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HACKENSACK WATERSHED FIELD NOTES By Hugh M. Carola
Last issue we printed the report of a Harbor porpoise observed swimming in the Passaic River on February 1. Two and a half weeks later, a porpoise was found beached and dead on Staten Island. The official New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) necropsy showed the unfortunate animal died from exposure to oil (probably as a result of the Chevron oil spill into the Arthur Kill on February 13). On March 13, we received a call about a dead marine mammal in French Brook, a small tributary of the Hackensack River located in New Milford. Nick Vos-Wein and Elyse Levy went to investigate and met members of the New Milford Police Department as they were retrieving yet another unfortunate Harbor porpoise. Within days, a necropsy was performed at the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, NJ where it was determined that it had died of natural causes. We do not know if either animal was the same one spotted in the Passaic River in February but healthy porpoises rarely travel alone. While it is depressing to learn of these unfortunate deaths, it is heartening to note that these animals are returning to our home waters. Here are the rest of this issue’s field notes: Bald eagle - (Adult) Individuals observed on 2-27 and 3-10 at and over Overpeck Park, Leonia. Belted kingfisher - One seen along the river from the Bergen County Historical Society Property beside New Bridge Road in River Edge on 3-29. Common Eider - In an extremely unusual sighting for our area, a male eider was observed in Overpeck Creek in Leonia during our cleanup on April 22. Common mergansers - Three males observed on river off Andreas Park, Teaneck between 2-21 and 2-27. During the same time, up to eight were seen on the river north of Kenneth B. George Park in River Edge. Common Raven - A pair observed engaging in nesting activities at Laurel Hill Park on 3-6. Nesting was confirmed on 4-21 and photographed on 4-26. Eastern Coyote - An individual was observed along the river near Laurel Hill on 4-26. Great cormorant - Nine individuals roosted on the Erie Jackknife Bridge on 3-6. Great and Snowy egrets - Seen at DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst since 3-28. Mink - Tracks found in snow along river near Kenneth B. George Park, River Edge on 3-3. Northern goshawk - Feeding in a Ridgefield Park backyard on 3-25. A VERY unusual sighting but migrating raptors can show up anywhere. Osprey - A pair has returned to the nest platform on Penhorn Creek adjacent to PSE&G’s Hudson Generating Station. Nesting was confirmed on 4-9. Hopefully this third time will be the charm! Peregrine falcon - Alighted on a19th floor balcony at Marine View Plaza, Hoboken on 2-1. One was observed and photographed feeding on the cliffs overlooking the Alpine Boat Basin on 3-22. Another was seen over Secaucus from a New Jersey Transit train on 4-10.
Turkey - Four individuals were spotted in Weehawken (!) and reported on WCBS 880 AM Radio on 4-6. Two days later, one was observed along Broad Avenue in Ridgefield. On 4-25, a hen was seen walking along Farview Avenue, near the Paramus municipal woods. Turkey vultures - A pair was observed perched atop a chimney in Teaneck on 3-22. White-tailed deer - Several sets of tracks noted at The Overpeck Preserve, Leonia on 2-27. Yes, even in southern Bergen there are a few. Wood duck - A male was observed swimming in the cove at Brett Park in Teaneck on 3-12. Nesting boxes have been placed along the river nearby; hopefully a pair or two will decide to breed there. Yellow-crowned night heron - Rookeries have been reestablished at Schmidt’s Woods and Harmon Cove in Secaucus. Having these endangered birds nesting in the Meadowlands is a real “Meadowlands Miracle.”
Thanks to all our observers: Joe Augeri, Gabrielle
Bennett-Meany, Diana Brin, Hugh Carola, Doris Conley, Gene Dunton, Linda Gangi,
Gil Hawkins, Lynn Hogan, Elyse Levy, Pat & Dan McDonough, George Reskakis,
Karen Riede, Lisa Ryan, Captain Bill Sheehan, Emma Thomas, Jeffrey Wahl, WCBS
Radio, Nick Vos-Wein, Ken Witkowski. The rest of you? Call it in! |
As winter turned into spring, there was a lot of wildlife
moving through our region. There were also a few species like Red-tailed hawks
that decided to stick around for a bit. This year, Red-tails were everywhere:
All along I-95 & the Turnpike from Teaneck to Woodbridge, along Routes 78
and 280 in Newark; throughout the Meadowlands District; all over the upper
watershed in Rockland & Bergen. We received reports from Englewood,
Hackensack, Leonia, Maywood, New Milford, Paramus, Teaneck, Ridgefield Park
& River Edge just to list a few. 
Red fox - Several sets of tracks were noted after a
snowfall at The Overpeck Preserve on 2-27.