles, frogs, and salamanders.

Sona Mason will lead a wildflower walk at 11am to round out the day at Rutgers Gardens/Helyar Woods. There are sure to be plenty of beautiful flowers to admire!

Faculty member Lena Struwe will lead a pair of tours through the Floriculture Greenhouse on Cook Campus. At 10:30 and 11:30 the walks will be "The Sex Life of Plants" and "Strange, Smelly, and Armed Plants", respectively. I've visited the Floriculture Greenhouse a number of times, and it is a REALLY neat place. There are a vast number of interesting and exotic plants to study and observe.

You can find more information about the April 24th events here:

http://agfieldday.rutgers.edu/
http://rutgersday.rutgers.edu/
http://www.ecogsa.rutgers.edu/agfieldday.html

Sandy Hook Birding

2010-04-09T14:52:00.004-04:00

I joined fellow birders Tom Reed, Brian Clough, and Amy Manning for an early spring morning at Sandy Hook. We started at the north end of the Hook, where a new pond has been created thanks to all of the recent precipitation. Most conspicuous upon our arrival was a flock of Glossy Ibis feeding along the edge of the water. As we scanned the banks, we found the Stilt Sandpiper that had been reported, along with a Lesser Yellowlegs, a Willet, and a few Killdeer. A pair of Wood Ducks splashed down for a few moments before taking off again and flying out of sight.

Not a bad start to our morning! We started walking north toward the Fisherman's Trail when something hopped out of the grass and onto the concrete steps of one of the crumbling buildings. It hid behind a pillar for a moment before hopping up the steps and revealing itself to be none other than a Sora!

Soras are secretive marsh birds that are rarely seen, so witnessing this individual expose itself by climbing up steps was extremely unusual. Chances are it had been migrating over the area and was just plain exhausted. It continued up the steps, hopping one-by-one, until it had tucked itself away in a corner at the top (the steps led nowhere, by the way). We decided to move on quickly in the hopes that the Sora could continue on its journey undisturbed.

As we walked through the dunes of the Fisherman's Trail, we counted numerous Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers and Palm Warblers. A pair of Brown Thrashers flew low across the trail, and an adult White-Crowned Sparrow graced us with a quick glimpse of its impressive head coloration. The end of the trail led us out to an ocean view, which held a handful of Norther Gannets flying out over the water. A single Common Loon floated calmly in the water, with its beautiful breeding plumage starting to show. Across the water we could see a pair of American Oystercatchers moving up and down the beach. An Osprey flew over our heads with a nice meal.

After a quick trip down to the Boy Scout Camp area, we decided to head up to the Hawk Watch platform to see if the Swallow-tailed Kite would show up for a third day. Unfortunately we didn't find the kite, although we were treated to a pair of Common Ravens (quite the oddity for Sandy Hook), along with migrating Northern Harriers and Sharp-Shinned Hawks. An Eastern Bluebird even stopped on a nearby tree and posed for a few moments.

With the real world of work and school calling (not to mention a sweltering sun - I think NJ set a record high temperature), we decided to call it a day.

Migration has really kicked it into high gear, and with recent wind and temperature conditions, big-time rarities have already started showing up. Multiple Swallow-Tailed Kites and a Brown-Headed Nuthatch were spotted yesterday in Cape May. What will end up in New Jersey next week?

Wild parakeets in New Jersey

2010-03-25T13:42:00.003-04:00

Believe or not, there are wild populations of Monk Parakeets living in the Garden State. These birds were released in New York in the middle of the last century, spread into the suburbs, and have somehow managed to survive the winters and continue to reproduce successfully for the last 50 or 60 years.

There are now a few colonies in New Jersey, with the largest containing about 50 of these native Argentinians. They use sticks and twigs to create large nests, such as the one pictured below. Usually built around transformers, it is believed they gain some measure of warmth from building their nests in these locations. Some officials have expressed concern over potential problems, but so far the birds haven't caused any harm.

As serious birders know, last year the Monk Parakeet was added to the official New Jersey state checklist, recognizing the species as a sustainable population in the state. Unlike escapees from homes and pet stores, this means the birds are known to be permanent residents here in NJ, able to breed and live in the wild. How these South American parakeets have survived the frigid winters here in the northeast is anyone's guess - but they have.

The small colony we visited in Carteret seemed to have at least five birds heading in and out of the nest. We were informed by a resident that there is another colony only a few blocks away. The species seem completely out of place - bright green and blue birds feeding in empty lots, chomping on grass (see the photo below) and hanging around with European Starlings and Mourning Doves.

As long as the species remains confined to these types of areas and their population sizes stay relatively low, they don't seem to pose much of a threat. In Argentina they are considered agricultural pests, so there has been some concern over the possibility of populations spreading to more rural regions. I certainly hope that doesn't happen, as these birds were a real treat to watch. I wouldn't want to have to lump them in with other invasive avian species like the House Sparrow and European Starling - yuck!

Salamander migration

2010-03-16T11:08:00.003-04:00

While many eyes and binoculars will be pointed toward the sky in anticipation of spring migration, another type of migration has already begun here in New Jersey. Late last week, as temperatures rose and rain started to fall, amphibians started to stir.

The migration of a salamander isn't exactly the 40,000 mile round-trip of the Arctic Tern, but it is just as important to these amphibian species. After awakening from their winter slumber, they have to move into vernal pools, seasonal ponds that fill with water during late winter and spring. Unfortunately many of these areas have been filled for development, and those that remain may be cut off from breeding populations by roads or other man-made obstacles. As salamanders move across roads in concentrated numbers, it only takes one car to drastically alter their population size, which could ultimately lead to local extinctions.

Spotted Salamander (c) Richard Wolfert 2010

One of the best known spots for salamander migration in the area is East Brunswick's Beekman Road. The town closes the road when conditions are favorable to limit the hurdles these animals must overcome to reach the vernal pools. Nature-lovers flock to the area when the migration begins, and carefully scan the road for different species.

The migration event lasts for only a few short weeks, and will only occur on warm, wet evenings. Rainfall is being predicted for the latter part of this upcoming weekend and early next week, so that may very well be the next best time to check out these little critters.

Please check the Salamander Page of the East Brunswick Environmental Commission for updates on when the road will be closed for migration. Currently there is also an emergency alert due to the recent storm.

North Shore

2010-03-09T18:28:00.004-05:00

American Woodcocks are being seen and heard throughout the state. Butterflies started to appear this week. And just yesterday, an Osprey was seen flying over Cape May. Despite these signs of spring, winter isn't over just yet! I headed down to the "North Shore" of NJ with some fellow birders (and graduate students in the Ecology & Evolution program at Rutgers University) to see what winter waterfowl were still hanging around.

It turns out, quite a bit! We started in Belmar and walked the jetties at Shark River Inlet. There were good numbers of Long-Tailed Ducks and Common Loons in the water, and eventually we spotted a Western Grebe that had been observed a few times earlier in the year.

Ring-Billed Gull

We moved south down the coast, stopping to scan the ocean whenever we were offered a good vantage point. A few Red-Throated Loons were added to the mix, although we had no luck finding the Pacific Loon that had been reported earlier in the week. Black Scoters and Surf Scoters were also seen out in the Atlantic, along with a rare winter sighting of a sub-species of Homo sapiens: the surfer!

As we continued on our way, we visited some of the coastal lakes known for their wintering waterfowl. Almost annually you can find a Eurasian Wigeon in one of these lakes, and sometimes a Common "Eurasian" Teal as well. These are closely related to the American Wigeon and Green-Winged Teal that are found regularly in the United States, except the former species are lost individuals who have ended up on the wrong side of the pond. We weren't lucky enough to find either on this day, but we were able to observe large numbers of Red-Breasted Mergansers, Hooded Mergansers, Bufflehead, and Ruddy Ducks. We also found a pair of Green-Winged Teal, a single Lesser Scaup, and an American Wigeon.

Ruddy Ducks

Our next stop on the coast was the Manasquan Inlet. We walked the jetties again and were treated to more good looks at the aforementioned species. A few small groups of Purple Sandpipers moved around the jetties.

Purple Sandpiper

After dining on some authentic and completely delicious Mexican food at Jose's, we turned around and headed north. Our final stop was Sandy Hook. We searched the bay across from the Sandy Hook Bird Observatory, but weren't able to locate either species of goldeneye. However we did spot a seal sticking his nose out of the water, and were able to watch as a few male Red-Breasted Mergansers started practicing their mating display. If you haven't seen it, the display is quite entertaining.

We walked the beach one last time and saw our third species of scoter for the day - the White-winged Scoter. A nearby raft of Black Scoter afforded us some fantastic, crystal-clear views, and a single Surf Scoter ventured close to shore as well.

Soon all these birds will be heading north for the mating season, and a whole new group of birds will begin migrating through and settling in New Jersey. For most naturalists this time of year is truly exciting - birds in bright breeding plumage singing for prospective mates, salamanders migrating to precious vernal pools, and flowers blossoming in vibrant spring colors. The season is upon us!

Eco-travel & conservation in Peru

2010-03-01T18:05:00.004-05:00

Eco-travel. Eco-tours. Eco-lodges. They all sound fun and adventurous - but what are they really doing for the natural world? In the case of Kolibri Expedition's 8-day birding trip through Manu National Park, plenty!

Scarlet Macaws (c) Kaitlyn Rose

Manu is a biosphere reserve located in Peru, offering some of the most awe-inspiring glimpses into the wild that you can find anywhere on the planet. Within the park you can find over 15,000 species of plants, 1,300 butterfly species, and...wait for it...1,000 species of birds! That's more than you can find throughout all of Canada and the United States.

Black-Faced Brush-Finch (c) Carol Foil

The 8-day adventure through Manu's various hot spots isn't all fun and games, though. For the traveler it may be all about birds, or bugs, or flowers - but for the people of Peru it is about protecting and preserving this exceptional example of life on Earth. Instead of mining, logging, and exploiting other natural resources, the people of the Amarakaeri communal reserve outside of Manu are working toward more sustainable forms of industry. Eco-tourism is at the forefront of this crisis, and Kolibri Expeditions is lending a much-needed hand to the communities of the Amarakaeri.

Walking Stick (c) Kaitlyn Rose

Leaf-cutter Ants (c) Kaitlyn Rose

Rufous-Crested Coquette (c) Carol Foil

Andean Cock-of-the-Rock (c) Carol Foil

I will be serving as the hosting blogger for the May 23rd trip, which you can sign up for here. I strongly encourage anyone interested in eco-tourism and/or birding to think about making Manu your 2010 vacation. Not only will you be able to visit some of the most spectacular places in the world, see some of the most breath-taking birds, and meet some of the nicest people - but you will be helping those birds and helping those people keep the natural areas of South America wild and free from bulldozers and dynamite. The price of the trip drops precipitously as more people sign up, so I encourage people to email kolibriexp@gmail.com with your name - or you can reserve your space right on the event page at the bottom.

More snow?!

2010-02-25T15:34:00.002-05:00

Yup, that's right. As of this posting, more snow is falling throughout the Garden State. The Revenge of Snowmageddon, Snowpocalypse: Redux, or whatever you might call it - the snow is back for another round. That will probably mean driving through some slush, shoveling out some driveways and sidewalks, and brushing off cars. It can also mean tons of fun, though!

This is my little sister, Alyssa, peering through the window of the snow fort we made after the last big snow storm. We used paper recycling bins to pack snow into bricks and built up the walls to about four feet high. And of course some intimidating icicles were needed to help deter enemy attacks.

