Visit some of the less known parts of this marvelous state forest for spring migrant birds, wildflowers and whatever crosses our path. Meet at the Belleplain State Forest Office, just off Route 550, west of Woodbine. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

Bring your camera and gear up for a relaxed photo and learning expedition around Cape May Point.  Scott is a professional photographer and instructor for our popular bird photography workshops.  Meet in front of the Hawkwatch Platform, Cape May Point State Park.  No preregistration necessary.
Cost:  $6 members, $10 non-members

We don’t start too early, we don’t walk too far, and we’re never far from a bathroom – but we see a lot of birds anyway! These easy-paced walks are great for new birders or anyone who wants to relax a bit.  Loaner binoculars are available. Meet CMBO naturalists in front of the Hawkwatch Platform at Cape May Point State Park. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

Visit little-known hotspots in eastern Cumberland County and search for migrants and breeding birds while also enjoying wildflowers, amphibians and more.  Meet CMBO naturalists at the parking area at the base of the Maurice River Bridge on Route 670, just a few miles from the western junction of Routes 47 and 347. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

Some of South Jersey’s best birding occurs right in the heart of Cape May Point.  Meet Mike Crewe and CMBO naturalists at Cape May Point State Park at the Hawkwatch Platform. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

This rich saltmarsh is one of the best spots to observe hunting and breeding Clapper Rails, herons and egrets, American Oystercatchers, Ospreys, Black Skimmers, terns and Seaside Sparrows, and to enjoy mudflats teeming with migrant shorebirds. Meet CMBO naturalists on Nummy's Island just south of the free bridge on Ocean Drive after leaving Stone Harbor. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

Many southern birds, including Summer Tanager, Hooded Warbler, Acadian Flycatcher and Yellow-billed Cuckoo, are near the northern limit of their breeding range in Belleplain.  Our leaders know the best spots.  Meet CMBO leaders at the Belleplain State Forest Office just off Route 550, west of Woodbine. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

Join Mike Crewe to look at everything that’s natural in Cape May. As spring gradually unfolds, we’ll see the emergence of the first spring flowers, the arrival of breeding songbirds and the gradual change-over from early spring butterflies to early summer dragonflies. Come as often as you can and see things change before your very eyes! Meet at Cox Hall Creek WMA (West end of Shawmount Ave in Villas). No pre-registration necessary.

Join Pete Dunne and other CMBO naturalists at the epicenter of spring shorebirding on the edge of Delaware Bay. The impoundment at Heislerville WMA has become a spring legend, attracting up to four Curlew Sandpipers in recent springs, plus zillions of other shorebirds.  Depending on tide conditions, this field trip may visit nearby East Point or Thompson’s Beach.  Meet at the clam shell parking area at the end of Matt’s Landing Road near Heislerville, next to the impoundment and across from the marina. Bring a scope if you have one. No pre-registration necessary.

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. Join Mike Crewe and CMBO naturalists at the Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area parking lot, located at the west end of New England Road. Additional parking is available on the road to the jetty which leads to the right from the entrance to the lot. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

The open landscape of the South Cape May Meadows is ideal for afternoon birding. Seasonally flooded ponds attract ducks and shorebirds, while beach nesters like Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers will be back and busy. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

Meet 7:00 a.m. at Cape May Point State Park.

With Louise Zemaitis. Birding for everything! Celebrate spring with migrating songbirds deposited by the night sky and shorebirds teeming on the mudflats. Hooded and Kentucky Warblers sing in the shadows of Belleplain State Forest, while Summer Tanagers “piki-tuck” overhead. Red Knots and Sanderlings feed in mosaics of rust and silver on the Delaware Bay shore and egrets and herons dot the backbay meadows. This work-shop is all about diversity and focuses not only on identifying the birds, but also learning about their lives.
Preregistration required.  Cost: $225 members, $265 nonmembers.

