Jersey Shore Magazine

j e r s e y s h o r e • F A L L / H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 6 9 continued on page 10 "ALL THINGS BIRDS" FALL EVENTS For more information: www.njaudubon.org/SectionCenters/SectionAllThings Birds/Introduction.aspx Half Day Fridays at Sandy Hook Bird Walks Join Scott Barnes and/or associate naturalists for a half-day of birding at Sandy Hook. Fall is a great time to bird The Hook, and each week promises to have a different array of migrants including raptors, shorebirds, war- blers, sparrows, and more. Cost: $15. members; $20. non-members. Pre- registration required by calling Plainsboro Preserve at (609) 897-9400. Gateway National Recreation Area, Sandy Hook Unit, meet at Guardian Park (Lot M), (732) 872-2500 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM Fridays, 10-21, 10-28 Saturday Field Trips to Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge (Brigantine) Mid-October offers an interesting mix of species at "Brig," including shorebirds, raptors, and songbirds. Led by Mike Mandracchia and Pete Bacinski. Cost: $20. members; $25. non-members. Pre-registration required by calling Plainsboro Preserve at (609) 897-9400. Forsythe Brigantine NWR, 800 Great Creek Road, Galloway, meet at main lot by headquarters. 8:45 AM – 2:45 PM Saturdays, 11-5, 11-26 Field Trip to Sandy Hook This is the peak time of year for large numbers and diversity of sparrows at "The Hook." We'll also be searching for raptors and short-distance migrants. Led by Scott Barnes. Cost: $20. members; $25. non-members. Pre-registration required by calling Plainsboro Preserve at (609) 897-9400. Gateway National Recreation Area, Sandy Hook Unit, meet at Parking Lot B by the bathrooms, (732) 872-2500 8:45 AM – 2:45 PM 10-22, 11-6, 11-12 10-29: Field Trip to Island Beach State Park The waters off Island Beach can be teeming with scoters, loons, and gan- nets at this time of year, plus the scrub-shrub habitats and bayside waters provide plenty to look for at this scenic park. This is also a great time of year to be on the lookout for western and southern vagrants. Led by Scott Barnes and Linda Mack. Cost: $20. members; $25. non-members. Park entry fee not included. Pre-registration required by calling Plainsboro Preserve at (609) 897-9400. Island Beach State Park, Route 35 South, meet in the median parking lot just north of the park entrance (outside), (732) 793-0506 8:45 AM – 2:00 PM Red-headed Woodpecker. Brian E. Kushner monitoring a site in the grasslands of Joint Base McGuire-Lakehurst- Dix, which is one of two nesting places for the endangered Upland Sandpiper, and managing the habitat for the Red-headed Woodpecker in the Hovnanian Sanctuary near Jakes Branch County Park in Beachwood. Birding is a growing hobby that provides fun, companionship, edu- cation, and solitude, and there's no better time to start than autumn at the Jersey Shore. The New Jersey Audubon Society has a wealth of information for both the novice and advanced birder readily available on their website, including bird- ing guides, site guides, and more. Consider buying a field guide to birds in your area. Keep a filled bird feeder in your yard and watch who might be visiting. Take a young person in your life to a local park to look for birds. You never know…the bird you see might be headed somewhere thou- sands of miles away! —Jill Ocone Paul Scharff An Osprey lands at Sandy Hook.

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