PRESENTATION BYMATT LATHAM

Winter Birdwatching in New Jersey

Skills of Identification

1) Physical appearance Plumage Size Shape

Variability sometimes between sexes, ages and subspecies 2) Voice

Calls Songs

3) Range Preferred habitats Geographic range of a species

4) Behaviors – immediate Flight Hunting (food type) Breeding Idiosyncrasies

5) Behaviors - larger Migration Breeding Nesting Nocturnal, diurnal and/or crepuscular

Physical Appearance

Things to study: Overall Shape Overall Size Colors

Tail, under side, topside, head, beak, legs, wings (top and bottom), patterns, variations

Feather layout Wing shape Tail size Head size

Beginner Tools Study silhouettes http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/birding123/iden

tify/silhouette - Study bird parts

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/birding123/identify/field_marks/document_view

Relative to major familiesField guides often provide these tools (Sibley

Guide)

Physical Appearance 2Variations

Using Plumage Plumage CAN vary by gender, age, subspecies,

molting and conditions Conditions meaning wear and tear on the feathers due to

weather, life conditions, etc. Molt variation – during, before, after, different stages of

molting Size difference Individual birds simply have variation

That’s why plates are often better for studying than photographs

VoiceSongs

Mating rituals General

communication

Calls Position Warning Flight calls Basic communication

1) Recognition of voice can help distinguish similar species

example – Greater and Lesser Yellowlegshttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Greater_Yellowlegs.html http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Lesser_Yellowlegs.html 2) Identify birds not in sight

The Alarm of the Forest

Blue Jay example The Blue Jay is prone to making an alarm call when

there are any intruders, predators or most any movement in their area. Thus, they are often known as the Alarm of the Forest, as they let all other animals know of an intruder presence.

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Blue_Jay.html

Range

Deals with the geographic range in which species can normally occur

Where birds breed, nest, winter and over what area they migrate

Includes large areas of habitat that birds will useImportant in helping to locate birds firstAlso, very helpful in making an identification

A tricky ID may be solved if a possibility for the ID would be very far out of range and habitat

Migration

Why? Flying north for the

summer Less competition for

resources Less predators

Flying south for the winter Escape harsh

weather, loss of food, resources

Immediate Behaviors

Flying Gliding vs flapping Smooth vs erratic Bobbing up and down

Goldfinch Breeding

Calls Movements Prominence Positioning

Ex: Perched on display Idiosyncratic behaviors

Specific to individual species or families Diurnal vs Nocturnal

Nesting Type of nest Location of nest

Ground, tree, etc. Materials used

Hunting Hovering Perched chasing

Mobbing Some species prone to this behavior

Crows, Jays, Red-winged Blackbirds

Long-term Behaviors

Migration habits Distance traveled All at once / in intervals Follow ridge tops / coasts Travel by night or day

Breeding, Nesting and Wintering habitsDiurnal vs NocturnalPair for life vs other breeding habits

Mute Swan vs. Red-winged Blackbird

Habitat

Knowing the preferred habitat for a species can be one of the best ways to locate AND identify birds

Often, identifying a bird can rely on whether that species belongs in a certain habitat

Some species are very adaptable to a variety of habitats

Some require a very specific habitat Canada Goose vs. Bank Swallow

Major Types of Habitats In the North America

Forest Boreal Riparian Woodland Mixed Deciduous Northern Hardwood

Wetlands Freshwater Marshes Saltmarshes and Tidal

Flats Lakes and Ponds Rivers and Streams

Ocean Upwelling Coastal

Dunes, shoreline, bays, estuaries, etc.

Estuary Mangrove

Grasslands Few remaining areas in NJ

Edge Habitat Successional

Stages of growth between forest and plains Shrub land important

habitat Area between 2 different

habitats – transitioning Agricultural Human related

Cities Urban parks Parking lots

Killdeer Many more…

Garbage dumps

The A.O.U. Check-list of North American Birds, Seventh Edition

American Ornithologists’ UnionPreviously classified by visual and behavioral

similarityNow mostly derived from genetic connectionshttp://www.aou.org/checklist/index.php3 -

My Bird Groupings -Northeastern America

Waterfowl Ducks, geese, swans, loons and grebes

Hawks and Allies Hawks, Falcons, Eagles, Vultures and Osprey

Shore / oceanic Gulls, terns, shearwates, petrals, pelicans, gannets, brandt,

sandpipers, etc.OwlsSongbirds – Warblers

Forest dwelling Flycatchers, Jays, woodpeckers, tanagers

Field dwelling / grassland Sparrows, finches, larks, buntings

Marsh dwelling Herons, ibis, sandpipers, coot, egret

Easy to remember Mostly black colored

Crow, raven, blackbirds, cowbirds, starling, grackle, catbirds Everything else

Know the Local Common Species

American RobinNorthern CardinalBlack-capped ChickadeeTufted TitmouseCedar WaxwingGray CatbirdBrown-headed Cowbird

American CrowTurkey VultureRed-tailed HawkGreat Blue HeronMallardCanada Goose

Invasive, Non-Native Species

Invasive, non-native species can take habitat from other native species, occupy niches that push other birds out, and even steal nests.