Some of the spring’s best birding occurs on this working farm, known locally as “The Beanery”.  NJ Audubon has leased the birding privileges, giving us access to some of the least-disturbed parts of Cape May Point.  Prothonotary Warblers, Indigo Buntings and more. No pre-registration necessary.

Join Capt. Ginny & Capt. Ed aboard the pontoon boat The Skimmer. Trips depart from Dolphin Cove Marina reached from Ocean Drive just a little north of Cape May. This pristine area of saltmarsh offers birding as soon as you board the boat. Up close sightings of herons, egrets, nesting Osprey, gulls & terns, shorebirds, the ever-elusive Clapper Rail and, of course, Black Skimmers are all here and they’re waiting for you! For reservations and directions visit www.skimmer.com .

Cost: $25 (2 hour trip)

Not watching birds when in Cape May is like not visiting the Grand Canyon when in Arizona! Whether you are a seasoned birder or have never really thought about watching birds on purpose before, meet CMBO naturalists at the Wildlife Viewing Platform at Cape May Point State Park for a relaxed afternoon of birding. No binoculars? No problem – loaners will be available and we’ll show you how to use them if necessary. See twenty species of birds or the walk is free!  No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

The Nature Shop at CMBO's Center for Research and Education, located at 600 Route 47 North in Cape May Court House / Goshen, is closed on Sunday and Monday throughout the year. 

Regular operating hours for the shop are 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Tuesday through Saturday.
Normal office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.

Explore this 253-acre state wildlife management area, formerly a golf course.  Trails include easy-walking asphalt paths traversing meadows, open woods, numerous ponds and wet woods along Cox Hall Creek.  Good for woodpeckers, Pine Warblers and other early migrants.  Meet the leaders at the parking area at the west end of Shawmount Ave. (off Route 603 / Bayshore Road, south of Route 654 / Fulling Mill Road, 0.2 miles south of the Lower Township municipal buildings and library).  No pre-registration necessary.

To register, please call The Osprey at (609) 898-3500.

Join the naturalists and crew of the Osprey for close-up looks at secretive rails, nesting Ospreys, migrant shorebirds, nesting terns, gulls, herons and more. We explore the coastal saltmarsh of Cape May from Cape Island Creek to the Wildwoods and view the natural wonders of historic Cape May Harbor.  The Osprey is a stable roomy pontoon boat with a fully approved front deck with a railing.  We leave from the Miss Chris Marina, 1218 Wilson Drive, in Cape May (plenty of free parking).  These trips continue throughout the summer.  More information, detailed directions, and online reservations at www.birdingbyboat.com.

Cost: $35; 3 hour trips. $25 2 hour trips beginning June 3.

Join CMBO naturalists to find spring butterflies, dragonflies and birds, learn trees, shrubs and wildflowers and just, well, have a great time looking at everything! The plan is to go somewhere different each week, according to season and what local conditions are like. One week it could be baskettails and elfins on the dirt trails, another week, orchids in the shady Mountain Laurel thickets, another week we could be looking for Bog Coppers and Pitcher Plants. And no matter what we do, there will always be birds! Rubber boots strongly recommended.  Meet at the Belleplain State Forest Office just off Route 550, west of Woodbine.  No pre-registration necessary.

The Nature Shop at CMBO's Center for Research and Education, located at 600 Route 47 North in Cape May Court House / Goshen, is closed on Sunday and Monday throughout the year. 

Regular operating hours for the shop are 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Tuesday through Saturday.

Normal office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.

Join Pete Dunne and other CMBO naturalists at The Nature Conservancy’s Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge. The spring birding can be very rewarding at this recently restored hotspot. Meet at the refuge parking lot on Sunset Blvd. No pre-registration necessary.

To register, please call The Osprey at (609) 898-3500.

