Join us in search of as many species of birds as we can find during Spring Migration!
Sunday, May 5, 2024
Stop by anytime between 7AM - 2PM
Spermaceti Cove, Sandy Hook
* No registration necessary, stay as long as you like.
The lure of Sandy Hook isn't just the birds. Sandy Hook is a peaceful, beautiful natural area with a variety of interesting habitats to explore. Spring is one of the best times to visit, because of the abundance of birds and wildlife. Falcons such as the American Kestrel and Peregrine Falcon migrate north along the coast. The songbirds begin arriving in late March, along with the Osprey (listed as threatened by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection) and the federally threatened Piping Plover.
The trip is open to both members and non-members of the Monmouth County Audubon Society, and participation is free. Advance registration is not required. Participants should dress appropriately for chilly 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.
Good evening, we have been monitoring the weather forecast for Saturday's walk, and it does not appear to be improving, with high chance of rain and wind. Sunday's forecast is for high winds, which will prevent the birds from displaying as well.
As such, we have made the difficult decision to CANCEL the filed trip at this time.
We apologize for any inconvenience.
MCAS Field Trips
Join us at Sandy Hook for a brisk February walk in search of winter birds and other creatures!
Join us in search of Harlequin Ducks, Common and Red-throated Loons, Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Purple Sandpipers, Snow Buntings, and more.
Enjoy a fall morning walk at Sandy Hook in search of late fall migrants and hawks.
For more info and to register, visit:
Join us in search of as many species of birds as we can find…
Sunday Oct 15, 2023
Stop by anytime between 8AM - 5PM
Spermaceti Cove, Sandy Hook
* No registration necessary, stay as long as you like.
Join us at Tatum Park in Middletown, NJ in search of different butterfly species. Additionally, biird migration will be underway.
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mcas-butterfly-and-bird-walk-at-tatum-park-tickets-715753316437?aff=oddtdtcreator
Hike the Fisherman’s Trail to ocean for nesting Osprey, Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher and terns.
Hike the Fisherman’s Trail to ocean for nesting Osprey, Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher and terns.
Scan Spermaceti Cove Boardwalk for nesting osprey, terns, herons, and egrets.
It's back!! Join us for a migration walk at Allaire SP in search of Warblers and other migrant passerines!
For more info and to register, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mcas-may-2023-field-trip-allaire-state-park-tickets-440128545327
Join this two-hour walk to look for osprey, herons, egrets and arriving spring migrants. Remember to bring binoculars.
For more info and to register, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mcas-april-2023-field-trip-sandy-hook-tickets-440123580477
Join MCAS for an evening at Big Brook Park Saturday, March 11, 2022 to observe the ritual/display flight of the American Woodcock.
For more info and to register, visit here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mcas-march-field-trip-big-brook-timber-doodle-walk-tickets-440119337787
Join us at Sandy Hook for a brisk February walk in search of winter birds!
For more info or to register, visit here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mcas-feb-2023-field-trip-sandy-hook-tickets-440114001827
Shake off the winter doldrums and join us for a winter bird walk at Manasquan Reservoir!
MEET AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER 331 Georgia Tavern Rd, Howell Township, NJ 07731
For more info and to register, visit here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mcas-jan-2023-field-trip-manasquan-reservoir-tickets-440112818287
Join our 2-hour walk in search of birds migrating south to winter along our coast. We will look for waterfowl, hawks, sparrows and more!
For more info and to register, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mcas-dec-2022-field-trip-sandy-hook-tickets-440101394117
Enjoy a Sunday morning fall walk at Sandy Hook in search of late fall migrants and hawks.
For more info and to register, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mcas-november-field-trip-sandy-hook-tickets-440097683017
Monmouth County Audubon October Bird Walk at Sandy Hook
Join our 2-hour walk in search of birds migrating south along the coast to their wintering grounds. We will look for waterfowl, hawks and passerines.
Meeting Location: Old visitor center parking lot between D and E lots
Expect to walk 2 miles & bring binoculars
To register, select the “Register” button below. Spaces are limited, and free!
Hike the Fisherman’s Trail to ocean for Piping Plover and shorebirds migrating south from northern breeding grounds.
2 miles, free
Please preregister HERE.
