“Being in a place like this is definitely an inspiration,” said Brett Ewald, director of the Cape May Bird Observatory. Got to see a lot of birds, even a hawk. Caspian terns and, our first Red-tailed Hawk of the trip. The Monarch Monitoring Project is a long-term study on monarch migration through Cape May, NJ. Osprey peak between mid-September and mid-October. I went on a "BirdingBy Ear" six Volunteers to ten participants. Viewing Birds of Prey. Nationally Known. Along with the visitors center, bathrooms, lighthouse and beaches, the bird watching is spectacular! This tour visits the Cape May Point Hawk Watch, Cape May Bird Observatory, Forsythe (formerly Brigantine) NWR, and plenty of other fresh and saltwater habitats. He is now New Jersey Audubon’s birding ambassador at-large. Derby Hill Bird Observatory. This year saw the return of Numero Uno as Pete Dunne stood up to the plate and somehow managed to be both official Hawk Counter for the season and Director of Cape May Bird Observatory. BIRDS. In 1977, the Cape May Bird Observatory hawk watch recorded 81,597 birds of prey, establishing a new national record for the most hawks ever recorded during an autumn migration. Southerly or southwesterly winds make for business-as-usual migrations, which means only several hundred birds a day during the peak of the migratory period, instead of several thousand birds. Official Cape May Bird Observatory hawk watchers Bruce McWhorter and Brennan Mulrooney counted migrating hawks from September 1 to November 30, 2001. 5. New Jersey Audubon Society is a 501 (c)(3) • All Rights Reserved. The platform is located just east of the parking lot. The report below shows observations of rare birds in Cape May County. Exquisite, with expert birder leading the way. The platform also serves as the social hub for local and visiting birders alike, a place to share information. It's a quaint little town, went to the bird observatory as my girlfriend is really into watching birds. Field guides that deal specifically with the identification of hawks in flight are invaluable. Visit the Cape May Bird Observatory Led by their associate naturalists and professional staff, the walks change throughout the year, focusing on what to see each season. I have been to Cape May several times and the Bird Observatory has many volunteers that lead birding walks. These “flights” are caused by the passage of a cold front—a high pressure cell moving into the region from the north or west. Cape May Bird Observatory. The Hawk It's amazing to think of the Cape May Hawk Watch continuing for its 42nd year! Text and photos by Erik Bruhnke 2018 Cape May Hawkwatch Counter Cape May Bird Observatory This year marked the 43rd season of the Cape May Hawkwatch. Where to Watch And it wasn’t until 1977 that P. William Smith, regional editor of the journal American Birds, dubbed Cape May the “Raptor Capital of North America.” Forty years later, the … This makes Cape May a natural funnel, catching and directing southbound birds to the peninsula’s terminus at Cape May Point. The Cape May Bird Observatory is a must-visit when going to Cape May for bird watching. The Cape May Bird Observatory nature center is on the fringe of Cape May Point State Park, an ideal avian habitat with walking paths to view birds in their natural environment. A hawkwatcher and some interns will help you to spot and identify hawks. Cape May Hawk Watch takes place from Sept. 1st to Nov. 30th.The count is conducted by the Cape May Bird Observatory in cooperation with New … An official Hawk Counter is on duty from September 1 – November 30. I proudly introduced myself as the hawk counter with New Jersey Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory and extended my hand. 5. As first timers to Cape Map, we stopped in to the observatory at Cape May Golden Eagles are most common in the last week of October. The migratory period differs species to species. birding. The benches on the hawk watch platform make for a comfortable morning. Surely only Ace Rimmer could achieve such a feat! Different hawk counters, different weather patterns and an actual variation in the number of birds who successfully make it from nest to migration contribute to the different numbers. Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. I have been to Cape May several times and the Bird Observatory has many volunteers that lead birding walks. New Jersey Audubon fosters environmental awareness and a conservation ethic among New Jersey’s citizens; protects New Jersey’s birds, mammals, other animals, and plants, especially endangered and threatened species; and promotes preservation of New Jersey’s valuable natural habitats. The Hawk Watch and manned by the observatory … It was ignored. CMBO’s two nature stores (in Cape May Point and in Goshen) offer the state’s finest selection of birding optics and a wide assortment of books that focus on birds of prey—many of which are written by reknowned naturalists, who call Cape May home. 7New Jersey Audubon Society, Cape May Bird Observatory Center for Research and Education, Cape May Court House, New Jersey 08210, USA; 8 Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory, P.O. In general, the Accipiters and Falcons are most abundant from mid-September through mid-October; Buteos most abundant mid-October on. Unlike many