After working construction for two or three hours it was nice to sit back and relax with a cup of hot chocolate inside our newly built snow fortress. My wife, Elizabeth, was thanked with a snowball to the back of the head! Six-year olds. Sheesh.

I went back over the next morning to play with Alyssa before work, and ended up burying her in the snow. Some husbandly revenge, perhaps.

A few days later my Dad brought over my other two little sisters (ah, the joys of a modern family) to play for a bit in the snow. We ended up entrenched in a classic snowball fight. Sarah took great pleasure in dodging Dad's attack:

The snow and ice also grant some great opportunities for photography.

Bundling up and drinking hot chocolate while watching a movie is nice, but don't ignore the great possibilities of a fun snow day! Go sledding, take a hike, build a fort! And of course if you're a bird-watcher don't forget to stock those feeders!

Obligatory Snow Day Post!

2010-02-11T18:39:00.003-05:00

On an average day we might have two or three Dark-Eyed Juncos on our feeders, along with a Black-Capped Chickadee and maybe a few other individuals. We're on the third floor and have a modest setup (two suet cages and a sock feeder) in the branches next to our balcony.

On the evening before the big storm of February 10th, I had actually used up the last of our seed and dumped the remnants of the bag on the thin layer of snow that was leftover from last week's storm. Whoops - there was actually more left than I had thought. Oh well, the birds will find it...holy moly, did the birds find it! We woke up to a literal carpet of juncos on our balcony, furiously kicking up snow to locate as many seeds as they could. At any given time throughout the day I counted between 10 and 13 juncos.

In addition to what have become daily visits from the Red-Breasted Nuthatches, the White-Breasted Nuthatches returned today and posed for a little bit before heading to the suet feeder.

Of course a pair of Black-Capped Chickadees showed up and patiently waited their turn as the more aggressive Tufted Titmice and House Sparrows hogged the suet feeders. Once in awhile one would hop up to the pine cone feeder (made by my 5-year old sister Emma) and take a few nibbles.

I sprinkled some more seed out on the balcony and eventually this male House Finch joined in on the buffet. I've seen them around before (usually on our sock feeder during the spring), but it had been awhile and it was nice to see that splash of red. Another bird joined the feeding frenzy - a new visitor to our home!

A White-Throated Sparrow jostled for dominance with a few of the male juncos, but there was plenty for everyone. Soon enough we had another new bird for our "yard" list! A Red-Bellied Woodpecker flew in and started slowly making his way up one of the branches.

There's just something about the red on some birds that looks great against the white and gray of a snowy day.

Unfortunately the third new bird we added during the snow was the European Starling. I guess the rest of the birds had finally tipped them off. Thankfully only three or four actually ended up in the tree, and they only fed on the suet for a short time before moving on. Kind of strange, actually. Perhaps they sensed my displeasure with their presence.

There is nothing more appealing than the sight of a bright male Northern Cardinal in the snow - again, back to that red thing. Unfortunately he never really came out into the open, so this photo was all I could muster:

Now is the time when a bird's resources are the most scarce! Seeds, nuts, and any lingering insects have totally vanished after a snow storm like the one the east coast just suffered - birds can't find 'em and so they need the help of our feeders more than ever. If you've been putting it off - don't any longer! Get out there and fill 'em up with plenty of seed and suet. The birds will thank you. :)

The Great Backyard Bird Count!

2010-02-08T18:42:00.002-05:00

GBBC 2010 has arrived, and will be kicking off this weekend. It will run from February 12th through February 15th - find out all the info you'll need at the official site. The event is a fun way to contribute to the field of ornithology, helping researchers find out which species of birds may be in certain areas, and which have declined (or perhaps even increased) in recent years. The only thing you need to participate is 15 minutes of time to bird-watch over the weekend!

Machias Seal Island

2010-02-03T13:53:00.003-05:00

During the summer I traveled out to Machias Seal Island off the coast of Maine to visit the Atlantic Puffin colony. These are really fascinating birds that are tough to study from shore, so the trip was very exciting and afforded me some up-close looks at the pelagic birds. Check out my post on Nature's Domain here and all of my puffin photos on my Flickr page here.

DeKorte Park

2010-01-21T13:17:00.004-05:00

With the Northern Shrike still hanging around the Meadowlands, I decided to give it another shot. Even if the bird didn't show up, some of the ice had apparently melted and there had been at least 9 species of duck in the early part of the week. So I ventured out into the dark at 5:45am and headed to Rutgers to pick up fellow birder Tom Reed. We ended up taking the "scenic route" to get there (translation: my GPS took us back and forth across Newark Bay), but still ended up arriving just as the sun was coming up.

Soaking in the first bit of morning light, we started down the Saw Mill Creek Path from Disposal Road. It wasn't long before we heard an odd sound coming from just up ahead. Soon enough we located the silhouette of a bird perched on one of the high tension wire bases. As it turned its head, we could make out the hooked beak and knew it was going to be a good morning.

We made our way slowly down the trail and put the sun to our backs. And there it was - the Northern Shrike, sitting and singing calmly next to a high voltage sign. As are many of my birding experiences in the Meadowlands, the entire thing was a bit surreal. With huge jumbo jets flying overhead, sirens going off in every conceivable direction, and the New York City skyline just behind us...this little predatory powerhouse didn't seem to be out of his element at all. The shrike sat and soaked up the sun as we watched and listened to him vocalize for about 20 minutes. You can hear a brief clip of a Northern Shrike at Cornell's All About Birds site. The last note in the clip is what this particularly individual was doing for most of the time we observed him, so it was a bit more attractive than the recording in the link.

Unfortunately a dog was walked by and the bird headed for the hills. He perched briefly at the very top of a tree (classic shrike behavior), and then dove down into some Phragmites.

With our fingers crossed for another meeting later that day, we continued down the path in the direction of the New Jersey Turnpike. A few Northern Harriers hunted across the water over the landfill, and a Red-Tailed Hawk flew overhead. The ducks were the real non-shrike stars of the day, though. On the first leg of the trail Northern Pintail were plentiful. These are extremely handsome ducks, and one drake even hung around the edge of the trail long enough for me to get some relatively up-close photos of him in the morning light.

Mallards and Black Ducks were abundant as well, and we eventually found a hybrid cross between the two. These crosses are becoming increasingly common, and can be picked out of a flock by their wigeon-like green face patches. A male is pictured below, showing that tell-tale mallard coloration in the head.

As we continued walking more and more duck species started popping up. Northern Shoveler and Green-Winged Teal were hanging out on the far shore, and Buffleheads occasionally flew by before splashing down and resuming their diving.

A few Ring-Necked Ducks were also enjoying the favorable weather, along with a female Common Goldeneye.

Common Mergansers flew back and forth across the water, and a few Hooded Mergansers were hanging around toward the end of the trail. We headed back the way we came, but instead turned right, toward the Meadowlands Commission building. After spotting a Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, a Double-Crested Cormorant, and some Red-Winged Blackbirds, we started down another leg of the path to get a closer look at an enormous raft of Canvasback. The dozen or so pictured below were only a fraction of the more than 225 individuals! As we passed them, more and more birds kept flying in and joining the flock.

We also passed these Pintail on the way back, seemingly on their way to a double date.

Gadwall ended up being our 12th species of duck for the day, a fairly exciting total! We were on the lookout for Ruddy Duck and Red-Breasted Merganser, but couldn't extend the count beyond a dozen. Here's a quick rundown again of the ducks we ended up seeing:

Mallard
Black Duck
Green-Winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Canvasback
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Ring-Necked Duck
Gadwall

As we turned the last corner before reaching the parking lot, something flew across the water and perched on some marsh elder near the osprey platform. After a quick inspection we realized our friend the Northern Shrike and come out for Act 2. He changed perches a few times, until settling in directly in front of the Empire State Building (pictured below). Another surreal sight.

Eventually a jogger came a bit too close and the Northern Shrike shot down into the brush. We searched a bit but realized he had probably exited out of the back of the trail and across the water. We headed back toward the car and called it a morning.

Northern Shrike and twelve ducks?! That's one heck of a way to start a Wednesday!

Scholarly Birding

2010-01-19T18:59:00.003-05:00

Right in the center of Rutgers University's Douglass campus there is a small pond (referred to as "Passion Puddle") that I often frequent during my winter and summer lunch breaks. Despite being surrounding by the fairly urban New Brunswick, the pond and it's surrounding lawn and patches of trees is an oasis for many species of birds.

In the past I have seen Pied-Billed Grebe swimming casually in the pond, as well as Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Kingbird, and Great Crested Flycatcher using the trees of its bank as perches prior to a hunt.

This winter the area has surprised me again with the wealth of bird-life I've observed. The usual species like Black-Capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Dark-Eyed Junco, and White-Breasted Nuthatch have been joined by a few that are seen less often. Red-Breasted Nuthatch (pictured above) and Brown Creeper were both spotted in the trees up the hill from the pond (behind Foran Hall for those familiar with the area). At least four species of woodpecker have also been observed here (Downy, Hairy, Red-Bellied, and Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker).

Even when the species pool "runs out", interesting behaviors never do. Last week I observed this White-Breasted Nuthatch picking up bits of food (seeds, perhaps) and sticking them in between bark, presumably caching them for later.

It can also be fun to get to know certain birds. The Song Sparrow above greeted me every afternoon for two weeks straight in the exact same location (a small bush on the edge of the pond). After a few days I could tell just where he would pop up and how he would react to me and to other birds.

Even the most common birds around can be fun to watch and to photography. Observing a bathing goose shows just how well adapted these birds and their feathers are to a life on the water. With their well-oiled feathers held close to their body, the water runs right off of their backs. Photographing these "usual" birds in an unusual setting can make things more interesting for you and for anyone viewing your photos.

As always, click on the photos for larger versions and check out my Flickr page.

Sibley weighs in on NJ Goldeneye

2010-01-13T12:39:00.002-05:00

Controversy has swept through the birding community this week as disputes over a potential Barrow's Goldeneye in Somerset have heated up. Alright, so maybe that makes it sound a bit more dramatic than it has actually been.

What was at first called a female Barrow's Goldeneye (much less common than Common Goldeneye...well, duh) is now mostly agreed upon to be either a Common Goldeneye with an unusual bill color or perhaps a hybird Common/Barrow's. The female Common Goldeneye's bill in winter is dark with a yellow tip, while the Barrow's is yellow-orange (pictured below).

The individual (seen with a flock of Common Goldeneye) has an orange-yellow bill, however other details have lead experts to believe it is not a Barrow's Goldeneye (at least not a "pure" Barrow's). David Sibley has even put forth his thoughts on the matter, and they can be found here.

Either way, it sure is fun to speculate!

Neighborhood Birding

2010-01-11T11:55:00.002-05:00

As most of you probably know, it's been a wee bit chilly here in the Garden State so far in 2010. It's January, yes, so the cold is expected. Still, a little bit of added motivation to get off my butt and outside hasn't hurt. I decided that I would do a photo a day type of thing in 2010 - you can view the Flickr set here. Of course I usually end up taking more than one photo per day...but the rule is I must take at least one. Anyway, on a few occasions I've decided to walk down to the pond at the entrance to our condo development to see what was happening.

The ponds around our development have actually been surprisingly productive since we moved in a year and a half ago. Productive being a relative term and taking into account that we live right off of a very busy section of Route 1 - but we've seen Belted Kingfisher, a number of herons and egrets, and the usual assortment of gulls and waterfowl. Driving by last week, however, I spotted something among the Canada Goose flock in the main entrance pond. After parking and grabbing my camera, I headed back out and took the two-block walk back to the pond. To my susprise, there was a female Bufflehead calmly floating in the middle of it!

