Van Cortlandt Nature Group Walk

Signs of fall are all around us. Fall migrant warblers have been coming through, and the raptors are crossing the skies of Van Cortlandt Park. Soon the winter residents will be coming in like the white throated sparrow and northern shovelers. Hummingbirds have been filling up on jewelweed nectar in preparation for their southern migration. The Tibbetts Meadow is looking glorious with asters, goldenrod and staghorn sumac that are providing sustenance for the hungry migrant species and our resident birds.

Animals are beginning to fatten up ahead of winter, and since farmers had recently cleaned out their fields under the Harvest Moon, hunters could easily see the deer and other animals that had come out to root through the remaining scraps.