TEANECK—Bergen County Audubon Society President Don Torino has released a second book exploring the wildlife and ecological recovery of the New Jersey Meadowlands, with a book signing scheduled later this month in Paramus.
The new volume, More… Life In The Meadowlands: Exploring Birds, Wildlife, and Wetland Restoration in New Jersey’s Meadowlands, was published March 3. The book includes photography and cover design by James M. Falletti and editorial contributions from Loretta Guardino and Falletti.
The work is a sequel to Torino’s 2022 volume, Life in the Meadowlands: A Collection of 35 Nature-Themed, Lyric Essays, which he wrote with Christine A. Toth.
In the new book, Torino offers essays and personal reflections drawn from decades observing birds and wildlife in the Meadowlands, a wetlands region of northern New Jersey along the Atlantic Flyway, a major migration route for millions of birds.
The collection explores themes including bird migration, native plants, habitat conservation, and wetland restoration, while reflecting on the Meadowlands’ gradual environmental recovery after years of industrial use and neglect.
The foreword was written by Torino’s longtime friend Jim Wright, a well-known naturalist and birder.
“I’ve seen the names for several chapters of this new compilation, and I can’t wait to read them,” Wright writes in the foreword. “Here’s a sample: ‘Birding is about good socks and good friends,’ ‘To hold an eagle in your arms,’ and ‘The raptors of Route 17.’”
Wright also describes Torino as “a force for nature.”
“Through personal stories and careful observation, Torino reminds us that conservation is not abstract — it is intimate, emotional, and deeply personal,” Wright writes. “The Meadowlands become both setting and teacher, showing how even the most damaged landscapes can recover when given care, patience, and respect.”
The book is available through Amazon for $10.
Torino, of Moonachie, also hosts WFDU-FM 89.1’s The Nature Connection, which airs monthly on the fourth Sunday from 6:30 to 7 a.m. to 7 a.m. On March 22, the program will feature master gardeners Tammy Lavery and Pat Knight discussing planting tips and butterfly pollinator gardens. (Check it out here.)
A book signing is scheduled for Saturday, March 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Wild Birds Unlimited in Paramus.
Torino said residents interested in joining Bergen County Audubon Society bird walks can visit the organization’s website calendar for upcoming dates. The walks are free and do not require registration.
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