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
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Kestrel Express – Autumn 2015
Cape May Bird Observatory
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Kestrel Express – Autumn 2015
Cape May Bird Observatory
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Kestrel Express – Autumn 2015
Cape May Bird Observatory
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Kestrel Express – Autumn 2015
Cape May Bird Observatory
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