Masks or face coverings are optional per current COVID19 recommendations for outdoor activities. Bring binoculars, water and bug spray.
Hike the Fisherman’s Trail to ocean for nesting Osprey, Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher and terns.
2 miles, free
Please preregister HERE.
Masks or face coverings are optional per current COVID19 recommendations for outdoor activities. Bring binoculars and water.
Scan from Spermaceti Cove boardwalk for nesting Osprey, terns, herons and egrets.
Please preregister HERE.
Masks or face coverings are optional per current COVID19 recommendations for outdoor activities. Bring binoculars, water and bug spray.
Join us at Thompson Park for warblers and other spring migrants. Meet at Old Orchard picnic lot/ shelter. Rob Fanning will be leading the event.
Please preregister via email to monmouthaudubon@gmail.com Masks or face coverings are optional per current COVID19 recommendations for outdoor activities. Bring binoculars, water and bug spray.
Join MCAS for an evening at Big Brook Park Saturday, March 19, 2022 to observe the ritual/display flight of the American Woodcock/ Timberdoodle. Rob Fanning will be leading the event.
Located on County Road 520 in Marlboro, the original 379-acre parcel of land that established Big Brook Park was formerly used as farmland for patients at the Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital, located across the street. Named for Big Brook, which drains into the Swimming River Reservoir, the park contains forest made up of young wetland and maturing American beech, white oak, tulip poplar and hickory trees. Perhaps the park is better known for its rolling fields; made up of grasses, goldenrod and other perennials that provide a contiguous field habitat for butterflies, birds and other wildlife.
One bird species in particular is the target for this trip: the American Woodcock. American Woodcock spend most of their time hidden in fields and on the forest floor, where they probe for earthworms. On spring nights, however, their priorities change, and attracting a mate becomes more important than remaining camouflaged. Males advertise for a mate with a buzzy “peent” call. That vocalization signals the start of one wacky courtship display. The male takes flight and climbs from 50 to 100 yards into the air. He descends, zigzagging and banking while singing a liquid, chirping song. This high spiraling flight produces a melodious twittering sound as air rushes through the male's outer primary wing feathers. This display is truly like nothing else in nature and is why the group is making a special trip at dusk to experience it.
The group will meet at 5:30 pm in the parking lot of the park, located just off County Road 520.
The trip is open to both members and non-members of the Monmouth County Audubon Society, and participation is free. Advance registration is required. Participants should dress in weather-appropriate clothing, keeping in mind that temperatures drop quickly toward evening. Binoculars are recommended, and a field guide may be helpful.
Masks or face coverings are optional per current COVID19 recommendations for outdoor activities. Bring binoculars and water.
Join our 2-hour walk in search of ducks and loons that spend the winter in our waters. We will check sandbars for Harbor and Gray Seals that haul out to rest during low tide. Expect to walk 1 mile and wear warm layers. Linda Mack will be leading the event.
Please preregister via email to monmouthaudubon@gmail.com Masks or face coverings are optional per current COVID19 recommendations for outdoor activities. Bring binoculars and water.
Join our 2-hour walk in search of birds migrating south to winter along our coast. We will look for waterfowl, hawks, sparrows and lingering land birds. Expect to walk 1 mile and wear layers. Linda Mack will be leading the event.
Masks or face coverings are optional per current COVID19 recommendations for outdoor activities. Bring binoculars and water.
Audubon and Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology will host the annual Great Backyard Bird Count over Presidents Weekend, February 14-17.
Bird watchers count the birds they see for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count. Count birds in your yard or at your favorite park, then enter your checklists at birdcount.org All the data contribute to a snapshot of bird distribution and help scientists see changes over the past 21 years.
The first year, bird watchers submitted about 13,500 checklists from the United States and Canada. Fast-forward to the most recent event in 2017. Over the four days of the count, an estimated 214,000 bird watchers from more than 100 countries submitted nearly 174,000 bird checklists reporting 5,940 species – more than half the known bird species in the world.
MCAS will be counting birds at the Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center over the weekend, and we will report our results on our Facebook page and on the website. Visitors are welcome and encouraged! For more information on how to participate in your own back yard, please visit http://gbbc.birdcount.org.
