birding tours cape may nj

Our History

About the boat.

The .OSPREY has an open and enclosed viewing deck with sliding glass panoramic windows. She is very comfortable even on a cool breezy day. A restroom is aboard. We have extra binoculars including ZEISS demo optics to try out .I hope to see you aboard. Conveniently located in Cape May just across from the Lobster House at the Miss Chris Marina with plenty of free parking close to the boat.

We have been running Birding By Boat and salt marsh cruises from the Miss Chris Marina since 1994. Our location was selected to allow us to access the varied marine life and birds of Cape May Harbor and Inlet as well as the coastal salt marsh of Cape May.

  Join the OSPREY for our signature BIRDING BY BOAT™ and WETLANDS WILDLIFE SAFARI tour. This is the finest birding by boat and wetlands tour in New Jersey. Birding and the WILDLIFE SAFARI begins immediately in the beautiful Cape Island Creek Preserve, New Jersey’s southernmost salt marsh and a critical migration stop. We cover the hotspots of Cold Spring Harbor then proceed to the vast tidal wetlands along the Intracoastal Waterway. Trips remain on calm inland waters. Captain Bob has been exploring these waters since 1979 and been running tours since 1995.

+1.609.898.3500

Birding By Boat on the Osprey

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Fall for Cape May

Cape May, New Jersey, is a magical place any time of the year, but in the fall it can be the stuff of legend. Here, on a misty morning, you might see Great Blue Herons rise from the marshes in great squawking squadrons. You might find warbler species numbering in the double-digits in the morning, marvel at scores of hawks and falcons sprinkled across the skies in the afternoon, and retire for the evening with the trace of a fishing Black Skimmer's graceful flight etched in your memory. And if you're very lucky, you might awaken to discover a fabled fallout, when weather conditions conspire to dump a mother lode of feathered jewels onto the southernmost tip of New Jersey.

From mid-September to mid-October, Osprey, American Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Harrier, and Sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks should all be in heavy migration. Shorebird migration peaks for such species as Black-bellied Plover, American Golden-Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Western Sandpiper, Sanderling, and Dunlin. And many small passerines, including a host of warblers, swallows, wrens, sparrows, and buntings, should be present in good numbers. Join us for a week that could provide you with the migration spectacle of a lifetime!

Note: We also offer a SPRING IN CAPE MAY tour if you wish to visit at a different season.

Select the KEY INFO tab or click here for our itinerary plus space requests, status, fees, limits, and guides for any departure.

Client comment "The tour was just great. I liked all of it, and had a wonderful time. Tom Johnson is an exceptional leader: he communicates very well, is excellent in helping participants see the birds, and is just an all- around nice guy. Your office service was excellent, as usual. Field Guides is my preferred tour company because of its professionalism and fantastic guides. I have gone with other companies when Field Guides didn't have the itinerary I wanted, or when the dates worked better for me. But I have always wished I was on a Field Guides trip." L.E., FALL FOR CAPE MAY 2019

Other Tours in USA

Itineraries • tour status • details • space requests.

• 2024 sample (PDF)
• 2025 (PDF expected Dec 2024)

DEPARTURES • We have 3 departures currently scheduled through 2026, with details including limits, guides, fees, and space available listed below.

Sep 20-26, 2025 Guided by: Doug Gochfeld Tour Manager: Christine Boilard Tour Limit: 7 Status: Open - Space is still available on this tour, and we are accepting provisional bookings. No deposit is required until you receive the itinerary. Click below to book space. Tour Fee: Fee TBD / 2024=$3375 REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO

Sep 28 - Oct 4, 2025 Guided by: Sam Wilson Tour Manager: Christine Boilard Tour Limit: 7 Status: Open - Space is still available on this tour, and we are accepting provisional bookings. No deposit is required until you receive the itinerary. Click below to book space. Tour Fee: Fee TBD / 2024=$3375 REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO

Oct 3-9, 2026 Guided by: Doug Gochfeld Tour Manager: Christine Boilard Tour Limit: 7 Status: Open - Space is still available on this tour, and we are accepting provisional bookings. No deposit is required until you receive the itinerary. Click below to book space. Tour Fee: Fee TBD / 2024=$3375 REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO

Enjoy looking through the 8 most recent Field Guides triplists for this tour linked below!