Of course if you want to see Buffleheads during winter, you can travel to any number of spots and reliably find them. To have one in my somewhat urban/suburban neighborhood was a real treat, though. Outside of the Bufflehead, it's been mostly the dreaded Gs - gulls and geese. Sure, there's always the slim chance of a Cackling Goose or an Iceland Gull mixed in, but so far it's been what you would expect. Ring-Billed and Herring Gulls, and lots of Canada Geese.

Now, I won't pretend that I appreciate every individual poop-producing Canada Goose and parking lot Ring-Billed Gull. There's just too damn many of the things. When you do stop a take a closer look, though, you realize these birds have just as many cool adaptations and behaviors as your favorite pelagic bird or the most interesting raptor you can find.

The tightly compressed, oily feathers of gulls keep near freezing water from coming into contact with their bodies. This allows them to swim, forage, and bathe without worrying about the water temperature. It's pretty incredible how the water just glides off their backs.

I found these neat "ice balls" as well (photo below). Not sure exactly what's going on here, but for whatever reason it appears the frozen water around the tips of this vegeation stayed frozen while the rest of the ice in this section of the pond melted.

This Friday the forecast is calling for a sweltering 43 degrees, so make sure to get outdoors and enjoy the winter season!

Hunters feed the hungry

2010-01-06T10:56:00.002-05:00

Wild New Jersey has posted a very interesting article with a CNN video about Hunters Helping the Hungry (HHH), a NJ non-profit corporation. Working with local food banks, hunters are able to donate venison to needy families while simultaneously addressing the overabundance of white-tailed deer in the state. Click here to visit the site and read the article.

Shrike Out

2010-01-04T21:50:00.007-05:00

I ventured to the Meadowlands over the weekend to try and find the Northern Shrike that has been hanging out there recently. Shrikes are bad-ass birds, preying on anything and everything they can get their razor sharp, hooked beak on. They often save food for later, impaling insects, reptiles, and even smaller birds on plant spines and barbed wire fences. The day before I took the trip up the Turnpike, the Shrike had been seen feeding on a mouse.

Arriving around 7:30am, I was disappointed to see that all of the water along the DeKorte Park trail was frozen over. It had been cold the last few days, but a few degrees above freezing, so I didn't think such large bodies of water would be totally frozen. After hanging out there for awhile I went over to the nature center and walked one of the boardwalk trails...again, everything was frozen! I couldn't believe it. Even if the Northern Shrike hadn't been hanging around, the Meadowlands is usually a great spot for wintering waterfowl - Canvasback, Ruddy Duck, merganser species, etc.

After returning to Disposal Road I continued to search for the Shrike. Plenty of Song Sparrows flitted about cautiously, and there were a surprising amount of Northern Harriers (one of my favorite raptors). A Merlin even zoomed by and vanished into some tall vegetation on the side of the road. No Shrike, though. After a very cold 4 hours I decided to pack it up.

After arriving home I logged into my email and found a message that had just been sent - "Meadowlands Shrike - YES". The bird had been seen literally 5 minutes after I had left! Five minutes! Boy, oh boy. I can accept a bird not showing up - that's just birding. But a bird coming out 5 minutes after a 4 hour failed attempt? That stings. It does, however, serve as a reminder that birds aren't just out there for us to check off or photograph. They have no knowledge of our hobbies and our obsessions. They're wild animals and they're acting accordingly.

It's a shame the day was such a wash, but the Meadowlands is definitely one of the hidden gems of New Jersey. Tucked away against a backdrop of the Turnpike, a skyline of New York City, and a dump, it's a great spot for raptors, ducks, and plenty of other species.

Nature's Domain

2009-12-24T08:28:00.002-05:00

Earlier this year, Larry and Ray Hennessy launched their new nature photography blog. Their goal was to create an informative blog about nature and wildlife photography, and they've been quite successful. The site creates a community of naturalists and photographers that can share their ideas and their passion by displaying their work. Check out the site at Nature's Domain.

My first post on the site is a brief trip report of my recent trip to Panama's Canopy Tower. It was my first foray into the world of eco-tourism and birding outside of the northeast, and I had an absolute blast. Please check out the post and all of the incredible wildlife I was able to capture. It can be found here. Thanks, everyone!

Christmas Bird Count

2009-12-21T13:29:00.003-05:00

If you're not familiar with CBCs, they are all day bird counts in a given area. That could be a town (East Brunswick), a county (Sussex), or any other location you can think up (the Raritan River Estuary). The events this year run from December 14th until January 5th, and you can still get in on many that invite the public or decide to have your own just for fun!

The Christmas Bird Count is a great way to get outdoors during the winter season and have a good time. It's also a great way to serve as a citizen scientists; the data gathered during these events may help conservation organizations to determine the health and status of many groups of birds.

Visit Audubon's Christmas Bird Count site for more information! Bundle up and get out there!

2009-12-17T15:39:00.002-05:00

There are a few sounds still which never fail to affect me. The notes of the wood thrush and the sound of a vibrating chord, these affect me as many sounds once did often, and as almost all should. The strains of the aeolian harp and of the wood thrush are the truest and loftiest preachers that I know now left on earth. I know of no missionaries to us heathen comparable to them. They, as it were, life us up in spite of ourselves. They intoxicate, they charm us.

Henry David Thoreau, Journal, 31 December 1853

Ivory Gull continues in Cape May

2009-12-07T11:19:00.003-05:00

Ivory Gulls breed in the high Arctic and even spend winters far north of NJ, usually on pack ice in the Bering Sea or off the coast of northeastern Canada. Last winter it was a real treat to have an Ivory Gull as far south as Massachusetts. Last week another individual showed up even further south - right here in New Jersey! The bird has been hanging out at a marina in Cape May, feasting on fish that have washed ashore. On a few occasions the gull appeared to be heading off for good, but so far has returned every day for more easy meals.

The above photo is a mature Ivory Gull in its usual habitat. The immature bird in Cape May is mostly white, but has some black spotting on its wings and back. As of December 7th, it was still being seen at Bree-Zee-Lee Marina.

I won't be able to spare the time needed to get down there until December 19th...so if anyone can speak gull, try and convince this young fella to stick around.

Naturalist Profile: Frank DeBlasio

2009-11-30T18:41:00.005-05:00

NJ Outdoors was fortunate enough to be able to interview Frank DeBlasio, life-long New Jersey resident and wildlife photographer. Check out the short interview below along with some of Frank's photographs.

What are your favorite areas of the state to visit?
My favorite part of NJ is Sussex County in the spring & fall. The Jersey Shore in the summer.

What are some of your favorite outdoors activities?
I love hunting, fishing & photography in New Jersey.

How did you first become interested in nature/wildlife photography (or photography in general)?
I have always carried a camera around since I was a child - you never know what you will see out there.

Do you have any favorite subjects (certain birds, mammals, etc)?
I think that the Wild Turkey is my favorite to photograph, but I love to photograph all wildlife. White-tailed deer and hawks are high on my list. I also like to photograph sports - especially football.

Any advice for novice photographers out there who might be reading this?
I am NOT a professional by any means. I am always learning. With wildlife you have to put a lot of time in. Even in a zoo it's not that easy to get the right shot. But in the wild it's much harder. You have to get to know where the animals & birds are at certain times ff the day, year, etc. Sometimes I wear camo, use calls, whatever it takes. Just learn your camera & get out there ! ! !

All photographs (c) Frank DeBlasio

Late Autumn Feast

2009-11-24T12:48:00.005-05:00

Earlier this week I was lucky enough to get some visitors before leaving for work. The berry tree outside our third-floor condo's window had welcomed the occasional flock of American Robins and even a few Cedar Waxwings, but it never seemed to be living up to its bird-attracting potential. Well, it certainly did on this morning.

The usual suspects like House Sparrows and American Robins were lined up for their turn at the red berries. A Dark-Eyed Junco, the first of the season outside our condo, showed up and snuck a few quick bites.

Our resident Downy Woodpecker, which we have affectionately named Robert Downy Jr., also joined in on the festivities - although he mostly stuck to the suet feeder. To my surprise a Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker showed up for the first time outside our condo and downed a few berries!

A few American Goldfinches flew in, followed by some unwelcomed European Starlings. Some of my favorite birds joined in on the festivities as well - a small flock of Cedar Waxwings flew into the tree to feast. Such cool-looking birds!

If anyone knows what kind of tree this is, please let me know. I'm still fairly bad with plant IDs, unless it's a Sweet Gum or an American Holly.

Fishers and tracking in New Jersey

2009-11-16T10:18:00.003-05:00

In the latest issue of Trail Walker, a publication of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, Robynn K. Shannon takes a look at the return of fishers to Sussex County in northern New Jersey (page 7). These nocturnal mustelids are extremely elusive and were only confirmed in the state with the use of strategically placed camera traps.

The wildlife biologist who works most extensively with these camera traps, Charlie Kontos, has also written an article which appears on page 7 of this issue. He discusses the tracking of both fishers and bobcats in northern New Jersey during the winter. This knowledge helped him to eventually capture a fisher on camera in 2006, the first known record in the state since the late 1800s.

Kontos, a PhD student in the Ecology & Evolution graduate program at Rutgers University, also runs his own website chronicling the history of the fisher in New Jersey. The site can be found here and also includes photos, interesting information about the predator, and much more regarding the Garden State's lesser seen wildlife. Check out both the Trail Walker and The New Jersey Fisher Experience to learn more about the state's most impressive hunters.

Who says nature isn't funny?

2009-11-12T18:07:00.003-05:00

I took this photo last year just down the block from my condo, near one of the man-made ponds. Coincidence? Or was this Belted Kingfisher stickin' it to the man? The world may never know.

This photo is currently being featured on the front page of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's All About Birds site, a great resource for birders and nature-lovers.

The Flickr page can be found here.

Wawayanda State Park

2009-11-10T20:52:00.003-05:00

Join Wild New Jersey's David Wheeler as he hikes Wawayanda State Park. His light-hearted "Wild Wawayanda" series is currently running on the Wild New Jersey site. Head over there now to check out part 3!

Photos (c) David Wheeler 2009

Big day in Cape May

2009-11-09T10:07:00.005-05:00

This morning in Cape May a Northern Goshawk was spotted at the Meadows during a morning walk. A short time later, a Swainson's Hawk was seen flying over one of the fields at the Beanery. Add a Western Kingbird to the mix and it's quite the day for mid-autumn birding down at the tip of New Jersey!

Swainson's Hawk (c) Jerry Oldenettel 2007

While the Northern Goshawk's southern range does extend into New Jersey during the winter, it is still a treat to see one this early in the year that isn't flying overhead at a Hawkwatch. The Swainson's Hawk and Western Kingbird are true rarities in the state, as their eastern ranges do not usually extend beyond the Mississippi River. These three make for quite the trio - just remember to be courteous to both the birds and other people if you plan on heading down to search for them.

Western Kingbird (c) Matt Knoth 2009

Follow the Cape May Bird Observatory twitter for sightings and updates: http://twitter.com/cmbobirds

Vote Yes Tomorrow!

2009-11-02T09:41:00.001-05:00

For information on public question number 1 and why it is imperative that we all vote "yes", please visit http://njkeepitgreen.org/ - thanks!