Join the naturalists and crew of the Osprey for close-up looks at secretive rails, nesting Ospreys, migrant shorebirds, nesting terns, gulls, herons and more. We explore the coastal saltmarsh of Cape May from Cape Island Creek to the Wildwoods and view the natural wonders of historic Cape May Harbor.  The Osprey is a stable roomy pontoon boat with a fully approved front deck with a railing.  We leave from the Miss Chris Marina, 1218 Wilson Drive, in Cape May (plenty of free parking).  These trips continue throughout the summer.  More information, detailed directions, and online reservations at www.birdingbyboat.com.

Cost: $35; 3 hour trips. $25 2 hour trips beginning June 3.

Join Pete Dunne and other CMBO naturalists at the epicenter of spring shorebirding on the edge of Delaware Bay. The impoundment at Heislerville WMA has become a spring legend, attracting up to four Curlew Sandpipers in recent springs, plus zillions of other shorebirds.  Depending on tide conditions, this field trip may visit nearby East Point or Thompson’s Beach.  Meet at the clam shell parking area at the end of Matt’s Landing Road near Heislerville, next to the impoundment and across from the marina. Bring a scope if you have one. No pre-registration necessary.

Meet 7:00 a.m. at Belleplain State Forest office near Woodbine. 

With Louise Zemaitis. It’s been suggested that without the excitement of warblers in the spring, there would be no birdwatching in North America as we know it today. No family of North American birds is so colorful, vocal, and animate. No spring is complete without a trip seeking warbler waves. Here’s your trip. Timed to catch the peak of the northern migrant wave with species like Blackburnian and Canada, and also to engage southern breeders like Hooded and Prothonotary. And did we mention that vireos, thrushes, and tanagers will also be about? Second leader (if registration warrants): Michael O’Brien.
Preregistration required.  Cost: $150 members, $190 nonmembers.

Visit some of the less known parts of this marvelous state forest for spring migrant birds, wildflowers and whatever crosses our path. Meet at the Belleplain State Forest Office, just off Route 550, west of Woodbine. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

Bring your camera and gear up for a relaxed photo and learning expedition around Cape May Point.  Scott is a professional photographer and instructor for our popular bird photography workshops.  Meet in front of the Hawkwatch Platform, Cape May Point State Park.  No preregistration necessary.
Cost:  $6 members, $10 non-members

We don’t start too early, we don’t walk too far, and we’re never far from a bathroom – but we see a lot of birds anyway! These easy-paced walks are great for new birders or anyone who wants to relax a bit.  Loaner binoculars are available. Meet CMBO naturalists in front of the Hawkwatch Platform at Cape May Point State Park. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

Visit little-known hotspots in eastern Cumberland County and search for migrants and breeding birds while also enjoying wildflowers, amphibians and more.  Meet CMBO naturalists at the parking area at the base of the Maurice River Bridge on Route 670, just a few miles from the western junction of Routes 47 and 347. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

Some of South Jersey’s best birding occurs right in the heart of Cape May Point.  Meet Mike Crewe and CMBO naturalists at Cape May Point State Park at the Hawkwatch Platform. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

This rich saltmarsh is one of the best spots to observe hunting and breeding Clapper Rails, herons and egrets, American Oystercatchers, Ospreys, Black Skimmers, terns and Seaside Sparrows, and to enjoy mudflats teeming with migrant shorebirds. Meet CMBO naturalists on Nummy's Island just south of the free bridge on Ocean Drive after leaving Stone Harbor. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

Many southern birds, including Summer Tanager, Hooded Warbler, Acadian Flycatcher and Yellow-billed Cuckoo, are near the northern limit of their breeding range in Belleplain.  Our leaders know the best spots.  Meet CMBO leaders at the Belleplain State Forest Office just off Route 550, west of Woodbine. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

Join Mike Crewe to look at everything that’s natural in Cape May. As spring gradually unfolds, we’ll see the emergence of the first spring flowers, the arrival of breeding songbirds and the gradual change-over from early spring butterflies to early summer dragonflies. Come as often as you can and see things change before your very eyes! Meet at Cox Hall Creek WMA (West end of Shawmount Ave in Villas). No pre-registration necessary.

