By Christine Barcia
Staff Writer
Spring is not only the time of year for changing clocks, planting flowers and cleaning out the house, it is also the time of year for Monmouth County residents to embrace bird watching.
“It is astounding how many different species of birds co-exist
with us here in Monmouth County,” said Dena Temple, publicity director for the Monmouth County Audubon Society.
According to Temple, the society’s members spotted more than 160 species of birds in the county one year.
“Once you start to look, you will never believe how you didn’t know
all of this was there – but you just weren’t paying attention. That’s
what draws many people to birds and birding – it is an awakening to the
wonders of nature, right outside our windows,” Temple said.
The society is offering three opportunities in April for residents to open their eyes to bird watching and to explore the natural environment of Monmouth County.
Rob Bierregaard will present “Ospreys in the Age of Satellites and Silicon: Studies of Local Ecology and Long Distance Migration” at the Monmouth County Audubon Society’s meeting at 8 p.m. April 13. Members and nonmembers of the society are welcome to the free meeting which will be held at the Knights of Columbus hall, 200 Fair Haven Road, Fair Haven.
Bierregaard, who has been studying osprey migration in southern New England since 1971, began tagging ospreys with satellite transmitters in 2000. His presentation will review the data collected and highlight the differences between the paths, in fall and spring, that are taken by seasoned adults and juveniles as they travel to and return from South America, according to a press release.
The information presented will include how young birds find their wintering grounds and learn the routes between wintering and breeding areas. The data collected from the juvenile birds represents the only dedicated study of their migration patterns and highlights the phases of the annual cycle where juveniles are most vulnerable to natural and human-caused threats, according to the press release.
The Audubon Society will host a spring bird walk at Sandy Hook in northern Monmouth County on April 16. Participants will search for raptors and songbirds during their annual migration along the Atlantic Flyway, a bird migration path that follows the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and the Appalachian Mountains.
The peninsula of Sandy Hook acts as a natural funnel to the north-flying migrants, according to a press release. The birds prefer flying over land to flying over water and often lay over at Sandy Hook to feed and to renew their energy before flying over the Raritan Bay and New York Harbor.
This geography makes Sandy Hook an excellent place to observe many species of migrating birds in a limited area, according to the press release.
“Sandy Hook is an extremely critical area in terms of migratory birds as well as habitats for breeding birds, some of which are endangered,” said Lisa Ann Fanning, the society’s field trip coordinator.
Spring is one of the best times to visit Sandy Hook, according to Linda Mack, past Monmouth County Audubon Society president and Sandy Hook trip leader.
“Falcons such as the American kestrel (sparrow hawk) and the peregrine falcon migrate north along the coast. The songbirds begin arriving in late March, along with the osprey (listed as threatened by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection) and the federally threatened piping plover,” Mack said.
Anyone interested in participating in the April 16 walk can meet at 10 a.m. in the parking lot of the former Sandy Hook visitors center.
On April 17 at 10 a.m., the Monmouth County Audubon Society will host a walk at Seven Presidents Park, Long Branch, for a look at nesting shorebirds and to explore the role of the shorebird monitor program in their protection.
Seven Presidents Park, a waterfront preserve and birding destination during all seasons, hosts threatened and endangered shorebirds such as the piping plover, least tern and American oystercatcher. Participants will search for birds and learn the role of the shorebird monitor program in conservation and protection efforts.
Interested participants can meet at 10 a.m. in the north parking lot (corner of Ocean Avenue North and Atlantic Avenue) outside the Skateplex.
“Audubon is an organization about birds. That is what we do. That is why we
want to protect the environment, to protect habitats for birds and
wildlife,” Temple said.
Events are open to members and nonmembers of the society and participation is free. Advance registration is not required. Participants should dress appropriately for cold temperatures, which are common along the coast at this time of year. Binoculars are essential and a field guide is helpful. Pets are not permitted.
“What we provide are opportunities to learn about and become inspired by the natural world, to meet experts in the field and to enjoy spending time with other people who share these interests,” said Monmouth County Audubon Society President Bob Henschel, who has been a member since 1968.
The Monmouth County Audubon Society is a chapter of the National Audubon Society. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month, September through May, at the Knights of Columbus hall, 200 Fair Haven Road, Fair Haven.
“Through our meetings, our newsletter, website and Facebook page, we
keep our members aware of issues related not only to Monmouth County, but
also issues involving the state and national environmental issues. We
provide a framework of information, plus contact information for our
members to reach out to their representatives for action,” Temple said.
For more information, visit www.monmouthaudubon.org or email questions and comments to [email protected]