Kestrel Express - New Jersey Audubon Society
Transcription
Kestrel Express - New Jersey Audubon Society
Autumn Programs 2015 SEPTEMBER through NOVEMBER• Volume 19, Number 4 Cape May Bird Observatory A Quarterly Newsletter AUTUMN HOURS for SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, and NOVEMBER, 2015: Center for Research and Education 600 Route 47 North, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 • Phone 609.861.0700 • Fax 609.861.1651 September through November:Store closed during the Fall season. Trails open. Northwood Center PO Box 3, 701 East Lake Drive, Cape May Point, NJ 08212 • Phone 609.884.2736 • Fax 609.884.6052 September through October: Open every day, 9:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. / November: Wednesday through Monday, 9:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. / Closed Tuesdays www.birdcapemay.org • www.njaudubon.org • www.featheredgeoptics.org Published by New Jersey Audubon. All rights reserved. Season’s Passage Some folks celebrate summer into August, but not us birders. To us, summer ended in early July. Why is that, you ask? Because, by early July, we had shorebirds migrating south through Cape May! What else can you call that but fall migration, right? All kidding aside, the Cape May birding community is already astir with zugunruhe, or migratory restlessness, as we transition from the long days of summer to the slightly shorter and significantly birdier days of fall. So whether you'll be visiting us for a day, a week, or a month, our fall Kestrel Express has the details on all things birds in Cape May. If you've ever been here in fall you're going to notice a few changes this year. At each of our stationary migration count sites, the Cape May Hawkwatch, Avalon Seawatch and Morning Flight Songbird Count, you'll see that our official counters are entering their sightings directly into digital tablets. As the data is entered it is transmitted in real-time to the cloud for both storage and for display on our website (more information, including links to the live data, can be found at www.birdcapemay.org). For the first time ever, you too will be able to track the Cape May migration spectacle from wherever you are; clearly not a substitute for being here, but definitely a great opportunity to stay connected to the Cape May Bird Observatory even when you must be somewhere else! As you flip through the pages of this Kestrel Express, notice also that our Cape May Fall Festival will be held from October 23rd through the 25th, with a special kick-off party on Thursday the 22nd. This year, after a multi-year hiatus, we will be bringing back Jonathan and Susan Wood and their Raptor Project show that is a must-see for the recently indoctrinated and veteran birder alike. We have added a great pelagic trip on Sunday the 25th, and plenty of intimate van trips throughout the festival to ensure you get the most contact time with our HOLIDAY OBSERVANCES & CLOSURES Both CMBO centers and bookstores will be CLOSED for Labor Day (Monday, September 7) and Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 26). wonderful team of leaders. End each evening with world-class keynote presentations by David Lindo, Dale Rosselet and Kevin Karlson, and you've got an amazing weekend all planned out for you! So as we pass from summer to fall, I hope this edition of the Kestrel Express finds you well and looking forward to your visit to Cape May. As always, please visit our Northwood Center when you arrive and let us welcome you back in person, thank you for your support, and tell you about all the wonderful things happening at that moment in this most spectacular of migration hotspots. Here's to a wonderful fall full of friends and birds. Good Birding, David La Puma, PhD Director, NJ Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory Kestrel Express – Autumn 2015 Cape May Bird Observatory 1 CAPE MAY BIRD OBSERVATORY Autumn Programs 2015 Weekly Walks/Activities The following regularly scheduled program activities, led by CMBO’s stellar associate naturalists and/or professional staff, meet at locations highlighted on the CMBO Bird and Butterfly Map of Cape May County (available at our stores, or downloadable from our website). Bring binoculars, field guides, bug repellent, sunscreen and drinking water. Dress for prevailing weather and for protection from sun, heat, cold, wind, rain and insects according to season. Note: Programs may be cancelled due to difficult/unsafe weather conditions (though this rarely happens). NO PREREGISTRATION NECESSARY On our regular weekly walks, and children under age 12 go free. Although children accompanied by parents are welcome on all our walks, those that are especially Family-friendly are noted. Most of our weekly walks involve walking a mile or more on varied terrain ranging from asphalt, boardwalk, gravel, beach, and