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Avalon Seawatch
Cape May, NJ
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Cape May Bird Observatory sea watch staff member
maintains a lonely watch from early morning to dark.
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History
In 1978, Dave Ward, an Avalon resident, began a part-time watch
that monitored most peak fall flights past the Avalon peninsula.
Careful records were kept and reported in the American Birding
Association magazine. In 1992 the Cape May Bird Observatory took
over the effort and assigned a full time staff member to record
the number of species migrating past the point in fall. This
data is used to monitor changes in the Atlantic flyway
migration.
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Participation
The seawatch is held every day dawn to dusk from
September 22 until December 22. Any number of people can
join for an hour, a day or longer. The site is
accessible by car and appropriate for those confined to
wheelchairs. Bring your own scope and a lawn chair. By
December it will be pretty cold so dress warmly.
People come and go,
but the Cape May Bird Observatory staff member is always
there. |
What Can You See
Major species counted passing the point are: Red-throated
Loons, Common Loons, Northern Gannet, Double-crested Cormorants,
Brant Goose, Surf Scoter, Black Scoter, White-winged Scoter,
Parasitic Jaeger, Common Eider, King Eider (rare).
The author spent three days spread out over several weeks at the
watch in early October 2004. It was warm, sunny and most
pleasant. I was impressed with the numbers of Black Scoters
counted. Of course we see Black Scoters off the New England
coast, but they are greatly outnumbered by White-winged and
Surf. Staff members were most helpful and patient with newcomers
explaining how to identify the flying birds.
One day produced 3
Parasitic Jaegers. The highlights of my time at the seawatch was
a Peregrine Falcon chasing a Flicker across the water and over
the beach. The Falcon lunged at the Flicker repeatedly and
missed. When last seen the pair were headed over the town. We
wished them both good luck.
Avalon Directions
Avalon is located on the Atlantic coast about 20 miles north of
Cape May, New Jersey. Take Exit 13 off the Garden State Parkway
and drive across the bridge into Avalon. Turn left at the second
light on Dune Drive and follow it almost to the end. Make a
right turn on 7th Street and find the parking lot on the left.
The watch takes place in the parking lot at the sea wall.
Construction of the sea wall may change the layout in the next
year. Check with the CMBO.
Page author: Emmalee Tarry |
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