other hawk migration sites, hawks are almost always visible from the Hawkwatch Platform during the count period (September – November). This tour visits the Cape May Point Hawk Watch, Cape May Bird Observatory, Forsythe (formerly Brigantine) NWR, and plenty of other fresh and saltwater habitats. Northern Harriers, American Kestrels and Bald Eagles have very protracted migrations, August through December. I have been to Cape May several times and the Bird Observatory has many volunteers that lead birding walks. Experience an afternoon boat ride through Cape May Harbor into the salt marsh and back-bay environment, with a … Includes both unreviewed and reviewed/approved observations. All reviews hawk watch shade provided migration warblers cape habitat volunteers species trees macska2016 wrote a review Nov 2017 Fishkill, New York 136 contributions 30 helpful votes There were many highlights throughout the season, and the remarkable total of 53,495 raptors, recorded between September 1 and November 30, represents the highest raptor count since 1999. The Cedars and greenery which currently surround the site have all been planted since that first Hawk Watch. birders and volunteer counters for years, but now Cape May Bird Observatory has established this site as an official count and research station. Enjoyed Cape May. In 1977, the Cape May Bird Observatory hawk watch recorded 81,597 birds of prey, establishing a new national record for the most hawks ever recorded during an autumn migration. The Swainson’s hawk is a seemingly annual autumn occurrence. Double-crested cormorant drying its feathers in the sun. The area around the Cape May Bird Observatory hawk watch platform (on the edge of the lighthouse parking lot) is a good spot for bird photography. Cape May Bird Observatory Hawk Watch 2002 totals Thousands of hawks, including Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons and many others, pass over Cape May Point every fall, heading south for the winter. The Cape May Bird Observatory staffs the platform from September until the end of November with official hawk counters. It was ignored. Cape May, New Jersey is without a doubt, the finest vantage point in North America, Introducing ‘Live’ video recordings at the platform. What Dunne nor any of the founding members of the Cape May Bird Observatory could predict 27 years ago was the explosion in popularity birding watching would take and the growing importance the Cape May Hawk Watch would assume. But birds of prey can be seen at any time of day: hunting, feeding, perching, or just soaring over the peninsula. To catch a live viewing tune into our official Facebook page at 10am each Friday. Thousands of hawks, including Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons and many others, pass over Cape May Point every fall, heading south for the winter. We then drove back through Cape May Harbor to the north side of the harbor to dine at the Harbor View restaurant. Exquisite, with expert birder leading the way. Brockway Mountain Hawk Watch. Box … I decided to focus my lens on a certain kind of bird, and for this time of year on the peninsula of Cape May, those birds would be hawks. Exquisite, with expert birder leading the way. The drive and passion of Cape May Bird Observatory and New Jersey Audubon come together every fall to study the migration of birds. The town of Cape May is a national historic site and offers incredible examples of Victorian architecture and charm, as well as some of the most divine seafood on the east coast. Cape May is considered the Raptor Capital of North America. New Jersey Audubon fosters environmental awareness and a conservation ethic among New Jersey’s citizens; protects New Jersey’s birds, mammals, other animals, and plants, especially endangered and threatened The Hawk Watch and manned by the observatory as well as providing equipment and expertise. Also seen regularly are Osprey, Northern Harrier, Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle, as well as Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture (technically storks, but honorary raptors). There are fewer still that can offer better birding. The Hawk Watch and manned by the observatory as well as providing equipment and expertise. I have been to Cape May several times and the Bird Observatory has many volunteers that lead birding walks. Only during migration, when birds of prey are concentrated at key geographic locations are they readily seen. Some of these species (like Sharp-shinned Hawk, and Red- tailed Hawk) are common, even abundant, and their migration period is long. BQ IS BACK BABY and the Cape May Fall Migration Festival is JAM PACKED with birds and birders! Cape May Bird Observatory, New Jersey Cape May, a peninsula bordered by Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, serves as a natural funnel for migrating raptors. In general, the smaller hawks, like the Kestrel and Sharp-shinned Hawk, are most common on the first day following the passage of a cold front. Peregrine Falcons are more restricted. More guarded but still optimistic, I asked the gentleman where he felt the best vantage might be to observe hawks. Hawkwatching (sometimes referred to as hawkcounting) is a mainly citizen science activity where experienced volunteers count migratory raptors (birds of prey) in