Friends of Cape May National Wildlife Refuge

10/22/2026

"...the bait is gone..."

10/22/2026

10/21/26
Scenes from TMBU south showing extreme high tides eroding the already ravaged dunes...and more.

10/22/2026

10/20/26
5:50 PM
TMBU
Whew! Non stop ferocious waves today pounding the jetty at the south end of the island.
Wondering how North Wildwood made out?
So glad this storm stayed out at sea!

The bored gulls just watched as the frenzied smaller shorebirds were foraging - Black bellied plovers doing their run & peck, Sanderlings, Purple sandpipers (says Merlin), Dunlin, American oystercatchers, Ruddy turnstones were all getting along.

The cormorants resting on the navigation tower seen getting pummeled at the end had the best view but the geese(?) zooming by in chevron flight (last frame) were not wasting any time migrating south.

Who can blame them?

10/21/2026

10/21/26
6:16 PM
minutes after sunset
Two Mile Beach Unit

10/19/2026

10/18/26

The FUTURE visited CMNWR's beach today at the Two Mile Beach Unit!

A group of motivated students from MATES (acronym for in Manahawkin, NJ ) stopped at our beach after visiting the NJ Audubon Fall Festival.

While scoping for birds here, they were curious about what appeared to be scores of dead horseshoe crabs on the high tide line.
Their group leaders explained that these are not dead crabs, these are the discarded exoskeletons left behind by juvenile horseshoe crabs who molted so their bodies can grow into larger shells.
Fascinating.

(KUDOS to MATES and other public high schools that focus on marine & environmental sciences encouraging young people to become aware of the changing ocean & its impact on our environment!)

10/18/2026

10/18/26
5PM
Two Mile beach
I passed a flock of 10 American Oystercatchers feeding at the tideline, walked another 200 feet & found 20 more who took flight heading "north?"

10/17/2026

Saturday, October 17
9am
Family Friendly Nature Walk
Check out the fall colors of flora & fauna that are still attracting & feeding monarchs, other butterflies, moths & cool insects.
Fall Migration is in full swing & eBird reported 106 species of birds at TMBU this past week.
Here's the list:

10/16/2026

Sunday, October 18th
9:30- 10:30 am
This is the last session of the Early Bird Explorers program.

Bring the kids ages 3-10 to experience Fall Migration in full swing (eBird recorded over 100 species stopping by here this past week!) and the fall flora & fauna are on display hosting monarchs & other insects.
Free kid size Notebooks (w/photos) to record what they see, hear & smell.

Don't forget to wish safe travels to the monarchs still around here feeding on their 3000 mike trip to Mexico to avoid the cold winter!

(Binoculars provided, of course)

10/16/2026

SATURDAY & SUNDAY
October 17th & 18th
8AM to 6PM
Rain or Shine

THIS is the WEEKEND for the LIGHTHOUSE CHALLENGE of New Jersey 2026

FINNS POINT RANGE LIGHT
located at the Supawna National Wildlife Refuge:
199 Lighthouse Road
Pennsville, NJ
609-463-0994

Visit is Free unless you are participating in the actual Lighthouse Challenge of NJ which has a $10 registration fee
(fees for the "Challenge" are used for continued restoration, preservation, operation & education of NJ lighthouses )

For more info :

OCTOBER 17th & 18th, 2026 Mark your calendars now and join us for the 2026 Challenge!

10/16/2026

Visit MMSC's yard sale at the Sea Life Museum this Saturday October 17th 10am-2pm! Shop the many treasures on our deck, including unique artwork, home decor and collectibles. Just name your price and pay what you can! All proceeds will help support our work with marine mammals and sea turtles. 🐬🦭🐢🐋