Winter Programs 2011-2012 (Spring)
December - February
(Download PDF File of SHBO Winter Calendar 2012)
FIELD TRIPS
By caravan with director Pete Bacinski, Scott Barnes, or our associate naturalists to seasonally productive birding or nature areas. To register, please call the center at 732-872-2500 or mail in your request. Single trips: $15 members, $20 nonmembers, and SHBO volunteers $10, with no cancellations or refunds. Trips go in any weather, usually to midafternoon. Bring lunch, weather-appropriate gear, binoculars, and scopes when appropriate. Directions to field trip starting points are available on this website. Trips include:
Saturday, February 4
Join Pete for a tour of Ocean County coastal birding locations, for wintering waterfowl, raptors, gulls, and other species. Meet at 8:45 a.m. at the Value City Furniture Store parking lot in Manahawkin.
Sunday, February 5
Visit the Great Swamp NWR, for wintering raptors, passerines, and waterfowl with Carole Hughes.
Meet at 8:45 a.m. at the Wildlife Observation Center on Long Hill Road.
Saturday, February 11
Sandy Hook to Allenhurst with Scott Barnes for seabirds, gulls, waterfowl, and the unexpected.
Meet at 8:45 a.m. at Sandy Hook NRA, Bayberry parking lot.
Friday, February 17, through Monday, February 20
SHBO’s annual winter adventure to New England, for great winter birding. (See Special Events.)
Saturday, February 18
Barnegat Light SP, with Lloyd Shaw, for Harlequin Ducks, gulls, and seabirds; and then to Manahawkin or Cedar Run for raptors and surprises. Meet at 10:00 a.m. at the park.
Sunday, February 19
Wallkill River NWR and the Shawangunk Grasslands, with associate naturalist Mike Britt, in search of passerines, raptors, waterfowl, and perhaps an encounter with serendipity. Meet at 8:45 a.m. at the Wallkill refuge HQ.
Saturday, February 25
Sandy Hook and birding hotspots south for gulls, seabirds, and waterfowl, with Linda Mack. Meet at 8:45 a.m. at Bayberry lot.
Sunday, February 26
Merrill Creek, Round Valley, and Spruce Run Reservoirs, and Alpha Grasslands are possibilities in search of winter waterfowl, raptors, gulls, and the unexpected with Terry Carruthers.
Meet at 8:45 a.m. at the Merrill Creek Visitor Center.
BIRDING FOR BEGINNERS WITH PATRICK BELARDO
Sunday, February 12
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 and wear appropriate clothing for the weather. Meet at the Bayberry (B) lot. Free to the public, but please preregister by calling 732.872.2500.
SPECIAL EVENTS
NEW ENGLAND VAN TRIP ON PRESIDENTS’ WEEKEND
Friday to Monday, February 17 to 20, 2012
Join us for our annual adventure to one of America's greatest winter birding areas. We will visit Newburyport, Amesbury, and Salisbury for hot birding locations around the Merrimack River and Parker River NWR (Plum Island). And then we will bird the spectacular Cape Ann Peninsula (Rockport and Gloucester) in Massachusetts in search of alcids, rare gulls, waterfowl, Bald Eagles, Snowy Owls, Lapland Longspurs, unusual winter passerines (especially finches), and other raptors. We will monitor hotlines for rarities and may venture up to Maine if the birds are right. Previous trips have featured Eared Grebe, Dovekie, Thick-billed Murre, Razorbill, Gyrfalcon, Bohemian Waxwing, and Thayer’s Gull. We get raves for our wonderful choice of eateries. Package includes van transportation and lodging.
Cost is $575, plus single supplement of $75. Van(s) leave Sandy Hook at 7:00 a.m. and Scherman-Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary at 8:15 a.m., returning Monday evening. Participation limited to 14. Please register by February 10, 2012, by sending a $50 per person (nonrefundable) deposit.