Autumn Harvest

2009-10-29T19:30:00.003-04:00

We visited Suydam Farms in Somerset this weekend to do some pumpkin shopping. After choosing one we are hopeful is filled to the brim with delicious seeds (which we will toast this weekend), we also found a nice variety of decorative gourds for our home. There was also a bounty of delicious, freshly picked produce for sale including turnips, a wide variety of potatoes, apples, peppers of all different kinds, squash, and more.

We decided to add some great-looking green beans to our purchase. Yesterday Elizabeth cooked them with some garlic and we had them with dinner. Mmm mmm mmm.

It's not too late to enjoy local, fresh produce. And not only are the products you'll get at your local farm or farmer's market fresh and probably better tasting than the grocery store alternative, it's also a ton of fun to get outside on a nice fall afternoon and pick your pumpkins, shop around an open-air market, and support the farmers of your community.

Sage Thrasher moves on

2009-10-22T18:46:00.003-04:00

Prior to this week, only three known Sage Thrashers had ever visited the Garden State. On Tuesday, Sandy Hook welcomed the fourth.

The range of the Sage Thrasher is mostly contained with the American south-west. It is not known to breed, migrate, or winter east of the Mississippi River, so finding one on the Atlantic Coast was quite a sighting. With no sightings as of 7pm on Friday, it appears that the lost bird has moved on, possibly to try and find his way home.

Let's all remember that these birds are often stressed and should be given plenty of space. If you are approaching too closely and it is affecting the behavior of the rarity, you should take a few steps back until the bird seems to calm down. Most of you know this, so please pass it along to those who don't seem to! Thanks, and good birding!

Explore Ken Lockwood Gorge

2009-10-21T13:58:00.002-04:00

The East Brunswick Environmental Commission will be hosting a trip to Ken Lockwood Gorge on Saturday, October 24th (rain date Sunday, October 25th). If you are interested in hiking around and/or taking photos of this beautiful place, please email Richard Wolfert at njnaturenotes@comcast.net to inquire about any open spots left on the trip.

The autumn leaves should be vibrant and colorful, so don't miss a great opportunity for fall photography. For more info on the trip visit the Events & Trips page.

Cranberry Festival!

2009-10-07T15:50:00.003-04:00

The Cranberry Festival of Chatsworth takes place this weekend, October 17th and 18th. The festival will include many artists and craftsmen as well as tours of the actual harvest as it happens! Come and celebrate the Pine Barrens and the unique culture of this part of New Jersey.

Photograph by Chris Pesotski

The website can be found at http://www.cranfest.org/festival.html - unfortunately it's not jam-packed full of information so you may want to contact the committee by navigating to their contact page.

Species Profile - American Bittern

2009-09-24T17:52:00.002-04:00

Species Profile #1
American Bittern
Botaurus lentiginosus

The American Bittern is a wading bird, closely related to the much more conspicuous herons and egrets we’re all familiar with. While relatively common in New Jersey’s marshes and wetlands, the American Bittern is rarely seen. The solitary birds almost always stay hidden in dense vegetation, perhaps coming to the edge of the water to hunt. Like other herons, bitterns will eat fish, amphibians, snakes, crustaceans, small mammals, and just about anything else they can find that is edible.

These birds are some of the most remarkably camouflaged vertebrates you will find in the state. Their streaked breast pattern gives the appearance of reeds, and when the bittern remains motionless it is almost impossible to spot them. When they fear a predator is nearby they will raise their bills into the air, exposing their cryptic pattern and hopefully blending in with their surroundings. Incredibly, they have also been observed swaying back and forth when the wind is blowing the reeds around them.

The closest relative to the American Bittern in New Jersey is the Least Bittern, however this bird belongs to a different genus and the American Bittern actually has closer relatives belonging to Botaurus in other parts of the world. Scientists can actually create a phylogeny of the bitterns using information from sound recordings of their distinctive calls. These phylogenies match up with genetic phylogenies perfectly.

The American Bittern is truly one of New Jersey’s most spectacular animals. Their incredible camouflage and thunderous, booming call are unmatched. If you’re lucky enough to see one, watch from a distance and be patient. Watching them hunt, sway with the breeze, and call is worth the wait.

Nature & Survival - For Kids!

2009-09-15T19:00:00.002-04:00

Amy Manning, one of New Jersey's finest young naturalists, has put together a Nature Awareness and Wilderness Survival series for children grades 5 through 8. This is a truly unique opportunity to instill important values and knowledge in our youth. Please pass this along to anyone who might be interested, and check out the flyer below for more information.

International Vulture Awareness Day 2009

2009-09-05T10:16:00.005-04:00

Show me a birder who says vultures are cute, and I’ll show you a liar.

The wrinkled, carcass-like skin on their heads probably won’t ever make me smile like an Indigo Bunting’s bright blue plumage will. Their hunched over walk and black feathers probably won’t either. Watching them soar overhead, while amazing in its own right, isn’t going to compete with a Peregrine Falcon’s dive or a hummingbird’s mid-air hovering act anytime soon (at least not in my book).

Don’t overlook these scavengers, though. They are truly wonders of evolution and are as ecologically fascinating as any other bird you will find. Take their feather-less heads, for example. If a scavenging bird has to stick their face into a nice, fresh deer carcass, what would be the better option? Having a bunch of feathers that are going to collect blood, guts, infectious diseases, and potentially parasites? Or having a head that looks like a feather-plucking machine just got a hold of them, making those big spongy primates say “ew”? I think evolution has ignored us on this one and chosen the latter.

Vultures also serve important ecological functions. They consume large quantities of dead flesh; dead flesh that would otherwise be crowding our forests, streets, and parks. Sure, there are other scavengers and agents of decay that would eventually do their thing, but few as quickly as the vultures. And some of these other scavengers are animals like rats and feral dogs that carry diseases and act as pests in a variety of other ways.

Unfortunately many species of vulture are in severe decline. “Across the Indian subcontinent, populations of three formerly very common species of vulture have declined by more than 97% as a result of consuming cattle carcasses contaminated with the veterinary drug diclofenac. There have been mass vulture deaths in East Africa associated with misuse of chemicals, huge population declines in West Africa due to habitat loss, and the disappearance of vultures from large areas of their formers ranges in South Africa because of the continued use of vulture parts in traditional medicine and sorcery.” (Source: http://birdlife.org )

Today, September 5^th, is International Vulture Awareness Day. Check out the official site at http://www.ivad09.org/ and get some more info about the trouble vultures are in at BirdLife . If you have a blog, please consider participating in the event by posting about vultures. Could be something you write, paint, photograph, draw…anything, really. Get the button and more info here: http://www.ivad09.org/wp/

The Arrival of Autumn

2009-09-01T15:18:00.004-04:00

While the calendar still reads summer, there are two groups of people who have already shifted into fall mode. Students, who know the end of August means the beginning of classes, and birders, who know that the second round of yearly migration doesn't wait until summer officially ends. Birds have already begun moving south to escape the cold that is quickly approaching. Shorebirds began moving last month, and now songbirds are starting to trickle through New Jersey on their way to the southern United States and the neotropics. Migratory warblers are being seen more and more, and in the coming weeks their numbers will continue to rise.

Raptors have begun to migrate as well, although the spectacle that is hawk-watching won't peak until October. It is then that thousands of raptors can be seen in a single afternoon. Hawk-watches around New Jersey, such as Chimney Rock, Raccoon Ridge, and Cape May Point State Park, offer extraordinary views of Peregrine Falcons, Broad-Winged Hawks, American Kestrels, Merlins, Bald Eagles, and even the occasional Golden Eagle.

Migration always brings some interesting and often unusual birds to the state. This week a Swallow-Tailed Kite has been viewed reliably at Wallkill National Wildlife Refuge. Although a few of these birds usually turn up in NJ each year, it's always a treat to be able to watch a kite in the Garden State.

Photograph by Derek Bakken

Baird's Sandpiper, Loggerhead Shrike, Franklin's Gull, Black Terns, and Little Stints are some other recent sightings. There are certainly more rarities to be discovered, and even more that haven't yet arrived but will shock us all when they do end up showing up.

Autumn is really an exciting time to enjoy the outdoors. Not only do you have great birding opportunities, but the weather is perfect for hiking, kayaking, or just tossing around the ol' pigskin. When the leaves turn the rich colors of the season become impossible to ignore, and it's always fun finding a great roadside market to buy some warm apple cider.

Meadowlands Festival of Birding

2009-08-25T13:55:00.002-04:00

Join the NJ Audubon Society, the NJ Meadowlands Commission, and Hackensack Riverkeeper for a fun-filled weekend of birding and other festivities! There will be both field and boat birding tours, butterfly walks, a raptor presentation, a lecture by Dr. Robert DeCandido on bird migration, plus much more. On Sunday the weekend continues with paddling tours of nearby birding spots. Tickets are $40 for the two-day festival and include just about everything, including breakfast and lunch on Saturday. Check out their site here and sign up quickly! The boat and paddling tours require reservations in addition to tickets.

International Vulture Awareness Day 2009

2009-08-07T11:31:00.004-04:00

That's right, vultures have finally received their own day in the spotlight. Check out the official IVAD09 website and join in on September 5th by blogging about vultures. That could mean photos, video, a short story about a close encounter...anything you want!

http://www.ivad09.org/wp/

Updates

2009-08-04T10:10:00.003-04:00

Hey readers,

I have to apologize for the lack of updates. This past Saturday I returned from a week of birding and hiking central Panama, and next week I leave for Reno, NV. A day after I get back, I'll be driving up to Maine! And while those places have little to do directly with "New Jersey Outdoors", I should have some great photos to post here soon!

On the NJ front, banding has continued at HMF in my absence. Some new birds have been banded including Scarlet Tanager, House Wren, Carolina Wren, Hairy Woodpecker, and Red-Bellied Woodpecker.

With the breeding season drawing to a close, our hope is that this banding will continue next summer and beyond so that abundances and species composition can be monitored. Trends in these numbers will hopefully reveal causes of decline and perhaps increases in certain species of birds. With the potential control of invasive plants looming on the horizon, it will be interesting to see how that affects the bird communities of Hutcheson Memorial Forest moving forward.

The forest is a unique ecosystem for the area, and it's a great place to visit and explore. Check the website for upcoming tours at http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~hmforest/

Bird's Nest Fungi

Stay tuned! Starting this fall NJ Outdoors will be commencing a Species Profile series for the different types of wildlife in the Garden State. An interview series is also in the works featuring sit-downs with prominent members of the community. Scientists, photographers, and many others with their hands in our natural world.

Birding & Wildlife Trails needs your help!

2009-07-21T13:57:00.003-04:00

New Jersey's Birding & Wildlife Trails is creating a new Pinelands Guide for the state, which will include Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties. If you fill out their nomination form to help them decide on which sites to include, they will give you a FREE one-year membership to the New Jersey Audubon Society! All of the information needed can be found on the site, located here.

Brighter Planet

2009-07-20T12:44:00.003-04:00

From the green minds of the people who brought us the 350 Challenge comes Brighter Planet! - a website designed to help people accurately and easily track their environmental impact. Enter things like your vehicle, home, and diet to find out how large your carbon footprint might be. You can also read and contribute tips on saving energy and conserving the environment. For those interested the site also makes it easy to partially or completely offset your carbon footprint!

Check out the site and help them test their beta version: http://beta.brighterplanet.com/

Add me if you decide to join. Username: Billtacular

New Green Media

2009-07-16T11:04:00.003-04:00

From the fine folks over at the Edison Wetlands Association comes New Green Media, a news site bringing you all the environmental and green news from across the great state of New Jersey. Similar to their Wild New Jersey site, this news outlet will bring both exclusive, breaking news as well as important headlines from the mainstream media. Head on over there now to watch a special report on the Raritan Bay Slag Site in Old Bridge and Sayreville.