• 2023 (Oct departure guided by Megan Edwards Crewe)
• 2022 (Sep departure guided by Doug Gochfeld)
• 2021 (Sep departure guided by Tom Johnson)
• 2021 (Sep departure guided by Doug Gochfeld)
• 2019 (Sep departure guided by Tom Johnson)
• 2019 (Sep departure guided by Cory Gregory)
• 2018 (Sep departure guided by Megan Edwards Crewe)

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Cape May Bird Observatory

New Jersey Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory (CMBO) was founded in 1976

CMBO Calendar

Migration Watches

School of Birding

Monarch Monitoring Project

Northwood Center Hours: Tue-Sun 9:30am-4:30pm CLOSED Monday Closed for Holidays

Ryan De Witt Memorial Trail – Open year-round, dawn to dusk

Center for Research and Education Center building is Closed to Public Self-guided trails open year-round, dawn to dusk

Why Visit Us In Cape May

National Geographic lists Cape May as a World’s Best destination for birding

Here is what they say: The narrow peninsula at  Cape May  acts as a bird funnel, bringing in songbirds during their spring and fall migrations. At dawn on a good day, legendary Higbee Beach offers front-row seats to a feathered fashion show: A steady procession flies by, each bird intent on finding a place to rest as it encounters the natural barrier of  Delaware  Bay. With a little luck, you can see 20 species of warblers, each in its own colorful costume.

Cape May has the best beach in New Jersey

“It’s Exit 0 on the Garden State Parkway, but No. 1 on our list”   NJ.com

The main reason to come to our Cape May Bird Observatory in Cape May….SO.MANY.BIRDS.

A View From The Cape Blog

Birding the Meadows – November 4, 2024

Above Par Birding at Cox Hall Creek – November 3, 2024

SO.MANY.SEABIRDS – November 2, 2024

Hawks, Trails, and Beach – November 2, 2024

Fall Migrants at the Rea Farm – November 2, 2024

Real-time counts via trektellen, maps, checklists, and programs, center upcoming events, nja eco-travel—delmarva van tour, back bay birding by boat on the osprey, nj young birders club-avalon seawatch, things to do, special field trips, weekly walks.

• Fall and Spring Festivals
• World Series of Birding
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Special Programs

Cape May School of Birding

These workshops are a fun and attentive way to visit one of the best birding and natural history places on the planet. From our cadre of in-depth birding excursions to a celebration of butterflies, dragonflies, and all things wild, you’re sure to find an offering that catches your eye. All of our workshops are led by experts in their field: world-class birders and naturalists that have often written the guides we all rely on. Our intimate approach to enjoyment and teaching will provide the opportunity and information you need to grow in understanding and appreciation – the leader-to-participant ratio is 12:1 or better.

While the majority of time is spent in the field watching birds and nature, some of the workshops will incorporate an indoor session – a chance to demonstrate and discuss identification, techniques, conservation, and ecology. Along the way, you’ll meet like-minded people and are sure to form lasting memories and friendships. From beginner to advanced, all are welcome! All the while, your registration fees are helping support the mission of New Jersey Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory.

Details and descriptions of all our preregistration programs are available on the registration site (Special Field Trips in brown and School of Birding Workshops in blue).  All special field trips require advance registration, and the number of participants is limited to ensure the best experience. Upon completion of registration, you will receive a confirmation email that also contains attached details and directions – please look all the materials over and retain for your records. Sign up early to secure your spot!

