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Birding
Events
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Birds of Belleplain State Forest
Belleplain State Forest 1 Henkensifkin Rd, Woodbine, NJ, United StatesJoin CMBO naturalists for 3 hours of birding in Belleplain State Forest! The varied habitats of this wonderful forest yield an amazing diversity of spring migrants and breeders. Highlights including Summer Tanager, Hooded Warbler, Acadian Flycatcher, Louisiana Waterthrush, and Yellow-billed Cuckoo, are near the northern limit of their breeding range in Belleplain. Our leaders know the best spots! CARPOOLING ENCOURAGED. PREREGISTRATION REQUIRED. Please note there are 2 start times offered for this walk, 7:15am and 7:30am. COST: $12 members, $18 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: Carpooling will be encouraged for this trip. We may walk up to 1.5 miles, over generally level, sometimes muddy or sandy terrain. Some trips involve walks over jetties. CANCELLATION: NJ Audubon’s CMBO programs are virtually never cancelled. 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
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Birds of Belleplain State Forest
Belleplain State Forest 1 Henkensifkin Rd, Woodbine, NJ, United StatesJoin CMBO naturalists for 3 hours of birding in Belleplain State Forest! The varied habitats of this wonderful forest yield an amazing diversity of spring migrants and breeders. Highlights including Summer Tanager, Hooded Warbler, Acadian Flycatcher, Louisiana Waterthrush, and Yellow-billed Cuckoo, are near the northern limit of their breeding range in Belleplain. Our leaders know the best spots! CARPOOLING ENCOURAGED. PREREGISTRATION REQUIRED. Please note there are 2 start times offered for this walk, 7:15am and 7:30am. COST: $12 members, $18 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: Carpooling will be encouraged for this trip. We may walk up to 1.5 miles, over generally level, sometimes muddy or sandy terrain. Some trips involve walks over jetties. CANCELLATION: NJ Audubon’s CMBO programs are virtually never cancelled. 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
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Warren Park/Oros Preserve
William Warren Park Florida Grove Road, Woodbridge Township, NJ, United StatesSpring songbird migrants at two productive urban oases. Good days can produce a dozen or more species of warblers, plus thrushes & vireos. These Middlesex County hotspots provide green oases for migratory species. Warren Park (at the border of Woodbridge & Perth Amboy) has an excellent hardwood forest—complete with understory that is excellent for thrushes, vireos, and warblers; we’ll also visit the Oros Wildlife Preserve where pin oaks, brushy fields, and a large pond/wetland will complement the day’s bird list. Oros Preserve is sometimes muddy, so hiking shoes or other footwear you don’t mind getting a little dirty are best. A spotting scope is not necessary for this trip. Led by Scott Barnes and Patrick Belardo. PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED A NOTE ON MEETING LOCATION! Some navigational devices may take you to a condo complex adjacent to the park. Take a moment to make sure you go to the right location. Once you enter the park, you will come to a T intersection. Turn left and follow this road clockwise until it ends in a wooded parking lot north of what the park map calls "The Open Grove." COST: $25 Members, $30 Non-members WEATHER & TRANSPORTATION: Please arrive at the appointed time. Be sure to check the forecast in advance and dress in layers appropriate for prevailing weather conditions. We sometimes bird in the rain, so bring rain gear if warranted. Transportation during the field trip is by private vehicle (be sure you have enough gas). Most trips involve some amount of walking, sometimes through muddy or sandy terrain. CANCELLATION: NJA/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
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Shorebirds at Heislerville
Heislerville 114 Matt's Landing Rd., Heislerville, NJ, United StatesJoin CMBO naturalists at the epicenter of spring shorebirding on the edge of the Delaware Bay. The impoundment at Heislerville has become a spring legend, attracting rarities, plus zillions of shorebirds. Depending on the tide conditions, we may visit nearby East Point or Thompson's Beach. PREREGISTRATION REQUIRED. COST: $8 members, $12 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: We may walk up to 1.5 miles, over generally level, sometimes muddy or sandy terrain. Some trips involve walks over jetties. CANCELLATION: NJ Audubon’s CMBO programs are virtually never cancelled. 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
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Youth Birding Mentors 2026
Featured Walk with a NaturalistLorrimer Sanctuary 790 Ewing Avenue, Franklin Lakes, NJ, United StatesAre you interested in honing your birding skills and teaching young people to love birding? This seven part certificate course will help you improve your ID skills, help you learn the skills needed to teach youth effectively, and provide training and opportunities for working with NJ Audubon as a Youth Birding Mentor. CLASS DATES: April 30th from 6-7:30pm: Mentor Meet and Greet and Program Introduction May 14th from 6-7:30pm: Birding by Shape and Color June 6th from 8-10:30am: Wood Warblers (@ Ramapo Reservation) July 16th from 6-7:30pm: Teaching Youth Pt. 1 September 17th from 6-7:30pm: Teaching Youth Pt. 2 October 10th from 10am-12pm: Raptor ID November 28th from 9-11am: Winter Waterfowl (@ DeKorte Park) December 12th from 10-11:30am: Holiday Potluck and Certification/Next Steps All classes are in-person at Lorrimer Sanctuary unless stated otherwise. ***Optional classes and opportunities to shadow public walks throughout this timeline*** COST: FREE IMPORTANT INFORMATION: -Certified program graduates will be required to get a background check before working as NJ Audubon Youth Birding Mentors -This program is for adults and teens 14+. All participants require a ticket for this program. One ticket will cover the entire series of classes. Contact Mary Birrer (908-396-6514) if you are interested in joining the program but are unable to make one or more classes. REGISTER HERE
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Birding By Ear Mini Workshop
