Highland Park Environment

Recent Posts

Spring Birds in Local Parks

By allan | May 15, 2008

The spring birds have finally arrived along the Raritan River and in the local parks (Donaldson and Johnson) and the winter birds have departed.The colorful mergansers (common, red breasted, and hooded) have flown north (although a laggard common merganser was seen last week in the river). Similarly, the occasional bufflehead and goldeneye are gone. The few wintering great cormorants have been replaced by the more numerous double crested cormorants, which can be seen fishing in the river and ponds of the parks.

The transient migratory warblers have come and gone. However, the common warblers, which nest in the area, the yellow-rumped warbler, yellow warbler, and the common yellow throat have arrived and can be found in the bushes and trees of the parks.

The more musical birds, the catbird, the mockingbird, and the northern oriole (Baltimore oriole) have also arrived in the parks and around town. The orioles with their bright color and striking “I am talking to you!” song are quite numerous this year.The warbling vireos and the Carolina wrens are singing “their hearts out”.

Shore birds such as the yellow-legs and sandpipers have also arrived and can be seen in the ponds, and the occasional puddles from the spring rains. Great egrets and black-crowned night heron are back and can be seen in both parks along the river and in the ponds.

The more majestic ospreys have arrived and can be seen flying high over the river. A few eagles have also been seen spotted up and down the river.

The robins, which never left the area, have returned in great numbers to the open fields of the parks.

Meanwhile in the last two weeks, the first baby Canada geese have been hatched in both parks.Geese families, two adults with two to eight or more goslings are wandering around the fields. Some of the babies have already grown five fold in size. Although the Canada goose is much maligned for its productivity of droppings, they are very good parents and protective of their offspring. As the goslings get to the “teen-age” phase, large numbers of these young adult geese are led around by two adults geese, which is technically known as “goosey day care”. In Johnson Park, over the past several years, a domestic goose has assumed a role as an “au pair”.

Enjoy the sights and sounds of the spring birds.

Topics: Photographs, birds | 1 Comment »

Where to Buy Native Plants

By leora | May 15, 2008

Question: Where is the best place to buy native plants to put into your own garden?
Answer: See the list of suppliers posted by the Native Plant Society of New Jersey at http://www.npsnj.org/sources_native_plants.htm

Topics: native plants | No Comments »

Great Backyard Bird Count Great For Highland Park

By arnold | March 14, 2008

During the Great Bird Count 2008 Hainesport birders led New Jersey in the number of bird counts reported (67 lists), followed in the number two and three spots by Highland Park (44 lists) and East Brunswick (48 lists). In number of species, Highland Park gained one (reaching 44 species) compared to last year (43 species). Are more kinds of birds really here, or did we just luck out in finding them? Only a long-term pattern will tell us, and that is just what this annual count is intended to produce.

This count, along with Project Feederwatch, are among several “citizen science” programs sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National and Canadian Audubon Societies. Anyone, even kids, can participate and actually contribute to science. Species lists are compiled into a data base for a continuing year-by-year statistical picture of changes in bird populations from sea to shining sea.

Topics: birds | No Comments »

Saw Seal, Photographed Same

By arnold | March 14, 2008

Bill Bonner has sent us a photograph of a harbor seal he saw in the Raritan by South Bound Brook. After posing briefly, the seal swam down toward New Brunswick and Highland Park. Is the river getting cleaner to attract one up so far? Keep a watch and contact us if you see it or its confreres.

Topics: Photographs | No Comments »

Scentennial Garden in Bloom: the Plan

By arnold | March 14, 2008

The garden and terracing at the Senior/Youth Center by Borough Hall were started in Highland Park NJ’s centennial year of 2005 as a “scent” garden. It’s called the Scentennial Garden. Get it?

Now in March of 2008 the winter jasmine is in bloom, and you can click on the thumbnail-photo of the Scentennial Garden Plan to see what treats are ahead. Metal tags hang from some plants; these identify species by marking one plant out of each group of similar plants.

Topics: Scentennial Garden | No Comments »

Tree Ordinance on Borough Site

By leora | February 24, 2008

The tree ordinance and all ordinances can be found on the hpboro.com site. The ordinances can be found on the home page of the website as the third item on the right hand side - Highland Park Code. The tree ordinance is 1730.

Also, see Department of Public Work tree program.

Topics: trees | No Comments »

HP Environmental Education Center Open for HPEC Meetings

By hptabster | February 11, 2008

The Highland Park Environmental Comission meetings are on the third Wednesday of the month at the Eugene Young Highland Park Environmental Education Center on River Road at 8:00 PM.

Topics: meetings | No Comments »

Environmental Ed Center Gets its Furniture.

By leora | February 10, 2008

Step by step the Eugene Young Environmental Education Center on River Road at the Native Plant Reserve is being outfitted. New furniture will allow new activities to serve youth groups and adults interested in the local Highland Park (NJ) natural environment, or in hearing talks on all manner of environmental subjects.

Furniture was unpacked and set up just before the end of January 2008. This gives us a work table, a cabinet with work-table top and with storage below, and other cabinets, in addition to a table and chairs set up earlier. Maps of Highland Park, especially natural aspects like wetlands and flood plains, are now available to see there. Various things have also been donated, such as nature and science books and magazines and also a magazine rack.

Topics: Environmental Center | No Comments »