House Sparrow European StarlingMute SwanRock Dove (pigeon)

Winter NJ Birding

Where to go: coast, lakes, open water, grasslands, and sometimes edge and forests

What to see: waterfowl, sea birds, finches, owls and wintering hawks, snow geese, larks, etc.

Things to remember: you are looking for either WINTERING birds or YEAR

ROUND RESIDENTS At the beginning and end of winter, you can catch

early/late migrants (spring/fall)

Types of Habitats Good for birding in winter

Unique wintering bird NJ habitats: Ocean Shore Lakes and Rivers Grasslands *Edge

Can still find birds in every habitat type**Bird feeders

What Birds to See in Which Habitat

Ducks, Geese, and related species Lakes, Shore, Ocean, rivers

Sparrows, larks, buntings Grasslands, Edge habitat

Wintering Hawks and Owls Edge, open fields, forests

Year Round Residents

Northern CardinalBlue JayBlack-capped

ChickadeeAmerican CrowMallardGreat Blue HeronRed-tailed HawkCanada Geese

Cedar WaxwingAmerican RobinEastern BluebirdWhite-breasted

Nuthatch Brown CreeperWoodpeckers Herring Gull And a few others…

Waterfowl – great time of year

Many species Winter in New JerseySouthern Migration:

September early, November peakNorthern Migration

February and March

Ducks and Allies to Look For

Green-winged Teal Common Merganser Mallard Northern Pintail Bufflehead American Wigeon Gadwall American Black Duck Northern Shoveler Long-tailed Duck Red-head Harlequin Duck Canvasback

Lesser and Greater Scaup White-winged and other

Scoters Ruddy Duck Common Goldeneye Ruddy Duck Hooded Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Ring-necked Duck Common Eider King Eider

More Waterfowl

Common LoonRed-throated LoonBrandt Snow GooseNorthern GannetPied-billed GrebeHorned GrebeRed-necked Grebe

Other Species

FinchesSparrowsWintering Hawks

Red-tailed, Harriers, Rough-legged, Sharp-shined, Cooper’s,

Owls Snowy, Short-Eared, Barred, Screech, Saw-whet,

Great Horned

Common, Hooded, and Red-breasted Merganser

Mallard and American Black Duck

Northern Pintail and Long-tailed Duck

Gadwall and American Wigeon

Green-winged Teal and Wood Duck

Northern Shoveler and Harlequin Duck

Common and King Eider

White-winged and Black Scoter

Canvasback and Redhead

Ring-necked Duck and Lesser Scaup

Common Goldeneye

Northern Gannet

Common and Red-throated Loon

Grebes – Pied-billed, Horned, Red-necked, Eared

Brandt and Snow Goose

Grassland and Shrub Birds

Horned LarkSnow BuntingSwamp Sparrow…Sparrow

Snow Bunting

Horned Lark

Owls and Wintering Hawks + Allies

Great-horned OwlShort-eared OwlSnowy OwlBarn OwlLong-eared OwlBarred OwlEastern-Screech OwlNorthern Saw-whet

Owl

Red-tailed HawkRough-legged HawkSharp-shinned HawkCooper’s HawkNorthern GoshawkNorthern HarrierRed-shouldered HawkAmerican KestrelPeregrine FalconBald Eagle

Snowy and Great Horned Owl

Northern Harrier and Red-tailed Hawk

My Favorite Winter Locations in New Jersey

MeadowlandsRound ValleyMerrill Creek Swartswood Lake / Culver’s LakeLiberty State ParkShark River InletCape MayVarious points along the shoreLiberty Loop Layton/Walpack

Meadowlands (Dekorte Park/Sawmill Creek)

Meadowlands (Dekorte/Sawmill Creek)

What to see: A dozen species of duck Wintering hawks

Rough-legged, Harrier, Red-tailed

Sparrows and allies Random rare birds

Eurasian Green-winged Teal

Possible Snowy Owl In spring/fall/summer =

tons of wading and shore birds too

Description: Mudflats, large marsh,

open water, reed marsh, some scrub and tree area

Great in many seasons

Best place in Hudson county

*American Woodcock

Meadowlands

Drive to Dekorte Park – park near the Meadowlands Commission building and the observatory

Walk along the water facing the highway – same side as Meadowlands commission Teal, mallards, ring-necks

Scan the open water near the building and then in the next ‘pool’ on the left Often mudflat in spring/summer – some of the best duck birding

Continue and scan the pool to the right and then move onto the 2 big pool areas More great duck birding / deeper water

Spotting scope suggested

Liberty State Park

Liberty State Park

What to see Ducks Wintering Raptors Some ocean birds *Snowy Owl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYiBTTSzxUc

