Nature Done Wright

Incorporating the Celery Farm and Screech Owl Companion blogs

August 18, 2013

More about Walker Ave. Wetlands

My latest column for The Record and Herald News was on the Walker Avenue Wetlands in Wayne, which prompted this helpful commentary from Dan Poalillo. Dan writes:

I bird Walker regularly, and being a teacher with a
summer break, find myself there 2-3 times a week in July and August. I was
surprised that you seemed to suggest in the article that you have never been to
Walker before. I thought you might like
to hear a few more things about the place that Ivan may or may not have relayed
to you.

Walker represents really
the only habitat of its type in the entire Passaic County, as least as far as I
know. Wetlands of this type are more
abundant in Morris and Bergen Counties, but not so here.

For this reason it represent the only real
wader/shorebirding opportunity in Passaic County. I can personally report seeing White-rumped,
Pectoral, Semipalmated, Least, and even a single Baird's Sandpiper here in
recent years (depending on the water level by August, which is usually very
low).

I believe it was Jim
Schlickenrieder who also told me he had seen a Baird's here. Jim has found (and I refound) Glossy Ibis on
2 occasions. Little Blue and Tricolored
Heron has occurred here.

Justin Muratore has seen American Bittern here. For almost all of these species this is the
only place in the county to predictably see one. Spotted, Solitary, and both yellowlegs
also occur here, but are sometimes available elsewhere in the county as well.

In winter dabblers abound and there are always some
Blue-winged Teal in spring. Again, with
Blue-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, and a few other ducks there are few other
places in Passaic to see these birds.

Wilson's Snipe is also here in March/April (and I am
sure at other times). You may remember
there was even a Ruff that appeared at Walker years back (before my time
birding there).

Since I bird Walker year round I have amassed a
decent list–106 species for the site. I
am sure that's not exhaustive. In all it
is a great place that really supports more then meets the eye.

(Thanks, Dan!)