HOURS: Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. / Closed Mondays

CLOSURES: Closed on Friday thru Sunday, July 4-6, for Independence Weekend.

Sandy Hook Bird Observatory Information Page

Spring Calendar of Events

Summer, 2008

Click Here for Field Trip Directions

FIELD TRIPS

SATURDAY AND WEEKDAY FIELD TRIPS WITH PETE BACINSKI
By caravan with director Pete Bacinski or our associate naturalists to seasonally productive birding or nature areas. Registration must be paid seven days in advance to allow time to send directions. To facilitate sending directions, please include your e-mail address with your check or when you register, otherwise please include your mailing address. Single trips: $15 members, $20 nonmembers, with no cancellations or refunds.

Trips go in any weather, usually to midafternoon. Bring lunch, weather-appropriate gear, binoculars, and scopes when appropriate. Upon receipt of check, directions with instructions will be e-mailed or sent, usually one week in advance. Please note change in start times for many trips and new fee schedule.
Trips include:

Saturday and Sunday, June 7 & 8
Third annual Sussex County Birding and Nature Festival (See details below).
Saturday, June 14
Join Susan Phelon for a tour of Sussex County’s great birding hotspots, including High Point State Park and Stokes State Forest in search of nesting warblers and other passerines. Meet at 8:45 a.m.
Saturday, June 21
Newark’s Pequannock Watershed with Pete for a day in search of nesting warblers, raptors and passerines at one of the two best locations in N.J. Meet at 8:15 a.m.
Saturday, June 28
Join gifted associate naturalists Terry Carruthers and Andy Lamy for a trip up Old Mine Road in Sussex County, in search of late season nesters and surprises. Meet at 8:00 a.m.
Saturday, June 28
Associate naturalist Ken Witkowski will guide you to one of N.J.’s premier butterflying locations, Canal Road in Vernon, in search of Baltimore Checkerspot and many other local specialties. Ken does birds, too. Meet at 9:00 a.m.
Saturday, July 12
Associate naturalist Lloyd Shaw will take you to two new trip locations, Piney Woods Preserve and Elephant Swamp, both in Gloucester County, for summer songbirds. Meet at 7:30 a.m.
Saturday, July 26
Pete’s first trip this summer to Brig (Forsythe NWR), along with associate naturalist Andy Lamy, for exciting shorebirds and nesting waders. Meet at 8:45 a.m.
Saturday, August 2
Another great new birding location, Makepeace Lake WMA, with Lloyd Shaw, for waders and passerines. Meet at 8:00 a.m.
Saturday, August 9
Back to Brig with Pete and Andy Lamy at the peak of shorebird migration, followed by a trip to Tuckerton for Brown Pelicans. Meet at 8:45 a.m.
Friday to Sunday, August 15 to 17
Our eleventh annual Bombay Hook Delaware birding weekend (see details below).
Saturday, August 23
Join associate naturalists Linda Mack and Carole Hughes for a birding adventure at Sandy Hook in search of early returning passerines and local resident birds. Meet at 8:00 a.m.
Saturday, August 30
Join associate naturalists Rob Fanning and Lloyd Shaw for Brigantine at the peak of shorebird diversity, with godwits and Buff-breasted and Baird’s Sandpipers as possibilities. Meet at 8:45 a.m.

SUNDAY FIELD TRIPS WITH OUR ASSOCIATE NATURALISTS
You will be birding by caravan with our associate naturalists to seasonally pro-ductive areas. Registration fees must be mailed to the Sandy Hook Bird Observatory seven days in advance. Bruce Fetz, our volunteer leader, does not accept trip registration fees on the day of the field trip. Single trips: $15 members, $20 nonmembers, and $10 for SHBO volunteers, with no cancellations or refunds. To facilitate sending directions please include your e-mail address with your check or when you register, otherwise please include your mailing address. Trips go in any weather, usually to early afternoon. Bring lunch, weather-appropriate clothing, and binoculars. Upon receipt of check, directions with instructions will be mailed, usually one week in advance.
Please note new fee schedule.
Sunday trips include:

Sunday, June 1
Join Pete for a birding adventure at one of N.J.’s best passerine nesting locations, Old Mine Road in Sussex County with its many species of nesting warblers and other passerines. Meet at 8:15 a.m.
Sunday, June 8
Associate naturalist Bruce Fetz will visit Allaire State Park, one of Monmouth County’s best parks for nesting passerines. Meet at 6:00 a.m. at the Boy Scout Camp or 8:00 a.m. at the main parking lot.
Saturday and Sunday, June 7 & 8
The third annual Sussex County Birding and Nature Festival (see highlight box).
Sunday, June 15
Atlantic County Park for breeding birds is the target for associate naturalist Lloyd Shaw. Fifteen species of nesting warblers are possible. Meet at 7:30 a.m.
Sunday, June 22
Ferns of Northern New Jersey
Led by Rick Radis
Past trips have seen over thirty-five species of ferns and fern allies, including all the common species of the region plus a number of scarce, rare, endangered, and hard-to-find ones. Trip will meet at a very diverse site located off Route 206 north of Andover in Sussex County and carpool from there. Plant lists and other materials will be provided, and birds, herps, wildflowers, and geology are on the itinerary. Directions will be sent upon registration. Meet at 8:30 a.m.
Sunday, June 29
Join Bruce Fetz at Assunpink WMA for late summer nesters and avian surprises. Meet at 7:00 a.m.
Sunday, July 13
Associate naturalist Patrick Belardo will lead you to Willowwood Arboretum and Fairview Farms in search of butterflies, dragonflies, and birds. Meet at 10:00 a.m.
Sunday, August 10
Rarity Magnet and associate naturalist Tom Boyle will lead the season’s first trip out to Sandy Hook for early migrant passerines, terns, and waders. Meet at 7:00 a.m.
Friday to Sunday, August 15 to 17
Our thirteenth annual Bombay Hook birding weekend (See details below).
Sunday, August 24
Associate naturalist and local expert Bruce Fetz will guide the group to his favorite spots at Sandy Hook for arriving fall migrants and resident birds. Meet at 7:00 a.m.

BIRDING FOR BEGINNERS WITH PATRICK BELARDO
Sunday, June 22
8:00 a.m. to noon
If you are new to birding, this is the bird walk for you. Join Patrick as he introduces you to the fundamentals of bird identification while visiting the diverse habitats of Sandy Hook. Bring binoculars if you have them. Meet at the Visitors’ Center parking lot. Free to the public, but please preregister by calling 732.872.2500.

THIRD ANNUAL SUSSEX COUNTY BIRDING AND NATURE FESTIVAL
Saturday and Sunday, June 7 and 8
The third annual Sussex County Birding and Nature Festival, a partnership between the New Jersey Audubon Society and the County of Sussex, will be held on June 7 and 8. Two days of field trips and lectures will highlight birds, butterflies, and dragonflies in Sussex County, New Jersey. Headquarters for the event will be the Mountain Creek Alpine Hotel in Vernon Township. Preregistration for field trips and lectures is available at www.njaudubon.org/centers/shbo or call 732.872.2500 (walk-ins welcome). Sussex County in early June is a magnet for breeding birds – 125 species are hoped for during this weekend, including a possible twenty-five-plus species of warblers. Did you know that more species of dragonflies call Sussex County home than any county in the U.S.? Butterfly diversity also abounds. We have an extraordinary cast of leaders assembled. If you want to combine field trips with lectures, indoor presentations will take place throughout the weekend. The event will also feature vendors and indoor displays. Join us for a half-day, a whole day, or the full weekend for exploring the natural wonders of Sussex County!
(For additional information, contact Donna M. Traylor, Sussex County Office of Farmland Preservation and Conservation, at 973.579.0500, option 1).