dirt (sometimes muddy) paths. For more information about accessibility for those with limited mobility, contact the Northwood Center at 609.884.2736. Saturdays D SEABIRD ID MINI-WORKSHOP Saturdays, B FALL MIGRANTS AT THE REA FARM October 3 to November 7 Saturdays, September 5 to November 21 (EXCEPT October 24) 7:30 to 9:30 A.M. Some of the fall’s best birding occurs on this working farm (also known as “The Beanery”), with field edges regularly attracting an interesting array of warblers, sparrows and other fall migrants. This is also a great place to witness movements of raptors overhead. NJ Audubon has leased the birding privileges. Meet in The Beanery parking lot on Bayshore Road. No preregistration required. Cost: $6 members, $10 nonmembers. C HAWK ID MINI-WORKSHOPS Saturdays, September 5 to October 17 10:30 to 11:30 A.M. Struggling to separate a Sharp-shinned Hawk from aCooper’s? Amazed when a Bald Eagle is spotted high in the sky where you see nothing? Learn how seasoned hawk watchers spot and identify these magnificent birds. Meet CMBO interpretive naturalists at the raptor capital of North America, Cape May Point State Park, at the East Shelter, the picnic pavilion next to the Hawkwatch Platform. This program is also offered on Fridays and Sundays. No preregistration required. Family-friendly. Cost: Free. Kestrel Express – Autumn 2015 (EXCEPT October 24) 2:00 to 3:00 P.M. The migration of scoters and other sea ducks, loons, cormorants and gannets can be an overwhelming sight. For example, the CMBO full-time Avalon Seawatch project sighted and recorded over one million seabirds here in 2007! Join CMBO interpretive naturalists for an outdoor workshop at the Avalon Seawatch location, 7th Street and the beach, at the north end of Avalon. Bring binoculars, scope and tripod, if available. Dress in layers for wind, cold, or warm weather. This program is also offered on Sundays. No preregistration required. Cost: Free. E MONARCH TAGGING DEMO Saturdays, September 12 to October 17 (weather permitting) 2:00 to 2:30 P.M. Join a member of the CMBO Monarch Monitoring Project team and learn about the Monarch migration through Cape May. Meet at Cape May Point State Park at the East Shelter, the picnic pavilion next to the Hawkwatch Platform. You’ll learn how you can contribute to the research project. Offered Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays. No preregistration required. Family-friendly. Cost: Free. F HAWKS, TRAILS, AND BEACH Saturdays, September 5 to November 14 (EXCEPT October 24) 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. Cape May Point State Park is alive with activity on autumn afternoons. The hawk flight is often strong, with lower birds punctuated by late day movements of falcons. Seabirds and shorebirds often pass or rest on the beach and passerines remain to be found on the trails. Meet CMBO naturalists by the Hawkwatch Platform to round out your Saturday of birding. No preregistration required. Family-friendly. Cost: $6 members, $10 nonmembers. Sundays G COX HALL CREEK WMA Sundays, September 6 to November 8 (EXCEPT October 25) 7:30 to 9:30 A.M. Explore this recently preserved 253-acre state wildlife management area, formerly a golf course. Trails include easywalking asphalt paths traversing meadows, ponds and wet woods along Cox Hall Creek. Meet the leaders at the parking area at the west end of Shawmount Ave. (off Route 603/Bayshore Road, south of Route 654/Fulling Mill Road, and 0.2 miles south of the Lower Township municipal buildings and library). No preregistration necessary. Cost: $6 members, $10 nonmembers. H HAWK ID MINI-WORKSHOPS Sundays, September 6 to October 18 10:30 to 11:30 A.M. See Saturday write-up for details. Cost: Free. I SEABIRD ID MINI-WORKSHOP Sundays, October 4 to 18 2:00 to 3:00 P.M. See Saturday write-up for details. Cost: Free. J BUTTERFLY and DRAGONFLY WALK Sundays, September 6 to October 11 Noon to 2:00 P.M. Meet at the pavilion next to the Cape May Bird Observatory 2 Hawkwatch Platform to look for and learn all about butterflies, dragonflies, and the Monarch butterfly’s incredible migration, a highlight of autumn in Cape May. Bring close-focusing binoculars and a butterfly field guide, if available. If the weather is cool, we will turn to birds and botany. No preregistration required. Cost: $6 members, $10 nonmembers. lot at the south end of Second Ave. in Stone Harbor. Note: Walking is on sandy terrain. May visit Nummy’s Island and nearby sites. No preregistration required. Cost: $6 members, $10 nonmembers. 