Cape May Bird Observatory Research Programs
Promoting Avian Conservation Through Research and Public Education
Oct 9, 2008
Cape May Bird Observatory (CMBO) uses the unique topography of the cape to learn more about birds and butterfly populations and their migratory habits and needs. The four major research activities currently underway are Hawk Watch, Sea Watch, Morning Flight and the Monarch Monitoring Project.
Hawk Watch
Cape May Bird Observatory began with the realization that large numbers of migrating hawks and other birds of prey passed over Cape May Point each year. What at first was just a gathering of avid bird watchers grew into an effort to help determine trends in populations of birds of prey.
The 1970s, when Hawk Watch began, were the height (or more aptly the low point) of the DDT induced crashes of raptor species. Bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) had been particularly hard hit.
An official counter mans the Cape May Point State Park Hawk Watch platform every day from September 1 to November 30. From mid-September to late October, interpretive naturalists are there as well to help teach the public about the program. Raptor identification classes help novice birders and the general public learn the names of the birds they are seeing.
Sea Watch
In 1993, Cape May Bird Observatory launched the Avalon Sea Watch. At this site, water birds, both nearshore and pelagic are counted. As many as one million water birds of 75 different species may pass this point in some years. Everything from gulls to herons is counted from September 22nd to December 22nd.
The data collected helps with understanding changes in the Atlantic Flyway populations and may yield some insight into the effects of ocean temperature and major weather systems on water bird migration.
Morning Flight
After years of hawk and water bird monitoring, the CMBO staff realized that an equally impressive number of songbirds were migrating through the area. Since 2003, official counts have been done at this site.
Counts are done daily from September 1st to October 31st. At night microphones record the calls of migrating songbirds and weather radar is also used to provide further data on their migration. Songbirds do much of their migrating at night becoming grounded in bad weather. But some travel just after sunrise, especially following the arrival of a cold front.
As with Hawk Watch and Sea Watch, Morning Flight interpretive naturalists aid Cape May birdwatchers in learning to identify the species passing through and providing information on the research being done.
Monarch Monitoring Project
The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) migrates more than two thousand miles to winter in northern Mexico. Beginning in 1991, monarch censuses have been done at Cape May.
In 1996, CMBO and the New Jersey Audubon Society incorporated the project and helped to expand it.
In recent years, tagging the monarchs with coded adhesive paper has resulted in even more information. Some butterflies tagged at Cape May are seen each year in Mexico and sightings between New Jersey and Mexico aid in understanding the migratory route the butterflies take.
Butterfly counts are done from September 1st to October 31st. Tagging demonstrations and informational talks are provided for the public throughout the monarch migration season.
These Cape May Bird Observatory projects help to shed light on the rigors of bird and butterfly migration and add to the limited knowledge of issues that affect these populations during that migration. By actively involving the public, CMBO creates greater awareness of environmental issues faced by migratory species while introducing them to ways of enjoying wildlife viewing.
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