Join us for our 65th Annual
Cape May Autumn Birding Festival
Where will you find so much birding talent in one place at one time ?
Cape May, NJ - Migration Mainline
Special Guests
Ted Floyd
and
Kenn
Kaufman
along with Bill Clark, Pete Dunne, Kevin Karlson,
John Kricher, Michael O'Brien, Clay Taylor and more.
Nowhere else will you find so much birding talent in one place than at NJ Audubon’s Cape May Autumn Birding Festival - Bill Boyle, Bill Clark, Pete Dunne, Ted Floyd, Don Freiday, Mark Garland, Kevin Karlson, Kenn Kaufman, John Kricher, Michael O’Brien, Rick Radis, Louise Zemaitis, and so many more.
There’s nothing like an autumn weekend in Cape May, especially when the hawks are soaring! Come
for a day or decide to stay. Choose from a variety of field trips, programs and lectures, indoor and field workshops, boat trips, and seasonal watches. Something for everyone from the novice to the seasoned naturalist. Activities marked [] require additional registration fee.
Friendly and easy-paced field trips to local birding hotspots with expert naturalists. Checklist can tally close to 200 species. and more. Stop by the Programs, lectures, workshops & field workshops on species identification, migration, beginning birding, photography, backyard habitat,hawk banding demos,infamous Cape May Hawk Watch, sponsored by Swarovski Optik.
Sign up for the Mini-Pelagic[], a half-day boat trip across the Delaware Bay aboard the Cape May Lewes Ferry. Search for gannets, loons, scoters, jaegers, gulls and the possibility of petrels or shearwaters.
Or go Birding by Boat™ aboard the Osprey[] for trips that begin at beautifulCa
pe Island Creek Preserve, NJ’s southernmost salt marsh and a critical migration stop. Trips remain on placid inland waters. Excellent views of many species unique to the salt marsh, including Osprey, herons, egrets, oystercatchers, shorebirds, and possibly rails. The Osprey has an open and enclosed viewing deck with sliding glass panoramic windows.
If you enjoy hands-on active birding, consider Kayaking Cape Island Creek[] with an experienced naturalist for up close looks at marsh birds and other marine life. Single and double kayaks provided for a fun, safe adventure. No experience or equipment needed.
Bring your bicycle, helmet & binoculars for easy paced Birding by Bike[] ride through the Villas Wildlife Management Area on paved paths winding through a former golf course that has been preserved for wildlife.
If you want to take your action photography to the next level, professional wildlife photographer Kevin Karlson is offering an indoor workshop featuring tips for composing and capturing wildlife images with a special emphasis on flight and action techniques and camera settings. You may want to combine this with his special ½ day field workshop, Composition, Flight and Birds in Action[] suitable for both beginning and advanced photographers.
SPECIAL EVENING PROGRAMS[]
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28
Annual Report - NJ Audubon Board of Directors
Report from Thomas J. Gilmore, President NJ Audubon
EVENING PROGRAM
TED FLOYD
Birding at Night: The Final Frontier
Birding at night is an unexplored frontier for many of us; and not just for
owls but for thrushes, warblers, and sparrows. Sit back and enjoy Ted's program as he opens
your mind (and ears) to an entirely new concept of birding. This is an indoor program.
Warning: Night birding can become addictive and you may find
yourself becoming a real “night owl.”
About Ted:
Ted Floyd is the Editor of Birding, the flagship publication of the American Birding Association. He is the author of several books and more than one hundred articles on birds and nature. Ted has served on the boards of several field ornithological societies, and he is a frequent speaker at bird festivals and other events. He is especially interested in molt migration, nocturnal flight calls, patchwork (go on! ask him!), the social history of birdwatching, and birdwatching with children.
Ted lives in Boulder County, Colorado, with his wife Kei, daughter Hannah, and son Andrew.
Ted’s keynote presentation will introduce us to the amazing world of birding at night. Many birds are surprisingly easy to observe at night. And it’s not just owls, but also lots of birds we often think of as being active only by day: thrushes and thrashers, warblers and sparrows, and many more. And the things they do at night are extraordinary.
He'll show us how to find birds at night. It’s easy! Yet most people are unaware of the surprising “night life” of the bird world. Birding at night is an unexplored frontier for most of us. Ted will take us on a tour of the new frontier of nocturnal birding, and he will tell us how nocturnal birding is helping the cause of bird conservation.
Birding at Night: The Final Frontier will open your mind to an entirely new conception of birding. Warning: Going birding at night is thoroughly addictive. As a result of hearing and seeing Ted’s presentation, you may find yourself increasingly sleep-deprived, unable to stay in bed and indoors during the nighttime hours!
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29
BOOKSIGNING & MEET THE AUTHORS SOCIAL
5 - 6 P.M. at the Grand Hotel, Grand Ballroom
Bring your favorites, or pick up the ones you're missing from our nature shops, and have your books personalized by Bill Boyle, Pete Dunne, Ted Floyd, Kevin Karlson, Kenn Kaufman, John Kricher, Michael O'Brien,
Louise Zemaitis, and more!
EVENING PROGRAM
KENN KAUFMAN
Birder Pride: Are You Proud To Tell People
That You Watch Birds?
How many of your non-birder friends or relations just don’t understand what birding is all about?
How do people react when you tell them
you’ve travelled halfway around the world to go birding?
When he was a teenager, Kenn hitchhiked around the continent getting rides with hundreds of strangers. He often wondered their reaction if they knew he was travelling just to chase birds. A lot has changed since the days of Kingbird Highway. Today birding is more widely accepted but even so, some of us still may be reluctant to talk about birding in certain social situations. In this program, Kenn will look at the issue of birder pride from all angles.