You can always find links to both EWA-affiliated sites on the right-hand side of New Jersey Outdoors.

Butterfly Walk at DeKorte Park

2009-07-14T11:17:00.003-04:00

The NJ Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society will co-sponsor a butterfly walk this Sunday at 1pm.

For more information head on over to The Meadowlands Blog by clicking here.

Garden Party!

2009-07-14T09:24:00.003-04:00

The Somerset County Park Commission is hosting a garden party this Saturday, July 18th from 11am until 3pm in East Millstone, NJ. There is no charge for admission (although donations are always appreciated) and the day will include various speakers, specialty plants and perennials for sale, complimentary refreshments, and live music!

Check out the flyer for more information: Garden Party Flyer

Photograph by clare_and_ben

HMF banding continues

2009-06-30T12:35:00.002-04:00

We continue to band birds and collect data over at Hutcheson Memorial Forest. We added a few more species to our list last time out including White-Brested Nuthatch and Common Grackle. I'm still holding out hope for some edge/field birds to sneak into the woods a bit. Indigo Bunting or Prairie Warbler would be really neat.

I was able to handle more of the tasks the last time around. It's still tough getting the birds out of the nets, especially when their wings get all tangled up. Getting them out of the bags and banding them is becoming more natural, so hopefully the untangling will come easier next time out.

We're going to try and get out once or twice this week so hopefully I'll have some more photos and species to share!

Dismal Swamp tour rescheduled

2009-06-26T09:06:00.002-04:00

NJ Audubon's tour of the Dismal Swamp has been rescheduled and will take place on Tuesday, July 7th at 7pm. The "Diz" is conveniently located in Edison, NJ.

Check out the Facebook event for more information by clicking here.

Hope to see you out there!

Cape May - Spring 2009

2009-06-23T11:15:00.004-04:00

I was once again lucky enough to be able to visit Cape May for a week in mid-May to bird. Despite some rain on our first day there, it turned out to be a gorgeous week of weather. We hit all the usual spots - Cape May Point State Park, The Meadows, Reed's Beach, Jake's Landing, Beaver Swamp WMA, Villas WMA, Higbee, and of course Belleplain.

On the beach between the park and The Meadows there were Least Terns setting up territories and beginning to mate. I spent an entire afternoon watching and photographing them.

Jake's Landing was surprisingly quiet the night we visited, but on the way there Beaver Swamp produced a singing Prothonotary Warbler and some great looks at the Bald Eagles. Reed's Beach was packed with Red Knots and Ruddy Turnstones feeding on the shore. A new location for me this year was Heislerville Wildlife Management Area. Unfortunately the Curlew Sandpipers that had been seen there were nowhere to be found when I arrived, but the trip was far from a waste. The spectacle of tens of thousands of migrating shorebirds more than made up for it. As high tide came in and filled most impoundments, the main impoundment was high enough to resist completely filling. This meant that ALL the shorebirds in the area flew in during high tide to feed and roost. Check out the video I took with my P&S camera (quality isn't great but you can get a sense of how many birds there were):

Higbee produced more mosquitos than birds, but what else is new? Even this poor guy couldn't escape the onslaught:

A trip down to Cape May isn't complete for me unless I'm able to stop at Brigantine National Wildlife Refuge, which happened twice (on the way down and back up). Despite a horde of insects on the second trip, Forsythe delivered as usual. Clapper Rails were out and about (we saw at least four individuals). We also observed a gull dropping a mussel in the road over and over until he finally appeared to crack it open. He took it off to the side and had himself a little brunch. Some other cool views included:

Black-Crowned Night Heron

Ospreys building a nest

Cedar Waxwings

Another great week down in Cape May! Can't wait until next spring!

HMF banding commences

2009-06-16T09:33:00.002-04:00

Through July 15th, I will be assisting in the banding of birds at Hutcheson Memorial Forest in Somerset County. For those unfamiliar with the location, it is a very unique place and is one of the last remaining tracts of old growth forest left on the eastern seaboard. It is also off-limits to human disturbance and management (outside of once-every-few-months tour groups that walk only on the trails), which is certainly a rare thing in the Garden State. You can read more about it in one of my earliest blog posts, as well as at the Rutgers' HMF website.

By banding these breeding birds (migrants are excluded by the timing of our collection) and recording the available data, we will be able to compare the results with banding statistics from the 1980s. This will ideally shed some light on trends within neotropical migrant populations. It may also help to identify some negative effects that invasive plants may be having on breeding bird communities, as HMF has not been saved from an onslaught of barberry, stilt grass, and a slew of other non-native plants.

Our first time out, June 13th, was fairly successful. Despite a somewhat late start (5:50am) we were able to set up our 12 mist nets and do two rounds until close to 11am. We caught and banded three Gray Catbirds, three American Robins, two Wood Thrushes, two Blue Jays, a Tufted Titmouse, and an Eastern Towhee. The two Wood Thrush were found in the same mist net, so it is suspected that they may be breeding very close by. We should find out in the coming weeks if we recapture the same individuals.

Unfortunately the weather has been a major limiting factor. It pushed back our first outing twice and our next scheduled banding (June 18th) looks like it may be rained out as well. Hopefully we'll be able to get out at least once this weekend - check back to see what else we get! I've got my fingers crossed for Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, Yellow-Billed Cuckoo, Indigo Bunting, and maybe a Prairie Warbler.

Raritan Bay beaches closed

2009-06-12T10:24:00.006-04:00

EPA finds high levels of lead at Raritan Bay sites

A standoff is brewing between local fisherman, environmental groups and state and federal agencies after three beach sites along the Raritan Bay in Old Bridge and Sayreville were closed by the state. Earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency found toxic levels of lead, arsenic, copper and other metals in the sand, sea walls and water. Further testing found high levels of lead in sea life like mussels and bait fish near the Laurence Harbor sea wall in Old Bridge. Environmentalists point the finger at National Lead, which operated a 400-acre industrial facility in Sayreville from 1935 to 1982. The company agreed with towns to deposit what is now known to be toxic slag to help support the shoreline. (Two environmental watchdog groups, the Edison Wetlands Association and NY/NJ Baykeeper, have filed letters of intent to sue National Lead, as well as local and state organizations, in federal court for the pollution of the Raritan Bay, although the lawsuit is not related to the slag sites in Old Bridge and Sayreville.) In April, the EPA formally recommended the site as a Superfund site -- a federal designation for the most polluted areas in the country — but local fisherman are frustrated, saying the closures are overkill and will affect local businesses. (Video by Nyier Abdou/The Star-Ledger)

Source: nj.com

Dusk hike at Great Dismal Swamp in Edison, NJ

2009-06-05T15:30:00.004-04:00

On Tuesday, June 9th, at 7pm the New Jersey Audubon Society and the Edison Wetlands Association will lead a dusk hike through "The Diz". Here's some information from the Facebook Event page:

"WildNewJersey.tv to host nocturnal wildlife hike in the Dismal Swamp Conservation Area

New Jersey Audubon wildlife experts are leading a public dusk hike of the Dismal Swamp Conservation Area from Edison Wetlands Association (EWA)’s Triple C Ranch at 7 PM on Tuesday, June 9, 2009. Free and open to anyone who enjoys the outdoors, the event is hosted by WildNewJersey.tv and others and is an opportunity to get a guided tour of “The Diz.” The tour will begin at 206 Tyler Road in Edison.

New Jersey Audubon wildlife experts Nellie Tsipoura and Kristin Mylecraine will explore nature in twilight, as diurnal animals find rest and nocturnal animals start to emerge from slumber and start their nightly hunt for food. Animals such as great horned owls, beavers, red foxes, salamanders, and bats may be spotted. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to confirm their attendance. This hike is a great opportunity to take photos for the annual Dismal Swamp Photography Contest. Bring your camera and/or binoculars. Wear boots or shoes that can get wet and dirty.

The 1,240-acre Dismal Swamp Conservation Area is located in South Plainfield, Edison and Metuchen, and is home to an estimated 175 species of birds, 25 mammals, and 24 amphibian and reptile species including at least a dozen threatened and endangered species. EWA is a grassroots non-profit organization dedicated to protecting human health and the environment in central New Jersey. WildNewJersey.tv is the only daily nature and conservation news source in New Jersey, serving as the most comprehensive online guide to New Jersey wildlife news and videos."

Should be a good time if thunderstorms stay away for long enough. If you haven't been out much this spring, now is your chance! I'll be there hoping for a close encounter with some owls.

The World Series of Birding: Reviewed

2009-05-12T16:32:00.005-04:00

On Saturday, May 9th, three of my fellow students and I participated in the World Series of Birding. If you're not familiar with the event, it is a race across the state of New Jersey to see or hear as many birds as you can within 24 hours (from midnight to midnight). The event raises a huge amount of money for conservation, whether it is for the Audubon Society or for another worthy cause. We decided to raise money for our graduate student association, the EcoGSA (Ecology & Evolution Graduate Student Association). The EcoGSA provides students with valuable opportunities to present seminars and assists them monetarily so that they are able to attend conferences and put together research projects. Students also help maintain valuable habitat around the state.

To find out more about our WSB team, The Scarlet Knight-Herons, check out our blog at http://knightherons.blogspot.com. The most recent post is an in-depth rundown of the route we took during the event and includes many of the birds we saw along the way.

Here I want to talk a little bit more about the personal experience I had while participating in the World Series of Birding. A cynic might say that the event isn't birding at all, and that it's really just identifying birds as quickly as you can and moving along. Well, on the surface that's probably true. We've already discussed tightening up our route next year so we can see more birds in less time. And it was tough to run away from a singing Golden-Winged Warbler that we couldn't get a look at, or ignore a gargantuan pod of dolphins at Cape May Point (I'm aware dolphins aren't birds but it's still pretty damn cool seeing so many of them so close to shore). We heard some fantastic birds that I've never even seen before, like Cerulean Warbler and Cape May Warbler. Thanks to some birding CDs I'm able to identify them by song, but it felt odd to hoof it back to the car without even trying to catch a glimpse.

If you delve a little bit deeper, though, I think you can get much more out of the event. For one thing, some of the settings you find yourself in are pretty incredible. Sitting at Jake's Landing at 10 p.m. while waiting (and failing) to hear Black Rail, we were surrounded by Clapper Rails and Marsh Wrens vocalizing wildly. In the distance we heard Common Nighthawk, Chuck-Will's-Widow, and Whip-Poor-Will. About 17 hours earlier we stood on the top of Vesper Hill, just as some light was starting to materialize in the haze of early morning, and were hit with a wall of bird song. It was truly an awesome experience. You could pick out individual birds - a wood thrush over there, a cardinal over here - but your senses were almost overwhelmed with how many birds were singing all at once. Later in the day while driving down the Parkway, I could still hear that intense dawn chorus repeating in my head.

While you may not get to appreciate some of the birds in the way that you would like to, seriously competing in this event brings you to the best spots in the state (and even in the country) to see birds. We had a Merlin fly right over our heads only minutes before finding a Least Bittern at Brigantine's Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. At Cape May Point we observed two Parasitic Jaegers in The Rips, drove for two minutes to the Meadows, and saw both Tri-Colored Heron and Little Blue Heron. In the north we ended up standing in the road observing a swarm of migrating warblers flying overhead, often landing in trees long enough for us to do our thing. We pushed through the forest, collecting ticks and spiders, and were rewarded with a calling Barred Owl. A serious week of birding probably won't produce some of the things you'll see and hear during the WSB.

