Monthly Programs

Since 2015 Fyke's monthly speaker costs have been funded by a generous grant from the Winifred M. and George P. Pitkin Foundation

January 26, 2024, Friday - Monthly Meeting: 8:00 p.m., online via Zoom

Travels in Japan: Island Endemics and Winter Wildlife, Kevin Watson

Kevin Watson

Birder and photographer Kevin Watson has traveled the length of Japan, from the snowy mountains and rocky coast of Hokkaido in the north, to the southern end of the tropical island chain that extends for over a thousand miles from Tokyo. We’ll see some of the endemic birds of these islands, as well as some of the Asian migrants that populate the Japanese woodlands in Spring.

Japan’s northernmost island Hokkaido is one of Kevin’s favorite destinations, and over the course of three visits he has spent many hours photographing the winter landscapes, massive Steller’s Sea Eagles on the pack ice and elegant Red-crowned Cranes performing their courtship dances on the snow. And of course, the famous Snow Monkeys (Japanese Macaques) at rest and play in their mountain hot springs.

February 23, 2024, Friday- Monthly Meeting, 8:00 p.m. via Zoom

Spring Migration at Teaneck Creek Conservancy, Executive Director Kathleen Farley

American Woodcock

Teaneck Creek Conservancy stewards 46 acres of a restored wetland with 1.3 miles of trails for outdoor enjoyment. Join Kathleen Farley, its executive director since July 2022, who will discuss migration at the park. In addition to other migrants, the park is woodcock stopover habitat. You may remember she gave a well-received Fyke presentation this time last year on her research on the American woodcock. Farley earned her doctorate in biology at Rutgers University-Newark where she focused on ornithology and community ecology in the urban environment.

March 29, 2024, Friday- Monthly Meeting, 8:00 p.m. via Zoom

Garret Mountain Reservation: A Migration Hotspot, Carole Hughes

American Bittern migrant at Barbour Pond

Garret Mountain has a well-deserved reputation as one of the premiere spring migrant traps in New Jersey. This program will discuss the geography and the micro habitats that make Garret unique. Learn about the expected species, the timeline of spring migration at Garret, and tips to get the most out of your birding day at this special place.

Carole Hughes has been an avid birder for 30-plus years in Texas and New Jersey. She volunteered for the Houston Zoo, working with a Crested Caracara. For the past 15 years, she has led adult and youth birding field trips for NJ Audubon and served on the Board of Directors. She is a current member of the NJ Bird Records Committee. She has traveled extensively for birding across the U.S., Central and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa.

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