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Events for October 5, 2024
Raptor Migration at its Best
Join CMBO Director Brett Ewald and CMBO Naturalists for this workshop. Bird the “raptor capital of North America” at the peak of diversity. Bird the “raptor capital of North America” at the peak of diversity, when falcons are zipping along the dunes, accipiters are flap, flap, flapping by, buteos are soaring overhead, and eagles are chasing Ospreys. Early October often produces flights in the thousands and is the peak time for Peregrine Falcons and others. It is a rare moment during October in Cape May when raptors are not in view and this concentration of birds should ensure that we almost always have something to look at. Learn how to tell buteos from accipiters, falcons from eagles, at the very edge of your eyesight or right overhead, and focus on tricky species-pairs, such as the many ways to tell Sharp-shinned from Cooper’s Hawks. We’ll visit areas around Cape May to make the most of your raptor watching on this “in the field” workshop. We’ll also be in a prime location to enjoy other migrants, such as shorebirds, late warblers, early sparrows, and more! Because of the inherent dynamic nature of birding, we do not pre-set an exact itinerary but will visit those parts of Cape May County that regularly hold good numbers of birds. Final location decisions will be made by the leader based on local knowledge and conditions at the time. We may walk up to 1.5 miles, over generally level, sometimes muddy or sandy terrain. PREREGISTRATION REQUIRED COST: $100 members, $130 nonmembers. Interested in becoming a member? Please click on the following link to learn more or join: Become a Member today! IMPORTANT INFORMATION: We bird in all weather. Be sure to check the forecast in advance and dress in layers appropriate for prevailing weather conditions. The weather in Cape May can differ considerably from nearby inland areas and may be warmer, colder, or windier so it’s best to be over prepared. We may have to bird in the rain, so please bring your rain gear. TRANSPORTATION: Please arrive at the appointed time with a full tank of gas, as transportation to field sites is by private vehicles. We may walk up to 1.5 miles, over generally level, sometimes muddy or sandy terrain. Some trips involve walks over jetties. CANCELLATION: CMBO programs require a minimum number of registrants to run, five days in advance of the start of the tour but are seldom cancelled. If we do cancel, due to lack of participation, severe weather, or unforeseen circumstances, we notify all participants in advance, and all are eligible for a full credit or refund. Participants may cancel without penalty if greater than 30 days in advance. Cancellations 10 to 30 days in advance may be subject to a 25% service charge. No refunds or credits for cancellations less than ten days in advance unless due to health emergencies. REGISTER HERE
Fall Native Plant Sale
Native trees, shrubs and wildflowers will be available for sale during our annual Fall Native Plant Sale at the Scherman Hoffman Nature Center! Plants that will be available include: Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea Orange Coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata Shadbush Amelanchier canadensis American Beautyberry Callicarpa americana New Jersey Tea Ceanothus americanus Eastern Redbid Cercis canadensis Sweet Pepperbush Clethra alnifolia Gray Dogwood Cornus racemosa Redosier Dogwood Cornus sericea Common Persimmon Diospyros virginiana Amerian Witch-Hazel Hamamelis virginiana American Holly Ilex opaca Spicebush Lindera benzoin Black Elderberry Sambucus canadensis Pussy Willow Salix discolor Steeplebush Spirea tomentosa Lowbush blueberry Vaccinium angustifolium Dense Blazingstar Liatris spicata Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis Blue Lobelia Lobelia siphilitica Ostrich Fern Matteuccia struthiopteris Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulosa Royal Fern Osmunda regalis Orange Coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida New York Aster Symphyotrichum novi-belgii New England Aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae Pawpaw Asimina triloba New England Aster Aster novae- angliae New York Ironweed Vernonia Noveboracensis Turtlehead Chelone glabra Woodbine clematis / Virgin’s Bower Clematis virginiana Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum Native plants benefit pollinators, such as bees and hummingbirds, and the caterpillars upon which both resident and migratory birds depend.
