Sunday, August 9, 2026: Richard W. DeKorte Park

Great Egret. Photo by Beni Fishbein.

Lyndhurst, New Jersey

Meet in the parking lot by the Meadowlands Environmental Center at 7:30 am. 

canceled in the event of inclement weather

Part of the Hackensack Meadowlands, DeKorte Park features 3.5 miles of level walking paths along wetlands that can host a variety of herons, ducks, shorebirds, gulls, terns, and passerines at this time of year. We’ll walk the trails around the Shorebird Pool and Lyndhurst Nature Reserve to Saw Mill Flats. If time allows, we’ll drive to the AMVETS Carillon to scan the Teal Pool and surrounding area. Some of the birds we hope to see are the black skimmer, least tern, black-crowned night heron, least and semipalmated sandpipers, and bald eagle.  

Bring binoculars and a scope, if you have one, as well as water and a snack. It is likely to be hot and sunny, so a sunhat, sunscreen, and insect repellant are recommended. There is a porta-san in the parking lot where we will meet. 

Map and brochure: s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/njmc/pdfs/general/dekorte-trail-guide-11-2016-lr.pdf

Travel directions from the Montclair area: Take Route 3 east to the Polito Avenue/Orient Way exit. Continue straight onto Polito Avenue.  At the stop sign, turn left onto Valley Brook Avenue. Follow Valley Brook approximately 1.5 miles to its end. Cross the railroad tracks and enter the park on your left. Bear right into the parking lot at the guard house.   

Wednesday, April 8: The eBird Review Process - A Peek Behind the Curtain

Ever wondered what happens after you hit "submit" on an eBird report? Join us for a look behind the scenes at the eBird Review process from automated filters to the human touch of regional reviewers.

Bio: Patrick Belardo has been active in the birding community for over 25 years. He's volunteered as an eBird reviewer since the early days of eBird. He is also a volunteer associate naturalist with NJ Audubon, a past editor of NJ Birds, a former CBC compiler, and an annual competitor in the World Series of Birding.

Wednesday, May 13: Fierce and Fastest

Peregrine falcon. Photo: Michael Sheldon.

Jim Wright, author of the acclaimed new book The Peregrine Falcon, tells all about these incredible raptors in this lavishly illustrated talk: how they can travel at 200 mph, why they nearly went extinct, how they were saved (in the unlikeliest way), and how they became an internet superstar. Even if you think you know a lot about peregrines, prepare to be surprised.

About the speaker

In addition to this go-to book on peregrine falcons, Jim wrote The Screech Owl Companion and The Real James Bond. He monitors nesting peregrines for the state of New Jersey in the spring, coordinates the State Line Hawk Watch this fall, and writes a birding column for The Record in Northern New Jersey every two weeks.

The Peregrine Falcon: The Epic Life and Times of the World’s Fastest Creature