Join Pete Dunne and other CMBO naturalists at the epicenter of spring shorebirding on the edge of Delaware Bay. The impoundment at Heislerville WMA has become a spring legend, attracting up to four Curlew Sandpipers in recent springs, plus zillions of other shorebirds.  Depending on tide conditions, this field trip may visit nearby East Point or Thompson’s Beach.  Meet at the clam shell parking area at the end of Matt’s Landing Road near Heislerville, next to the impoundment and across from the marina. Bring a scope if you have one. No pre-registration necessary.

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. Join Mike Crewe and CMBO naturalists at the Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area parking lot, located at the west end of New England Road. Additional parking is available on the road to the jetty which leads to the right from the entrance to the lot. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

The open landscape of the South Cape May Meadows is ideal for afternoon birding. Seasonally flooded ponds attract ducks and shorebirds, while beach nesters like Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers will be back and busy. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

It's the TWENTY-NINTH annual World Series of Birding, the event that raises over $500,000 annually for conservation.  Learn how to participate or become a team sponsor.  Call or write: World Series of Birding, Cape May Bird Observatory, 701 E. Lake Drive, PO Box 3, Cape May Point, NJ 08212; (609) 884-2736; sheila.lego@njaudubon.org; www.worldseriesofbirding.org.

Meets at West Cape May fire hall.

Join Mike Crewe and CMBO’s talented and fun Associate Naturalists, birding at a moderate (not crazed!) pace in Cape May County, at the peak of migration. We have previously tallied between 134 and 166 species. You’ll have the option to drop out in mid-afternoon if needed. Consider signing up for the next day's World Series Sunday Brunch where teams gather, tales are told and camaraderie is shared! All skill levels welcomed. Pre-registration required.

Cost: Pledges of at least $1 per bird (raised by you: get family, friends, co-workers to pledge on you). Sunday Brunch (optional): $20.

Join Capt. Ginny & Capt. Ed aboard the pontoon boat The Skimmer. Trips depart from Dolphin Cove Marina reached from Ocean Drive just a little north of Cape May. This pristine area of saltmarsh offers birding as soon as you board the boat. Up close sightings of herons, egrets, nesting Osprey, gulls & terns, shorebirds, the ever-elusive Clapper Rail and, of course, Black Skimmers are all here and they’re waiting for you! For reservations and directions visit www.skimmer.com .

Cost: $25 (2 hour trip)

The Nature Shop at CMBO's Center for Research and Education, located at 600 Route 47 North in Cape May Court House / Goshen, is closed on Sunday and Monday throughout the year. 

Regular operating hours for the shop are 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Tuesday through Saturday.
Normal office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.

To register, please call The Osprey at (609) 898-3500.

Join the naturalists and crew of the Osprey for close-up looks at secretive rails, nesting Ospreys, migrant shorebirds, nesting terns, gulls, herons and more. We explore the coastal saltmarsh of Cape May from Cape Island Creek to the Wildwoods and view the natural wonders of historic Cape May Harbor.  The Osprey is a stable roomy pontoon boat with a fully approved front deck with a railing.  We leave from the Miss Chris Marina, 1218 Wilson Drive, in Cape May (plenty of free parking).  These trips continue throughout the summer.  More information, detailed directions, and online reservations at www.birdingbyboat.com.

Cost: $35; 3 hour trips. $25 2 hour trips beginning June 3.

Meet 7:00 a.m. at Belleplain State Forest office in Woodbine.

With Pete Dunne. Come with us to witness Heislerville’s celebrated shore-bird concentration (not to mention the whole Delaware Bay) coupled with Belleplain State Forest (not to mention nearby Cumberland County hot-spots) – all resulting in a lot of great birds, all close together and all offering great learning opportunities. Red Knots, Dunlin, maybe a Curlew Sandpiper plus woodland birds like Yellow-throated and Prothonotary Warblers and Summer Tanagers. Second leader (if registration warrants): Megan Crewe.
Preregistration required. Cost: $150 members, $190 nonmembers.

