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| Indigo Bunting |
| Credit: Herb Houghton |
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(click image to enlarge)
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| Orchard Oriole |
| Credit: Herb Houghton |
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Birds (see bird list – updated October 2011)
Many migratory birds are "funneled" through the Wallkill Valley. The Wallkill River bottomland is one of the few, large areas of high quality waterfowl habitat remaining in northwestern New Jersey. As a major watershed and wetland complex, the Wallkill River provides migratory habitat for thousands of Atlantic flyway ducks and geese such as American Black Duck, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Common Merganser and Canada Goose and plentiful nesting habitat for Wood Duck and Mallard.
In summer, songbirds such as the beautiful Indigo Bunting, Blue-winged Warbler, Bobolink, Scarlet Tanager, Baltimore Oriole, Orchard Oriole, Grasshopper Sparrow, Cedar Waxwing, and Chestnut-sided Warbler bring color and melody to the refuge. American Kestrels can be found most years nesting in the boxes that have been placed on utility poles along roads throughout the refuge, and the "who cooks for you" call of the Barred Owl can often be heard. Great Blue Heron, Green Heron and Swamp Sparrows are perennial summer inhabitants in the refuge’s wetlands. The fall migration of shorebirds (mid July to October), brings Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers, waterfowl, which arrive later in the season (September-November), and numerous songbirds (late August-October) that had nested further north. Raptors are plentiful during fall migration as well, when Sharp-shinned hawk, Cooper’s hawk, and Broad-winged hawk can be seen in good numbers on many September days. Short-eared owls, Northern Harriers, and Rough-legged Hawks are found primarily during the winter. The Liberty Loop Trail is the best place to look for these raptor and water bird migrants and winter residents. |
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| American Krestrel |
| Credit: Herb Houghton |
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| Wood Duck |
| Credit: Scott Vincent |
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