THIRTEENTH ANNUAL
BOMBAY HOOK WEEKEND
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, August 15 to 17
Meet at 9:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Join us for a day on Friday or Saturday, for two days, or the whole weekend, at one of the best shorebirding locations in the country: Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Delaware. We will also visit Little Creek WMA, Ted Harvey, Port Mahon, Kitt’s Hummock, and Woodland Beach among others. Possibilities include godwits, phalaropes, avocets, Black-necked Stilts, Upland Sandpipers, and (if we’re really lucky) Baird’s Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, and Ruff. Twenty-plus species of shorebirds are possible, plus rarities. We supply a list of recommended Dover motels upon request.
Leaders: Pete Bacinski, Scott Barnes, and Linda Mack.
Cost one day:     $35 members, $45 nonmembers.
Cost two days:    $60 members, $70 nonmembers.
Cost weekend:     $75 members, $85 nonmembers.
Cost does not include transportation, food, or lodging.

THE SANDY HOOK PIPER

Thanks to:
Hans Zweerink for his excellent services as a weekday volunteer and good luck in his efforts managing the Red Bank soup kitchen. To our excellent weekday volunteers, Bonnie Strand, Irwin and Sharon Lentchner, Barbara Murray, June McMahon, Kathy Covington, David Royce, Trina Anderson (welcome to the family), Georgia Dempster, Gloria Deodato (welcome aboard), Kevin Keating, Tom Tarlach, Anne Galli, Lynne Warner, and Dona Radey; to our great weekend volunteers Colette Buchanan, Janet Stadelmeier, Laura Hardy, Pat Caswell, Helena Bauernschmitt, Sandra Escala, Teri Catalano, Patrick Belardo, Sue Rinaldi, John Salerno, the Iron Man, Brian Clough, Mike Blasenheim, Roy Nelson, Elaine Long, Donna Juettner, Sussana Treesh, John McCarthy and Linda Stehlik; to our always accommodating fill-in volunteer Ron Blandon; to Tony and Joann Lambiase for filing when needed; to Mike Lyncheski for all his help with setting up our new computers and T-1; Henry Fallon for all things computer; Bonnie Strand for Web site updates and all those special projects; to Linda Mack for her excellent services tour leading, as an associate naturalist, bookstore comanager and bookkeeper; Sharon Lentchner for her efforts as bookstore comanager; to Irwin Lentchner for his persistence with the POS system, inventory and coordinating the volunteers; Kevin Keating with his help forwarding photos to the Star-Ledger; to the Friday ladies Anne Galli, Dona Radey and Lynne Warner for their efforts with publicity and special projects; to Anne Galli for volunteering to help with the strategic plan committee; to our wonderful associate naturalists: Patrick Belardo, Tom Boyle, Terry Carruthers, Rob Fanning, Bruce Fetz, Andy Lamy, Frank Lenik, Linda Mack, Susan Phelon, Rick Radis, Andrew Spears, Ken Witkowski, and to our newest additions, Carole Hughes and Michael Britt; to Greg Hartman for door repairs; to Denis Cleary and Jason Guerard for bookstore guidance; to Laurie Larson for all her efforts with the RBA; to Debra LaQuaglia for her help with the Star-Ledger column; to Kathleen Mistretta and all her efforts with the travel program; and to Lyda Spear for help at the home office.

SPECIAL DIRECTOR’S NOTE

The Sandy Hook Bird Observatory has an immediate need for volunteer help; on weekends to help open the center and work the bookstore and gift shop; and on weekdays also to help in the store and to assist our staff. For weekends, we are looking for a commitment of one or more Saturday mornings, afternoons, or all day; or one or more Sundays, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. per month. For weekdays, we are also looking for a weekly one-day commitment to help at the center from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. or 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. If you can help us during these periods, please do not hesitate to call SHBO and ask for Pete or Scott. Please come and be a part of our wonderful SHBO volunteer family.

Members receive discounts on program fees. If you are not a member and would like to become one, consider Joining New Jersey Audubon Society.