Migration Mainline Cape May, NJ
Congregate...
...Where the Birds Migrate
JOIN US AT THE MIGRATION MAINLINE!
Celebrate spring and enjoy a weekend in North America's world famous bird watching destination, Migration Mainline - Cape May, NJ. There is something for everyone, from the novice to the seasoned naturalist, during our three days of field trips, variety of boat trips, workshops, and programs.
Field Trips Numerous field trips are offered throughout the weekend. Friendly, easy-paced birding to Cape May's birding hotspots led by North America's finest naturalists. Weekend bird checklist can tally close to 200 species.
Workshops & Programs Indoor and outdoor sessions geared for the beginner to the advanced birder. Let the experts show you everything you ever wanted to know about field identification, beginning, intermediate, and advanced birding, digiscoping, butterflies, specialty workshops and travelogues, how to choose binoculars & scopes, and more.
Salt Marsh Eco Tour▲ – Explore Cape May’s coastal waters aboard The Osprey with naturalist Captain David Githens. Combine birding, the ecology of the tideline, the scenic harbor, Cape May history, and fun! Enjoy excellent views of many species unique to the salt marsh, including Osprey, herons, oystercatchers, egrets, various shorebirds, and possibly rails. Cost is in addition to weekend package; registration required; space limited.
Mini Pelagic aboard the Cape May Lewes Ferry▲ Board the Cape May Lewes Ferry for a half-day round trip excursion across the Delaware Bay while looking for gannets, a variety of gulls and terns, lingering scoters and loons, and the possibility of jaegers, petrels or shearwaters. Cost is in addition to weekend package; registration required.
Cruising Cape Island Creek▲ Kayak from the Miss Chris Marina along Cape Island Creek with an experienced naturalist for up close looks at Osprey, egrets and other marine life. Single and double kayaks provided for a fun, safe adventure. No experience needed. Cost is in addition to weekend package; registration required; space limited.
Friday, May 15th & Saturday, May 16th
Banquet and Evening Program are part of a package and not available separately. Advance registration and ticket required for admission.
5:00 - 6:00 PM Pre Dinner Social (cash bar)
6:00 - 7:30 PM Banquet▲
7:30 PM Evening Program▲
Friday Evening Program▲
Don Freiday One Day I Went Birding and
Birding can bring some unexpected rewards and not all of them directly related to birds. Find out what funny, strange, spectacular, and dangerous things have happened.
Saturday Evening Program▲
Pete Dunne Prairie Spring
Join Pete on a journey into the heart of a single season on the prairie. Listen to his experiences as he reveals the drama of man versus the environment.
Booksigning
Join noted authors and special guests for a reception and booksigning.
REGISTRATION is required to attend any of the events throughout the weekend. We offer several packages but individual walks or activities are not available. Activities are all inclusive of the weekend and do not require additional registration except where noted. A registration packet containing a full schedule of events, map, admission tags and tickets will be mailed to all registrants prior to the event.
All transportation throughout the weekend is the responsibility of the participant.
Advance registrations will be accepted until May 1, 2009. You may also register in person during the event at the Event Desk in the lobby of the Grand Hotel in Cape May.
▲ requires additional registration
Come celebrate spring at
the Migration Mainline
of North America,
Cape May, NJ!
NJ Audubon Society has fostered awareness and respect for our natural world since 1897. NJAS is an independent, privately supported, not-for-profit, membership organization; not affiliated with National Audubon.
Weekend Activities
This is a preliminary schedule.
The detailed schedule of events with exact activities, times, and meeting places will be mailed to registered participants. Event organizers reserve the right to cancel or substitute activities when necessary. All events run rain or shine. Registrants are responsible for their own transportation.
For more information about Field Trip locations, read our Site Descriptions.
▲ requires additional registration
Friday, MAY 15
7:30 – 9:30 AM FIELD TRIP Cape May Point State Park
7:30 – 9:30 AM FIELD TRIP Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge
7:30 – 9:30 AM FIELD TRIP Higbee Beach
7:30 – 9:30 AM FIELD TRIP Rea Farm
7:30 – 10:30 AM FIELD TRIP Belleplain State Forest
9:00 – 11:30 AM FIELD TRIP Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge
9:30 – 10:30 AM PROGRAM Shorebirds & Horseshoe Crabs with John Heuges
10:00 AM – Noon WORKSHOP Digiscoping for Beginners with Betty Lemley
