2020 BCAS/Harold Feinberg Conservation Awards
As Bergen County Audubon President I couldn’t be more proud to announce our 2020 Conservation Award winners. These two amazing woman have dedicated themselves to protecting and preserving our environment and have created a better place not only for wildlife but also a healthier planet for all of us to live.
Alexa Fantacone
Alexa has been the Executive Director of Teaneck Creek Conservancy for the past five years. Within this role, and in her personal life, she is committed to conservation and inspiring others to protect our environment.
Alexa is a mentor and enthusiastic educator of students who visit Teaneck Creek. She makes environmental education exciting and captivates students with hands-on programs that engage them in STEM, water quality testing, invasive species removal and more. She goes out of her way to make personal connections with students and learn what they are passionate about. Alexa gives students a new passion for the natural world and many express an interest in pursuing careers in conservation, environmental science and STEM.
She is particularly inspiring to young girls who come to see science as an exciting career option for women. Alexa is also the Chairwoman for the Nature Program Cooperative where she works to bring together the knowledge and resources of nature centers, parks, and environmental educators in Northern New Jersey.
In addition, she recently became a board member at EarthShare, a national conservation organization which connects environmental nonprofits with companies in order to increase the impact of donations and volunteer actions. During her free time, Alexa volunteers at Tenafly Nature Center’s aviary, feeding the raptors.
Nancy Slowik
Nancy serves as Urban Naturalist Program Coordinator at New York Botanical Garden. She also acts as lead consultant for the Restore Native Plants team, directing the propagation facility at the Ramapo Mountain Park Preserve since 2013. In that capacity, she provides guidance for native plant propagation and restoration projects.
She also formulates planting patterns to attract wildlife and enhance biodiversity. Nancy has been teaching natural history programs and leading guided walks in Bergen County and the greater metropolitan area for 35 years and is the author of A Naturalist’s Guide to the Southern Palisades (2006).
Many BCAS members may know Nancy as Naturalist/Director of Greenbrook Sanctuary where she taught and mentored for more than 25 years. Her contribution as a conservation educator and her stewardship of the Sanctuary established her reputation as a dedicated protector of the environment of the southern Palisades. Nancy’s tenure at Greenbrook helped foster many collegial relationships with local naturalists and cooperative programs, working with Bergen Swan, Sateline Hawkwatch, and training for the TCC Weed Warriors.
Nancy has been a research associate for Hudsonia Field Station, where she has contributed to biodiversity assessments and research projects. She was the co-founder of the Greenbelt Native Plant Center – the first native plant propagation program for the New York City Parks Department.
BCAS has proudly awarded its 11th annual “Bergen County Audubon/Harold Feinberg Conservation Awards.” This recognition is bestowed upon those who have given generously of themselves often with personal sacrifice. Congratulations to this year’s winners!
The Conservation Award is named in honor of the late Harold Feinberg, BCAS Board member and field trip chairman for many years. Harold was a mentor, an enthusiastic supporter of our endeavors and always gave freely of his expertise with a combination of patience and knowledge that few possess.
Our on-the-ground conservation work is fueled by citizen science, advocacy, and education. Our activities include:
Restoration Through Our Native Plant Gardens
Native Plants restore the balance of the habitat and benefit birds and other wildlife. These gardens are learning places for anyone interested in knowing more about the importance of native plants and how they can be used in their own backyard.
- Butterfly Garden at Overpeck Preserve, Overpeck Park
- Butterfly Garden at Teaneck Creek Conservancy
- Dr. Ben Burton Native Plants Garden at Teaneck Creek Conservancy
Promoting Backyard Habitats
With open space continuing to be lost in Bergen County and New Jersey, backyard habitats are becoming even more important as places for birds and other wildlife to find food and shelter. They are also vital for our migratory bird species on their Spring and Fall journeys along the Atlantic Flyway. See our Healthy Backyards page for info on creating a backyard habitat and the importance of native plants.
Our Partners in Conservation
The following organizations received funding from Bergen County Audubon Society:
- American Bird Conservancy
- Canco Park Conservancy
- Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey
- Flat Rock Brook Nature Association
- Friends of Wallkill National Wildlife Refuge
- The Nature Conservancy
- National Wildlife Refuge Association
- New Jersey State Botanical Gardens
- New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority
- The Raptor Trust
- Teaneck Creek Conservancy
- Tenafly Nature Center
- And many more!
Injured or Orphaned Bird?
1. Determine whether or not an injured or orphaned bird needs help:
A Helpful Flyer from the Raptor Trust
2. If the bird does need help, a list of rehabilitators in New Jersey:
NJ Fish & Wildlife’s list of rehabilitators
If you need help transporting a bird to Raptor Trust, call Gabriele Schmitt at 201 281-0158. Note: they do not accept baby House Sparrows or European Starlings:
The Raptor Trust
Franklin Lakes Animal Hospital will evaluate, stabilize and get the patient to the best resource for care:
Franklin Lakes Animal Hospital
Easy way to communicate on Environmental Issues
The Sierra Club website and the National Audubon website provide an easy way to email the various branches of government and your own representatives on a variety of current environmental issues.