1) MONARCH TAGGING DEMO 1$ BIRDING CAPE MAY POINT Sundays, September 20 to October 11 (weather permitting) 2:00 to 2:30 P.M. See Saturday write-up for details. Cost: Free. Mondays 1! BIRDING THE MEADOWS Mondays, September 7 to November 23 7:30 to 9:30 A.M. Join Pete Dunne and CMBO associate naturalists at The Nature Conservancy’s South Cape May Meadows Preserve. Terns, migrant shorebirds, herons and more! Meet at the refuge parking lot on Sunset Blvd. No preregistration required. Family-friendly. Cost: $6 members, $10 nonmembers. Tuesdays 1@ E-Z BIRDING Tuesdays, September 1 to November 10 8:30 to 10:30 A.M. E-Z Birding is for beginning birders and for those who want to learn more about birds and how to find them. Cape May Point State Park is a great place to bird with a variety of habitats-woods, fields, ponds, dunes, and beach. As with all CMBO walks, loaner binoculars are available. Meet CMBO naturalists near the Hawkwatch Platform at Cape May Point State Park. No preregistration necessary. Family-friendly. Cost: $6 members, $10 nonmembers. 1# SUNSET BIRDING AT STONE HARBOR POINT Tuesdays, September 1 to October 20 5:00 P.M. to dusk in September, 4:30 P.M. to dusk in October Enjoy concentrations of water birds, raptors, Monarch butterflies and more. Meet in the Stone Harbor Point parking Kestrel Express – Autumn 2015 Wednesdays Wednesdays, September 2 to November 11 7:30 to 9:30 A.M. Some of South Jersey’s best birding occurs right in the heart of Cape May Point. Meet CMBO naturalists at the outer parking lot at the entrance to Cape May Point State Park for a walk around the streets and gardens of Cape May Point with stops at backyard feeders, dune crossovers and ponds. No preregistration required. Cost: $6 members, $10 nonmembers. 1% TWILIGHT WATCH AT THE MEADOWS Wednesdays, September 2 to October 21 5:00 P.M. to dusk in September, 4:30 P.M. to dusk in October The Meadows is a rich habitat that can attract a long list of species, from bats, herons and egrets to falcons and – rarely – even owls. Meet at The Nature Conservancy’s South Cape May Meadows Preserve parking lot on Sunset Boulevard. No preregistration required. Cost: $6 members, $10 nonmembers. 1^ MONARCH TAGGING DEMO Wednesdays, September 23 to October 7 (weather permitting) 2:00 to 2:30 P.M. See Saturday’s write-up for details. Cost: Free. Thursdays 1& BIRD WALK FOR ALL PEOPLE Thursdays, September 3 to October 22 8:30 to 10:30 A.M. Not watching birds when you’re in Cape May is like not visiting the Grand Canyon when you’re in Arizona. Whether you are a seasoned birder or have never really thought about watching birds on purpose before, meet CMBO associate naturalists in front of the Hawkwatch Platform at Cape May Point State Park for a relaxed morning of birding. No binoculars? No problem – we will have loaners and will show you how to use them if needed. No preregistration required. Family-friendly. Cost: $6 members, $10 nonmembers. WANTED: Monarch Ambassadors The Monarch Monitoring Project is recruiting and training volunteers to help educate the public about monarch butterfly biology and migration and to help us conduct pilot studies of monarch migration at Stone Harbor Point and East Point. All volunteers must attend one of four training sessions scheduled for early September. Each lasts about 2 hours, with an hour-long indoor presentation on monarch biology and the work of the Monarch Monitoring Project, and the second hour outside, learning to tag monarchs and to properly record data from point counts and from tagging. Here’s the schedule: Wednesday, September 2, at 3:00 P.M., at the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor. Tuesday, September 8, at 1:00 P.M., at the Nature Center of Cape May. Saturday, September 12, at 10:00 A.M., at the Nature Center of Cape May. Tuesday, September 15, at 2:00 P.M., at the Lower Township Public Library in Villas. RSVP required: please contact us by e-mail to [email protected]. Along with the names of participants, please be sure to let us know which session you plan to attend and make note of any experience you have working with Monarch butterflies. Please include the ages of any potential volunteers under the age of 18. Cape May Bird Observatory 3 1* BUTTERFLY WALK AT GOSHEN Thursdays, September 3 to October 8 10:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. Learn about butterfly field identification marks, host plants, caterpillars, chrysalides, emigrations, and Monarch migrations. Meet Chris Tonkinson at CMBO’s Center for Research & Education on Route 47 in Goshen. No preregistration required. Cost: $6 members, $10 nonmembers. Fridays 1( HIGBEE BEACH BIRDING Fridays, September 4 to October 16 7:00 to 9:00 A.M. (Note the early start time.) Meet David La Puma and CMBO naturalists at world-famous Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area’s parking lot at the west end of New England Road, just outside of Cape May. If the winds are right, we could be awash with birds, if not, we’ll still have a good time anyway! Additional parking is available at the north end of the unpaved road leading right from the entrance to the parking lot. No preregistration required. Cost: $6 members, $10 nonmembers. 