The Nature Shop at CMBO's Center for Research and Education, located at 600 Route 47 North in Cape May Court House / Goshen, is closed on Sunday and Monday throughout the year. 

Regular operating hours for the shop are 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Tuesday through Saturday.

Normal office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.

Join Pete Dunne and other CMBO naturalists at The Nature Conservancy’s Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge. The spring birding can be very rewarding at this recently restored hotspot. Meet at the refuge parking lot on Sunset Blvd. No pre-registration necessary.

To register, please call The Osprey at (609) 898-3500.

Join the naturalists and crew of the Osprey for close-up looks at secretive rails, nesting Ospreys, migrant shorebirds, nesting terns, gulls, herons and more. We explore the coastal saltmarsh of Cape May from Cape Island Creek to the Wildwoods and view the natural wonders of historic Cape May Harbor.  The Osprey is a stable roomy pontoon boat with a fully approved front deck with a railing.  We leave from the Miss Chris Marina, 1218 Wilson Drive, in Cape May (plenty of free parking).  These trips continue throughout the summer.  More information, detailed directions, and online reservations at www.birdingbyboat.com.

Cost: $35; 3 hour trips. $25 2 hour trips beginning June 3.

Join Pete Dunne and other CMBO naturalists at the epicenter of spring shorebirding on the edge of Delaware Bay. The impoundment at Heislerville WMA has become a spring legend, attracting up to four Curlew Sandpipers in recent springs, plus zillions of other shorebirds.  Depending on tide conditions, this field trip may visit nearby East Point or Thompson’s Beach.  Meet at the clam shell parking area at the end of Matt’s Landing Road near Heislerville, next to the impoundment and across from the marina. Bring a scope if you have one. No pre-registration necessary.

Visit some of the less known parts of this marvelous state forest for spring migrant birds, wildflowers and whatever crosses our path. Meet at the Belleplain State Forest Office, just off Route 550, west of Woodbine. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

Bring your camera and gear up for a relaxed photo and learning expedition around Cape May Point.  Scott is a professional photographer and instructor for our popular bird photography workshops.  Meet in front of the Hawkwatch Platform, Cape May Point State Park.  No preregistration necessary.
Cost:  $6 members, $10 non-members

We don’t start too early, we don’t walk too far, and we’re never far from a bathroom – but we see a lot of birds anyway! These easy-paced walks are great for new birders or anyone who wants to relax a bit.  Loaner binoculars are available. Meet CMBO naturalists in front of the Hawkwatch Platform at Cape May Point State Park. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

Some of South Jersey’s best birding occurs right in the heart of Cape May Point.  Meet Mike Crewe and CMBO naturalists at Cape May Point State Park at the Hawkwatch Platform. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

Visit little-known hotspots in eastern Cumberland County and search for migrants and breeding birds while also enjoying wildflowers, amphibians and more.  Meet CMBO naturalists at the parking area at the base of the Maurice River Bridge on Route 670, just a few miles from the western junction of Routes 47 and 347. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

This rich saltmarsh is one of the best spots to observe hunting and breeding Clapper Rails, herons and egrets, American Oystercatchers, Ospreys, Black Skimmers, terns and Seaside Sparrows, and to enjoy mudflats teeming with migrant shorebirds. Meet CMBO naturalists on Nummy's Island just south of the free bridge on Ocean Drive after leaving Stone Harbor. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

Join Pete Dunne and other CMBO naturalists at the epicenter of spring shorebirding on the edge of Delaware Bay. The impoundment at Heislerville WMA has become a spring legend, attracting up to four Curlew Sandpipers in recent springs, plus zillions of other shorebirds.  Depending on tide conditions, this field trip may visit nearby East Point or Thompson’s Beach.  Meet at the clam shell parking area at the end of Matt’s Landing Road near Heislerville, next to the impoundment and across from the marina. Bring a scope if you have one. No pre-registration necessary.

