The Monmouth County Audubon Society will host a summer evening bird walk to look for nesters and shorebirds on Sandy Hook in northern Monmouth County. The event will take place on June 20 starting at 6 p.m. The public is welcome; admission is free.
Six months after superstorm Sandy, the Sandy Hook division of Gateway National Recreation Area is a different place, according to a press release. Many buildings on “the hook” were damaged during the storm, as were the multi-use path and the boardwalk on the bay side of the visitor center. Damaged or not, many birds call Sandy Hook their home in the summertime, nesting and raising families here. Members of the Audubon Society will point them out and explain their life cycle on the hook.
“The evening is a great time to explore the quieter areas of Sandy Hook,” said Linda Mack, trip leader and past president of the Monmouth County Audubon Society. “We never know what we will discover on these summer walks — herons, shorebirds, ospreys and gulls are all regulars — and we may be able to sneak a peek at piping plovers, the endangered shorebirds that nest at Sandy Hook.”
Anyone interested in participating in the event can meet at 6 p.m. in parking area B by the beach pavilion.
The trip is open to members and nonmembers of the Audubon Society, and participation is free. Advance registration is not required. Participants should bring binoculars and field guides and should dress appropriately for the weather, including clothing suitable for rain if the forecast is questionable. Insect repellent also is recommended. The walk will take place light rain or shine. Pets are not permitted.
Further information can be obtained by visiting the organization’s website at http://www.monmouthaudubon.org, or via e-mail at [email protected].