Nature Done Wright

A big thank you to Gaby Schmitt, Tom Marshall, Kevin Watson and Patty Finn for helping with the Garlic Mustard "Pull and Bag" at the Celery Farm this a.m., with an assist from Julie McCall. We removed at least 12 large trash bags full of the nasty invasive — a small dent in a large problem, but a start. (Thank you, all!)

You can help us remove the white-flowered Garlic Mustard — just bring a plastic garbage with you and remove any along the path (but looking out for lurking Poison Ivy).

More on Garlic Mustard in NJ here. I have e-mailed the state's Beneficial Bug Lab to see if there is any help in sight for this rude plant.

On the earlier walk, we had 37 species, including Rusty Blackbird and the female Tree Swallow above.  (I took the photo above as I walked past the nest, and it did not seem to mind.) During the Garlic Mustard removal, we also had a Broad-wing and an Osprey. Also heard a Great Crested Flycatcher.

Others reported Northern Waterthrush and Lousiana Waterthrush, but they eluded us.