2019 SCHOOL OF BIRDING Workshops - Here they are!!!

There are few places in the world that can equal or surpass the birding phenomenon at Cape May. Likewise, our Cape May School of Birding is unequaled for its range of content and quality of leaders - providing a fun, interactive, and personal setting to learn about birds and nature!!!!!

Our full 2019 schedule of in-depth workshop is now set, and we have brought back many of the favorites and added some exciting new programs. These one-three day events are led by experts in their field: world-class birders and naturalists that have often written the guides we all rely on. Our intimate approach to enjoyment and teaching will provide the opportunity and information you need to grow in understanding and appreciation. While the majority of time is spent in the field watching birds and nature, some of the workshops will incorporate an indoor session – a chance to demonstrate and discuss identification, techniques, conservation, and ecology. Along the way, you’ll meet like-minded people and are sure to form lasting memories and friendships. From beginner to advanced, all are welcome! All the while, your registration fees are helping support the mission of New Jersey Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory.

Some great workshops are coming up soon, so don't wait!! Check out all the details and register now at:  Cape May School of Birding

2019 SCHOOL OF BIRDING WORKSHOPS

Spring Migration Special
With Brett Ewald * May 3-5

Birding By Ear: Songs & Calls of Eastern Birds
With Michael O'Brien * May 6-7

Spring Shorebirds & Southern Breeders
With Tom Reed * May 15-16

Warblers By Sight & Sound
With Scott Whittle * May 20-21

Appalachian Birding
With Scott Barnes * May 22-23

The Basics of Birding - New!
With Brett Ewald * August 13

Shorebirds With The Man Who Wrote The Book
With Michael O’Brien * August 14-15

Fall Migration At Cape May
With David La Puma * September 13-15

Things That Go Seep In The Night!
With Michael O’Brien * October 4-5

Raptor Migration at its Best - New!
With Brett Ewald * October 6-7

Photobirding
With Scott Whittle * October 10

Cape May with Everything On It
With Louise Zemaitis * October 21-23

Sparrow Sampler 
With Michael O’Brien * October 26-27

BIRDS IN FLIGHT - SPRING EDITION with Tom Reed - April 6

A NEW and exciting School of Birding Workshop - perfect for birders of all levels, from beginners to experienced. Cape May is synonymous with migration and birds in flight!  This may include waterfowl, wading birds, raptors, shorebirds, swallows, and songbirds.  Join Migration Count Coordinator Tom Reed for a day of watching water and sky for northbound migrants, while learning in-flight ID tips and more about the status and distribution of spring migrants at Cape May.  As an added bonus, this session will also touch on the fundamentals of bird migration counts and how they are conducted, along with an introduction to the new Cape May Springwatch. Preregistration required.

Saturday, April 6
7:00 - 4:00 PM
$90 members, $120 nonmembers

Register now at: CMBO School of Birding

POOR MAN'S PELAGIC - March 23

Take the “poor man’s pelagic” across Delaware Bay aboard the Cape May-Lewes Ferry at a time of year when hundreds of Northern Gannets (up close and personal),  Common and Red-throated Loons, cormorants, gulls, terns, shorebirds, scoters, and other ducks concentrate in the bay. We often see Ospreys arriving after their long journey from South America, and a Bald Eagle or two are always possible. This CMBO Special Field Trip is a unique way to experience these seabirds and the beauty of a Delaware Bay crossing. Join CMBO Naturalists at the Cape May Ferry landing for a half hour of birding from the landing (we've had Black-headed Gull here in the past). Ride the 1:00 boat to Delaware and return on the 2:45, arriving back in North Cape May shortly after 4 PM. The round-trip ferry fee is included in the field trip price, and as we will be travelling as foot passengers, you can park free of charge in the adjacent lot. PHOTO I.D. WILL BE REQUIRED.

Saturday, March 23
12:30 - 4:30
Preregistration required
$30 members, $40 nonmembers

Register now at: CMBO Programs

CAPE MAY BIRDING - RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME with Tom Reed- March 31

It may seem like magic that certain birders always seem to be at the right place at the right time, but is it really?  Join Tom Reed on this School of Birding Workshop for a full day of exploring Cape May and learning some of the tricks that experienced field birders use to maximize their time in the field - the calendar, tide cycles, weather events, geography, habitat, and history, among others. Expect to spend your entire time in the field, getting the most out of birding this world-renowned location. Preregistration required. 

Sunday, March 31
8:00 - 4:30 PM
$90 members, $120 nonmembers

Pair this workshop with the Gulls Simplified Workshop with Michael O'Brien on March 30th for an amazing weekend of the best of birding! What more could you ask for!  