On a broader scale, it shows us just how many species of birds there really are in this relatively small and densely populated state. The fact that 269 species of birds were seen the day of the event is really spectacular. Most people (non-birders) I talk to about the event don't believe me when I tell them that I saw and/or heard 178 species on Saturday. There can't be that many different species in New Jersey, can there?

The World Series of Birding is certainly a novel approach to the activity, whether one considers it "birding" or not. It's a different way to step into the natural world, to be in awe of the pure numbers of birds out there, and to immerse yourself in the variety of habitats New Jersey offers to try and find them. The WSB is also a powerful tool for raising both awareness and money for conservation, so please help spread the word when next spring rolls around!

I want to thank everyone who supported us and donated to the EcoGSA. Thanks to River Horse Brewery for their unofficial sponsorship of free beer and t-shirts, and thanks to the birding community as a whole for helping to scout out the state and raise awareness for various conservation efforts. Thanks to Tom Reed and family for giving us a place to sleep when we needed it so desperately. And thanks most importantly to my teammates: Charlie Kontos, David LaPuma, and team captain Brian Clough. Whether we were keeping each other sane or embracing the delirium that comes with 40 straight hours without sleep, we were having a blast. Can't wait until next year!

Bird Walk at Helyar Woods

2009-04-25T13:42:00.002-04:00

This morning I helped lead a bird walk through Helyar Woods (adjacent to Rutgers Gardens) with a fellow graduate student, Charlie Kontos. We led a group of 15-20 people from the Potting Shed around the trails of Helyar before re-emerging near the Log Cabin. It was an absolutely gorgeous day, especially around 10am before the heat really started to kick in.

Before even beginning the tour, we heard a Carolina Chickadee singing and quickly spotted the tiny bird darting around from branch to branch. The Black-Capped Chickadee and Carolina Chickadee are tough to distinguish, and you really need to hear their song to be 100% certain...and even then, they hybridize where their ranges meet (namely, in New Jersey) so it's tough to tell what you're really looking at. This bird was singing the main song of the Carolina Chickadee, though, so it was neat to show people the difference (as we heard plenty of Black-Capped Chickadees throughout the day) even if this particular bird happened to be a hybrid.

Early on we spotted a female Eastern Towhee along with an abundance of Chipping Sparrows. White-Throated Sparrows and Song Sparrows darted about the edge of the forest. As we started walking along the main trail we could hear a Carolina Wren singing in the distance. We could also hear the hum of cars and trucks on Route 1, but alas, that's birding in central Jersey. A Scarlet Tanager gave us a nice surprise, as did a few Great Crested Flycatchers. There were Yellow-Rumped Warblers everywhere, and earlier in the day we picked up a few Palm Warblers mixed in with them.

As we came to the edge of the lake, we were excited to see two Wood Ducks swimming off in the distance. American Goldfinches were singing and flitting about the rest of the way back to the entrance to the woods. We walked along the forest edge back to the Potting Shed and added Hermit Thrush, House Finch, Downy Woodpecker, and Red-Bellied Woodpecker to our list for the day.

It was a great way to celebrate Rutgers Day, get out and breath some fresh air, and get people excited about birds and the outdoors. On our way back we passed a wildflower tour and a salamander walk beginning. See what you're missing? These happen every year for Ag Field Day (now included in the all-encompassing Rutgers Day), so make sure to check it out next spring!

Piping Plover Pics

2009-04-22T13:50:00.002-04:00

Got some cool news this morning from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology - two of my photographs of Piping Plovers were chosen to be used on their site, All About Birds. If you check out the "similar species" photographs in the bottom-right corner of the page, the first two were taken by yours truly! They also were kind enough to link to my Flickr page (which is on the right-hand side of this page as well).

The site is a great resource for birders, offering not only the usual range map and identification information, but also song recordings, extensive life history traits, cool facts, and even video recordings of the species! Check it out at the above link.

The last few weeks have kept me more than a little busy with work and school. I have an exhaustive literature review due in one week, and then a grade-deciding final the week after that. The day after the final, our World Series of Birding team, The Scarlet Knight Herons (check out our blog @ http://knightherons.blogspot.com ), will be participating in the big event. It should be an interesting few weeks to say the least! Starting in mid-May, though, I plan to update NJ Outdoors much more regularly. Weekly species highlights are in the works, as are interviews with conservationists throughout the state. Stay tuned!

The Scarlet Knight Herons

2009-04-08T13:21:00.004-04:00

For those who aren't aware, some of my fellow graduate students and I are participating in the World Series of Birding this year to help raise money for our GSA (Graduate Student Association). To find out more about the Ecology & Evolution program's GSA, check out the blog we've created to help raise awareness for our fund-raising cause - http://knightherons.blogspot.com/

Another fellow grad student, Dom D'Amore, has been kind enough to lend us his creative abilities. He's turned the team into cartoons!

Please pass on our blog to anyone who might be interested in our WSB efforts to raise money for an important part of New Jersey's scientific community. Thanks everyone!

Vote for New Jersey!

2009-04-02T11:34:00.002-04:00

The Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey has been selected as a finalist to win $50,000 for a habitat restoration project in Cape May County! With a win, they will be able to create over 20 acres of valuable habitat for migratory songbirds and other wildlife. The contest is decided by public voting, so please head to http://www.blazethetrail.com/greatoutdoors/vote and vote! You can also text CONSERVE to 39668.

You can vote each day between now and May 31st on both the website and through text message. Help New Jersey gain more important habitat! Thanks, everyone.

State of the Birds

2009-03-31T15:15:00.002-04:00

More than 800 species of birds inhabit the United States, in places as diverse as Hawaii, Alaska, Florida, and everything in between. Among these species, there are 67 federally endangered or threatened birds and 184 birds of conservation concern. This listing could be due to declining population numbers, small distributions, and/or high threats.

To help shed some light on the state of our country's birds, a variety of organizations (including but not limited to The Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, The American Bird Conservancy, The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, US Fish & Wildlife Service, USGS, and others) have compiled statistics spanning 40 years. In this comprehensive report, The State of the Birds looks at the past trends and current situations of bird populations that reside in each of the major habitat types.

The report expresses a specific concern on Hawaiian bird populations, noting that 71 species have gone extinct since humans colonized the islands and at least 10 more species have not been seen in as long as 40 years (draw your own conclusions here, but that sounds like 81 extinct species to me). Many surviving populations are on the verge of extinction and without swift conservation measures these birds may be headed for the history books.

Check out the full report at http://www.stateofthebirds.org/ - some of the numbers will shock you, but there is also a ray of hope. There have been successful management strategies for a number of species. The Bald Eagle, the Peregrine Falcon, and the Osprey have all rebounded from the brink. Other species including certain waterfowl populations have increased thanks to focused conservation measures. There is still a chance for the other imperiled birds, but that chance becomes smaller and smaller the longer people wait to act.

Birding for Beginners

2009-03-19T09:34:00.002-04:00

The Bergen County Audubon Society will partner with the Meadowlands Commission to host "Birding for Beginners" on Sunday, March 29th from 1pm-3pm. The event will take place at DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst, NJ. There will be experts there to help those interested learn about optics, how to identify birds, and more. Everyone will then head outside to use their new skills. Registration is required, however the event is free to all. If interested please contact Don Torino, Bergen County Audubon Society, at 201-636-4022 or email him at greatauk4@aol.com

Check out the Bergen County Audubon page as well as the Meadowlands Commission site.

Spring is here!

2009-03-10T18:58:00.003-04:00

While the calendar may tell you that spring beings on March 20th, rest assured, the spring season has arrived. American Woodcocks have been been moving through New Jersey for a week or two now, and within the last few days they've even begun searching for mates. The warm front over the weekend also brought up a few other early signs of spring, including Piping Plovers and Osprey!

It's not only birds that can give us a clear indicator that nature has shifted seasons - Painted Turtles, Green Frogs, and plenty of other organisms have been given the green light to get ready for warmer weather. And if you don't trust your eyes, just take a listen outside tomorrow morning to the sparrows and other songbirds that are beginning to sing. The spring chorus has begun!

NJAS hosts "Maple Sugaring" event

2009-03-10T13:51:00.003-04:00

On Saturday morning, March 14th, the New Jersey Audubon Society will host a "Maple Sugaring" event for children in grades K-3. It will begin at 10:30am in Roseland, NJ. The children will learn the story behind maple sugaring, interesting facts, and will then be able to go out and tap a maple tree! The day concludes at the environmental center with hot cocoa and real maple syrup.

To find out more information and register for the event, head over to the Essex County environmental site.

New bird species

2009-03-04T15:26:00.003-05:00

Ok, so there haven't been any recent discoveries of new bird species in the Garden State...but these two recent additions to the list of known birds is still pretty neat!

Most new species are actually the result of 'splits', when a singular species is separated into two or more distinct taxa thanks (usually) to DNA evidence and vocalizations. This was the case with the Red Crossbill population found in the isolated hills of southern Idaho. Now considered a new species, this group of sedentary Red Crossbills has been reproductively isolated from the rest of it's usually nomadic brethren. Check out the recent article in the Condor: A New Species of the Red Crossbill (Fringillidae: Loxia) From Idaho

Recently a new species was also discovered in southwest Africa. The olive-backed forest robin was given it's scientific name, Stiphrornis pyrrholaemus, by Smithsonian naturalist Brian Schmidt. In Greek, the name literally translates to "stout bird that bears a flame-colored throat". Pretty creative, huh?

For the full article please visit Naming a New Species. And keep your eyes (and perhaps more importantly your ears) open...you never know who is going to discover the next new species of bird!

Bear Awareness Seminar

2009-03-03T15:50:00.005-05:00

The Franklin Township Environmental Commission will hold a "Bear Awareness Seminar" at the Franklin Township Municipal Building on April 6th, 2009 at 7:30pm. The rescheduled seminar will discuss different aspects of bear biology, natural history, and management strategies undertaken by NJ officials. The event is free and is available for anyone over 12 years of age.

For more information about the event and about bear awareness, please visit http://www.franklintwpnj.org/bear_030209.html

Scholarly Birds

2009-02-27T16:43:00.004-05:00

Upon arrival to the Douglass Library on the Rutgers New Brunswick campus, I noticed a pair of Pine Siskins lift off the ground and fly into a nearby tree. Not an entirely surprising sight, but to see siskins 100 feet off of George Street was pretty neat. I moved in to investigate further and try to get a better look at the birds.

As I moved underneath the tree, something took off from next to the building and scared the you-know-what out of me - it was an American Woodcock! I supressed the excitement caused by my bird-nerdiness for just long enough to follow him over the parking lot and into a small stand of trees.

Being that I was already late for work, I regrettably had to leave the birds - but seeing two Pine Siskins and an American Woodcock in downtown New Brunswick was a pretty exciting 5 minutes of pre-work birding!

Sandy Hook & North Shore

2009-02-24T13:17:00.009-05:00

This past weekend I decided to visit Sandy Hook to look for the trio of rarities (Bohemian Waxwing, Orange-Crowned Warbler, Barrow's Goldeneye). Once again Dana Patterson from the Edison Wetlands Association joined me. Unfortunately the wind was worse than the forecast predicted, and looking for the Goldeneye proved to be uncomfortable at best, painful at worst. We did see a rather large group of Long-Tailed Ducks floating on the water, though, along with a Lesser Black-Backed Gull and a Great Cormorant in Horseshoe Cove. The Bohemian also alluded us, although a gentleman had seen it earlier in the day. Finally we tried for the Orange-Crowned Warbler, which we had apparently missed by about 5 minutes. We searched every individual Goldenrod on Plum Island three or four times before finally deciding to give up and head south.