an effort to survey migratory numbers. (Click here for latest Cape May Hawk Watch totals.) Northeast winds can also produce large flights, particularly falcons (which are not shy about crossing water and prone to migrate offshore). Midday: South Cape May Migratory Bird Sanctuary (The Meadows) Lesser Yellowlegs by Doyle Dowdell The observatory employs professional (and, at times, volunteer) counters. From warblers to wading birds, falcons to finches. The larger, soaring birds, like the Eagles and Buteos, are more abundant on the second (or third) day of sustained north to northwest winds. These outings take our weekly walks a step further, with extended While attending the Cape May Birding Festival, I visited this park several times. The total number of hawks counted varies greatly from year to year. The town of Cape May is a national historic site and offers incredible examples of Victorian architecture and charm, as well as some of the most divine seafood on the east coast. Exquisite, with expert birder leading the way. The Swainson’s hawk is a seemingly annual autumn occurrence. Birds of prey are often on the wing at first light, skimming low over the marsh or through the trees. Good binoculars are a must; spotting scopes useful. Cape May is a peninsula, an extension of the New Jersey coastal plain bordered on the west by Delaware Bay and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. About 90% of any season’s Peregrines will pass between September 26 and October 12. Quaker Ridge Hawk Watch. Being reluctant to cross open water, many hawks concentrate along the coast, following its contours, south and west, until they reach Cape May. I have been to Cape May several times and the Bird Observatory has many volunteers that lead birding walks. Cape May’s regular raptors include Accipiters like the Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, and Northern Goshawk; Buteos like Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk and Swainson’s Hawk; Falcons like the Peregrine, Merlin and American Kestrel. It is a part of the New Jersey Audubon Research Department, and closely affiliated with the Cape May Bird Observatory. The falling temperatures stimulate birds to migrate and the associated north to northwest winds ferry birds to the Atlantic Coast. March 1st until last day in … The platform is located just east of the parking lot. The greatest species diversity, involving 11 to 14 species per day, occurs from late-October to mid-November (with average daily totals of 500 birds. I went on a "BirdingBy Ear" six Volunteers to ten participants. Recent bird sightings and nature notes from the Cape May Bird Observatory in Cape May County, New Jersey. An average of 36,000 hawks are counted from September through November each year by the official Cape May Bird Observatory hawk counter, all from the Cape May Hawk Watch platform in Cape May Point State Park. Each year, tens of thousands of birders from around the world come to see a spectacle that really is tough to match anywhere. Aids to Hawk Watching Cape May Point State Park the site of the Cape may pop watch and every single fall tens of thousands of Raptors migrate through Cape May and since 1976, Cape May Observatory has been identified and counting all of those Raptors gathering really valuable data on Raptors. In a typical year, they’ll count between 30,000 and 55,000 hawks, 750,000 to 1 million water birds, and 80,000 to 90,000 songbirds. Cape May Bird Observatory, New Jersey. Cape May Hawk Watch takes place from Sept. 1st to Nov. 30th.The count is conducted by the Cape May Bird Observatory in cooperation with New Jersey … Exquisite, with expert birder leading the way. Very peaceful here as well. Cape May, NJ - Ever wonder where the best hawk watching site is in North America? Here's their final tally: There are some trails that start nearby that can take you through some wetlands, scrubby woods, around the pond that fronts the platform, and along the lee side Other species like the Swainson’s Hawk and Rough-legged Hawk are locally uncommon, seen only a few times a season, or have a migration period that is very restricted. The Cape May hawk watch is one of the best known in the country. I went on a "BirdingBy Ear" six Volunteers to ten participants. Cape May Hawkwatch – September 1 to November 30 Sunrise to 5:00 P.M. in Sep/Oct, sunrise to 4:00 P.M. after switch to EST in Nov. Join CMBO naturalists on the Hawkwatch Platform at Cape May Point State Park under one of the greatest hawk migrations in North America. Exquisite, with expert birder leading the way. Pete Dunne, director of the Cape May Bird Observatory, on the Cape May Hawkwatch platform Hawkwatching (sometimes referred to as hawkcounting) is a mainly citizen science activity where experienced volunteers count migratory raptors (birds of prey) … Cape May Hawk Watch platform in Cape May Point State Park. There's a tally board where the day's totals are carefully recorded. Cape May Bird Observatory - 701 E Lake Dr, Cape May Point, NJ, US - Note de 4.9 sur la base de 20 avis «Any tree any bush. Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA) Hamilton Naturalists' Club. Photo by Ryan Mense/Shutterstock ... Until 2013, he served as director of the Cape May Bird Observatory and vice president for natural history for New Jersey Audubon.