All about the Celery Farm Natural Area in Allendale, NJ, with occasional forays afield. Copyright 2013, Jim Wright, author of "Hawk Mountain" and "The Nature of the Meadowlands" -- with additional posts by Rob Fanning and Seymour Drakes.
I finally cleaned out the screech owl box the other day.
To my surprise, the one egg that hadn't hatched was gone.
I pushed out all the feathers and wood chips -- all nice and dry -- and closed it up again.
I will put in new wood chips in early October and hope for another great season.
I will keep an eye on the inside of the box in the meantime, just to make sure squirrels don't try to move in...
Damn those squirrels!
Since I got the video cam to monitor the nest, Mrs. Ace has laid 19 eggs; 18 hatched and successfully left the box. What happened to the unhatched egg this year is anybody's guess.
If you happened to see a guy in a red
jacket by my Screech Owl nesting box earlier this month, you'll be
relieved to know that the guy was not a wacko but rather a trained nesting-box camera installer, better known as (the legendary) Mike From Philly.
Mike installed the first mini microphone and mini infrared video cam for the neighborhood Screechers more than three years ago, and the elements finally got to them.
When the cam and mike crapped out early last fall, I asked the MFP to do a new installation (left). Everything works great.
And yes, we removed the lens cap.
Click "Continue reading..." for more owl cam info.
One day earlier this month, bird after bird started to land on a Wood Duck nesting box near my backyard and then squawk like heck.
Toward sunset, a screech owl popped up and left at dusk. He has not returned to the box since then. In December, I had a red-phased screecher catch some shut-eye there, and it has not returned either.
Click "Continue reading..." to see a pic of the recent screecher, taken from my window. (It is best to leave screech owls alone.)
It's getting to be the time of year when people in these parts start seeing Screech Owls poking their heads out of nesting boxes and tree cavities, but no sign of Ace yet.
I got my hopes mildly yesterday when I saw several dickie birds looking into the Ace residence, but there was no owl ...
After more than three years of stellar service, my owlcam died. I am working on a replacement now -- once you've had the luxury of being able to check the inside of the box, this cameralessness is torture.
The box has been cleaned out, with a new carpeting of wood shavings. I may have to start advertising again. The housing market for Screech Owls must still be a tad slow.
Jim Wright and Jerry Barrack: Swan Babies This children's book, photographed at the Celery Farm, is the heart-warming true story of a pair of mute swans who overcame a nor'easter to save their nest.
All profits go to the Lillian and Stiles Thomas Scholarship Fund at Northern Highlands, and to the restoration of the historic Fell House.
Available at Rohsler's Nursery in Allendale, Wild Birds Unlimited in Paramus and Wild Bird Emporium in Midland Park.
Wright, Barrack & Friends of the Celery Farm: Survival: The Red-shouldered Hawks of Allendale This book is now avaialble as a download for iPads. Via Blurb.com: http://www.blurb.com/my/book/detail/2677163
Jim Wright, Doug Goodell and Jerry Barrack: Jungle of the Maya The definitive coffee-table book about Central America's largest -- and threatened -- rainforest. With sections on rare birds, howler monkeys and spider monkeys, Maya history, butterflies and more.
Available on line. Wild Birds Unlimited may have a few copies.
Jim Wright and Jerry Barrack, with Doug Goodell: In the Presence of Nature
This is the coffee table book about the Celery Farm Natural Area in Allendale, published in 2002 and now out of print. It tells the history of the farm and features great photography, Foreword by David Allen Sibley.
Copies are available at Rohsler's Nursery in Allendale, Wild Birds Unlimited in Paramus and Wild Bird Emporium in Midland Park.
Jim Wright and Jerry Barrack: Icky the Hungry Heron
A children's book about an amazing Great Blue Heron's quest for a gigantic carp at the Celery Farm, featuring photographs taken at the natural area.
All profits go to the Lillian and Stiles Thomas Scholarship Fund at Northern Highlands, and to the restoration of the historic Fell House.
Available at Rohsler's Nursery in Allendale, Wild Birds Unlimited in Paramus and Wild Bird Emporium in Midland Park.
Jim Wright and Kevin Watson: Hawk Mountain
This coffee-table book was published in 2009 as part of the world-famous raptor sanctuary's 75th anniversary. Features great photos by Kevin Watson, thoughtful prose, and some neat archival photos as well.
Available at Wild Birds Unlimited in Paramus and online.
Jim Wright and the Artists of Northern Highlands: Ghosts of Allendale
A ghost story featuring Founding Father John Fell and the Celery Farm Natural Area.
All profits go to the Lillian and Stiles Thomas Scholarship Fund at Northern Highlands, and to the restoration of the historic Fell House.
Now on sale at the Lee Memorial Library in Allendale, Rohsler's Nursery in Allendale, Wild Birds Unlimited in Paramus It tells the history of the farm and features great photography, Foreword by David Allen Sibley. While supplies last.
Jim Wright, Jerry Barrack, Doug Goodell: Duck Enough To Fly
The classic children's book is now back in print. Photographed at the Celery Farm. The book is for sale as Nov. 29 at Rohsler's Nursery in Allendale and Wild Birds Unlimited in Paramus.
Photography by Jerry Barrack, Text by Jim Wright: Birds of the Celery Farm
This is a collection of Jerry Barrack's classic bird photography taken at the Celery Farm -- where else?
Available at Rohsler's Nursery in Allendale, Wild Birds Unlimited in Paramus, and Wild Bird Emporium in Midland Park.