Spring Programs 2012
March through May
Download PDF File of SHBO/All Things Birds Spring Calendar 2012
Program Registration:
Contact the Scherman-Hoffman center:
11 Hardscrabble Rd.
Bernardsville, NJ 07924
(908) 766-5787
Tues-Sat 9-5, Sun Noon to 5, Closed Mondays
scherman-hoffman@njaudubon.org
For Questions and Program Information (after March 1, 2012):
Peter Bacinski, Bird Program Director,
Scherman-Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary
908.766.5787 pete.bacinski@njaudubon.org
Scott Barnes, Bird Program Director,
Plainsboro Preserve
609.897.9400 scott.barnes@njaudubon.org
Note to Readers: In case you haven’t heard, New Jersey Audubon has closed its Sandy Hook Bird Observatory office, but programs at Sandy Hook will continue. As part of New Jersey Audubon’s NEW All Things Birds initiative, starting March 1, Pete Bacinski and Scott Barnes will bring their considerable talents to bear, respectively, at the Scherman-Hoffman Sanctuary in Bernardsville and Plainsboro Preserve in Cranbury. Please note the new contact information for Pete and Scott and NEW PROGRAM REGISTRATION INFORMATION: For programs listed below that require pre-registration, please contact Scherman-Hoffman. For logistical information regarding the programs, contact Pete or Scott directly.
All of us are excited about expanding the scope of our birding program and spreading Scott’s and Pete’s talents to a wider geographic area. Please bear with us during this time of transition and look forward to a growing array of birding programs through All Things Birds.
FIELD TRIPS
By caravan with Pete Bacinski, Scott Barnes, or our associate naturalists to seasonally productive birding or nature areas. Single trips: $15 members, $20 nonmembers, and SHBO volunteers $10, with no cancellations or refunds. Trips go in any weather, usually to midafternoon. Bring lunch, weather-appropriate gear, binoculars, and scopes when appropriate. Directions to field trip starting points are available on this website.
Trips include:
Saturday, March 3
Associate naturalist Terry Carruthers will visit the western NJ reservoirs at Merrill Creek, Spruce Run, and Round Valley for late-winter specialties.
Meet at 8:45 a.m. at Merrill Creek HQ.
Saturday, March 10
Ocean County birding locations with Pete; such as Tuckerton, Cedar Run, Manahawkin, and the Barnegat Impoundments for late winter birding. Meet at 8:45 a.m. at the Value City Furniture Store parking lot in Manahawkin.
Saturday, March 17
Join Lloyd Shaw at Pedricktown, Mannington Marsh, and Featherbed Lane for early migrants. Meet at 9:00 a.m. at Pedricktown.
Saturday, March 24
Salem County birding hotspots with Scott, for early spring arrivals and local specialties. Meet at 8:45 a.m. (Special price: $20 for members,
$25 for nonmembers.)
Saturday, March 31
Sandy Hook with Linda Mack, for early arriving spring specialties and departing winter waterfowl and gulls. Meet at 8:45 a.m. at Bayberry.
Saturday, April 7
Bird with associate naturalist Terry Carruthers at Merrill Creek, Round Valley, and Spruce Run Reservoirs in search of early spring arrivals, raptors and waterfowl. Meet at 8:45 a.m at Merrill Creek HQ.
Saturday, April 7
Forsythe (Brigantine) NWR for early spring migrants, raptors, and all things spring with Lloyd Shaw.
Meet at 8:00 a.m.
Saturday, April 14
Join Scott Barnes at Sandy Hook for a visit to the migration watch platform. Enjoy early spring birding and the fantastic view at this hotspot.
Meet at 8:45 a.m., Bayberry.
Sunday, April 15
Sandy Hook with associate naturalist Tom Boyle for early spring arrivals.
Meet at 7:00 a.m., Bayberry
Saturday, April 21
Associate naturalist Carole Hughes will lead our first spring Garret Mountain spring migrant birding adventure.
Meet at 8:15 a.m.
Saturday April 21
Search with Scott Barnes for Little Gull at South Amboy, arguably the most reliable place in the state to find this rare visitor. South Amboy also offers a good variety of waterfowl on Raritan Bay, in woods, and freshwater marsh in a convenient small space. Meet at 8:45 a.m. at Waterfront Park.
Sunday, April 22
Linda Mack will guide you at Sandy Hook in search of spring passerine migrants and northbound raptors and seabirds.
Meet at 8:45 a.m., Bayberry Lot.
Saturday, April 28
Atlantic County Park with Lloyd Shaw, for resident and migrant passerines.
Meet at 7:30 a.m.
