tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post794496397892412035..comments2024-01-16T17:40:13.951-05:00Comments on Somewhere in NJ: Urban oasisLauraHinNJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08329387562570495570noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-15966072453866800192007-05-02T16:54:00.000-05:002007-05-02T16:54:00.000-05:00I'm late commenting as I've been... ahem...rather ...I'm late commenting as I've been... ahem...rather tied up with the bioblitz. I like to visit these kinds of sites as they give us an opportunity to see how the natural ecology can be restored - how long and in what way. At the end of May, I'll be going out to do a bioblitz with a large group of high school science students. In previous years, we've done stream surveys of fairly natural sections of a local river. This year, I suggested something a bit different -- that we'd do the blitz at a site which has a bit of wetland, some oldfield, and a bit of woodland. The best place I could think of close to the school is a conservation area that has been established on a former sewage lagoon site. Should be interesting! (-:burning silohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03699849089828169389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-66130133394166089302007-04-29T23:13:00.000-05:002007-04-29T23:13:00.000-05:00been to Newark airport; traveled on the Turnpike t...been to Newark airport; traveled on the Turnpike to Dover in Morris County. Never knew the Meadowlands held such diversity of life. Great bird photos, Laura. I wish more people knew how beautiful most of NJ is -- well, maybe not, cuz then they would invade even more. I have always been captivated by NJ and its landscapes and history.<BR/><BR/>Hope you take advantage of that rain check - it should be great and I'd love to see photos!!Taradharmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17665801586196931603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-55550137323817731552007-04-29T16:28:00.000-05:002007-04-29T16:28:00.000-05:00I've only ever seen an Eared Grebe in winter--once...I've only ever seen an Eared Grebe in winter--once. This one is fantastic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-87354203173099876002007-04-28T16:05:00.000-05:002007-04-28T16:05:00.000-05:00You describe New Jersey as I have seen it. But I'...You describe New Jersey as I have seen it. But I've never given it a bad name! Baltimore is an industrial city and I marvel at the wildlife who seem to love Bethlehem Steel and the inner harbor. Ughhh.<BR/><BR/>At least you didn't stay inside and grade papers all day, Laura! <BR/><BR/>You got some great photos, too.<BR/><BR/>I look forward to some scenery from the pontoon boat.Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02040099513110890878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-84204872738468051712007-04-28T06:41:00.000-05:002007-04-28T06:41:00.000-05:00Yes, that's the NJ that used to come to mind befor...Yes, that's the NJ that used to come to mind before reading your site.<BR/>A golf course near a wetland would not be my first choice of reuse of that land, but it could be worse I suppose.<BR/><BR/>I loved your spunky swallow too. Very expressive. <BR/>In my NPS days, on night patrols, I found I could quietly walk right up to a night heron once I put my flashlight beam on him.<BR/>I've stood two feet away from a blinking night heron as he tried to figure out what was going on.R.Powershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04905593499136090763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-77178556767886009912007-04-28T00:15:00.000-05:002007-04-28T00:15:00.000-05:00Maybe that shoveler is in my imagination.Maybe that shoveler is in my imagination.LauraHinNJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08329387562570495570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1714454343393459992007-04-28T00:12:00.000-05:002007-04-28T00:12:00.000-05:00I'm looking at the *garbage* in the background of ...I'm looking at the *garbage* in the background of the night heron pic and see a shoveler and maybe a ruddy duck - anyone else see that?<BR/><BR/>DKM: My goodness! I'm all thunk out! Thanks.<BR/><BR/>Liza: It was still fun, Liza - better than a day at work. I love the swallow shot the best.LauraHinNJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08329387562570495570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-11234978051469973992007-04-28T00:04:00.000-05:002007-04-28T00:04:00.000-05:00Fascinating images, Laura. Sorry the trip didn't ...Fascinating images, Laura. Sorry the trip didn't work out the way it was supposed to but you got some fantastic images. That Night Heron is marvelous and Tree Swallows. WOW!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02776482696203224923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-4173022281958802612007-04-27T23:41:00.000-05:002007-04-27T23:41:00.000-05:00We nominated you for a Thinking Blogger Award.We nominated you for a Thinking Blogger Award.DK & The Fluffieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04624245974963258448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-17824214707994775852007-04-27T23:21:00.000-05:002007-04-27T23:21:00.000-05:00John: I think I ought to try and spend more time t...John: I think I ought to try and spend more time there. The trip there is just so awful - the traffic and crazy roads intimidate me. I went to college up that way and worked in Newark when I was first out of college, but since then I hardly ever get up there other than to visit Garret Mountain or my mother's relatives.