NJ Young Birders Club-Cape May Hawk Watch
A focused field trip watching migratory raptors and other birds and learning about how we count them at the hawk watch. This trip is open to young birders plus parent/guardian only and designed to teach young birders about the nature of a migration count, where observers conduct an organized count of migratory birds passing by a particular point. We’ll learn about raptor identification, estimating numbers of birds, the weather conditions that favor the passage of many bird species, tips on picking up distant flocks of hawks and other migrants, and more. Time permitting, we may do some birding along the state park trails or other nearby locations. Led by Adehl Schwaderer, Program Coordinator, and Kristal Stahler, George Meyers Naturalist Cape May Bird Observatory. Location: Meets at the Cape May Point State Park. We'll meet in front of the Hawkwatch Platform located across the large parking lot, opposite the Cape May Point Lighthouse. PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED COST: FREE REGISTER HERE
Seabird ID Mini-Workshop
Avalon Seawatch AvalonThe 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 over one million seabirds here in 2014! Join CMBO interpretive naturalists for this outdoor workshop to witness and learn about this migration spectacle. Meets at the Avalon Seawatch location on the Beach between 8th and 9th St., at the north end of Avalon. NO preregistration required. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Bring binoculars, scope and tripod, if available Dress in layers for wind, cold, or warm weather COST: FREE Interested in becoming a member? Please click on the following link to learn more or join: Become a Member today!
Wildcrafting with Acorns
Go from inedible to delicious in this exploration of all thing's acorn! Learn how to turn them into nutritious flour as we crack nuts around the fire pit and taste acorn bread. Bring acorns if you have them! Dress for outdoor weather around the campfire. Children must be accompanied by an adult; this is not a drop-off program. COST: $8 members / $10 nonmembers CANCELLATION: NJ Audubon’s programs require a minimum number of registrants to run. If we cancel, due to lack of participation, severe weather, or unforeseen circumstances, all participants will be notified as soon as possible and are eligible for a full refund. Participants may cancel without penalty if greater than 48 hours in advance. Sorry, no refund for cancellations less than 48 hours in advance unless due to health emergencies; however, registrations can be transferred to another program in the future. REGISTER HERE
Seabird ID Mini-Workshop
Avalon Seawatch AvalonThe 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 over one million seabirds here in 2014! Join CMBO interpretive naturalists for this outdoor workshop to witness and learn about this migration spectacle. Meets at the Avalon Seawatch location on the Beach between 8th and 9th St., at the north end of Avalon. NO preregistration required. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Bring binoculars, scope and tripod, if available Dress in layers for wind, cold, or warm weather COST: FREE Interested in becoming a member? Please click on the following link to learn more or join: Become a Member today!
Seabird ID Mini-Workshop
Avalon Seawatch AvalonThe 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 over one million seabirds here in 2014! Join CMBO interpretive naturalists for this outdoor workshop to witness and learn about this migration spectacle. Meets at the Avalon Seawatch location on the Beach between 8th and 9th St., at the north end of Avalon. NO preregistration required. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Bring binoculars, scope and tripod, if available Dress in layers for wind, cold, or warm weather COST: FREE Interested in becoming a member? Please click on the following link to learn more or join: Become a Member today!
Seabird ID Mini-Workshop
Avalon Seawatch AvalonThe 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 over one million seabirds here in 2014! Join CMBO interpretive naturalists for this outdoor workshop to witness and learn about this migration spectacle. Meets at the Avalon Seawatch location on the Beach between 8th and 9th St., at the north end of Avalon. NO preregistration required. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Bring binoculars, scope and tripod, if available Dress in layers for wind, cold, or warm weather COST: FREE Interested in becoming a member? Please click on the following link to learn more or join: Become a Member today!
Seabird ID Mini-Workshop
Avalon Seawatch AvalonThe 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 over one million seabirds here in 2014! Join CMBO interpretive naturalists for this outdoor workshop to witness and learn about this migration spectacle. Meets at the Avalon Seawatch location on the Beach between 8th and 9th St., at the north end of Avalon. NO preregistration required. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Bring binoculars, scope and tripod, if available Dress in layers for wind, cold, or warm weather COST: FREE Interested in becoming a member? Please click on the following link to learn more or join: Become a Member today!
Seabird ID Mini-Workshop
Avalon Seawatch AvalonThe 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 over one million seabirds here in 2014! Join CMBO interpretive naturalists for this outdoor workshop to witness and learn about this migration spectacle. Meets at the Avalon Seawatch location on the Beach between 8th and 9th St., at the north end of Avalon. NO preregistration required. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Bring binoculars, scope and tripod, if available Dress in layers for wind, cold, or warm weather COST: FREE Interested in becoming a member? Please click on the following link to learn more or join: Become a Member today!