Higbee Beach WMA NJ, United StatesJoin CMBO Associate Naturalists Lynn and Dave Pollard in the Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area parking lot as they explore a process for enhancing your birding by ear skills. Learn techniques for dissecting and categorizing bird songs to help with identifications and then put those skills to work on whatever birds are present and singing at the time. Those who sign up for the Higbee Walk following the presentation will join Dave, Lynn, and other CMBO guides to broaden their morning birding experience. PREREGISTRATION REQUIRED. Ticket sales will end 20hrs before the start of the event. COST: $5 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. Before the start of the workshop, you will be emailed more information regarding this mini-workshop, including a downloadable Birding By Ear Phonetics Guide. TRANSPORTATION: We may walk up to 1.5 miles, over generally level, sometimes muddy or sandy terrain. Some trips involve walks over jetties. CANCELLATION: NJ Audubon’s CMBO programs are virtually never cancelled. 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
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Higbee Beach Birding
Higbee Beach WMA NJ, United StatesJoin CMBO naturalists for this 2-hour walk around the Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area! Famous for migration, we'll search for Blue Grosbeaks, Brown Thrashers, Yellow-breasted Chats, Yellow Warblers and White-eyed Vireos. All arrive in April to breed here. Many spring warblers and other songbirds migrate through. PREREGISTRATION REQUIRED. COST: $8 members, $12 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: We may walk up to 1.5 miles, over generally level, sometimes muddy or sandy terrain. Some trips involve walks over jetties. CANCELLATION: NJ Audubon’s CMBO programs are virtually never cancelled. 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
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Half Day Fridays at Sandy Hook
Sandy Hook - Lot B Hartshorne Drive, Sandy Hook, NJ, United StatesSpring migration at the hook; we may see a wide range of species from wading birds to raptors to songbirds at this regional hotspot. Spring birding at the hook for migrants. The wide variety of habitats here ensures a good diversity of bird species from herons and egrets to shorebirds, hawks, and songbirds. Every week is different as we watch spring migration unfold. Be prepared for a fair amount of walking over flat and sometimes sandy terrain. Meet at parking lot B by the bathrooms. Led by Scott Barnes, Linda Mack, Carole Hughes, and other associate naturalists. WEATHER & TRANSPORTATION: Please arrive at the appointed time. Be sure to check the forecast in advance and dress in layers appropriate for prevailing weather conditions. We sometimes bird in the rain, so bring rain gear if warranted. Transportation during the field trip is by private vehicle (be sure you have enough gas). Most trips involve some amount of walking, sometimes through muddy or sandy terrain. LOCATION: Meet at Parking Lot B, about halfway down the lot by the bathrooms PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED COST: $25 Members, $30 Non-members CANCELLATION: NJA/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
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Birding the Ocean City Rookery
Featured Birding the Ocean City RookeryOcean City Welcome Center 300 W 9th Street, Ocean City, NJ, United StatesThe Ocean City Welcome Center has become a must-see breeding bird destination. Join our Volunteer Naturalists for great views of nesting wading birds, including Great Blue and Little Blue herons, Yellow-crowned and Black-crowned night-herons, Great and Snowy egrets, Glossy and White ibis - all building and sitting on nests. The raised parking lot of the Welcome Center provides very close views of the birds, so be sure to bring your camera to try to capture some amazing photos! The group will spend time viewing these birds from the bridge overlook, as well as taking a short walk underneath the bridge to view the birds at eye level. Our Naturalists will provide scopes for participants, but bringing your own scope is encouraged. PREREGISTRATION REQUIRED. COST: $10 General Admission 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. DISTANCE COVERED: Very short distance from parked car to walkway with railing overlooking rookery, followed by a short walk underneath the bridge. ACCESSIBILITY: You arrive at a paved parking lot on the upper viewing level. A lower level is available for viewing at ground level via stairs and ramp. Restrooms inside Welcome Center. Notes: The Welcome Center exit takes you into Ocean City. Once in town you can go around a block to get back onto the outbound road. Gnats may be a problem. Be prepared with head nets, long sleeves, long pants, bug spray. CANCELLATION: NJ Audubon’s CMBO programs are virtually never cancelled. 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
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Warbler Chorus
FeaturedCape May Bird Observatory - Northwood Center 701 East Lake Drive, Cape May Point, NJ, United StatesSpend the morning with Scott Whittle, bird expert, photographer, and author of The Warbler Guide, as he provides valuable insights into identifying the variety of warblers found in Cape May County each spring. During May, most of Cape May’s breeding warblers, as well as a good number of migrant species heading further north, will be in the area and this course offers an opportunity to become more familiar with a good number of them. The North American wood warblers are a remarkable group of birds, famed not so much for their song as for their dazzling plumages. However, though their songs may be relatively simple, such vocalizations can often be our first clue to locating them in the leafy forest canopy. This workshop aims to help you connect visual cues with audio cues, adding greatly to your enjoyment of these wonderful birds. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to learn how you can utilize cutting-edge conservation technology to identify and listen to these beautiful birds in your own backyard! Scott, Terra Project expert and co-founder, can guide you through this amazing new system that allows you to become part of recording spring migration. Because of the inherent dynamic nature of birding, we do not pre-set an exact itinerary but will visit those parts of Cape May Point 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 – Ticket sales end 24hrs before start of program COST: $50 members, $65 nonmembers. 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. We reserve the right to substitute leaders, thought this rarely happens. REGISTER HERE