10:00 AM – Noon FIELD TRIP Cape May Point State Park
10:00 AM – Noon FIELD TRIP Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge
10:00 AM – Noon FIELD TRIP Higbee Beach
10:00 AM – Noon FIELD TRIP Rea Farm
10:30 – 11:30 AM PROGRAM Beach Bum Birds with Tony Geiger
12:45 – 1:45 PM DOCUMENTARY Opposable Chums, The Guts and Glory of World Series of Birding
1:00 – 2:30 PM WORKSHOP Bird Watching for Beginners with Pete Dunne
1:00 – 3:00 PM WORKSHOP Shorebirds and Other ID Tips with Kevin Karlson
1:00 – 3:00 PM FIELD TRIP A Bird in the Sand with Tony Geiger
1:00 – 3:30 PM BOAT TRIP▲ Back Bay Salt Marsh
1:00 – 4:00 PM FIELD WORKSHOP Digiscoping for Beginners with Betty Lemley
1:30 – 3:00 PM FIELD TRIP Up Close with Shorebirds & Horseshoe Crabs
1:30 – 3:30 PM FIELD TRIP Heislerville WMA at High Tide
1:30 – 3:30 PM FIELD TRIP Stone Harbor Point
1:30 – 3:30 PM FIELD TRIP Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge
2:00 – 3:30 PM PROGRAM Tropical Birds Do the Coolest Things with Mark Garland
2:00 – 2:45 PM PROGRAM Discover the Pine Barrens with Rick Radis
2:00 – 4:00 PM BOAT TRIP▲ Cruising Cape Island Creek by Kayak
3:00 – 3:45 PM PROGRAM A Birds Eye View of Charitable Planning with Susan Hirshman
4:00 – 4:45 PM PROGRAM The Art of Pishing with Pete Dunne
Saturday, MAY 16
7:00 – 9:00 AM FIELD WORKSHOP Birding by Ear with Michael O’Brien
7:30 – 9:30 AM FIELD TRIP Cape May Point State Park
7:30 – 9:30 AM FIELD TRIP Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge
7:30 – 9:30 AM FIELD TRIP Higbee Beach
7:30 – 9:30 AM FIELD TRIP Rea Farm
9:30 – 10:30 AM PROGRAM Shorebirds & Horseshoe Crabs with John Heuges
10:00 – 11:00 AM WORKSHOP Selecting A Spotting Scope
10:00 AM – Noon FIELD TRIP Cape May Point State Park
10:00 AM – Noon FIELD TRIP Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge
10:00 AM – Noon FIELD TRIP Higbee Beach
10:00 AM – Noon FIELD TRIP Rea Farm
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM BOAT TRIP▲ Back Bay Salt Marsh
10:30 AM – 2:30 PM BOAT TRIP▲ Poor Man’s Pelagic Cape May to Lewes
11:00 AM – Noon WORKSHOP Options for Optics, What Binoculars to Choose
1:00 – 2:00 PM WORKSHOP Butterfly Identification with Will Kerling
1:00 – 2:15 PM WORKSHOP Warbler Identification with Louise Zemaitis
1:00 – 2:30 PM WORKSHOP Intermediate Birding with Vince Elia
1:00 – 3:00 PM FIELD WORKSHOP Tree ID for Birders with Bert Hixon
1:00 – 3:30 PM FIELD WORKSHOP Birding by Impression with Kevin Karlson
1:30 – 3:30 PM FIELD WORKSHOP Spring Wildflowers for Beginners with Rick Radis
1:30 – 4:00 PM BOAT TRIP▲ Back Bay Salt Marsh
2:00 – 2:45 PM PROGRAM Who’s Looking for our Summer Residents this Winter with International Park Flight Interns
2:00 – 3:30 PM FIELD TRIP Up Close with Shorebirds & Horseshoe Crabs
2:00 – 4:00 PM BOAT TRIP▲ Cruising Cape Island Creek by Kayak
2:30 – 3:15 PM PROGRAM Lyme Disease: Fact vs. Fiction with Kathy Roye
2:30 – 4:00 PM FIELD TRIP Butterfly Identification on the Wing with Will Kerling
2:30 – 4:00 PM FIELD TRIP Intermediate Birding with Vince Elia
3:00 – 3:45 PM PROGRAM The Osprey: Eggs to Flight with Jane Galetto
3:30 – 4:45 PM PROGRAM Birding in Costa Rica with Mark Garland
4:00 – 4:45 PM PROGRAM The Great Pageant with Eldon Remy
Sunday, MAY 17
7:30 – 9:30 AM FIELD TRIP Cape May Point State Park
7:30 – 9:30 AM FIELD TRIP Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge
7:30 – 9:30 AM FIELD TRIP Higbee Beach
7:30 – 9:30 AM FIELD TRIP Rea Farm
7:30 – 10:30 AM FIELD TRIP Belleplain State Forest
8:00 – 10:00 AM FIELD TRIP Sayre’s Farm
9:00 – 11:00 AM FIELD TRIP Villas Wildlife Management Area
9:00 – 11:00 AM FIELD TRIP Botany of Bennett Bog with Rick Radis
10:00 AM – Noon WORKSHOP Digiscoping for Beginners with Betty Lemley
10:00 AM – Noon FIELD TRIP Cape May Point State Park
10:00 AM – Noon FIELD TRIP Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge
10:00 AM – Noon FIELD TRIP Higbee Beach
10:00 AM – Noon FIELD TRIP Rea Farm
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM BOAT TRIP▲ Back Bay Salt Marsh
1:00 – 2:00 PM WORKSHOP Selecting A Spotting Scope
1:00 – 3:00 PM FIELD TRIP 3B’s of Belleplain - Birds, Botany & Butterflies
1:00 – 4:00 PM FIELD WORKSHOP Digiscoping for Beginners with Betty Lemley
1:30 – 3:30 PM FIELD TRIP Stone Harbor Point & Nummy’s Island with Kevin Karlson
1:30 – 4:00 PM BOAT TRIP▲ Back Bay Salt Marsh
2:00 – 3:00 PM WORKSHOP Options for Optics, What Binoculars to Choose
2:00 – 4:30 PM FIELD TRIP Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge
3:00 – 5:30 PM FIELD TRIP Heislerville WMA at High Tide
For more information, please send an email to CMBO Events or call 609.884.2736
Art by Charley Harper © 2006.
Photo Credits: Kevin Karlson, Robert Lego, Marleen Murgitroyde, Clayton Taylor-SONA