Join Capt. Ginny & Capt. Ed aboard the pontoon boat The Skimmer. Trips depart from Dolphin Cove Marina reached from Ocean Drive just a little north of Cape May. This pristine area of saltmarsh offers birding as soon as you board the boat. Up close sightings of herons, egrets, nesting Osprey, gulls & terns, shorebirds, the ever-elusive Clapper Rail and, of course, Black Skimmers are all here and they’re waiting for you! For reservations and directions visit www.skimmer.com .

Cost: $25 (2 hour trip)

The Nature Shop at CMBO's Center for Research and Education, located at 600 Route 47 North in Cape May Court House / Goshen, is closed on Sunday and Monday throughout the year. 

Regular operating hours for the shop are 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Tuesday through Saturday.
Normal office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.

The Nature Shop at CMBO's Center for Research and Education, located at 600 Route 47 North in Cape May Court House / Goshen, is closed on Sunday and Monday throughout the year. 

Regular operating hours for the shop are 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Tuesday through Saturday.

Normal office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.

Join Pete Dunne and other CMBO naturalists at The Nature Conservancy’s Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge. The spring birding can be very rewarding at this recently restored hotspot. Meet at the refuge parking lot on Sunset Blvd. No pre-registration necessary.

To register, please call The Osprey at (609) 898-3500.

Join the naturalists and crew of the Osprey for close-up looks at secretive rails, nesting Ospreys, migrant shorebirds, nesting terns, gulls, herons and more. We explore the coastal saltmarsh of Cape May from Cape Island Creek to the Wildwoods and view the natural wonders of historic Cape May Harbor.  The Osprey is a stable roomy pontoon boat with a fully approved front deck with a railing.  We leave from the Miss Chris Marina, 1218 Wilson Drive, in Cape May (plenty of free parking).  These trips continue throughout the summer.  More information, detailed directions, and online reservations at www.birdingbyboat.com.

Cost: $35; 3 hour trips. $25 2 hour trips beginning June 3.

Join Pete Dunne and other CMBO naturalists at the epicenter of spring shorebirding on the edge of Delaware Bay. The impoundment at Heislerville WMA has become a spring legend, attracting up to four Curlew Sandpipers in recent springs, plus zillions of other shorebirds.  Depending on tide conditions, this field trip may visit nearby East Point or Thompson’s Beach.  Meet at the clam shell parking area at the end of Matt’s Landing Road near Heislerville, next to the impoundment and across from the marina. Bring a scope if you have one. No pre-registration necessary.

Visit some of the less known parts of this marvelous state forest for spring migrant birds, wildflowers and whatever crosses our path. Meet at the Belleplain State Forest Office, just off Route 550, west of Woodbine. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

Bring your camera and gear up for a relaxed photo and learning expedition around Cape May Point.  Scott is a professional photographer and instructor for our popular bird photography workshops.  Meet in front of the Hawkwatch Platform, Cape May Point State Park.  No preregistration necessary.
Cost:  $6 members, $10 non-members

We don’t start too early, we don’t walk too far, and we’re never far from a bathroom – but we see a lot of birds anyway! These easy-paced walks are great for new birders or anyone who wants to relax a bit.  Loaner binoculars are available. Meet CMBO naturalists in front of the Hawkwatch Platform at Cape May Point State Park. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

Some of South Jersey’s best birding occurs right in the heart of Cape May Point.  Meet Mike Crewe and CMBO naturalists at Cape May Point State Park at the Hawkwatch Platform. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

Visit little-known hotspots in eastern Cumberland County and search for migrants and breeding birds while also enjoying wildflowers, amphibians and more.  Meet CMBO naturalists at the parking area at the base of the Maurice River Bridge on Route 670, just a few miles from the western junction of Routes 47 and 347. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

This rich saltmarsh is one of the best spots to observe hunting and breeding Clapper Rails, herons and egrets, American Oystercatchers, Ospreys, Black Skimmers, terns and Seaside Sparrows, and to enjoy mudflats teeming with migrant shorebirds. Meet CMBO naturalists on Nummy's Island just south of the free bridge on Ocean Drive after leaving Stone Harbor. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

