Several Field trips are scheduled, during and after the meeting.
Daily trips - Thursday-Saturday, November 5-7th, 2009
Fee: None
Short field trips led by NJAS staff and associate naturalists will meet at the Cape May Point State Park (Thursday and Saturday) or Highbee Beach (Friday) at 6:30am. Trips will be completed by 7:45 am, allowing for time to return to the hotel in time for the plenary and scientific sessions.
Birding at Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge - Sunday, November 8th, 2009
Fee: $15.00 (Van transportation available)
Trip will depart from the Grand Hotel at 7:30 am and, for those returning to Cape May, will return at 2:00 p.m. Those heading north after this trip may want to take their own vehicles.
The refuge's location in one of the Atlantic Flyway's most active flight paths makes it an important link in the vast network of national wildlife refuges administered nationwide by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. More than 82% of Forsythe refuge is wetlands and "diking" has created 1,415 acres of impounded fresh and brackish-water marsh habitat in the heart of naturally occurring tidal salt marsh. It is used extensively by waterfowl, shorebirds and colonial waterbirds.
Birding in Cape May County - Sunday, November 8th, 2009
Fee: $10.00
Two morning trips will be offered, birding south of the Cape May Canal for land and waterbirds, and birding Cape May beaches (Stone Harbor, Nummy Island, Avalon Seawatch) for primarily waterbirds. Both depart from the Grand Hotel at 7:30 am and return at 11:30 am. Trips will be led NJAS staff and/or associate naturalists. Transport is by personal car/car pool.
Pelagic Trip - Sunday, November 8th, 2009
Fee: $75.00 -- $ 84.00 after October 15th
This 8-hour trip will be run through See Life Paulagics with NJAS field trip leaders on-board.
This trip is limited to 45 participants on a
first-come first-serve basis and pre-registration is required. Priority
registration for meeting attendees will close on October 15th and at
that time will be open to others. The price of the trip will also go up to $ 84 when trip registration opens up to the general public.
Trip will include Five Fathom Bank (about 12 miles out) and perhaps The Lumps (about 25 miles out) if they are holding bait and fish. These areas are known to hold a lot of life, especially at that time of year with a good chance of picking up more highly pelagic species such as shearwaters, Pomarine Jaeger, Red Phalarope, an early Razorbill, and/or Kittiwake. The itinerary may still include inshore areas, such as The Rips for terns, Bonaparte's Gulls, oodles of Gannets, rarer gulls, and Parasitic Jaeger. If there is time, a chumming run around the Lewes Breakwater may produce Iceland and Lesser Black-backed Gull, as well as Great Cormorant. Captain's knowledge of any fish / bird / mammal concentrations could override any plans.
For information or to register for the pelagic trip, please contact See Life Paulagics directly at P.O. Box 161, Green Lane, PA 18054; Phone: 215-234-6805; e-mail: info@paulagics.com
For registration information on the other field trips, contact Nellie Tsipoura.
For specific details on the field trips or other birding opportunities in the area, contact Don Freiday or visit www.birdcapemay.org.