Cape May Bird Observatory

09/02/2026

It’s that time of year again! Welcome to the first Wednesdays from the Watch of the 2026 fall season!

We wanted to kick off this annual series by introducing you to the new and returning staff members you may run into when visiting the Cape May Hawkwatch throughout September and October. We’ll drop in every Wednesday with migration updates, fun facts, and insights into what makes fall in Cape May so special.

What about you? What are you looking forward to the most this fall migration season? Leave your answers in the comments!

Don’t forget, you can visit the Hawkwatch and meet our Interpretive Staff from 8:00am to 5:00pm through October 31st. Don’t have binoculars? Not a problem! This year’s Hawkwatch sponsor, ZEISS Birding, has provided scopes and binoculars for public use.

And don’t miss out on our FREE Hawkwatch programs at the Cape May Point State Park starting tomorrow:
Migration 101 every Thursday & Friday at 11 AM from September 3rd to October 9th
Hawk ID Mini-Workshop every Saturday & Sunday at 9:30 AM from September 5th to October 25th

09/02/2026

The first day of the 2026 Hawkwatch Season is in the books!

Down in Cape May and up at Montclair, the day started out steamy, with high temperatures and high humidity. This made for limited visibility for the first few hours of the counts, but our fall staff kept their spirits up as the fog began to lift.

Shortly after the visibility improved, our returning Cape May Hawkwatch Counter, David Benvent, observed the first migrant of the 2026 season, an American Kestrel. By the end of the day, he recorded 3 Ospreys, 3 Bald Eagles, 1 Cooper's Hawk, and 4 more Kestrels, along with 50 other species migrating south past the Hawkwatch. This year’s Naturalists, Aislinn, Madison, Josh, and Chris, were also up on the platform to greet and engage with the almost 200 visitors who braved the heat!

Up at the Montclair Hawkwatch, Ken Wilson, this year’s northern counter, dealt with the same less-than-favorable conditions, but still managed to count the first Turvey Vultures and Ospreys of the season!

As always, a huge shoutout goes to our seasonal staff, without whom our work wouldn’t be possible. We’d also like to thank ZEISS Birding for sponsoring the Cape May Hawkwatch for a second year.

ZEISS has been a supporter of New Jersey Audubon and the Cape May Bird Observatory for over twenty years through youth birding programs, special events, and beyond. With this continued partnership, we are excited to continue to promote the benefits of nature observation to the growing population of birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts visiting the Cape May Hawkwatch.

Everyone here at CMBO is prepped and ready for another count season, and we hope you can be a part of it! To everyone who visited one of our migration watches today, we hope you enjoyed your time. And to everyone else, we look forward to seeing you this fall!

Kestrel photo by Josh Davidson
Turkey Vulture photo by Kojo Baidoo

08/28/2026

Kinda chic to stay updated on fall migration in Cape May!

Just 3 weeks into our Morning Flight count, and over 120 species have been counted migrating past Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area. Many of these birds are nocturnal migrants that have extended their migration into the early hours of the morning to avoid the Delaware Bay. The term “morning flight” refers to any morning movement by otherwise primarily nocturnal migrants.

Pictured are some of the most common species our Morning Flight Counter, Aaron Reb, has seen so far this season.

Want to stay up-to-date on songbird movement? Check out our Migration Watch pages on our website for live migration updates on Trektellen daily from now until November 15th.

American Redstart, Red-winged Blackbird, & White Ibis photos by Martina Nordstrand
Purple Martin photo by Kojo Baidoo
Barn Swallow photo by Josh Davidson
Bobolink photo by Gautam Apte

08/25/2026

Hoping to experience the best of fall birding in Cape May? Look no further! Join local birding expert and artist Louise Zemaitis for a three-day birding workshop this September 14th to 16th.

Not too early and not too late, September is the prime time for fall migration, making it one of the best months to spot warblers, flycatchers, vireos, and other migratory songbirds that stop in Cape May during their southward migration. The Fall Migration at Cape May workshop also includes opportunities to see shorebirds, seabirds, and raptors passing through. You’ll spend your time exploring multiple locations throughout Cape May while picking up new identification tips from Louise.

Check all the details for this trip here: https://njaudubon.org/event/fall-migration-at-cape-may-3/

Come experience fall migration in Cape May for yourself!

Photo 1: Red Knot by Josh Davidson
Photo 2: Pine Warbler by Josh Davidson
Photo 3: Great Crested Flycatcher by Josh Davidson

08/22/2026

Last Saturday, we hosted a workday on our Ryan De Witt Memorial Trail where our staff and volunteers prepped and planted nearly 150 plugs of Pennsylvania Sedge, a type of ground cover native to New Jersey. As it grows, Pennsylvania sedge will establish a dense network of roots that’ll help stabilize our hillside and reduce erosion.

Did you know that sedges are not grasses, but in a class of their very own! The classic phrase “sedges have edges” refers to the solid, triangular shape of their stems, as opposed to the hollow, round, or flat stems of traditional grasses. Sedge seeds also provide food for dozens of native birds, insects, and mammals, while the dense vegetation creates protection and shelter for ground nesters and foragers.