Enjoy Kenn’s serio-comedic interpretation of Birder Pride!
LODGING IS NOT INCLUDED
The Grand Hotel of Cape May is offering special rates to registered participants
using Group Code 155224. Many of our programs are held in The Grand Hotel, as well as our socials, dinner, and evening programs. You may reserve lodging directly with the Grand Hotel (www.grandhotelcapemay.com) or you may call CMBO (609-884-2736) for a copy of Places to Stay brochure, or visit www.BirdCapeMay.org to select from a list of our business members.
PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE 
Important Note:
There are some discrepancies in the printed brochure regarding special registration trips that are correct on our website schedule and registration form. Birding the Base is on Saturday, October 29; the Outdoor Photography Workshop is from 12pm to 4pm.
Event organizers reserve the right to cancel or substitute activities when necessary.
All events run rain or shine. Registrants are responsible for their own transportation throughout the festival.
Every day offers a selection of activities including a variety of lectures, workshops, field trips, and
boat trips. Participants choose at random from the schedule for the day they are registered, except those events marked
[] which require advance registration and fee. Individual daily activities
are not available. Registration material including a detailed schedule with activities, times and
meeting places, map, admission tags and tickets will be mailed to all registrants prior to the event.
REGISTRATION
Advance registrations will be accepted until October 17, 2011; or register in person during the
event at the New Jersey Audubon desk in the lobby of the Grand Hotel in Cape May.
Return completed registration form and mail with full payment to be received by 10/17/11. Your confirmation and weekend materials will be mailed prior to the event. Any registrations received after 10/17/11 will automatically incur a $35 processing fee. Cancellations, minus a $50 processing fee, will be accepted until 10/17/11. No refunds after 10/17/11. All special registration trips are non-refundable unless cancelled by event organizers. Mail completed form with payment to:
Deb Shaw • Cape May Bird Observatory
600 Route 47 North • Cape May Court House, NJ 08210-1324
Questions?
Contact Deb Shaw • Ph: 609.861.0700 • Fax: 609.861.1651 • deb.shaw@njaudubon.org
What to Expect at the Cape May Autumn Birding Festival
Once registered, each participant will receive a complete package of information with a detailed schedule, a birding map with directions to each of the sites, a birding checklist, admission tags for each day for which you are registered, and tickets for any of the special trips or events for which you registered.
We will have an information desk available in the lobby of The Grand Hotel should you need assistance.
We always hope for good weather (and good birding) but you should come prepared for less than perfect weather. Temperatures along the coast in October average in the mid-60s during the day and low 50s in the evenings. Check the 10-day forecast for Cape May on www.weather.com to prepare for your trip. Activities run "rain or shine" and there are no refunds for inclement weather (with the exception of boat trips that may be cancelled by the event organizers).
Plan on three-days full of activities which you can pick and choose at random from your Schedule of Events. No need to register for individual field trips or programs (except those events marked [] which require advance registration and fee). Our schedule is designed so that you can mix and match activities throughout the day - whether it's field trips or indoor programs. You have the flexibility to come and go as you please. There is no transportation provided and no public transportation within Cape May (except for local taxi services). You will need a car to get to and from the various locations.
Cape May is a historic seaside resort with many attractions for the non-birding companion. There are tours of the town and the many Victorian Bed & Breakfasts, galleries, shopping, the Lighthouse, and so much more. Cape May is home to many 5-star restaurants as well as charming, family-run restaurants. We have a listing of our business sponsors, including lodging, shopping, tours and restaurants on our website at www.BirdCapeMay.org
Cape May Peninsula's unique configuration and location concentrate songbirds, raptors and other species as they funnel south to Cape May Point during their fall migration. Faced with 17 miles of
water to cross the Delaware Bay, migrants linger in the area to rest and feed until favorable winds
allow them to cross the Bay or head north along the Bay's eastern shore. Cape May and the surrounding area is home to many habitat types such as salt marsh, forested uplands, forested wetlands and vernal pools, shrub/scrub, and grasslands. You will encounter many of these habitats during the course of the festival. For more information, read our Field Trip Locations and Site Descriptions
We look forward to seeing you and welcoming you to Migration Mainline - Cape May!
Migration Mainline - Cape May by Charley Harper© 2006
NJ Audubon fosters environmental awareness, a conservation
ethic, and promotes the preservation of NJ's valuable natural
habitats. Founded in 1897, NJAS is an independent, privately
supported, not-for-profit, membership organization. New Jersey Audubon is not
affiliated with National Audubon.
Any questions, or if you would like to be mailed a brochure when available, contact
.
Separate registration required. For details or to register, call 609.861.0700 ext 11
Hawks in Flight (with Pete Dunne)
Wednesday & Thursday, October 26 & 27 (2-day workshop)
Time of peak raptor diversity when Broad-winged Hawks may linger, accipiters, falcons and buteos can be head-to-toe. Or a bonus bird may appear, like Golden Eagle or Swainson’s Hawk! There isn’t a day in late October when something raptorial is not in view. Learn how to tell buteos from accipiters from falcons from eagles and the 16+ ways to tell Sharpies from Coop’s. The perfect way to learn your hawks before Autumn Weekend! Cost: $150 NJ Audubon/CMBO members, $190 nonmembers
Cape May with Everything On It (with Louise Zemaitis)
Monday thru Wednesday, October 31-November 2 (3-day workshop)
The time the local birders wait for when Autumn Weekend has passed, crowds diminished, and it’s time for the most massive fallouts of the season! Sparrows, kinglets, bluebirds, robins, thrush, and more - this is the start of vagrant season! A great time for big raptors like buteos and Golden Eagles, and large seabird flights. Cost: $225 NJ Audubon/CMBO members, $265 nonmembers
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