2) HAWK ID MINI-WORKSHOPS Fridays, September 4 to October 16 10:30 to 11:30 A.M. See Saturday write-up for details. Cost: Free. 2! MONARCH TAGGING DEMO Fridays, September 18 to October 9 (weather permitting) 2:00 to 2:30 P.M. See Saturday write-up for details. Cost: Free. 2@ SUNSET BIRDING AT THE MEADOWS Fridays, September 4 to October 16 5:30 P.M. to dusk September 4 to 18, 5:00 P.M. to dusk September 25 to October 16 Join us when creatures of the day and night meet on common ground and watch the sun set behind the Cape May Point Lighthouse. Also timed to allow for an after-walk dinner when Cape May restaurant crowds have thinned. Meet at The Nature Conservancy’s South Cape May Meadows Preserve parking lot on Sunset Boulevard. No preregistration necessary. Family-friendly. Cost: $6 members, $10 nonmembers. Kestrel Express – Autumn 2015 CAPE MAY SCHOOL OF BIRDING WORKSHOPS & BIRDING BREAKS Preregistration required See boxed program registration information at the end of the listings for details on how to register for these limitedregistration programs. Please register early: most programs fill, but undersubscribed programs may be cancelled five days in advance. 2# BIRDS IN FLIGHT (2 half-days) Wednesday and Thursday, September 9-10 With Michael O’Brien. You’ve heard of the legendary Higbee Dike, where migrant songbirds are identified and counted as they fly past. How do those guys do it? Here’s your chance to learn from one of “those guys!” For certain groups of birds – ducks, seabirds, raptors – flight identification techniques have been well established. But have you ever longingly watched a songbird fly over, wishing it would perch so you could identify it? Or had a flock of blackbirds on the horizon and wondered if they were grackles or red-wings? Learn how to apply what we’ve learned about flight i.d. to any bird that crosses your air space, be it a familiar-in-flight Sharpshinned Hawk, or a relative stranger like a tanager or oriole. This workshop takes place over two half-days, so as to allow us to be out in the field at the very best time of day. We shall have an indoor session on the Wednesday evening, followed by a 6:30 A.M. start the following morning, finishing a little before midday. Preregistration required. Cost: $85 members, $125 nonmembers. 2$ INTRODUCTION TO BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY Saturday-Sunday September 12-13 With Scott Whittle. Register early – there was a waiting list last year, and those who attended clamored for more! Whether you’re looking to accelerate your identification skills, or show the world how you see the birds around you, the camera is a perfect tool. In this two day workshop, professional photographer Scott Whittle will help you work with the equipment you have to achieve your photographic goals. The course will include an overview of gear and how to use it, shooting sessions in the field, and how to develop a digital workflow that gets you the best possible image. Participants are encouraged to bring their cameras and laptops, or borrow equipment from a friend. Preregistration required. Cost: $150 members, $190 nonmembers. 2% FALL MIGRATION AT CAPE MAY Friday-Sunday, September 25-27 With Louise Zemaitis. September straddles the migratory timetable; you’re not too late for shorebirds, not too early for hawks, and right on time for warblers and other neotropical migrants. Indeed, it is the great variety of songbirds heading south during early September that will be the main target of this three-day Birding Break and we shall have ample opportunity to learn these birds both by sight and sound. We will go where weather conditions dictate and will strive to see the greatest species diversity. Preregistration required. Cost: $225 members, $265 nonmembers. 2^ FALCON FEST & HAWKS ON HIGH Saturday-Sunday, September 26-27 With Pete Dunne. Bird Cape May at the peak time for raptor diversity, with experts who know identification tricks unavailable anywhere else! This workshop will be “just birding,” no indoor workshop time (unless severe weather dictates otherwise) at the prime time to be in Cape May. Expect many falcons (including Peregrines), plus accipiters, buteos, harriers, ospreys and eagles. Though our aim will be to study and appreciate the sometimes spectacular passage of falcon species through Cape May at this time of year, we shall be in a prime location to enjoy other migrants too and, depending on the conditions, we may also seek shorebirds, late warblers, early sparrows, and more. Preregistration required. Cost: $150 members, $190 nonmembers. continued on page 6 Become a New Jersey Audubon member and enjoy discounts on tours, events, and field trips at all NJ Audubon centers. Members also get a 10% discount at our Nature Stores. Cape May Bird Observatory 4 CMBO 2015 Business Partnerships This listing highlights