Many southern birds, including Summer Tanager, Hooded Warbler, Acadian Flycatcher and Yellow-billed Cuckoo, are near the northern limit of their breeding range in Belleplain.  Our leaders know the best spots.  Meet CMBO leaders at the Belleplain State Forest Office just off Route 550, west of Woodbine. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

Join Mike Crewe to look at everything that’s natural in Cape May. As spring gradually unfolds, we’ll see the emergence of the first spring flowers, the arrival of breeding songbirds and the gradual change-over from early spring butterflies to early summer dragonflies. Come as often as you can and see things change before your very eyes! Meet at Cox Hall Creek WMA (West end of Shawmount Ave in Villas). No pre-registration necessary.

Join Pete Dunne and other CMBO naturalists at the epicenter of spring shorebirding on the edge of Delaware Bay. The impoundment at Heislerville WMA has become a spring legend, attracting up to four Curlew Sandpipers in recent springs, plus zillions of other shorebirds.  Depending on tide conditions, this field trip may visit nearby East Point or Thompson’s Beach.  Meet at the clam shell parking area at the end of Matt’s Landing Road near Heislerville, next to the impoundment and across from the marina. Bring a scope if you have one. No pre-registration necessary.

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. Join Mike Crewe and CMBO naturalists at the Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area parking lot, located at the west end of New England Road. Additional parking is available on the road to the jetty which leads to the right from the entrance to the lot. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

The open landscape of the South Cape May Meadows is ideal for afternoon birding. Seasonally flooded ponds attract ducks and shorebirds, while beach nesters like Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers will be back and busy. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

Many southern birds, including Summer Tanager, Hooded Warbler, Acadian Flycatcher and Yellow-billed Cuckoo, are near the northern limit of their breeding range in Belleplain.  Our leaders know the best spots.  Meet at the Belleplain State Forest Office, just off Route 550, west of Woodbine. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

Some of the spring’s best birding occurs on this working farm, known locally as “The Beanery”.  NJ Audubon has leased the birding privileges, giving us access to some of the least-disturbed parts of Cape May Point.  Prothonotary Warblers, Indigo Buntings and more. No pre-registration necessary.

Join Capt. Ginny & Capt. Ed aboard the pontoon boat The Skimmer. Trips depart from Dolphin Cove Marina reached from Ocean Drive just a little north of Cape May. This pristine area of saltmarsh offers birding as soon as you board the boat. Up close sightings of herons, egrets, nesting Osprey, gulls & terns, shorebirds, the ever-elusive Clapper Rail and, of course, Black Skimmers are all here and they’re waiting for you! For reservations and directions visit www.skimmer.com .

Cost: $25 (2 hour trip)

Not watching birds when in Cape May is like not visiting the Grand Canyon when in Arizona! Whether you are a seasoned birder or have never really thought about watching birds on purpose before, meet CMBO naturalists at the Wildlife Viewing Platform at Cape May Point State Park for a relaxed afternoon of birding. No binoculars? No problem – loaners will be available and we’ll show you how to use them if necessary. See twenty species of birds or the walk is free!  No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

The Nature Shop at CMBO's Center for Research and Education, located at 600 Route 47 North in Cape May Court House / Goshen, is closed on Sunday and Monday throughout the year. 

Regular operating hours for the shop are 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Tuesday through Saturday.
Normal office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.

To register, please call The Osprey at (609) 898-3500.

Join the naturalists and crew of the Osprey for close-up looks at secretive rails, nesting Ospreys, migrant shorebirds, nesting terns, gulls, herons and more. We explore the coastal saltmarsh of Cape May from Cape Island Creek to the Wildwoods and view the natural wonders of historic Cape May Harbor.  The Osprey is a stable roomy pontoon boat with a fully approved front deck with a railing.  We leave from the Miss Chris Marina, 1218 Wilson Drive, in Cape May (plenty of free parking).  These trips continue throughout the summer.  More information, detailed directions, and online reservations at www.birdingbyboat.com.

