Fyke Events and Field Trips
Please register with the event leader to facilitate planning and to enable last-minute communication about any changes or cancellation on account of the weather. Beginners are welcome.
March 14, 2026, Saturday, 6:00 PM
Woodcocks at Dusk
Meet at the end of Halifax Road in Mahwah for a chance to see the dramatic courtship display of these otherwise reclusive birds. What we hope to witness goes something like this:
First, male woodcocks utter a distinctive one-note peent call with a buzzy, nasal quality. They then flutter high into the air and circle repeatedly, allowing the rushing air to rise in a winnowing whistle as it passes over their wings. To finish off, they acrobatically descend back to the very same spot they took off from and repeat the process in the hopes of attracting a female.
There are no guarantees in birding, but with luck you will have a memorable experience. Contact Mike Limatola mike.limatola@gmail.com to let him know to expect you. Alternate date Saturday, March 21
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For any community groups requesting a guided or non-guided walk at the Celery Farm, please email Sue Dougherty at naturegirlsue@yahoo.com. In the email, please indicate whether you are requesting a guide for your walk or if your group will be providing its own guide. Sue will respond to the request by email to let you know if the request can be accommodated and to arrange the details. |
March 28, 2026, Saturday
74th Anniversary of the Fyke Founding Organizational Meeting in 1952
April 11, 2026, Saturday, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Annual Spring Celery Farm Cleanup
The winter snow melt reveals what has been left behind by certain visitors or blown in or carried down the flooded Allendale Broook. Many hands make light work. Meet at the end of Green Way.
Bring gloves and a tool if you have one to assist in grabbing and picking up trash, such as a rake, broom handle with a nail at the end, or grabbers. Garbage bags will be provided. Rain date Sunday, April 12.
April 25-26, Saturday - Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
May 2-3, Saturday - Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
May 9-10, Saturday - Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
May 16-17, Saturday - Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Celery Farm Spring Planting
Everyone is welcome to participate in planting 5,400 seedling "plugs" comprising 18 native plant species next to the trail by Kickypoo Corner and next to Parnell's Path (see the Celery Farm Map). The planting project is scheduled for four consecutive weekends, beginning with the last weekend in April. The margin of the planted and cleared area will not extend further than 30 fee from the edge of the trail.
The spring and fall plantings in 2025 were made possible by generous donations given by our supporters. If you would like to contribute toward the expenses for the spring planting this year, please visit the Volunteer Wishlist pledge page.
The native species are Eastern Swamp Milkweed, Bluejoint Grass, Fringed Sedge, Tussock Sedge, Fox Sedge, Blue Mistflower, Boneset, Sneezeweed, Swamp Sunflower, Swamp Rose Mallow, Blue Flag Iris, Canada Rush, Soft Rush, Rice Cutgrass, Blue Lobelia, Pickerelweed, Broadleaf Cattail, and Culver’s Root. Rain date weekend is May 23-24.
June 14, 2026, Sunday
45th Anniversary of the 1981 Celery Farm Dedication
Almost Every Sunday and Most Saturdays
Celery Farm Volunteers Habitat Restoration
Register here to be added to the email notification list for the times and locations.
Every Sunday 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM
Hour on the Tower
Everyone is invited to join with the group of regulars who keep a list of every species of bird they can identify over the course of one hour at the Celery Farm. It's a good way to improve your birding skills and catch up on Celery Farm news. Beginners are welcome. The location may shift between the Pirie-Mayhood Tower platform on the east side of Lake Appert and the Warden's Watch platform near the Franklin Turnpike parking area. Contact Julie McCall to find out where to meet up.
Self-Directed Exploration Open to Fyke Members
North Harpersfield Property
George Rand and Pamela Ryder invite Fyke members to visit 135 acres of forest, field, stream, and pond in upstate NY. Please download and print this document,which contains essential information you must read before your visit, including directions, contact numbers, waiver, lodging, and area attractions. You will also want to download and print this map of the property and this release and waiver document.
January, 2024 to Present Day
Habitat Restoration Projects
Fyke Nature Association Volunteers have been working hard to remove invasives and plant new and rehabilitate existing native plants at the Celery Farm.
Beginning with just a handful of people in 2023, the team has grown to over 100 thanks to the leadership of Neil MacLennan and Frank Alcaide.