the business partners that support our organization. Visit our website at www.birdcapemay.org for a complete list. Please let these businesses know that you appreciate their support of the Cape May Bird Observatory. Many of them offer discounts to current NJ Audubon/CMBO member. So keep your card handy when you visit! Enjoy Cape May! ANGEL OF THE SEA 5 Trenton Avenue Cape May, NJ 08204 609.884.3369 / 800.848.3369 www.angelofthesea.com AVONDALE BY THE SEA MOTEL 609 Beach Avenue Cape May, NJ 08204 609.884.2332 or Toll Free 800.676.7030 www.avondalebythesea.com BAYBERRY INN 223 Perry Street Cape May, NJ 08204 609.884.9232 or Toll Free 877.923.9232 www.bayberryinncapemay.com BIG TIMBER LAKE CAMPING RESORT 116 Swainton-Goshen Road Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 609.465.4456 www.bigtimberlake.com BIRDING BY BOATTM – THE OSPREY Miss Chris Marina 1212 Wilson Avenue Cape May, NJ 08204 609.898.3500 www.birdingbyboat.com CAPE HARBOR MOTOR INN 715 Pittsburgh Avenue Cape May, NJ 08204 609.884.0018 (Ext. 0 for reservations) www.capeharbormotorinn.com CAPE MAY BEACH HOUSE Grant Street Cape May, NJ 08204 610.220.5688 www.capemaybeachhouse.com CAPE MAY CONDO RENTALS For availability and rates, phone Carl at 856.273.1733 www.capemayrentalsnj.com CAPE MAY KAYAK TRIPS & RENTALS 1212 Wilson Avenue Cape May, NJ 08204 609.884.0997 www.capemaykayaks.com Kestrel Express – Autumn 2015 CAPE MAY-LEWES FERRY Cape May Terminal: 1200 Lincoln Boulevard, Cape May, NJ Lewes Terminal: 43 Cape Henlopen Drive, Lewes, DE e-mail: [email protected] 800.643.3779 www.cmlf.com THE CARROLL VILLA HOTEL 19 Jackson Street Cape May, NJ 08204 609.884.9619 or Toll Free 877.275.8452 www.carrollvilla.com 410 BANK STREET RESTAURANT 410 Bank Street Cape May, NJ 08204 609.884.2127 www.410bankstreet.com FRESCOS SEAFOOD TRATTORIA 412 Bank Street Cape May, NJ 08204 609.884.0366 www.frescoscapemay.com THE GRAND HOTEL / HEMINGWAY’S RESTAURANT 1045 Beach Avenue Cape May, NJ 08204 609.884.5611 or Toll Free 800.257.8550 www.grandcapemay.com HOMESTEAD REAL ESTATE CO., INC. 846 Broadway West Cape May, NJ 08204 609.884.1888 or Toll Free 888.309.7454 www.homesteadcapemay.com HOTEL ALCOTT / LAVERANDA RESTAURANT 107-113 Grant Street Cape May, NJ 08204 609.884.5868 www.hotelalcott.com HYLAND MOTOR INN 38 E Mechanic Street Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 609.465.7305 www.hylandmotorinn.com MAD BATTER RESTAURANT 19 Jackson Street Cape May, NJ 08204 609.884.5970 www.madbatter.com THE MONTREAL INN 1025 Beach Avenue Cape May, NJ 08204 609.884.7011 or Toll Free 800.525.7011 www.montreal-inn.com MT. VERNON MOTEL 300 Beach Avenue Cape May, NJ 08204 609.884.4665 www.mtvernonmotel.com OCEAN CLUB HOTEL 1035 Beach Avenue Cape May, NJ 08204 609.884.7000 www.oceanclubhotel.com THE ORIGINAL FUDGE KITCHEN 513 Washington St Mall 609.884.2834 728 Beach Avenue 609.884.4287 Cape May, NJ 08204 Toll Free 800.23.Fudge www.fudgekitchens.com THE QUEEN VICTORIA BED & BREAKFAST INN 102 Ocean Street Cape May, NJ 08204 609.884.8702 www.queenvictoria.com WEST CAPE MOTEL 307 Sunset Blvd. Cape May, NJ 08204 609.884.4280 www.westcapemotel.com THE WILDLIFE GARDENER, LLC 609.536.8036 www.njwildlifegardener.com LOTUS INN 6900 Ocean Avenue Wildwood Crest, NJ 08260 609.522.6300 / 800.522.6306 www.lotusinn.com Cape May Bird Observatory 5 continued from page 4 2& THINGS THAT GO SEEP IN THE NIGHT! Saturday and Sunday, October 3-4 (2 half-days) With Michael O’Brien. Experience the cutting edge of birding! Birds don’t sing much in the fall – but they sure do call. Chip notes, flight notes and critical listening are the primary subjects of this workshop, led by the man who wrote the book (well, made the CD-ROM) on flight calls. Two days with Michael equals years of struggle on your own! Includes optional night-time listening for nocturnal migrants. Learn to dissect a single note, determining whether it rises or falls, is clear or burry. You will never listen the same way again. This workshop is spread over two half-days to allow us to be in the field at the best time of day; it includes an evening session to study nocturnal migrants, followed by an early morning listening session the next day – the perfect way to learn the subject! Preregistration required. Cost: $85 members, $125 nonmembers. only thing he enjoys more than watching hawks is imparting the knowledge he has accumulated during his 15,000 hawk watching hours. Preregistration required. Cost: $150 members, $190 nonmembers. 3) CAPE MAY WITH EVERYTHING ON IT Monday-Wednesday, October 26 through 28 With Louise Zemaitis. This is the time the local birders wait for. Crowds have diminished, and the most massive fallouts of the season commonly occur NOW! Sparrows, kinglets, bluebirds, American Robin, Hermit Thrush and literally who knows what else, since this week starts the season for vagrants in Cape May. It’s also a great time for big raptors like buteos and Golden Eagle, and large seabird flights pass Avalon and Cape May Point nearly every day. Preregistration required. Cost: $225 members, $265 nonmembers. 