The Celery Farm Nature Preserve

06/01/2026

June 2, 2026, Tuesday - Co-Sponsored Talk 7:00 PM at the Allendale Community Center
Fierce and Fastest with Jim Wright.

In this co-sponsored talk with Fyke and the Lee Memorial Library, Jim Wright, author of the acclaimed new book The Peregrine Falcon, tells all about these incredible raptors in this lavishly illustrated talk: how they can travel at 200 mph, why they nearly went extinct, how they were saved (in the unlikeliest way), and how they became an internet superstar. Even if you think you know a lot about peregrines, prepare to be surprised. The talk will feature several of Kevin Watson's photos from the book.

Booklist magazine raves: "Full of personal anecdotes from Wright's many years as a nest monitor and hawk watcher and quotes from scientists and early naturalists and richly illustrated with beautiful color photos, this will be the peregrine primer for years to come."

Long-time Fyke member and Allendale resident Jim Wright also wrote The Screech Owl Companion and The Real James Bond. He is a marsh warden at the Celery Farm Natural Area and the birding columnist for The Record.

The Allendale Community Center is located at 210 West Crescent Avenue in Allendale.

05/12/2026

May 15, 2026, Friday - Monthly Meeting 8:00 PM Live at the Allendale Community Center
How 150+ Volunteers Are Increasing Biodiversity at the Celery Farm with
Frank and Christian Alcaide

In the midst of four volunteer weekends that will see the installation of 5,400 native plants, Fyke Nature Association's Volunteer Coordinator Frank Alcaide and his son, Christian, the Habitat Restoration Coordinator, have agreed to put down their shovels long enough to bring us up to date on the preserve’s restoration efforts, which have attracted some 295 volunteers pitching in more than 4,100 hours of service replacing invasives with more than 7,000 natives, saving 82 native trees and 514 native shrubs, as well as maintaining trails and removing fallen trees.

Join us for a fun, informative night at the Allendale Community Center as Frank and Christian brief us on the critical role volunteers play in restoration efforts, detail the current project underway, and provide an overview of the projects completed since spring 2025.

No registration required. The program will be videotaped and posted under Programs.

The Allendale Community Center is located at 210 West Crescent Avenue in Allendale.

04/30/2026

May 15, 2026, Friday - Monthly Meeting 8:00 PM Live at the Allendale Community Center
How 150+ Volunteers Are Increasing Biodiversity at the Celery Farm with Frank and Christian Alcaide

Volunteers Collage
Celery Farm Volunteers
Frank and Christian Alcaide
Frank and Christian Alcaide
In the midst of four volunteer weekends that will see the installation of 5,400 native plants, Fyke Nature Association's Volunteer Coordinator Frank Alcaide and his son, Christian, the Habitat Restoration Coordinator, have agreed to put down their shovels long enough to bring us up to date on the preserve’s restoration efforts, which have attracted some 295 volunteers pitching in more than 4,100 hours of service replacing invasives with more than 7,000 natives, saving 82 native trees and 514 native shrubs, as well as maintaining trails and removing fallen trees.

Join us for a fun, informative night at the Allendale Community Center as Frank and Christian brief us on the critical role volunteers play in restoration efforts, detail the current project underway, and provide an overview of the projects completed since spring 2025.

No registration required. The program will be videotaped and posted under Programs.

The Allendale Community Center is located at 210 West Crescent Avenue in Allendale.

04/21/2026

April 24, 2026, Friday - Monthly Meeting 8:00 PM Live at the Allendale Community Center
Planting for Wildlife at the Celery Farm with Ryan Griffin

Broadwing Skipper
Broadwing Skipper on Swamp Milkweed at the Celery Farm
Ryan Griffin
Ryan Griffin
Join environmental educator/Celery Farm restoration volunteer Ryan Griffin for a an inside look at how the plantings at the Celery Farm Nature Preserve are selected and grouped to best serve wildlife, and the results thus far.

In addition to leading nature walks at the preserve, Ryan is an environmental educator, naturalist, and birder based in Bergen County. He works as an educator at the Bergen County Zoo, Paramus.