Cost: $35; 3 hour trips. $25 2 hour trips beginning June 3.

Join CMBO naturalists to find spring butterflies, dragonflies and birds, learn trees, shrubs and wildflowers and just, well, have a great time looking at everything! The plan is to go somewhere different each week, according to season and what local conditions are like. One week it could be baskettails and elfins on the dirt trails, another week, orchids in the shady Mountain Laurel thickets, another week we could be looking for Bog Coppers and Pitcher Plants. And no matter what we do, there will always be birds! Rubber boots strongly recommended.  Meet at the Belleplain State Forest Office just off Route 550, west of Woodbine.  No pre-registration necessary.

The Nature Shop at CMBO's Center for Research and Education, located at 600 Route 47 North in Cape May Court House / Goshen, is closed on Sunday and Monday throughout the year. 

Regular operating hours for the shop are 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Tuesday through Saturday.

Normal office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.

Join Pete Dunne and other CMBO naturalists at The Nature Conservancy’s Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge. The spring birding can be very rewarding at this recently restored hotspot. Meet at the refuge parking lot on Sunset Blvd. No pre-registration necessary.

To register, please call The Osprey at (609) 898-3500.

Join the naturalists and crew of the Osprey for close-up looks at secretive rails, nesting Ospreys, migrant shorebirds, nesting terns, gulls, herons and more. We explore the coastal saltmarsh of Cape May from Cape Island Creek to the Wildwoods and view the natural wonders of historic Cape May Harbor.  The Osprey is a stable roomy pontoon boat with a fully approved front deck with a railing.  We leave from the Miss Chris Marina, 1218 Wilson Drive, in Cape May (plenty of free parking).  These trips continue throughout the summer.  More information, detailed directions, and online reservations at www.birdingbyboat.com.

Cost: $35; 3 hour trips. $25 2 hour trips beginning June 3.

Bring your camera and gear up for a relaxed photo and learning expedition around Cape May Point.  Scott is a professional photographer and instructor for our popular bird photography workshops.  Meet in front of the Hawkwatch Platform, Cape May Point State Park.  No preregistration necessary.
Cost:  $6 members, $10 non-members

We don’t start too early, we don’t walk too far, and we’re never far from a bathroom – but we see a lot of birds anyway! These easy-paced walks are great for new birders or anyone who wants to relax a bit.  Loaner binoculars are available. Meet CMBO naturalists in front of the Hawkwatch Platform at Cape May Point State Park. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

Some of South Jersey’s best birding occurs right in the heart of Cape May Point.  Meet Mike Crewe and CMBO naturalists at Cape May Point State Park at the Hawkwatch Platform. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

This rich saltmarsh is one of the best spots to observe hunting and breeding Clapper Rails, herons and egrets, American Oystercatchers, Ospreys, Black Skimmers, terns and Seaside Sparrows, and to enjoy mudflats teeming with migrant shorebirds. Meet CMBO naturalists on Nummy's Island just south of the free bridge on Ocean Drive after leaving Stone Harbor. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

Many southern birds, including Summer Tanager, Hooded Warbler, Acadian Flycatcher and Yellow-billed Cuckoo, are near the northern limit of their breeding range in Belleplain.  Our leaders know the best spots.  Meet CMBO leaders at the Belleplain State Forest Office just off Route 550, west of Woodbine. No pre-registration necessary.

Cost:    $6 members, $10 nonmembers

Join Mike Crewe to look at everything that’s natural in Cape May. As spring gradually unfolds, we’ll see the emergence of the first spring flowers, the arrival of breeding songbirds and the gradual change-over from early spring butterflies to early summer dragonflies. Come as often as you can and see things change before your very eyes! Meet at Cox Hall Creek WMA (West end of Shawmount Ave in Villas). No pre-registration necessary.