2* SPARROW SAMPLER Saturday-Sunday, October 17 and 18 With Michael O’Brien. A workshop celebrating the LBJs (little brown jobs.) Subtle and cryptic they might be; difficult to identify they are not, providing you have the right instructor, the right place and the right time. A time when lots of sparrows and lots of species abound. Common species like Swamp, Field, Savannah and Chipping. Uncommon ones like Clay-colored, Vesper, Lincoln’s, Nelson’s and Saltmarsh. Learn the basics of size, shape and behavior first, then practice examining plumage patterns to discover how stunning sparrows can be. Preregistration required. Cost: $150 members, $190 nonmembers. 2( HAWKS IN FLIGHT Wednesday-Thursday, October 21 amd 22 With Pete Dunne. At fifteen raptor species, this is the time of peak raptor diversity in Cape May. Perhaps including bonus birds like Golden Eagle and Swainson’s Hawk! It is a rare moment during late October in Cape May when something raptorial is not in view. Learn how to tell buteos from accipiters from falcons from eagles at the very edge of eyesight. Pete Dunne co-wrote the book that is the title of this workshop, and the Kestrel Express – Autumn 2015 SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND FIELD TRIPS Preregistration required See boxed program registration information at the end of the listings for details on how to register for these limitedregistration programs. Please register early: most programs fill, but undersubscribed programs may be cancelled five days in advance. 3! BAYSHORE BIRDING AT ITS BEST Sunday, November 8 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Come with us on a wonderful exploration of the very best birding sites in Cumberland County. The final route will depend on the latest bird news, but our search for an array of ducks, raptors and much more could include any or all of the following hotspots: East Point for migrant raptors and other birds; the “Bluffs” on the Maurice River; the Natural Lands Trust’s Peek Preserve and other little-known spots in Cumberland County. Meets at the Mauricetown WaWa. Preregistration required. Cost: $25 members, $35 nonmembers. CAPE MAY SCHOOL OF BIRDING 2015 Birds in Flight With Michael O’Brien Wednesday-Thursday, September 9 and 10 Introduction to Bird Photography With Scott Whittle Saturday-Sunday September 12 and 13 Fall Migration at Cape May With Louise Zemaitis Friday-Sunday, September 25 through 27 Falcon Fest & Hawks on High With Pete Dunne Saturday-Sunday, September 26 and 27 Things That Go Seep in the Night (2 half days) With Michael O'Brien Saturday -Sunday, October 3 and 4 Sparrow Sampler With Michael O'Brien Saturday-Sunday, October 17-18 Hawks in Flight Birding and learning in famous Cape May, NJ With Pete Dunne Wednesday-Thursday, October 21 and 22 Cape May with Everything on It With Louise Zemaitis Monday-Wed., October 26 thru 28 Check www.birdcapemay.org for additional workshops. Or call 609.861.0700 for more details. Cape May Bird Observatory 6 3@ BIRDING BRIGANTINE Saturday, November 28 1:00 to 5:00 P.M. Ducks are massing, Northern Harriers and, perhaps, Short-eared Owls will be hunting. Eagles and Rough-legged Hawks are also possible. Meet CMBO naturalists at Brigantine, a.k.a. Forsythe NWR. After birding the refuge the group will head to nearby Mott’s Creek for raptor watching. A refuge pass ($4; can be purchased that day), Golden Age Pass, or federal duck stamp will be required for each vehicle to enter the NWR. Preregistration required. Cost: $25 members, $35 nonmembers. 3# HARLEQUIN ROMANCE Saturday, December 5 10:00 A.M. to 4 P.M. Meet at Barnegat Light. Harlequin Ducks and Purple Sandpipers are guaranteed on this special field trip with Mike Crewe and CMBO naturalists. Over the years this trip has been spiced with Blacklegged Kittiwakes, thousands of Northern Gannets, all three scoters, both eiders, both white-winged gulls, Razorbill, and more.... All the latter are only possibilities, of course, but who knows what might turn up this year? This trip involves a long walk over sand and jetty, is often windy and cold but always productive. Preregistration required. Cost: $25 members, $35 nonmembers. 