Saturday and Sunday, April 28 and 29
Pete’s annual Belleplain SF/Brigantine-Forsythe NWR excursion south to meet spring birds. Meet at 8:15 a.m.
(See Special Events.)
Sunday April 29
Sandy Hook with Scott for warblers and other spring migrants.
Meet at 8:15 a.m, Bayberry.
Saturday, May 5
Pete’s annual first Saturday in May trip to Garret Mountain for lots of warblers and arriving passerines. Rob Fanning, Carole Hughes and Patrick Belardo will be along to lend a hand.
Meet at 8:15 a.m.
Sunday, May 6
The Natural History of the Pine Barrens with Rick Radis; trip 1. Visit the pygmy forest of the East Plains for spring wildflowers and botany, fire ecology, herps, nesting birds, a little geology and history, and a lot more. Meet in Warren Grove at 9:00 a.m.
Sunday, May 6
The Allendale Celery Farm with local expert Rob Fanning for spring specialties and other surprises.
Meet at 8:15 a.m.
Thursday, May 10
Garret Mountain at the prime time for warblers and arriving spring migrants; with Scott Barnes.
Meet at 8:15 a.m.
Saturday, May 12
World Series of Birding Century Run with Scott Barnes, Linda Mack, and associate naturalists. Registration required. (See Special Events.)
Tuesday, May 15
Sandy Hook birding guru Tom Boyle will do his thing on The Hook to find lots of arriving warblers and passerines. Meet at 7:00 a.m., Bayberry.
Thursday, May 17
Scott returns to Garret Mountain for spring migration at one of New Jersey’s (the East Coast’s) premier migrant traps. Meet at 8:15 a.m.
Saturday, May 19
Scott birds Sandy Hook in search of Mourning Warbler, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Gray-cheeked Thrush, and much more. Meet at 8:15 a.m., Bayberry.
Sunday, May 20
Join Linda Mack for a great day of exciting birding in search of late migrants and Sandy Hook specialties.
Meet at 8:15 a.m., Bayberry.
Wednesday, May 23
A weekday birding adventure at Sandy Hook with Scott for late season migrants and other surprises.
Meet at 8:15 a.m., Bayberry.
Saturday, May 26
Join Pete at Old Mine Road for passerine nesters including Cerulean, and Yellow-throated Warblers, migrants, and local specialties; and perhaps a Black Bear or Bobcat.
Meet at 8:15 a.m. at Delaware Water Gap Visitor Center.
Sunday, May 27
Carole Hughes on her annual birding adventure to High Point SP and Stokes SF for excellent nesting species and late migrants.
Meet at 7:00 a.m. at High Point SP HQ.
Wednesday, May 30
Old Mine Road with Pete Bacinski for passerines and spring migrants. Call for meeting time and place.
HALF DAY FRIDAY BIRDING
Fridays, April 20, 27, May 4, 11, and 25
Join Scott Barnes for a three-hour field trip exploring Sandy Hook for migrants including waders, raptors, gulls, terns, and songbirds at one of the best spring birding destinations in the state. Meet at Guardian Park at 8:30 a.m.
Cost: $10 members, $15 nonmembers.
BIRDING FOR BEGINNERS WITH PATRICK BELARDO
Sunday, April 22
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
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 and wear appropriate clothing for the weather. Meet at the Bayberry lot. Free to the public, but please preregister by calling 609.861.0700x11.
SPECIAL EVENTS
BELLEPLAIN STATE FOREST/BRIGANTINE WEEKEND
Saturday, April 28 and Sunday, April 29
Join us for one of Pete Bacinski's favorite trips, a two-day adventure in Cape May County on Saturday, and at Brigantine-Forsythe NWR on Sunday, greeting spring as it meanders northward. Come for both days or come for just one. Saturday for birding at Belleplain State Forest and Jakes Landing, or just for Sunday, with a day at Forsythe (Brigantine) NWR. Belleplain SF is an exceptional location for early migrants and residents and provides a very rewarding experience. This is an excellent time to view early returning passerine migrants and nesters. Expected birds include Summer Tanager, Yellow-breasted Chat, Prothonotary, Yellow-throated, and Hooded Warblers and, if we're lucky, Kentucky Warbler or another rarity. Sunday at Brig will feature great shorebirds in breeding plumage, passerine arrivals, raptors, and perhaps a surprise. The refuge is beautiful at this season. Call if you would like a motel recommendation.