Ryan's passionate about getting people interested in the biodiversity in their backyards. Even in New Jersey's most populous county, plenty of plants, animals, and fungi make their homes alongside us. He hopes his work as an educator helps people to appreciate and recognize the diversity of life all around them, and inspires them to make positive change in their local habitats.

No registration required. The program will be videotaped and posted under Programs.

The Allendale Community Center is located at 210 West Crescent Avenue in Allendale.

04/10/2026

April 11, 2026, 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. Rain date Sunday, April 12.

03/07/2026

Frank, Christian (not pictured) and Mike had a blast representing Fyke at the annual Ridgewood High School Super Science Saturday

03/02/2026

March 7, 2026, Saturday, 9:00 Am to 1:30 PM
Super Science Saturday
SSS 2024
This annual event at the Ridgewood High School features many displays and presentations across a wide variety of S.T.E.M. topics.

You can find the Fyke table near the entrance hosted by Mike Lefebvre.

From the Super Science Saturday About Us page: Super Science Saturday, hailed as the "Greatest Science Extravaganza in Northern New Jersey," brings fun and excitement to science through professional presenters and student projects.

Find out more on their website: https://www.supersciencesaturday.org,

02/17/2026

February 27, 2026, Friday - Monthly Meeting 8:00 PM via Zoom
A Fascination with Finches with Matt Young

From backyards to wilderness peaks, finches are some of the most exciting, mysterious, and popular group of songbirds. In this information-packed presentation, finch expert Matthew Young will introduce you to the 43 finches of the United States and Canada from feeder-favorite goldfinches to Red Crossbill tribes, to poorly known mountain-top Black Rosy-Finches to endangered Hawaiian honeycreepers.
Matt co-authored with Judy Stokes The Stokes Guide to Finches of the United States and Canada, which covers detailed finch identification, language, behavior, irruptions, specialized maps and foraging charts on crossbills, conservation, and much more.
Registration is required. The link is below:

From backyards to wilderness peaks, finches are some of the most exciting, mysterious, and popular group of songbirds. In this information-packed presentation, finch expert Matthew Young will introduce you to the 43 finches of the United States and Canada from feeder-favorite goldfinches to Red Cros...

01/17/2026

January 23, 2026, Friday - Monthly Meeting 8 PM via Zoom
Nomadic Birds and Their Stories with Rick Wright

Many birds travel regularly between one place and another, migrating from site to predictable site, season by season. Others are less reliable in their movements; crossbills, nutcrackers, waxwings, and chickadees can appear at virtually any time of the year virtually anywhere, staging massive incursions into an area in one season and utterly absent the next. How have humans sought to explain these irregular invasions? Join Rick Wright to examine the sometimes startling and often humorous interpretations put forth over the ages.

A widely published writer and sought-after speaker, Rick leads Birds and Art tours worldwide for Victor Emanuel Nature Tours, ventbird.com. His recent books include the Peterson Reference Guide to Sparrows of North America; the second edition of his American Birding Association Field Guide to Birds of New Jersey appeared this autumn. Rick lives in Bloomfield and in Carrboro, North Carolina, with his wife, Alison Beringer, and their jet-black lab, Quetzal.

Register below!

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cTubf_qZS2mH6deWwvWPxg #/registrati

Barry is the bomb. A true naturalist who never lost his sense of wonder. He enthusiastically shares experiences that few among us could conjure. His people skills are also top notch. Our group was made to feel like a family. Max is an excellent birder and has a pleasing personality.

12/02/2025

December 5, 2025, Friday - Monthly Meeting, 8 PM, live at the Allendale Community Center, 210 W. Crescent Ave., Allendale
A Social Get-Together Celebrating Fyke Members and Celery Farm Volunteers

Our social held last December was so successful we decided to hold it again. Join us as we come together to celebrate the dedication and passion of our incredible volunteers and members. During this in-person meeting, we’ll enjoy light refreshments and conversation. Bring your questions, suggestions, nature-inspired poems, stories or art related to the preserve. It’s a great opportunity to get to know one another. We look forward to seeing everyone, and celebrating the heart and soul of our preserve—you!