Nature's Domain

Earlier this year, Larry and Ray Hennessy launched their new nature photography blog. Their goal was to create an informative blog about nature and wildlife photography, and they've been quite successful. The site creates a community of naturalists and photographers that can share their ideas and their passion by displaying their work. Check out the site at Nature's Domain.

My first post on the site is a brief trip report of my recent trip to Panama's Canopy Tower. It was my first foray into the world of eco-tourism and birding outside of the northeast, and I had an absolute blast. Please check out the post and all of the incredible wildlife I was able to capture. It can be found here. Thanks, everyone!

Christmas Bird Count

If you're not familiar with CBCs, they are all day bird counts in a given area. That could be a town (East Brunswick), a county (Sussex), or any other location you can think up (the Raritan River Estuary). The events this year run from December 14th until January 5th, and you can still get in on many that invite the public or decide to have your own just for fun!

Long-Eared Owl seen in Morris County (c) 2008

The Christmas Bird Count is a great way to get outdoors during the winter season and have a good time. It's also a great way to serve as a citizen scientists; the data gathered during these events may help conservation organizations to determine the health and status of many groups of birds.

Visit Audubon's Christmas Bird Count site for more information! Bundle up and get out there!

There are a few sounds still which never fail to affect me. The notes of the wood thrush and the sound of a vibrating chord, these affect me as many sounds once did often, and as almost all should. The strains of the aeolian harp and of the wood thrush are the truest and loftiest preachers that I know now left on earth. I know of no missionaries to us heathen comparable to them. They, as it were, life us up in spite of ourselves. They intoxicate, they charm us.

Henry David Thoreau, Journal, 31 December 1853

Photo by Eddie Callway of Birdfreak.com (c) 2008

Ivory Gull continues in Cape May

Ivory Gulls breed in the high Arctic and even spend winters far north of NJ, usually on pack ice in the Bering Sea or off the coast of northeastern Canada. Last winter it was a real treat to have an Ivory Gull as far south as Massachusetts. Last week another individual showed up even further south - right here in New Jersey! The bird has been hanging out at a marina in Cape May, feasting on fish that have washed ashore. On a few occasions the gull appeared to be heading off for good, but so far has returned every day for more easy meals.

Photo by jomilo75 (c) 2007

The above photo is a mature Ivory Gull in its usual habitat. The immature bird in Cape May is mostly white, but has some black spotting on its wings and back. As of December 7th, it was still being seen at Bree-Zee-Lee Marina.

I won't be able to spare the time needed to get down there until December 19th...so if anyone can speak gull, try and convince this young fella to stick around.

Naturalist Profile: Frank DeBlasio

NJ Outdoors was fortunate enough to be able to interview Frank DeBlasio, life-long New Jersey resident and wildlife photographer. Check out the short interview below along with some of Frank's photographs.


What are your favorite areas of the state to visit?
My favorite part of NJ is Sussex County in the spring & fall. The Jersey Shore in the summer.


What are some of your favorite outdoors activities?
I love hunting, fishing & photography in New Jersey.

How did you first become interested in nature/wildlife photography (or photography in general)?
I have always carried a camera around since I was a child - you never know what you will see out there.


Do you have any favorite subjects (certain birds, mammals, etc)?
I think that the Wild Turkey is my favorite to photograph, but I love to photograph all wildlife. White-tailed deer and hawks are high on my list. I also like to photograph sports - especially football.


Any advice for novice photographers out there who might be reading this?
I am NOT a professional by any means. I am always learning. With wildlife you have to put a lot of time in. Even in a zoo it's not that easy to get the right shot. But in the wild it's much harder. You have to get to know where the animals & birds are at certain times ff the day, year, etc. Sometimes I wear camo, use calls, whatever it takes. Just learn your camera & get out there ! ! !

All photographs (c) Frank DeBlasio

Late Autumn Feast

Earlier this week I was lucky enough to get some visitors before leaving for work. The berry tree outside our third-floor condo's window had welcomed the occasional flock of American Robins and even a few Cedar Waxwings, but it never seemed to be living up to its bird-attracting potential. Well, it certainly did on this morning.


The usual suspects like House Sparrows and American Robins were lined up for their turn at the red berries. A Dark-Eyed Junco, the first of the season outside our condo, showed up and snuck a few quick bites.


Our resident Downy Woodpecker, which we have affectionately named Robert Downy Jr., also joined in on the festivities - although he mostly stuck to the suet feeder. To my surprise a Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker showed up for the first time outside our condo and downed a few berries!


A few American Goldfinches flew in, followed by some unwelcomed European Starlings. Some of my favorite birds joined in on the festivities as well - a small flock of Cedar Waxwings flew into the tree to feast. Such cool-looking birds!

If anyone knows what kind of tree this is, please let me know. I'm still fairly bad with plant IDs, unless it's a Sweet Gum or an American Holly.

Fishers and tracking in New Jersey

In the latest issue of Trail Walker, a publication of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, Robynn K. Shannon takes a look at the return of fishers to Sussex County in northern New Jersey (page 7). These nocturnal mustelids are extremely elusive and were only confirmed in the state with the use of strategically placed camera traps.

The wildlife biologist who works most extensively with these camera traps, Charlie Kontos, has also written an article which appears on page 7 of this issue. He discusses the tracking of both fishers and bobcats in northern New Jersey during the winter. This knowledge helped him to eventually capture a fisher on camera in 2006, the first known record in the state since the late 1800s.

Photo by Charlie Kontos (c) 2006

Kontos, a PhD student in the Ecology & Evolution graduate program at Rutgers University, also runs his own website chronicling the history of the fisher in New Jersey. The site can be found here and also includes photos, interesting information about the predator, and much more regarding the Garden State's lesser seen wildlife. Check out both the Trail Walker and The New Jersey Fisher Experience to learn more about the state's most impressive hunters.