<BR/><BR/>Susan: Maybe for you out in the middle of nowhere - lol! - but here at the coast they're easy to find. There's always lots at Sandy Hook. I'm surprised this one stopped for a photo.<BR/><BR/>KGMom: It is an awful view of our fine state! The Meadowlands have quite a history.<BR/><BR/>Monarch: So is it an Eared Grebe or a Horned?<BR/><BR/>Wish it wouldn't have rained like it did.<BR/><BR/>Cathy: I'm not so sure it's just a simple matter of aesthetics - more of necessity, probably. I'm sure they'd prefer the marshes and meadows to be pristine, as would we.<BR/><BR/>Mojoman: I think I may have just finished reading the book you mentioned. I read most of it the other night while my students were doing their final exam. Good book that worth a few laughs. A lot of the things he mentioned sounded sort of familiar to me - my dad grew up in Jersey City and used to tell stories about some of his adventures in the marshes and along the railroad tracks.<BR/><BR/>I think most of the Meadowlands looks apocolyptic! Glad you liked that pic - ordinarily I would have tried to get a view without all the garbage in the background, but felt like it was important to not *crop out* the realities of this place. I have loads of pics from today like that - shorebirds feeding on mudflats with the turnpike in the background, swallows at a nestbox with a landfill in view. Lots of high tension wires and waste transfer stations. Fun stuff.<BR/><BR/>The studies that NJ Audubon is doing in the area are fairly recent, I think, or enough so that they haven't made any conclusions yet. They're studying swallows because they're so abundant, and marsh wrens and mallards. They're finding high levels of mercury and other pollutants, yet there's more than 200 species of birds that use the area.LauraHinNJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08329387562570495570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-29781488617491655492007-04-27T22:49:00.000-05:002007-04-27T22:49:00.000-05:00I read a book titled "The Meadowlands" a few years...I read a book titled "The Meadowlands" a few years ago. I can't remember the author's name, but it was a fun read about his explorations and little off-beat bits of history. If you want to read it and can't find a copy, I can send you mine.<BR/><BR/>I love that photo of the night heron on the tire. It looks so post-apocalyptic. It's good to hear Audubon is studying contaminants. I can't help but think all kinds of nasty stuff is leaching into that water.MojoManhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11283343683800473324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-26937050419589552732007-04-27T22:36:00.000-05:002007-04-27T22:36:00.000-05:00So glad you got to have your trip and share these ...So glad you got to have your trip and share these neat photos. 'Meadowlands' - it's such a pretty name. Isn't it curious that the wildlife doesn't share our sense of aesthetics? Bless them.Cathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00548755592157386484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-20654900297314936682007-04-27T22:18:00.000-05:002007-04-27T22:18:00.000-05:00Looks like you had a wonderful time and saw some g...Looks like you had a wonderful time and saw some great birds! Love the grebe photo best!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-23826368226777677392007-04-27T21:31:00.000-05:002007-04-27T21:31:00.000-05:00Oh yes I know the Meadowlands. Every time we go t...Oh yes I know the Meadowlands. Every time we go to Newark Airport, or to NYC, we go right past it.<BR/>I always wonder about the living creatures there--and your description assuages that curiosity. It is amazing how life thrives in the least likely places. Maybe someday the Meadowlands will be meadow lands.<BR/>I am glad you got to take your trip--and enjoy your day off.KGMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05165941950953938943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-8555947716699137212007-04-27T21:30:00.000-05:002007-04-27T21:30:00.000-05:00At least there are places that are being reclaimed...At least there are places that are being reclaimed. <BR/>That night heron is fantastic! Aren't they supposed to be hard to see?????Susan Gets Nativehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-45866735794396282482007-04-27T21:22:00.000-05:002007-04-27T21:22:00.000-05:00I really like the Meadowlands. It is kind of New J...I really like the Meadowlands. It is kind of New Jersey in a nutshell. You have places of great natural beauty right next to post-industrial wastelands, with reminders of urbanization all around. It is great to see how much it has sprung back over the past few decades.John B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00163297234733313179noreply@blogger.com