Focus on the Meadowlands: CBC Muskrat Huts, CBC Yellowlegs, CBC Lots of Walking
Photos courtesy of Jim Wright, The N.J. Meadowlands Commission
by Jim Wright, The N.J. Meadowlands Commission
On the recent Christmas Bird Count in the Meadowlands, we came across two Common Muskrat huts. Muskrats used to be plentiful in the Meadowlands, but these days they seem to be in shorter supply. We’re happy whenever we see one hut -– let alone two.
On the recent Christmas Bird Count in the Meadowlands, we came across two Common Muskrat huts. Muskrats used to be plentiful in the Meadowlands, but these days they seem to be in shorter supply. We’re happy whenever we see one hut -– let alone two.
Our circle of the Christmas Bird Count had three shorebird species – Killdeer, Lesser Yellowlegs and Greater Yellowlegs. The latter two were seen in DeKorte, and the Greater Yellowlegs above was right on the shore of Teal Pool.
I didn’t realize how much walking goes into a Christmas Bird Count until I looked at this shot of Don Torino hiking up a landfill and started calculating. By my calculations, we walked five miles in natural areas, climbing up landfills and sloshing around the edges of wetlands — all in the name of citizen science.
Jim Wright writes, photographs, maintains a nature blog (www.meadowblog.net) and does slide shows and walks for the N.J. Meadowlands Commission. "Focus on the Meadowlands" features some of his recent photos of the area's natural wonders.
Previous Stories:
- Focus on the Meadowlands: Great Egrets, Whistler Afternoon, House Finch
- Focus on the Meadowlands: Sunflowers, Waxwing Portrait, Praying Mantis Seed Casing
- Focus on the Meadowlands: Seedy Dandelion, Distant Bald Eagle, Hunting Harrier
- Focus on the Meadowlands: Creepers on the Move, Harrier Meadow, Hungry Kestrel
- Focus on the Meadowlands: Fishy Osprey, Fruity Robin, October Snow
Posted by WILDNEWJERSEY at 12/28/2011 11:00 AM 
Categories: Focus on the Meadowlands
Tags: christmas bird count shorebirds DeKorte Park Yellowlegs lesser yellowlegs muskrats
Categories: Focus on the Meadowlands
Tags: christmas bird count shorebirds DeKorte Park Yellowlegs lesser yellowlegs muskrats
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