You can review more than 100 work dates beginning in 2024 using the Volunteer Activity Calendar.
March 7, 2026, Saturday, 9:00 Am to 1:30 PM
Super Science Saturday
This annual event at the Ridgewood High School features many displays and presentations across a wide variety of S.T.E.M. topics.
You can find the Fyke table near the entrance hosted by Mike LeFebvre.
From the Super Science Saturday About Us page: Super Science Saturday, hailed as the "Greatest Science Extravaganza in Northern New Jersey," brings fun and excitement to science through professional presenters and student projects.
Find out more on their website: https://www.supersciencesaturday.org,
September 2 - November 15, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Mt. Peter Hawk Watch
Get under the Atlantic Flyway this fall and witness the southbound spectacle of raptors and songbirds. Mount Peter has reserved a spot just for you with views of the Warwick Valley clear out to the Kittatinny Mountains and access to the best homemade ice cream in the Northeast. Best times: mid-September for Broad-wings, Osprey and Bald Eagles; or mid- October – November for Red-tails and Red-shoulders and, with luck, a Golden Eagle. The watch is located above the Creamery at the top of 17A between Greenwood Lake and Warwick, NY.
New counters/leaders are always welcome. If you are available to be responsible for the count on one of these dates and you are all interested, consider becoming part of our hawk watch family and contact Ken Witkowski kenwitkowski@yahoo.com.
September 2 - November 15, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
State Line Hawk Watch
Information from the Hawk Migration Association website.
State Line Hawk Watch is located in the Palisades Interstate Park in New Jersey. Our observation point is 527 feet above the Hudson River in Alpine, NJ, the highest point on the Palisades in New Jersey. We are wheelchair accessible, and there are restrooms and a refreshment stand on site. We operate each day throughout the period, weather and volunteer availability permitting. Public education is the primary focus of this hawk watch, and all are welcome.
History: founded by Linn Pierson in 1997. Since Linn's death in 2007, the site has continued to be staffed by volunteers coordinated through the Palisades Interstate Park Commission.
Directions: Google Map. From Palisades Interstate Parkway northbound, State Line Lookout is an unnumbered but well-marked exit two miles north of Exit 2. From Parkway southbound, take the well-marked median U-turn at Exit 3, then use caution as you merge onto the northbound Parkway, as you will have to move immediately to the right lane to exit for State Line exit.
October 25, 2025, Saturday, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Ducks at Dusk at the Celery Farm
Gather at the Warden's Watch platform with Mike Limatola at this annual event. It's a wonderful time to see migrating waterfowl. Rain date: Sunday, October 26.
October 13, 2025, Sunday, All Day
The Big Sit! at the Celery Farm
The Big Sit Wants You!
Every year, birders around the world participate in The Big Sit, a contest to see how many species of birds a team can see from one location in a 24-hour period.
The Fyke Nature Association is inviting all interested birders to participate in the Big Sit at the Celery Farm Nature Preserve in Allendale from sunrise to sundown on Sunday, Oct. 12.
Jim Wright has foolishly agreed to be the captain of the Celery Stalkers team. You can contact him and let him know the hour(s) you’d like to participate. His email is celeryfarm@gmail.com.
For more about the Big Sit: https://www.thebigsit.org/about
September 26 - September 28 and October 3 - October 5
Friday - Sunday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
October 11 and October 12
Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Celery Farm Fall Planting
Volunteers Needed! As part of the Fyke Association’s ongoing habitat management of the Celery Farm, volunteers are planting over 2,600 native wildflowers and grasses at the Green Way Meadow by Phair’s Pond (#18 on the Celery Farm map). Come join us to lend a hand!
Christian Alcaide, Habitat Restoration Coordinator at the Celery Farm, outlines the plan for the planting in this video here. Information on volunteering at the Celery Farm can be found here.
August 24, 2025, Sunday, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Late Summer Plant Walk
The dog days of summer are some of the best times to look at native plants! Join us as we look at the wildflowers (and other plants) of the Celery Farm and admire some late season pollinators as well!
Meet at the end of Green Way. Contact Ryan Griffin ryangriff56@gmail.com as a courtesy to let him know to expect you. Rain date: Sunday, August 31.
