The Secaucus Egret Roost regularly reach several udred to nearly 1,000 birds uring evening fly-ins.
The flowing ribbons of traffic, quiet wetlands, and illuminated Manhattan skyline reveal the unique character of suburban New Jersey, where wildlife and one of the world’s great cities exist side by side. This aerial perspective captures that unexpected coexistence—nature finding refuge in the Meadowlands, surrounded by highways, rail lines, and the glow of Manhattan.
There is something remarkable about finding a quiet gathering of wildlife in the middle of such an urban landscape. From above, this aerial photograph reveals a group of white egrets roosting in the lower portion of the frame in Secaucus, New Jersey.
During the warmer months, these elegant birds gather to roost, creating an unexpected contrast against the surrounding suburban and industrial landscape. In the distance, the New York City skyline rises above the horizon, while the New Jersey Turnpike carries a steady flow of traffic nearby.
The small white dots visible below may be easy to overlook at first, but they are egrets—wildlife sharing this landscape alongside highways, buildings, and one of the world’s most recognizable skylines.
For me, that contrast is what makes this scene so interesting: nature doesn’t always exist far from the city. Sometimes, it is right there beside us, quietly thriving in the spaces we pass every day.
These images and others in this collection are available in color and as a black and white.
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Thank you,
Susan Candelario
