Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum opened its 2014 membership year with a talk at the Wayne Public Library on “Creating a Backyard Habitat for The Seasonal Birds of New Jersey” given by Patrick Scheuer, teacher-naturalist at the Lorrimer Audubon Sanctuary in Franklin Lakes.

In a slideshow that accompanied his talk, Scheur showed the array of birdlife throughout the area at different times of the year and discussed our backyards can serve as valuable habitats for birds. “More than 350 species of birds live in New Jersey, and 250 stay and nest over the winter,” he said. “We feed the birds because they are fun to watch, but a side benefit is that some birds have expanded their habitats because we are feeding them.”

Growing up in the shadow of the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania, Scheuer’s interest in birding began at an early age. He earned a degree in Earth Sciences at Penn State University and then worked as a naturalist and guide for several years in the Pocono Mountains before coming to New Jersey Audubon Society.

More than 65 people attended the program, which was planned as a special thank you to FOLA members and the Master Gardeners of Passaic County, who have done so much to support the organization’s efforts to preserve and maintain Laurelwood Arboretum.