by Rick Wright
Rick lectures about birds all over the world. He is a field trip leader with Victor Emanuel Nature Tours taking people on bird and art adventures. He is widely published. Recent books include the ABA Field Guide to Birds of New Jersey, the ABA Field Guide to Birds of Arizona, and the Peterson Reference Guide to American Sparrows. When he is not traveling the globe, he enjoys Brookdale Park with his wife and dog.
An island of green in a sea of suburbia, the woods, fields, and thickets that make up Essex County’s Brookdale Park are a vital oasis for a wide range of birds and other wildlife. Over the years, more than 150 bird species have been recorded here—some breeding, some wintering, others year-round residents. A number of those species are listed by the state or the federal government as threatened or endangered, including the bald eagle, peregrine falcon, red-shouldered hawk, and American kestrel, all of which are regularly seen in or over the park by alert observers.
American Kestrel. Photo credit: © Michael JD | Macaulay Library
A particular specialty is the Wood thrush, whose loud, flute-like song can be heard in the park from May to August; this is a species of special conservation concern in New Jersey, and in most years a pair at least attempts to breed in the old forest remnant in the southern part of the park.
Wood Thrush. Photo credit: Rick Wright
Many birders visit specifically to witness the peak migration of warblers in May and September; no fewer than 29 species of this colorful group can be seen in Brookdale Park, among them the Wilson warbler, named for the Father of American Ornithology, who lived and taught in Bloomfield more than 200 years ago.
Wilson Warbler. Photo credit: Rick Wright
Here is a list of birds that have been sighted in Brookdale Park in late April. How many have you seen?
Recommended Reading:
ABA Field Guide to Birds of New Jersey
Peterson Reference Guide to American Sparrows
Watching Birds in Montclair
Watching Birds in the New Jersey Meadowlands
Kids Activity:
Budding birding enthusiasts can craft their own binoculars to take into the park.
Photo credit:
@nadydelarosaphotography