Lake Takanasee produced some great looks at the Common ("Eurasian") Teal alongside Green-Winged Teal in the fourth lake. The second lake was busy with a large group of Hooded Mergansers, American Wigeon, and a pair of pied-billed grebes. The third and fourth lakes also held a handsome Gadwall, Ruddy Ducks, Ring-Necked Ducks, Black Duck, and American Coots.

The Eurasian Wigeon was swimming laps around the island in Silver Lake when we arrived. There were also plenty of Black-Crowned Night Herons roosting, and one Great Blue Heron tucked away in the vegetation. From here we moved on to Lake Como which added Canvasback and a single Redhead to our list for the day.

Our final stop was the Shark River Marina. We hung out watching three loons fish for awhile, although it seemed like the most productive member of the group was actually catching crabs. If anyone has a clue on the species, please let me know!

Here's a close-up of the prey (click for an even larger image):

A tough day in terms of Sandy Hook birds, but we ended up spotting over 50 species in all, including tons of great-looking waterfowl. Watching loons that were only 10 feet off the rocks was the perfect way to cap off another winter birding outing.

Land Conservation Rally

2009-02-18T17:34:00.005-05:00

New Jersey's Land Conservation Rally will return for the 13th time on March 7th, 2009. The theme for this year's rally is "Introduce Someone New to Land Conservation". More than 30 workshops will be held between 8am and 5pm at the Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick, along with information sessions and plenty of opportunities to network! Head over to http://njconservation.org/rally for more information including FAQs and registration info.

GBBC in NJ

2009-02-16T15:31:00.003-05:00

With temperatures in the mid-40s and the sun shining brightly in the sky, it was tough to resist participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count this weekend. I headed out on Sunday with the Edison Wetlands Association's Dana Patterson. We first visited the "top secret" (which is now known about by just about every birder in the tri-state area) Long-Eared Owl roost and got some great views of the two birds that were using the cedar tree.

After admiring these nocturnal raptors for a short time, we moved on to the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Unfortunately we were unable to locate the Red-Headed Woodpecker or the Northern Shrike, but we got great views of Northern Harrier, Black and Turkey Vulture (a pair of each sitting next to each other in one of the fields), Northern Pintail, Wood Duck, and the usual smattering of adorable song birds and sparrows at the feeders. I also had the pleasure of meeting the one and only Rockey of Flickr's "Birding in the Wild" group, along with a few other fellow wildlife photographers. Check out the group here:
http://flickr.com/groups/birdingwithrockadee/

Following a much needed lunch break, we headed to Round Valley Reservoir. The main trail was crowded with families and dogs, so it was generally quiet for most of our hike. We did end up finding a small flock of Golden-Crowned Kinglets, however, and got some fantastic views of both male and female head plumage.

The water was fairly quiet, and the Common Loon, Red-Necked Grebe, and Horned Grebe that I was lucky enough to see last week were nowhere to be found. We were able to see a trio of Buffleheads, though, and got some great views of the Eared Grebe near the boat dock before calling it a day. I was able to report a total of 31 species to the GBBC.

If you are interested in checking out the current results or submitting a list, please head over to the official Great Backyard Bird Count site at:
http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/

Shorebird Lecture on Feb. 24th

2009-02-12T16:18:00.003-05:00

The East Brunswick Environmental Commission has announced the first lecture in their 2009 series, entitled "Are we in time? The dramatic decline of shorebirds on the Delaware Bay and the efforts to rescue them." The talk will take place on Tuesday, February 24th at 7:30pm at the East Brunswick Library on Civic Center Drive. The talk is free and open to all interested parties.

The talk will feature Dr. Larry Niles of the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ and Dr. Mandy Dey of the NJ Endangered Species Program. They have both worked closely with the Red Knot, and helped to make possible the highly acclaimed PBS Nature special, "Crash: A Tale of Two Species", which chronicles the tale of the Red Knot and the horseshoe crabs of the Delaware Bay.

To visit the website of the PBS special or to order a copy of this documentary, visit: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/crash-a-tale-of-two-species/introduction/592/

To visit the East Brunswick Nature Notes website, please visit: http://web.mac.com/rwolfert/NJ_Nature_Notes_Website/Front_Page.html

The Great Backyard Bird Count

2009-02-08T12:48:00.003-05:00

"The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent. Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you can count for as long as you like each day of the event. It’s free, fun, and easy—and it helps the birds. We'll be adding updated 2009 GBBC materials as they become available."

http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc

The GBBC is a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Audubon Society, seeking to track bird populations and learn more about the dynamics of our avian friends. Reports can range from the birds you saw at your suet feeder in the morning to the species-rich list compiled from a day-long trip to Cape May. The GBBC is a great way to help the scientific pursuit of these organizations while giving a great excuse to get out there and bird-watch! Sign up at the site posted above!

The Great Backyard Bird Count runs from February 13th to February 16th.

Snow Day!

2009-02-05T13:33:00.004-05:00

Hope everyone got a chance to get outside this week and enjoy the snow. On Wednesday before work I took the short drive to Negri Nepote Grassland Preserve. Despite the occasional 'blizzard', I can't recall a time when literally everything had snow on it. Every branch, every blade of grass...just everything. It was really neat.

The trail at the grasslands heads out into some fields and eventually winds around into some forested land. It's really not hard to navigate, despite some of the trail markers:

Once the sun had been out for a few hours the birds started to get going. A female Northern Harrier was out hunting along with a Sharp-Shinned Hawk, some Turkey Vultures, and the ever-present Red-Tailed Hawks. The fields and forest edge produced more Dark-Eyed Juncos than I could count, a flock of American Tree Sparrows, Northern Cardinals, Song Sparrows, and even a few Yellow-Rumped Warblers! Taking the trail through the trees produced some remarkably beautiful scenery.

Eventually the trail reemerges into the fields and winds around near some farmland. At times it seemed as though there wasn't a sound to be heard, until a flock of Canada Geese flew by, or the gentle tapping of a Downy Woodpecker began. It is a truly serene feeling to be able to walk through unspoiled snow and to hear life persist through the cold.

Winter Wonderland!

2009-02-01T14:24:00.017-05:00

Three of my fellow graduate students and I decided to do some winter birding yesterday. It was unmistakably winter, with wind chills in the single digits at times. We started the day meeting at Round Valley Reservoir to look for the Eared Grebe, which we found quickly with the help of some other birders. A flock of White-Winged Crossbills flew overhead, and we were informed that we had just missed some Common Redpolls. After scanning the scores of gulls and finding an Iceland Gull mixed in with the Herring and Ring-Billed Gulls, we decided to head out and return later when the sun wasn't in such an inconvenient spot (it should have known we were trying to bird-watch!).

Richline Road was our next stop, to search for Crossbills and Redpolls. Unfortunately neither were seen, but some other birds started to become active, including a Brown Creeper and a Hairy Woodpecker.

Moving on to the town of Alpha, we stopped at Oberly Road when we spotted a flock of Horned Larks. Stepping out onto the road, we got a real treat when more and more Larks flew right over us, a few landing within mere feet.

Off in the distance we spotted a flock of geese. As they drew nearer, we identified them as Snow Geese, and behind the first wave was another...and another...and another. Between 2,000 and 3,000 birds flew over our hands and began to land in one of the fields. It was a spectacular sight to behold (click on image for full-size version).

After watching the Snow Goose flock settle in and spotting an immature Bald Eagle off in the distance, we started seeing Rough-Legged Hawks. Both color morphs, including some incredible views of both immature and adult light-morph birds. Each of them slowly moved toward us and hovered about 100 feet over our heads. Certainly one of the highlights of the day.

After a satisfying meal we moved on to Califon to try and find the Barnacle Goose, but had no luck in town or at Spruce Run Reservoir. So we headed back to Round Valley and hiked around the reservoir. In addition to the Eared Grebe from earlier on, we spotted Horned Grebe and a beautiful Red-Necked Grebe sitting only 50 feet off shore. Common Loon, Pine Siskin, Bufflehead, and a single White-Winged Crossbill kept us busy as we hiked back to the boat launch. Not realizing the park closed at 4pm and not at sunset, we had to hike from the far gate 2 miles back to the car. An amusing end to our day, if not a little inconvenient.

There certainly are some exciting winter birds here right now, and it's worth braving the cold to see thousands of Snow Geese, crystal clear views of Rough-Legged Hawks, and much more. So bundle up, throw those binoculars around your neck, and get out there!

I think this photograph more accurately represents just how many geese were hanging out in Alpha (click image for full-size version):

Gynandromorph Cardinal

2009-01-27T15:18:00.003-05:00

No, this image has not been photoshopped. And no, a female cardinal did not fall sideways onto a recently painted front porch. This Northern Cardinal (seen recently in Illinois) is a gynandromorph, an organism which contains both male and female characteristics. For a brief explanation of how this happens and some more photographs, check out:

http://minnesotabirdnerd.blogspot.com/2009/01/i-just-received-coolest-bird-photo-ive.html

Early Obama Environmental Moves

2009-01-23T17:43:00.003-05:00

Shortly after the nation witnessed history on Inauguration Day, President Barack Obama began his term in office by freezing all federal regulations that had not yet been finalized. This included two key environmental regulations. The first would have loosened air quality standards, while the second would have removed the gray wolf from the endangered species list.

Many of former President Bush's late-term regulations were unable to be halted by this decision, however, including a major degradation of the Endangered Species Act. Bush and his administration have also opened the path for oil shale development to begin in Western states, for more oil rigs to be placed off our coasts, and for oil and gas drilling near our country's National Parks. Stopping these things will not be as easy, and President Obama has a tall task over the next months and years if he wishes to please environmentalists who expect these decisions to be revoked.

While the current administration has only been in office a few days, many are expecting Obama to quickly begin to turn the country's environmental policies in a new direction. It appears that this has begun, but the newly inaugurated president will have to continue to move forward in the coming days and weeks.

Please continue to write local, state, and federal officials and urge them to act on behalf of our wildlife and the natural world.

Rare Birds Abound

2009-01-20T18:16:00.005-05:00

In every season there are a few birds that decide to show up in New Jersey that are not the usual annual visitors. Winter is no different, and this year in the state we have plenty of rarities to chase around. Last year brought Bohemian Waxwings and a Townsend’s Solitaire from the west, along with the more common rarities, whatever that may mean. This winter has been quite a treat so far, delivering a Eurasian (or Common) Teal to the Meadowlands once again, Rough-Legged Hawks throughout the state, more Pine Siskins than you can shake a stick at, and of course a handful of Snow Owls from Liberty State Park and the Meadowlands down through Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge and Stone Harbor.

One of the most popular rarities this winter has been the Green-Tailed Towhee down in Collingswood, NJ. This small passerine exemplifies the term rarity here in the Garden State, as this bird represents only the seventh NJ record of the bird (and the first since 1985!). It has been frequenting a feeder and thankfully the home-owners have been kind enough to allow birders to visit their yard to observe the Towhee. Still, people should act as courteous as possible as well as remain aware of the bird’s state. Disturbing wildlife should not be a part of birding or other wildlife-viewing.

