Spring Shorebirds and Southern Breeders

This birding workshop brings together the two very best things about spring birding in Cape May County – its impressive shorebird show along the Delaware Bay, and a fine suite of songbirds, which here reach almost the northern limit of their regular breeding range. We’ll start relatively early to get the best of the morning birdsong in Belleplain State Forest, where learning how to locate such species as Louisiana Waterthrush, Yellow-throated Warbler, Summer Tanager and – with luck – Kentucky Warbler will be high on our agenda. We will follow this with time spent at Heislerville, where high tide roosts on the impoundments can be quite spectacular and we’ll search the throng of shorebirds in the hope of locating a vagrant Curlew Sandpiper.

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 2 miles, over generally level, sometimes muddy or sandy terrain.

PREREGISTRATION REQUIRED.

COST: $150 members, $200 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 2.0 miles, over generally level, sometimes muddy or sandy terrain. Some trips involve walks over jetties.

ACCOMMODATIONS: For those of you traveling from further afield and looking for somewhere to stay, please take a look at our list of Business Supporters of the Cape May Bird Observatory below:

• Carroll Villa Hotel-Mad Batter Restaurant – Carroll Villa Hotel-Mad Batter Restaurant
• West Cape Motel – West Cape Motel
• Coastline Realty – Coastline Realty
• Periwinkle Inn – Periwinkle Inn
• The Jetty Motel
• Mt. Vernon Motel
• The Views at Cove Beach
• Avondale by the Sea
• Capri Motor Inn

Cape May is a popular place, so we suggest making reservations as early as possible. Accommodations are the responsibility of participants and are not included in the price.

NEW JERSEY AUDUBON’S PROGRAM GUIDELINES:

Fully vaccinated people may attend outdoor programs without masks. If you are unvaccinated, please mask up. Please do not come to a program if you are sick, have a sick family member or have reason to believe you may have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus.

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