Spring Weekend Cape May Bird Observatory
32nd Annual Cape May Spring Weekend
May 15-17, 2009
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.

 

Spring Weekend Bird Collage 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.


EVENING PROGRAMS

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.

book signing

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

Download the Spring Weekend Registration Form


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

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