Barbour's Pond

Barbour's Pond
Barbour's Pond - November 11, 2013

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Deer problems in Woodland Park

Passaic Valley Today has an article on the current deer problems in Woodland Park. The problems in Woodland Park are related to the overpopulation of deer on Garret Mountain, within Rifle Camp Park and Garret Mountain Reservation. Read the whole story

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Barbour's Pond gets stocked Tuesday

On Tuesday, November 24, the state will stock Barbour's Pond with 160 14- to 18-inch year-old rainbow trout according to The Record's "Hole of the Week" and Mark J. Czerwinski. Read the "Hole of the Week" by using this link Hole of the Week. Fishermen please remember to remove all fishing line, lures, bobbers, bait cups and other trash. Lots of receptacles are provided by the park as well as local fishermen.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Bald Eagle over Riflecamp


This afternoon a juvenile Bald Eagle was seen over Riflecamp Park around 1PM. It was photographed by one of the park's local photographers.
Photo credits: Snowface

Monday, November 16, 2009

Warm weather brings 'em out

It was a beautiful 50-60 degree November morning at Garret Mountain Reservation. Lots of birds around as well as a few migrating Red-tailed Hawks. Red-bellied Woodpeckers were seen all around the park. 10 Hooded Mergansers dove on Barbour's Pond. Song, White-throated, Fox, Field, and Chipping were seen today too. A Red-breasted Nuthatch was seen in the pines of the New St. Reservoir as was a Cooper's Hawk. Purple Finch was seen in the wet area north of the pond and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker by the gazebo on the south end of the pond. 10 turtles were out sunning on Barbour's Pond. The highlight of the day was the Eastern Box Turtle seen along Benson Dr. near the Stoney Brook Picnic Grove.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Garret Mountain Birding Highlights

A red-breasted Nuthatch was seen and heard at the Great Notch Reservoir. Garret Mountain Reservation's highlights included 5 Hooded Mergansers, Eastern Towhee, Brown Creeper, 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets, numerous White-throated Sparrows and Juncos and 300+ Crows around Barbour's Pond.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Hoodies are back!

Hooded Mergansers are back on Barbour's Pond. 6 males and 3 females were seen late in the morning of 11/12/09 on a walk around the pond. Juncos and White-throated Sparrows are seen around all Garret Mountain Reservation. Other birds seen this morning were Blue Jays, Belted Kingfisher, Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker. Ring-necked Ducks are on the Great Notch Reservoir.

Why feeding deer is unhealthy for them


Many people think of feeding deer like feeding the birds. But there are some critical differences that make feeding deer unhealthy for the deer population, for plants near the feed site and for passing motorists.

Problems start because feed sites congregate deer into unnaturally high densities. These high deer densities can spread diseases among deer. Feeding can cause aggression in the herd, wasting deer's vital energy reserves and leading to injury or death; as well as using up critical fat reserves as deer expend energy traveling to and from the feed site. Feeding can deny access to food for subordinate deer and fawns, and can encourage over-browsing of local vegetation and ornamental plants. It also increases the likelihood of deer-vehicle collisions.

Deer must store body fat for the winter. The amount of body fat a deer has when it enters the winter directly determines if it will survive until spring. Deer accumulate body fat by increasing the amount of food they eat in September and October, when high-quality foods, such as acorns and other nuts, are abundant. By November, most deer have accumulated all the fat they will need to survive the winter. Research has also shown that large, dominant adult deer fill their bellies first at feeding sites, which means that smaller and weaker individuals, including the vulnerable fawns, will have wasted valuable energy traveling to the feeding site, where they may get little feed. Over time, feeding sites attract more and more deer competing for the same food supplies, which can lead to over-browsing and degradation of the natural habitat around a feeding site, as well as wreaking havoc on homeowners’ ornamental plantings.

Wildlife biologists also worry that deer feeding might help spread Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), which affects deer and elk and is always fatal. Although biologists don’t know exactly how this disease spreads, they believe its transmission requires close contact between animals. When humans put out food for deer, they create a situation where an unnaturally high number of deer become concentrated in a small area.

If you care about deer, leave them alone -- let them be wild, and find natural foods and appropriate winter shelter on their own. The bottom line is, please don't feed the deer, and please discourage your neighbors, friends and relatives from engaging in this harmful activity.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Welcome to the Friends of Garret Mountain Reservation blog

Welcome to the Friends of Garret Mountain Reservation blog. Click on the New Garret Mountain Reservation map and print a new all-purpose trail map! We spent countless hours on this map to get it right! There will more information to come in the next few months, like bird lists, trip lists, hikes, nature walks, general park information and much, much more.