NEW JERSEY AUDUBON AND CAPE MAY BIRD OBSERVATORY MEMBERS RECEIVE A 25% DISCOUNT ON ALL SPECIAL FIELD TRIPS AND WORKSHOPS – please make sure to indicate you are a current member at registration checkout. Not a member – join now at  FeatherEdge Optics , by contacting the Program Registrar at 609-400-3864 , or in person at the nearest NJA center.

Cape May Bird Observatory Weekly Walks

CMBO’s Weekly Walks are regularly scheduled programs and activities, led by our stellar Associate Naturalists and professional staff, that take place at all the best birding and natural history locations around Cape May. These walks change throughout the year, focusing on the best of each season, whether that is breeding hotspots, winter visitors, or the spectacle of migration. Normally two or three hours in duration, these walks are sure to fit nature into your busy schedule. All experience levels are welcome, and those marked E-Z Birding and A Bird Walk for All People are especially geared for beginners or a relaxed pace. A full schedule of Weekly Walks is published seasonally in The Kestrel Express, along with our Special Field Trips, School of Birding Workshops, Festivals, and other events.

NO PREREGISTRATION is necessary for our weekly walks – just show before the designated start time. Children age 15 and younger are free. Although children accompanied by parents are always welcome, walks that are especially Family-friendly are noted. New Jersey Audubon and Cape May Bird Observatory members receive a discount on weekly walks, as indicated in the individual walk descriptions. Not a member? Join now at  FeatherEdge Optics , by contacting the Program Registrar at 609-400-3864 , or in person at the nearest NJA center.

These walks meet at locations highlighted on the CMBO Bird and Butterfly Map of Cape May County . Bring binoculars (loaners often available if you don’t have any), field guides, bug repellent, sunscreen, and drinking water. Dress for prevailing weather and protection from sun, heat, cold, wind, rain, and insects according to season. Most of our weekly walks involve walking a mile or more on varied terrain, such as asphalt, boardwalk, gravel, beach, and dirt (sometimes muddy) paths.

For more accessibility for those with limited mobility, contact the Northwood Center at 609-400-3868 .

Note: Programs may be cancelled due to difficult/unsafe weather conditions.

Cape May Bird Observatory’s Special Field Trips offer you a chance to experience the natural wonders of the Cape May area alongside our Associate Naturalists. These outings take our weekly walks a step further, with extended opportunities for viewing birds and other wildlife. They are single day events (two – six hours in length) that target famous local hotspots and are timed to capture diversity and abundance during the breeding, migratory, and winter seasons. Join us on one of these exciting excursions!

Guide For Hire

Guide for Hire — A tailor-made service to maximize your birding experience.

New Jersey Audubon offers a wide range of regularly scheduled walks, programs, workshops, and other events for visiting birders. Even so, you might find there’s nothing that quite fits your schedule; or perhaps you are planning a visit with some very specific locations you want to visit or certain species of birds you hope to see.

With this in mind, we are pleased to offer our Guides for Hire program, specially tailored to suit your personal needs, whether for an individual or group. Our guides are hand-picked from the wonderful cadre of top birdwatchers who are lucky enough to call the Garden State their home; all have a common thread—a superb local knowledge of birds and wildlife, and a passion to showcase the natural wonders of places like Cape May, Sandy Hook, and Forsythe NWR to visitors, ensuring your birding experience is the best it can be.

The chart below provides a sampling of the cost to hire a guide for a half-day (4 hours max) or full day (8 hours max), for a variety of group sizes.

Important Information :

 – Please allow at least 2 weeks advance notice for any guide request. Spring and fall are our busiest times and may require more advance notice to book a guide. 

 – Guides cannot be guaranteed and may not be available during peak times or special events such as the World Series of Birding, Spring Festival, and Fall Festival. 

– All transportation is the responsibility of the participant(s). Neither New Jersey Audubon nor Cape May Bird Observatory are liable for any guide driving any participant during the course of the trip. Specific guides may be requested but are subject to availability. Rates may be subject to change. Rates are for 1/2 day (max. four hours) or a full day (max. eight hours). No refunds or allowances for less time used. Details of deposits due, cancellation policy etc. can be obtained by contacting the CMBO Program Registrar.