White-Winged Crossbills have been spotted in numerous places as well, along with their northern neighbors the Common Redpoll. While a small group of Sandhill Cranes usually visits the state in winter, a pair has shown up in Franklin Township and due to their miniscule numbers in the state these two have been quite popular as well. They have been scared off multiple times, however, so people should try to remain in their cars and use the vehicles as blinds to help them observe the birds.

A Northern Shrike has once again shown up at the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, and plenty of people have gotten good views. These songbirds are vicious, and this particular individual has already been seen tearing apart a sparrow. They are known to cache prey for later consumption, hanging them on wires, spines, or sharp branches. Blood will often leave a spattering of red on their breast feathers.

The water, of course, is also a great place to search for rare birds. Thick-Billed Murre was just spotted off the coast of NJ, and other winter rarities have been popping up every few days. Inland, both Eared Grebe and Horned Grebe have been sighted. Winter plumage can be a bit trickier than breeding plumages, but a careful and patient eye can discern between different types of gulls, grebes, and so on.

Eared Grebe

Horned Grebe

Good birding, everyone!

Hybrid ducks

2009-01-09T10:37:00.005-05:00

Right now is an amazing time to head out and go looking for winter waterfowl. New Jersey and the east coast offer a wide variety of different types of ducks, including but not limited to Hooded Mergansers, Ring-Necked Duck, Pintail, Green-Winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, etc. As if this array of web-footed friends wasn't enough, some ducks will also hybridize with other species, offering even more interesting individuals and sometimes very cryptic plumage.

Since the precocious little ducklings feed on their own, the paternal figures rarely stick around to help out. The young follow their mother around but don't need a great amount of care other than the occasional warning or protection from potential predators. Thanks to this family dynamic, male ducks can wander as they please and are often quite promiscuous. Often they will mate with multiple females during a single breeding season, and if they come across a female from a sister species...well, that's fair game too. It isn't entirely common but if you look closely chances are you'll eventually spot a few hybrids. Sometimes it isn't so easy to identify them. It could be a difference in bill or speculum coloration. Other times, however, it quickly becomes apparent that you have a hybrid on your hands. This was the case with the individual pictured below, a mallard x black duck hybrid seen while birding the Meadowlands last week. In this instance one can assume that a male mallard has mated with a female black duck, causing some green coloration in the head feathers.

There are plenty of great places to observe ducks right now. DeKorte Park was filled with Pintail and Northern Shoveler last week. The Great Swamp can be a great place to observe Hooded Mergansers and Green-Winged Teal. Visit Sandy Hook for the chance to see Barrow's Goldeneye along with Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Red-Breasted Merganser, and many other species. Don't forget about Cape May, Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, and other Atlantic coast hotspots!

A Good Owl Year is Bad for Owls

2008-12-10T16:01:00.000-05:00

Serious birders know that crashing rodent populations in the Arctic mean northern raptor species moving south for the winter to find sufficient prey sources. It was known early in the 2008 season that lemming and vole populations were not sustaining the snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) populations in the north, and so sightings of the birds started to occur early and fairly often. Four or five reports from Ontario during October turned into multiple "snowies" as far south as Maryland by mid-November. Since then the numbers of sightings on the east coast have continued to increase. New Jersey has seen it's fair share and just yesterday another two sightings were recorded.

These owls are looking for habitat that resembles their Arctic homes. Tundra-like landscapes are perfect for these diurnal hunters, and the beaches in New Jersey that remain relatively undisturbed (I stress the word relatively) by encroaching development may become popular winter destinations for the snowy owl. Unfortunately most barrier islands along the Atlantic this far south have become heavily developed tourist areas, drawing large numbers of residents and visitors during the warmer months of the year. This leaves little habitable space for the birds, who must find places like Island Beach State Park and Sandy Hook National Recreation Area in order to survive.

Birders salivate at the chance to catch a glimpse or a photograph of one of these Arctic breeders. Rodent populations are somewhat unstable, and even in a down year with multiple sightings there is no guarantee any individual birder will be able to relocate the bird. So when there are this many snowy owls around it's considered a "good owl year". Unfortunately it's just the opposite for the birds. It's a bad year for them in terms of prey abundance. They have less food, which in turn means less energy. They need to fly further south than they're used to in order to find suitable habitat. That habitat may include dangerous roads, towers, and utility lines that contribute to bird mortality. Birders and other wildlife enthusiasts may flock to the area of a reported sighting putting even more stress on the birds. This is not to say all bird-watchers and nature lovers are only out to get a glimpse of a snowy owl and will stop at nothing to attain their goal. In fact, for the most part these groups (of which I am proudly apart of) are respectful and careful about how they approach and observe wildlife. As in any other group of people, however, there are a few bad apples. People willing to scare the bird and force it into flight again and again so they can get a closer look or capture a dramatic photograph are certainly around.

Being able to observe and appreciate these marvelous creatures is an important reason why so many people support environmental organizations, but education is an integral part of the process. If a bird seems startled or is changing its own behavior due to that of a person, the person is most likely too close. For some birds this distance can be very small. Chickadees will curiously fly to people to investigate. For some birds, though, the distance can be vast. This is usually the case for raptors like owls. They can see great distances and may notice people approaching from up to a mile (or perhaps even more) away. These birds are already under great stress and the added pressure of humans can spell trouble. Snowies have already died this year in Maryland and if trends continue more will suffer the same fate.

It is certainly possible to appreciate the beauty of nature and the fascinating ecology of wildlife without needlessly disturbing and harming it. Become educated on the animals you are watching, act respectfully, and remain aware of their behavior when trying to approach them.

High Point during the fall

2008-11-04T15:33:00.001-05:00

My wife and I drove up to High Point State Park two weekends ago and we couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. Arriving early at the monument, we took in the striking views in every directions. It's hard to believe that there is a place in New Jersey that grants such magnificent views. The leaves were changing but from that high up the majority of them still seemed green. I am sure they are absolutely radiant right now and will be for another week or two before the leaves really start to fall off in big numbers. If you haven't been up there this season, make the trip! It's well worth it.

After leaving the monument we visited Kuser Natural Area. Interestingly, the entire park was actually the summer home of the Kuser family before they donated it to the state of New Jersey. The natural area offers a short hike (the main loop was no more than 1.5 miles) but doesn't skimp on the views. Walking through the forest you could really appreciate the different colors and hues of the leaves. The highest elevation Atlantic White Cedar Bog also exists here.

From Kuser Natural Area we drove through the park and stopped at a Black Spruce Bog, which is a very rare ecosystem for the area. The views were breathtaking, and the location is now among my favorites. The layers of texture and color throughout the small bog were truly works of art. Although pictures cannot do it justice, below is a photograph of my wife admiring the view:

On the way home we stopped at one of the many roadside stands and purchased apples, cider, and some delicious pumpkin butter.

It was a perfect day for fall hiking, and we made the most of it. Get out there and enjoy the autumn season before it's time to start enjoying winter!

Hidden gem in Somerset County

2008-10-21T16:01:00.000-04:00

If you've ever driven down Amwell Road in Franklin, you may have noticed an old arch above a steep driveway heading back into a clearing. Or you may not have noticed it, considering the arch is almost covered by vegetation throughout most of the year. At the top of that driveway is a small house and a handful of trailheads that lead into the William L. Hutcheson Memorial Forest.

The Hutcheson Memorial Forest is one of the last tracts of virgin (uncut) forest remaining in the mid-Atlantic region. It is also one of the only uncut and unburned White Oak and American Beech forests remaining in the entire country. The area is listed as a Natural landmark with the National Park Service.

Rutgers University currently owns and looks after the forest. The small house at the top of the driveway is a base for graduate students and faculty to do field work in the forest and surrounding areas. The tale of how Rutgers came to own the property and where the land originated is quite interesting, and can be read here: http://rci.rutgers.edu/~hmforest/

There is currently a "no management" policy with regards to the forest. This means that only fallen trees can be removed from paths. Nothing else can be done in the forest. Nothing can be removed, hunted, harvested, or otherwise disturbed. In theory this is a great idea; keep this virgin forest clean and untouched by man. Unfortunately, the reality is that the forest has been disturbed by man in many different ways. The farmland surrounding the forest gives wind and storms the chance to knock down older trees, and while a buffer of newer forest protects the old-growth parcel to a certain degree, these edge effects still creep in. White-tailed deer are a major pest, and with no natural predators left in the area, they are free to graze on any new saplings trying to grow. This means that when a tree does fall, instead of native trees reaching maturity and filling the gap, deer eat them and allow them to be replaced by Ailanthus (also known as Tree of Heaven). Ailanthus is a fast-growing and resourceful non-native species that aggressively occupies the areas where oak, maple, and many other native species try to grow. The forest is home to many non-native or "invasive" species, such as Japanese Stiltgrass (Microstegium), Japanese Barberry (Berberis), Multiflora Rose, and a slew of others. However these plants and animals are free to reign supreme, often wreaking havoc on the ecology of the forest. Many would be able to overcome attempts to quell them, while others may succumb to these efforts. There are many people currently fighting for the management policy to be altered; whether it will be or not remains to be seen.

The forest and the land surrounding it is a truly wonderful place. Farm fields on the edge are mowed at certain intervals so researchers can study succession in that type of ecosystem. Visitors can follow along and see the variety of plants, insects, and birds that inhabit the different stages of succession. There has been a vast quantity of research conducted here, and it is easy to see why. The ecology of the region comes alive as you pass through the different habitats, finally entering the old-growth, uncut forest.

Hutcheson Memorial Forest is usually NOT open to the public, however tours run every few weekends and those are open to anyone. They are guided by faculty and graduate students, all of whom are very knowledgeable in their field of study. Each walk is unique and will offer different information, opportunities, and personalities. One walk may focus on plant ecology and invasive species while another may be a leisurely bird-watching trip. The area offers a wide variety of bird life, including a relatively large number of sparrow species during fall migration. The spring is also a great time to visit, and there are almost always birding tours offered during May.

Check out the tour schedule online and try and make your way to one or more of the walks. Working your way through this unique and interesting ecosystem with a knowledgeable guide is always a rewarding and fun way to spend a weekend afternoon.

Tour Schedule: http://rci.rutgers.edu/~hmforest/TourSchedule.htm

Reduce, reuse, recycle!

2008-10-21T15:45:00.001-04:00

Please check out the official NJ Green website at http://www.nj.gov/nj/green/

It offers information on a wide variety of topics including recycling, green energy, wildlife conservation, global warming, open space, farmland preservation, and much more.

Welcome!

2008-10-21T15:30:00.000-04:00

As a lifelong NJ resident, I have been able to experience the vast and wonderful diversity that the Garden State has to offer. The state offers a taste of everything, from the Atlantic Ocean to the unique Pinelands ecosystem and from the highlands and mountains to the bird migration mecca known as Cape May. There is much more to the state than the Turnpike and tomatoes.

For those of you reading this that reside in NJ, you may already know of some great spots and activities. I hope we can help each other enjoy the outdoors. Please do not hesitate to share this information with me and with others. Feel free to email me or comment on this blog with any upcoming events and or interesting sitings.

For those new to the state, or outside of it, I hope you will find this blog interesting, insightful, and most importantly helpful! There is a wealth of natural wonder to enjoy both in NJ and elsewhere.

I will be writing about birds and birding, the ecology and ecosystems of the state, as well as anything that has to do with being outside in New Jersey. That includes but is not limited to hiking, bird-watching, herping, visiting road-side farmer's markets, strolling around Cape May, and much more.