Fyke Events and Field Trips
Please register with the leader to facilitate planning and to enable last-minute communication about any changes or cancellation on account of the weather. Beginners are welcome.
September 21 and 22, Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Native Plant Garden Open Door Days
Visit the volunteers who are planting Cardinal Flower, Lizards Tail, New York Aster, and Swamp Sunflower in the East Side Native Plant Garden this weekend, adding to the variety of flowers that were planted there in the spring.
The garden is located on the east side main trail around Lake Appert. Here is the approximate location shown on Google maps. It is about a quarter mile from the Franklin Turnpike parking area and from the entrance at the end of Green Way.
If you would like to volunteer, contact Frank Alcaide mrfranciscoalcaide@gmail.com.
September 3 - 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.
September 3 - November 15, 2023, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
State Line Hawk Watch
Meet at the State Line lookout in Alpine, NJ. This site has easy access and parking. Here is a chance to look down at migrating hawks. From September through early November, volunteer observers record the migration of raptors from the lookout point, volunteer availability and weather conditions permitting.
October 13, 2024, Sunday, All Day
The Big Sit! at the Celery Farm
The Big Sit! is an annual, international, noncompetitive birding event. Our team, The Celery Stalkers, sits in a circle 17 feet in diameter for 24 hours counting all the bird species we see or hear. The center of our circle is the Pirie-Mayhood Tower. Observations can only be made within the 17-foot circle. If a bird is seen or heard from within the circle but is too distant to identify, you may leave the circle to get a closer look. Any new bird species seen or heard while out of the circle cannot be counted unless it is seen or heard by someone in the circle, or you see it again when you return to the circle.
To sign up for a 2–3-hour team, contact Carol Flanagan, carolflana@aol.com
October 19, 2023, 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 20.
Every Sunday 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM at the Celery Farm
Usually on the Pirie-Mayhood Tower platformHour 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. It's a good way to improve your birding skills and catch up on Celery Farm news. 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 Charley West 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.
August 31, 2024, Saturday, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Ramapo College Students Work Day
The Ramapo College Leaders In Service group showed up in numbers and got down and dirty clearing the massive debris jam at the Franklin Turnpike parking lot bridge and several other large log and stick jams upstream, which were hindering proper water flow.
Keeping the preserve's waterways clear of debris moves water out of the preserve quickly, preventing sediment from building up and reducing flooding.
July 20, 2023, Saturday, 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Open House at the East Side Native Plant Garden
The volunteers who planted the East Side Native Plant Garden at the Celery Farm this spring are hosting an Open House, inviting visitors inside the exclosure fence that is protecting the plants from the deer while they get established. You will get a chance to see the native plants up close and converse with the volunteers, asking any questions that you may have about the plants and the ongoing habitat restoration projects at the Celery Farm.
The foxglove beardtongue blooms are past, but you can see swamp milkweed, blue lobelia, blue vervain, and narrow leaf mountain mint flowers.
The garden is located along the main trail on the east side of Lake Appert. Here is the approximate location shown on Google maps. It is about a quarter mile from the Franklin Turnpike parking area and from the entrance at the end of Green Way.
Frank Alcaide is the Native Plant Garden Volunteer Coordinator this summer. You may send an email to Frank mrfranciscoalcaide@gmail.com to let him know to expect you, but it is not required. Feel free to drop in. Rain Date Sunday, July 21.
July 14, 2023, Sunday, 10:30 AM
Butterfly Walk at the Celery Farm
The Fyke Nature Association's annual Celery Farm Butterfly Walk is held in memory of Tom Burr, the late Fyke member, naturalist, photographer, and friend. Meet at the end of Green Way at 10:30 a.m. for a 90-minute stroll. Here is the Google Map location. Dress for bright sun. Bring water and sunscreen. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Sponsored by the Fyke Nature Association and the Lee Memorial Library. This event is free.
Fred Weber maintains the Green Way Meadow for pollinators. Mid-July is the peak time for butterflies. To register, email Fred fweber7268@gmail.com to let him know to expect you.
You can brush up on your butterfly ID skills here on our website and you can even keep a record of the butterflies and other insects you see here using the Winged Insects Checklist.
June 29, 2024, Saturday, 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Discover the Plants of the Celery Farm
Enjoy finding early summer 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 njurbanforest@hotmail.com to let him know to expect you. Rain date Sunday, June 30.
You can take a quiz on some of the plants of the Celery Farm here on our website.
June 14, 2024, Thursday
43rd Anniversary of the 1981 Celery Farm Dedication
May 4-5, 2024, Saturday and Sunday
Stepping Up For The Celery Farm
Our annual fundraiser is based on the number of bird species observed over a two day period by citizen-scientists like you. To sign up for the count, please contact Gabriele Schmitt at gaby413@aol.com.
Pledges per species can be emailed to our Treasurer, Kurt Muenz,
at elkumu@aceweb.com
or mailed to:
Fyke Nature Association
PO Box 141, Ramsey. NJ 07446
Stepping Up For The Celery Farm Pledge Form – 2023
Yes, I want to support Stepping Up For The Celery Farm by making a pledge per bird species seen over the two day period. I understand that 65 to 93 species have been recorded, however, the total could be higher if conditions are ideal.
My pledge is: __$1/species __$.75/species __$.50/species __$.25/species $___/species
Name:
Address:
Phone:
April 20, 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 njurbanforest@hotmail.com to let him know to expect you. Rain date Sunday, April 21.
April 6, 2024, 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. Contact Mike Limatola mike.limatola@gmail.com to let him know you are coming. Rain date Sunday, April 7.
March 28, 2024, Thursday
72nd Anniversay of the Fyke Founding Organizational Meeting in 1952
March 8, 2024, Friday, 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.
December 16, 2023, Saturday
Christmas Bird Count
Co-compilers Lisa and Rob Fanning
The annual Ramsey Christmas Bird Count (CBC) will be held Saturday, December 16, 2023 as part of Audubon’s 124th CBC. Eight separate team circles will combine to cover a 15-mile diameter circle centered on Lake Erskine, including all or part of Ramsey, Mahwah, Allendale, Wyckoff, Franklin Lakes, Oakland, Wayne, Pompton Lakes, Bloomingdale, Ringwood, West Milford, Greenwood Lake, Tuxedo, Hillburn, Sloatsburg and Suffern. Roundup will be virtual once again.
If you would like to participate in the Ramsey count, email fyke@fykenature.org for more information.
Or to participate in the Hackensack/Ridgewood count email Dave Hall david.hall@einsteinmed.edu.
Or to participate in the Teaneck Creek Conservancy count email Don Torino greatauk4@gmail.com.
October 22, 2023, Sunday, 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.