For further details of our Guide for Hire service and to make reservations, please contact:

For South Jersey (Forsythe/Brigantine) and points South, please contact the Program Registrar at 609-400-3864 or by email: [email protected]

For North Jersey (Forsythe/Brigantine) and points North, please contact Scott Barnes at 609-400-3859 or by email: [email protected]

About Cape May Bird Observatory

Founded in 1976 by New Jersey Audubon, the Cape May Bird Observatory (CMBO) is a leader in research, environmental education, bird conservation, and recreational birding activities.

CMBO fulfills New Jersey Audubon’s twofold mission of connect people to nature and steward the nature of today for the people of tomorrow in several special ways.

First, embedded in the DNA of CMBO, is our charge of keeping our finger on the pulse of migration. We do this through annual counts and censuses of wlidlife, starting with the Cape May Hawkwatch in 1976, and including the Monarch Monitoring Project (est. 1990), the Avalon Seawatch (est. 1993) and the Morning Flight Songbird Count (est. 2003), and a host of other conservation-driven studies.

Second, we are training the conservation leaders of tomorrow, today, through our seasonal internships, George Myers Naturalist position, and year-round Associate Naturalist programs. Previous interns have gone on to run non-profit organizations, become community leaders in environmental justice, and to carry the torch of spreading the conservation ethic to future generations.

Finally, because we are located a tank of gas from 60 million people, we throw a great party to raise awareness for wildlife and wildlife habitat conservation! Our flagship festivals, the Cape May Fall Festival and Cape May Spring Festival, bring thousands of visitors to Cape May each year to celebrate the magic of migration at one of the greatest migration hotspots on earth! Each May our World Series of Birding engages over 300 participants from all over the world and raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for bird conservation, while highlighting the  amazing diversity of birds  across the Garden State.

Funded almost entirely by the support of an international membership, two facilities serve our members’ needs and interests. There are few places in North America which have been birded longer or have more birding advocates than Cape May, New Jersey, one of the planet’s most celebrated migratory junctions. An array of habitat types and a wealth of protected natural areas make Cape May and the entire Delaware Bayshore a birding destination for all seasons. Wind and geography conspire to direct millions of migrating hawks, seabirds, shorebirds, songbirds, butterflies, and dragonflies here every autumn.

Training the Conservation Leaders of Tomorrow

• GM Naturalist
• Seasonal Naturalists
• Associate Naturalists and Field Trip Leaders

Keeping our finger on the pulse of Migration

• Phenomenon of migration – spring and fall
• Migration counts
• Migration counter positions

International Friendship Agreement

This Friendship Agreement provides the framework for mutual cooperation between New Jersey Audubon Society’s Cape May Bird Observatory, (New Jersey, USA), Falsterbo Fågelstation (Sweden), Spurn Bird Observatory (UK) and Bird Studies Canada’s Long Point Bird Observatory (Ontario, Canada). This document outlines the relationship between the respective bird observatories to further our knowledge and wonder at the birds, wildlife, habitat and people using each site through the seasons and for the mutual benefit of the observatories.  Learn more here

Staff & Personnel

Brett Ewald Director of Cape May Bird Observatory

Scott Barnes Senior Naturalist

Jessica Schera-Scullion Administrative Assistant

Lillian Armstrong Special Events Director

Shannon DeAngelis Events Assistant

Brian Moscatello Sales Manager

CariAnne Slotterback Retail Operations Assistant

Deborah Shaw Nature Store Associate

Adehl Schwaderer Program Coordinator

Tom Reed Migration Count Coordinator

Rene Buccinna Administrative Assistant

The Northwood Center 701 East Lake Drive Cape May Point, NJ 08212

609-400-3868 [email protected]

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