The last week has been very busy for New Jersey Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory (CMBO) in partnership with Cellular Tracking Technologies (CTT), Cornell University and The Nature Conservancy (TNC). Our first deployment of LifeTags™, tiny solar-powered radio transmitters weighing about 0.35g (less than a dollar bill cut in half).…...
CMBO Daily Roundup – October 10, 2018
Weather: A very warm October day, with afternoon highs reaching 80ºF at a number of locations. Skies were mainly sunny and winds were steady from the S/SSE, light in the morning and gradually increasing through the day. Migration counts: Morning Flight (0649-0934), Hawkwatch (0700-1700), Seawatch (0704-1828) Banding: 5.5 hours (0635-1205), 46…...
Fall Banding Update: Week 8 (10/04 – 10/10)
By Laura-Marie Koitsch, 2018 Bander In Charge The eighth week of NJ Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory (CMBO) inaugural banding season saw mostly southerly winds and warmer temperatures in The Nature Conservancy’s South Cape May Meadows (The Meadows), and yet we had quite a few surprises and an impressive total…...
CMBO Daily Roundup – October 8, 2018
Weather: A seasonably mild and mainly overcast day with areas of fog during the morning. Winds were steady from the east at about 10mph throughout. Migration counts: Morning Flight (0647-1032), Hawkwatch (0700-1745), Seawatch (0702-1831) Banding: 6.5 hours (0630-1300), 101 individuals across 17 species (+1 recapture only). Highlights: Yellow-billed Cuckoo (2), Least…...
CMBO Daily Roundup – October 5, 2018
Weather: A cooler day behind the passage of a cold front, with skies primarily overcast throughout and some showers passing through during the afternoon hours. North winds shifted to northeast by mid-morning and increased as the day went along, with gusts to 25mph by mid-afternoon. Migration counts: Morning Flight (0645-1100), Hawkwatch…...
The first season of the next 100 years
Introduction Bird banding provides an opportunity to assess the physical condition of birds, as well as to determine the age/sex ratio of birds passing through a site. Together these data provide insight into the health of individuals, populations, and in some cases, entire species. While NJ Audubon’s Cape May Bird…...
Fall Banding Update: Week 5 (9/13 – 9/19)
Words by Laura-Marie Koitsch, 2018 Bander In Charge The fifth week of the inaugural season of NJ Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory banding station saw a continuation of the easterly winds and variable totals from day-to-day. For example, on September 11th, we banded 107 birds, the following day we banded…...
The Best of Migration – Cape May School of Birding Workshops!
Cape May is world renowned for its fall bird and butterfly migration, involving spectacular numbers, diversity, views, and photographic opportunities – and Cape May School of Birding Workshops are an incredible way to enjoy and partake in this natural phenomenon. And the best part is – it’s all going to…...