The leaders will be Pete Bacinski and Karen Johnson (local Belleplain expert).
Cost: both days, $50 members and $60 nonmembers;
one day, $30 members and $35 nonmembers.
Meet at 8:15 a.m. Saturday and 8:45 a.m. Sunday.
WEEKDAY MAY FIELD TRIPS
Sandy Hook / All Things Birds is endeavoring to run several weekday field trips during May featuring expert leadership. This is the best time of year to see our passerine migrants in their best attire at the peak of spring migration, with Garret Mountain and Sandy Hook two of the most renowned locations to experience spring passerine migration.
Here are our offerings:
Thursday, May 10: Garret Mountain Reservation with Scott Barnes
Tuesday, May 15: Sandy Hook with Tom Boyle
Thursday, May 17: Garret Mountain Reservation with Scott Barnes
Wednesday, May 23: Sandy Hook with Scott Barnes
Wednesday, May 30: Old Mine Road with Pete Bacinski
Cost: $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers. Sign up for all five for $60 for members. Preregistration required. See field trip descriptions.
PETE BACINSKI’S BIRDING AND NATURAL HISTORY WORKSHOPS
Saturday, March 31
2:30 p.m., Sandy Hook firehouse.
“Colonial Waterbirds, Our Coastal Gems”
A look at New Jersey’s colonial nesting herons, egrets, terns, and gulls; featuring images taken by some of America’s best nature photographers. Get acquainted with this marvelous group of birds in their finest breeding attire, and learn about their way of life.
Saturday, April 7
1:00 p.m. , Sandy Hook Firehouse
“Spring Warbler Identification Workshop”
View and discuss identification of New Jersey’s 35 species of annual-occurring warblers in their breeding plumages in this comprehensive workshop. All aspects of identification will be covered. An excellent handout on warbler songs will be provided.
Saturday, May 19
2:30 p.m., Sandy Hook Firehouse
“Spring Shorebirds”
An ID Workshop including a comprehensive program and discussion on shorebirds will be given covering all aspects of identification of shorebirds expected in NJ during migration. The best locations to view shorebirds will be discussed as well as shorebird calls.
Workshops are $20 each for members and $25 each for nonmembers. Attend all three workshops for $50 members and $65 nonmembers. A $5 discount is offered if you attend the Sandy Hook for Early Spring Arrivals and Winter Birds field trip on Sandy Hook on March 31 and the Sandy Hook’s Special Birds on May 19. (Both trips precede the workshops on the same dates).
WORLD SERIES OF BIRDING
Saturday, May 12
The 29th annual World Series of Birding: Come and help us celebrate this event and support our efforts by participating in one of the following ways:
First: Get out into the field with Scott Barnes, bird program director, and Linda Mack plus other associate naturalists, for a day of intensive birding on the Sandy Hook Century Run. Participate in the annual World Series of Birding, Sandy Hook-style!
Spend the day scouring “The Hook” for those elusive passerines, unusual shorebirds, and lingering ducks and raptors. All proceeds benefit the “All Things Birds” program. You will caravan in the comfort of your own car or that of another friendly birder. If you cannot participate, please consider pledging toward the final total or giving a flat sum. Bring food, beverages, weather-appropriate clothing, sturdy shoes, insect repellent, binoculars, and spotting scopes.
Preregistration is required. Meet at the Bayberry (B) parking lot at 5:30 a.m. for early-risers or at 8:30 a.m. at K lot for late sleepers.
Cost: $1 or more per bird seen or heard during the day. (Expect approximately 120 species to be recorded.)
Second: Support the Sandy Hook / All Things Birds team, consisting of bird program director Pete Bacinski participating in his 29th WSB (that’s all of them folks); John, “the Stabilizing Force” Holinka; south Jersey birding machine Lloyd Shaw and extraordinary naturalist Rick Radis in their pursuit of a record-setting Ocean County run. Pledge a donation per bird toward their final total or a fixed amount. The team expects to record about 130 species.
Third: Get out there and do your own Big Day or Big Stay alone and pledge yourself, or with a team and enlist pledges from friends and relatives, to support “All Things Birds.” You are the captain and design your own strategic plan.
For Information: please contact Scott or Pete.