Reserve your spot now: Cape May School of Birding

GULLS SIMPLIFIED with Michael O'Brien - March 30

The School of Birding Workshop you've been waiting for! This workshop combines time in the field learning the easy way to separate the common winter gulls (and teaches you how to sift through flocks of gulls for something rare, perhaps even an Iceland Gul or Black-headed Gull) with an indoor review of gull plumages, aging, and details about rarer species. By the end, you'll learn to love gulls too! We don’t preset an itinerary, but will explore those parts of Cape May County that regularly hold good numbers and diversity of gulls. Join world-renowned author, artist and birder Michael O'Brien for a great day of birding! Preregistration required. 

Saturday, March 30
8:00 - 4:30 PM

$90 members, $120 nonmembers.

Register now at: CMBO School of Birding

Iceland Gull                                             © Erik Bruhnke

Black-headed Gull                                © Dustin Welch

COASTAL BIRDING AT TWO MILE - February 23

Join CMBO Naturalists on this exciting Special Field Trip. Come explore the Cape May National Wildlife Refuge’s Two Mile Beach Unit’s barrier island habitat, where we’ll see shorebirds, gulls, and waterfowl, as well as offshore migrants such as Northern Gannett and scoters. We’ll walk the beach to the Cold Spring Jetty and look for Great Cormorant and Purple Sandpiper. We’ll also visit the duck blind to view the salt ponds for ducks and raptors. Preregistration required - $15 members, $20 nonmembers.

Saturday, February 23

1:00 - 4:00 PM

Register now at: CMBO Programs

TECHNIQUES OF FIELD OBSERVATION with Michael O'Brien - February 16

Sharpen your field skills in the workshop that every birder wishes they'd taken. Binoculars show you the bird. Field guides identify the bird. But how many times have you studied a bird, only to discover that all of the information you gathered has evaporated by the time you get to the field guide, or that the one field mark you need to distinguish one from another was the one thing you failed to note?  This workshop will teach you how to look, record and recall and, most importantly, how to bird like an expert.  World renowned author, artist, and tour leader Michael O'Brien will show you how to be a better birder on this one-of-a-kind Cape May School of Birding Workshop - you don't want to miss it!!! Preregistration required.

Saturday, February 16
8:00 - 4:30 PM
$90 members, $120 nonmembers

Register now at: Cape May School of Birding

LONG-TAILS IN LOVE Special Field Trip - February 9

Long-tailed Ducks and many other species of waterfowl frequent the ocean, bays, inlets, and ponds along he South Jersey coast. The Long-tailed Ducks court during the weeks surrounding Valentine's Day, with the males yodeling melodically to their mates. Join Chuck and Mary Jane Slugg and CMBO Naturalists on this exciting CMBO Special Field Trip to search for eiders, scoters and other waterfowl from Avalon to Cape May Harbor. Along the way, you may encounter other winter specialties, including Purple Sandpiper. Preregistration required. 

Saturday, February 9
10:00 - 4:00 PM
$24 members, $32 nonmembers.

Register now at: CMBO Programs

BRIGANTINE & MOTT'S CREEK - January 27

Edwin B. Forsythe NWR (AKA Brigantine) is a great place to see ducks, geese (including Snow Geese & Brant), Northern Harriers, Short-eared Owls, eagles and Rough-legged Hawks.  After birding the refuge, the group will head to nearby Mott's Creek for raptor watching.  A refuge pass ($4; can be purchased that day), Golden Age Pass, or federal duck stamp will be required for each vehicle to enter the NWR. Join Janet Crawford, Karen Johnson, and CMBO Naturalists on this exciting Special Field Trip. Registration required.

Sunday, January 27
1:30 - 5:30 PM
$24 members, $32 nonmembers

Register now at: CMBO Programs

COASTAL BIRDING AT TWO MILE - Jan. 12

Join CMBO Naturalists on this exciting Special Field Trip. Come explore the Cape May National Wildlife Refuge’s Two Mile Beach Unit’s barrier island habitat, where we’ll see shorebirds, gulls, and waterfowl, as well as offshore migrants such as Northern Gannett and scoters. We’ll walk the beach to the Cold Spring Jetty and look for Great Cormorant and Purple Sandpiper. We’ll also visit the duck blind to view the salt ponds for ducks and raptors. Preregistration required - $15 members, $20 nonmembers.

Saturday, January 12
1:00 - 4:00 PM

Register now at: CMBO Programs