3$ SIXTY-NINTH ANNUAL CAPE MAY FALL FESTIVAL Friday, October 23 to Sunday, October 25 Simply put, you’re going to see a lot of birds. How many? So. Many. Birds. This three-day festival will feature our count sites; the Hawk Watch, Sea Watch and Morning Flight, special mini-bus trips, exclusive walks with our keynote speakers, many walks to choose from every day, a mini-pelagic at a great price, ID Master Classes and more. Our keynote speakers are Dale Rosselet and Kevin Karlson on their new book, Birding by Impression, on Friday, and on Saturday, we’ll be treated to David Lindo, The Urban Birder from the UK. Registration fees are $65 per day, or $175 for all three days, with additional costs for bus trips, special walks, and evening programs. Register online at www.birdcapemay.org or call or email Deb Shaw with questions at 609.861.0700 ext. 10. Preregistration is required and some events have limited capacity, so please sign up soon. Kestrel Express – Autumn 2015 3% BREAK INTO BIRDING WITH PETE DUNNE Wednesdays, September 2 to October 28 (EXCEPT October 21) 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. In this mini-workshop, Pete Dunne shares the basics of birdwatching and never loses sight of the fact that birdwatching is, after all, supposed to be FUN. You'll discover how to get the most out of your field guide and optics. You'll learn where to go to find birds and how to identify them once you find them using all the hints and clues birds are offering you. It's a class for absolute beginners, backyard birders who want to expand their horizon, and birders whose skills have grown a bit rusty. Meets at the Northwood Center in Cape May Point. Numbers limited so please call 609.884.2736 in advance to reserve a place, then pay on the day. Family Friendly (recommended for age 12 and up). Cost: $15 members, $25 nonmembers (includes a $10 certificate towards membership) BIRDING BY BOAT & KAYAK TOURS Reservations required 3^ BACK BAY BIRDING BY BOAT from Cape May Every Sunday and Monday, September 6 to October 19 10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. All trips are 3 hours, please arrive in good time. To register, please call The Osprey at 609.898.3500. Join Capt. Bob and the naturalists and crew of The Osprey for close-up looks at secretive rails, nesting Ospreys, migrant shorebirds, nesting terns, gulls, herons and more. We explore the coastal saltmarsh of Cape May from Cape Island Creek to the Wildwoods and view the natural wonders of historic Cape May Harbor. The Osprey is a stable roomy pontoon boat with a fully approved front deck with a railing. We leave from the Miss Chris Marina, 1218 Wilson Drive, in Cape May (plenty of free parking). More information, detailed directions and online reservations are available at www.birdingbyboat.com. Family-friendly. Cost: $33 members, $38 nonmembers. 3& FALL MIGRATION CRUISE Saturday, September 12 Saturday, October 10 1:00 to 4:00 P.M. To register, please call The Osprey at 609.898.3500. Join CMBO naturalists to cruise through nearly inaccessible back bay marshes from Cape May to Stone Harbor. This trip will be by boat (beginning and ending at Cape May) through protected back-bay waters where we will enjoy a great variety of waterbirds and raptors. The Osprey is a stable roomy pontoon boat with a fully approved front deck with a railing. We leave from the Miss Chris Marina, 1218 Wilson Drive, in Cape May (plenty of free parking). More information, detailed directions and online reservations are available at www.birdingbyboat.com. Cost: $38 members, $48 nonmembers. 3* SALT MARSH SAFARI Every Saturday, September 5 to October 17 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 noon; all trips are 2 hours, please arrive in good time. To register, please call Wildlife Unlimited/The Skimmer at 609.884.3100. Join Capt. Travis aboard the pontoon boat Skimmer. Trips depart from Dolphin Cove Marina reached from Ocean Drive just a bit north of Cape May. This pristine area of the saltmarsh offers birding as soon as you board the boat. Up close sightings of herons, egrets, nesting Osprey, gulls & terns, shorebirds, the ever-elusive Clapper Rail and, of course, Black Skimmers are all here and they’re waiting for you! For reservations and directions visit www.skimmer.com. Family-friendly. Cost: $28 BIRDING BY KAYAK Through September, we offer two-hour, guided kayak tours of the back bay marshes of Cape May. We’ll take you into quiet back waters, away from the hubbub of daily life and get up close and personal with the birds and other wildlife of this secret wilderness. For full details of rates, times and other information, call The Osprey on 609.898.3500 and ask about the Birding by Kayak program. Cost: $45 for single kayak rental; $80 for two people sharing a double kayak. Cape May Bird Observatory 7 4@ MONARCH MONITORING SEASONAL RESEARCH 3( CAPE MAY HAWKWATCH (Sponsored by Swarovski Optik) September 1 to November 30 Sunrise to 5:00 P.M. every day. Join the CMBO official hawk counter and interpretive naturalists under one of the greatest hawk migrations in North America. Flights totaling more than 1,000 hawks per day occur several times each autumn. Bring binoculars, sunglasses, sunscreen and high expectations to the Hawkwatch Platform at the Cape May Point State Park. Note: a formal program is offered here most Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; see listings above for details. The Hawkwatch is a partnership project with the NJ Division of Parks and Forestry. No preregistration, just drop by. 4) SONGBIRD MORNING FLIGHT PROJECT (Sponsored by Swarovski Optik) August 15 to October 31 Four hours beginning at sunrise every day. Migrant songbirds move past the northwest corner of Cape Island every morning in the fall. The flight can end abruptly two hours after sunrise or continue into the afternoon. CMBO researchers document this flight. Peak days tally tens of thousands of birds! Join other observers at the small observation tower just south of the jetty parking area at Higbee Beach. Turn right onto the unpaved road at the west end of New England Road to access the viewing tower. No preregistration, just drop by. 4! AVALON SEAWATCH (Sponsored by Swarovski Optik) September 22 to December 22 All day, every day. Visit the CMBO official Seawatcher to witness amazing numbers of migrating scoters, loons, cormorants, gannets and more. Peak daily numbers can exceed 50,000. Bring binoculars, telescope, sunglasses, sunscreen, warm clothes and high expectations to 7th Street and the beach in Avalon. No preregistration, just drop by. Kestrel Express – Autumn 2015 PROJECT DROP-IN September 13 through October 18 11:00 to11:15 A.M. every day (cancelled if it’s raining) Stop by the Cape May Point Triangle Park, at the junction of Lighthouse and Coral Avenues in Cape May Point, at 11:00 A.M. any day between September 13 and October 18 to meet one or more members of the Monarch Monitoring Project team to learn about their work. The team may be tagging monarchs, tending to the gardens that support the monarchs, or engaged in other project activity. No preregistration, just drop by. PROGRAM REGISTRATION Not all programs require pre-registration, but some do – see individual program write-ups. Please send payment for programs where preregistration is required, or call in payments, program choices, and program dates along with your name, address, e-mail address, and cell/daytime phone numbers to Cape May Bird Observatory, 600 Route 47 North, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210. Register directly by phone by calling 609.861.0700. Paid registration ensures a place. Group size is limited and a minimum number of participants is necessary. Sorry, no refunds unless the program is cancelled by CMBO. Instructions for field trips, with meeting times, places, and other details, will be sent at least one week prior to the event, and are usually available upon request. CMBO PERENNIALS WANTED: USED (and not-so-used) BOOKS Clean your shelves and help fill ours for a good cause! Birding, butterflies, nature, gardening for wildlife (no magazines or periodicals, please). On your next visit, check out our used-book selection. Bring donated items to the Northwood Center, 701 East Lake Drive, Cape May Point, NJ 08212. SEVEN POINT BINO-CHECK Limited availability at peak visitation times. Since optics are the primary tools for enjoying bird life, it is important to keep them in top working condition. Stop at either CMBO center to have your binocular performance evaluated. Cost: Free. YEAR-ROUND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT CMBO CENTERS 609.861.0700 in Goshen and 609.884.2736 in Cape May Point You and your time are valuable to us! Associate Naturalists and Field Trip Assistants: Most of our daily walks are led by volunteers. If you are a good birder/naturalist, have excellent people skills, and want to give something back, please contact Mike Crewe, [email protected] to learn about volunteering as a leader. Nature Store Volunteers: friendly people needed to greet visitors, answer phones, provide information and help process sales. please contact Brian Moscatello by e-maiil, [email protected]. Backyard Habitat Garden Care: Are you a gardener? Do you possess one of those proverbial green thumbs? The Backyard Habitat at CMBO in Goshen needs your care and attention. E-mail Deb Shaw, [email protected]. Admin tasks: bulk mailing, membership card mailing and membership packet preparation. Contact Deb Shaw, [email protected]. LOOKING FOR CHILDREN’S AND FAMILY PROGRAMS? Our sister center, the Nature Center of Cape May, has a full schedule of programs for all ages exploring many facets of the natural world. Contact the nature center at 609.898.8848 or online at www.njaudubon.org/centers/nccm. Become a New Jersey Audubon member and enjoy discounts on tours, events, and field trips at all NJ Audubon centers. Members also get a 10% discount at our Nature Stores. Cape May Bird Observatory 8 Kestrel Express – Autumn 2015 Cape May Bird Observatory 9 Kestrel Express – Autumn 2015 Cape May Bird Observatory 10 Kestrel Express – Autumn 2015 Cape May Bird Observatory 11 Kestrel Express – Autumn 2015 Cape May Bird Observatory 12