July 19, 2025, Saturday, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Introduction to Plant Identification
For those wanting to learn more about how to start identifying the plants they see around them (it can be a very daunting thing when you don’t know how to start!) This walk would be a beginner-friendly, no experience needed introduction to how to look at plants and what traits to focus on when trying to identify them. We will focus on some easy-to-learn trees, wildflowers, and ferns to introduce basic concepts and hopefully inspire people to look more closely at plants.
Meet at the end of Green Way. Contact Ryan Griffin ryangriff56@gmail.com as a courtesy to let him know to expect you. Rain date: Sunday, July 20.
June 22, 2025, Sunday, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Invasive and Introduced Species Walk
Invasive and introduced species are everywhere you look — even at the Celery Farm. On this walk we will look at some of the most common invasive species in our area and how to identify them. We will also discuss what an invasive species is, why they are considered such a serious environmental threat, and what people at the Celery Farm and beyond are doing to protect and restore native biodiversity. Once you learn about invasive species, it will forever change how you take a hike!
Meet at the end of Green Way. Contact Ryan Griffin ryangriff56@gmail.com as a courtesy to let him know to expect you.
June 14, 2025, Saturday
44th Anniversary of the 1981 Celery Farm Dedication
May 24, 2025, Saturday, 7:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Lincoln Park Birding Walk with Ivan Kossak
Due to the fact that much of Lincoln Park is wetland that cannot be developed, green space represents a large portion of the town’s square mileage. Over the years, I have found these green spaces to hold excellent birding opportunities. This is the inspiration for The Great Lincoln Park Bird Count; an annual effort to find as many bird species as possible each calendar year. 2025 is the 11th year of the count which has found 197 species so far. I love to share the wonderful world that I have discovered with other birders and will lead a walk on May 24th to do just that for Fyke members.
Centennial Park is a small "pocket" park at the edge of The Great Piece Meadows that probably has more bird species per square foot (including Morris County's first Ash-throated Flycatcher) than any other place I have birded. The woods at Two Bridges is a great place to find migrants and it also hosts breeding populations of Wood Duck, Great Crested Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, Wood Thrush, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and others.
We will meet at 7:00 AM at Centennial Park on Pine Brook Road. Use the Google maps link here for directions. Please RSVP to ivankossak@gmail.com if you plan on joining us.
May 18, 2025, Sunday, 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Spring Migration at the Celery Farm
Whether you’re new to bird watching or have decades of experience under your belt, join us for a birding walk at the Celery Farm as we see what spring migrants are passing through! While the main focus will be on birding and bird identification, we’ll also discuss bird conservation and the ecology behind this incredible movement of wildlife through our area. Open to all levels of experience.
Meet at the end of Green Way. Contact Ryan Griffin ryangriff56@gmail.com as a courtesy to let him know to expect you. Rain date: Sunday, May 25.
May 16 - 18, 2025, Friday - Sunday, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
2025 Celery Farm Spring Planting
Fyke Volunteers will be planting in the area alongside the trail on the west side of Lake Appert where Phragmites were cut down over the winter. They will be planting a total 1,400 "plugs" of plants that are native, perennial, deer resistant, and suited to the wet, mucky soil and full sun.
Go here for more information about the project.
Go here for information on becoming a volunteer.
May 3-4, 2025, Saturday and Sunday
Stepping Up For The Celery Farm
2025 Stepping Up Report
Annual Stepping Up for the Celery Farm Fundraiser
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April 19, 2024, Saturday, 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Discover the Plants of the Celery Farm
Enjoy finding early spring wildflowers and other plants. Meet at the end of Green Way.
Mike Lefebvre is a naturalist who has led Plant ID Walks and Talks for the Fyke Nature Association, Friends of the Bonsal Preserve (Montclair) the Friends of the NJ School of Conservation (Stokes State Forest) and Bergen County Audubon Society. He is the Publicity Chairperson for the Fyke Nature Association and currently working as a teacher naturalist for NJ Audubon’s Lorrimer Sanctuary. He kept a nature blog (now retired) which documented local hikes along with flora and fauna for many years. Mike’s hobby is documenting the flora of local nature preserves including the Celery Farm.
Contact Mike LeFebvre mike.lefeb753@aol.com to let him know to expect you. Rain date Sunday, April 20.