A huge thank you goes out to the De Witt family for providing these plugs, as well as their continued support and care for the Memorial Trail. And one last thank you to all the volunteers who have donated their time to maintaining the habitat at the Northwood Center this year.

08/21/2026

We are still accepting applications for the Nature Store Manager position at our Northwood Center!

Do you love and have experience with birds, optics, talking to people about nature, and retail? We want you to join our team!

Details and application information can be found at:
https://njaudubon.org/who-we-are/careers/

After decades of service to New Jersey Audubon and the Cape May Bird Observatory, Brian Moscatello has decided to step away from the position of Nature Store Manager at CMBO’s Northwood Center in Cape May Point, NJ.

In other words – we’re hiring!

Do you love and have experience with birds, optics, talking to people about nature, and retail? We want you to join our team!

Details and application information can be found at:
https://njaudubon.org/who-we-are/careers/

Thanks to Brian for all he has done for birds and conservation!

08/20/2026

Can you believe the Cape May Hawkwatch starts in less than 2 weeks? Starting September 1st, our Interpretive Naturalists will be stationed at Cape May Point State Park to share their knowledge and help you get the most out of your birding experience.

Want to make the most out of fall migration this year? Registration is open for the 2026 Cape May Fall Festival!

NJ Audubon’s 80th Fall Festival will take place October 15th-18th. This 3-and-a-half-day birding bonanza features a wide selection of guided field trips led by our extremely talented naturalists. From field trips, trolley trips, boat trips, and bus trips, there’s plenty to do and experience!

Don’t want the magic to end? Consider a 2- or 3-day registration and fully immerse yourself in the world-renowned Cape May birding scene while celebrating CMBO’s 50th Anniversary!

Featured events you won’t want to miss include the Thursday Evening Kickoff party, Friday Evening VIP Reception at The Nature Place in Convention Hall, and Saturday Evening Keynote Presentation and book signing featuring Dr. Laurie Goodrich.

Not sure where to stay? Take advantage of a discounted nightly rate at the Grand Hotel of Cape May, located conveniently on Beach Avenue, for registered attendees.

Learn morehttps://cvent.me/ZD2o50

Registration closes on October 10th, and spots are filling fast. We can’t wait to see you there!

We are also thankful to ZEISS for their support of the Cape May Hawkwatch for a second season.

Photo: American Kestrel by Martina Nordstrand

08/18/2026

Birding Break!

CMBO's Director, Brett Ewald, glanced out the front door at our Northwood Center this afternoon just as a Golden-winged Warbler was eyeing up the birdbath - what luck! This resulted in a classic "drop-everything" moment at the center as staff, volunteers, and a number of visitors enjoyed the opportunity to see this increasingly scarce Cape May visitor.

Unsurprisingly, our Tom Reed stayed out a little longer and documented some other visitors to the Northwood grounds and the Ryan De Witt Memorial Trail. Check out his photos, and come see it for yourself: our restored habitat continues to be a haven for wildlife of all sorts, common and rare alike.

Photos by Tom Reed:
1. Golden-winged Warbler
2. Golden-winged Warbler fan club
3. Coastal Scissor(s) Grinder Cicada
4. Blue Dasher dragonfly
5. Black-and-white Warbler

08/16/2026

Today's All Things Birds trip to Forsythe NWR enjoyed a close look at a juvenile Black Tern and a continuing Lark Sparrow found earlier this week. It was a great day for seeing lots of terns in lots of plumages; we found 7 species with a mix of adults and begging juveniles. Thanks to everyone who joined us on a pleasant summer day and to our associate naturalists! Our weekly trips here continue through Labor Day Weekend.
https://njaudubon.org/calendar/category/all-things-birds/list/

08/13/2026

Birds have never been the only things we monitor at this observatory! Shown here is a Striped Saddlebags, a tropical/subtropical dragonfly that occasionally wanders north during late summer and autumn--and it appears that a number of them are doing just that in recent weeks.

Following an initial sighting in Del Haven on August 2, a few additional reports came in during our recent stretch of notably hot (tropical?) weather. But then came yesterday.

Our migration monitoring coordinator, Tom Reed, noticed a couple moving through the dunes at Cape May Point during the morning and then a few more at our Northwood Center around noon. In the afternoon, songbird counter Aaron Reb surveyed multiple locations at the Point and came up with a remarkable total of 64 individuals, including a few ovipositing!

While we aren't sure what drives these movements (not yet, anyway), observations like these contribute another piece of the puzzle, or another new idea to ponder, when it comes to Cape May's ever-changing natural world.

Striped Saddlebags is also a species we watch for during our 3x-a-day insect migration counts during the fall, part of CMBO's Monarch Monitoring Project. Will they keep moving into autumn? Will other southern species join them? We'll be there to find out!

Photos of male Striped Saddlebags, by Aaron Reb.