Description Field, edge, riverfront,

meadows, some marshGood for some ducks

and ocean birdsRecent years have

hosted a wintering snowy owl along with the Meadowlands

Round Valley

Round Valley

Begin walk at entry beach

Walk around the peninsula hugging the water toward the swimming area

Scan water with binoculars

Spotting scope recommended

Round Valley

Hunterdon CountyDescription: Deep, in-

land lake (reservoir) Good habitat for

dabbling and diving ducks

One of few inland places to see ducks that require deep water Long-tailed Duck,

Scoters, Eiders (rare)

What to look for: Ducks Long-tailed Duck,

Scoters, Eiders, Grebes, Loons

Gulls

Spruce Run

Spruce Run

Hunterdon CountyDescription:

Wandering glacier lake Forest and some open

fieldsDrive around lake

and stop at most points where you can get a good look at the water

Spotting scope suggested

What to see: Common Loon Pied-pilled Grebe

Possible other Grebes Variety of wintering

and migratory ducks until

Summer/Spring/Fall Marsh/shore birds Vireo/flycatchers warblers

Swartswood Lake

Swartswood Lake

Swartswood Lake

Sussex CountyDescription: Glacial lake surrounded by

woodland, and some marsh3 bodies of water: Swartswood Lake, Little

Swartswood Lake, Duck PondRecreation, park, swimming, beach areasIdeal inland lake spot for migrating waterfowl

Swartswood Lake

What to See: A dozen species of duck / mostly inland ducks Loons and grebes Colony of Cormorants on island Bald Eagle nest on Little Swartswood Forest birds Bluebird resident population Some field birds

Swartswood Lake

Main Waterfowl to see: Redhead Mallard Bufflehead Common Merganser Hooded Merganser Green-winged Teal Ring-necked Duck American Wigeon Common Goldeneye

Pied-billed Grebe Possibilities:

Horned Grebe Common Loon Long-tailed Duck Common Eider

Merrill Creek

Merrill Creek

Warren County NJDescription: large lake with surrounding

woods and some scrub areaWhat to see: Snow Geese, ducks, sparrowsGood site for seeing many different inland

duck species during migration.Excellent place to see migrating Snow Geese

flocksAlso the site of a Hawk Watchhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCBa4XfKt

bk

Manasquan / Shark River Inlet

Monmouth CountyDescription: Large area in several towns

surrounding the estuary Large estuaryShorelinePonds and small lakesMarshes Fields

Manasquan / Shark River Inlet

Usually open water, even in middle of winterWhat to see: ducks, loons, grebes (Red-

necked Grebe), Purple Sandpipers, Gannets, Gulls, + lots more

Overall great place to go – lots to look atSuggested: car birding (especially in winter),

scope, warm clothes, map

Shark River Inlet

Shark River Inlet

Liberty Loop/Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge

Liberty Loop

Northern Sussex CountyDescription: large marshlands, wetlands,

riparian, and scrub area surrounded by forestWhat to see: when not frozen – ducks,

sandpipers. Also, Northern Harrier, Rough-legged Hawk Short-eared Owl, sparrows

Excellent place overall any time of year. One of only places good for Rough-legged Hawk in NJ

Walk the loop (2 miles)

Alpha Grasslands

Alpha Grasslands

Warren County NJDescription: one of only “grassland” type

habitats in the stateGood for Larks, buntings, and other

grassland speciesFarmland alongside a road –simply park

along road and wander up and down road – don’t go on grass as its private property

Brigantine

Brigantine

Atlantic CountyDescription: Huge tidal marsh and shoreline

wetlandWhat to see: when not frozen, huge #s of

shorebirds, sandpipers, and alliesAlso, wintering hawks, sparrows, wintering

shorebirds$5 donation – drive your car around the several

mile loop, pulling over to get out and scanScope necessaryhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7YZ3XzQ3pk

Cape May

Cape May

Cape May CountyDescription: best place to birdwatch in NJ,

possible in North AmericaPerfect location for nearly all migrantsLots of different habitats – shoreline,

wetlands, riparian, fields, scrubs, sand dune forest, etc.

In Winter: rare wintering birds, hawks, grassland species, ducks, shorebirds, ocean birds, etc.

Good Books

Peterson’s GuideSibley’s GuideBird Finding in New JerseyStokes Audio Field Guide

Bird Watching Clubs and Environmental Centers

Sussex County Bird ClubCape May Bird ObservatoryGreat SwampSandy Hook Essex County Environmental CenterTenafly Nature CenterSherman-Hoffman

Online Resources

Online Guides / General Info AllAboutBirds – online guide from Cornell Labs

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/ eNature – guide to many animals, plants

http://www.enature.com Weather / Predictions

Woodcreeper blog - http://www.woodcreeper.com/ Birding forecast blog, Cape May Bird - http://www.birdcapemay.org/forecast.shtml

Informative / Reports / Sightings Voice of NJ Audubon Birdingonthenet Jerseybirds

http://www.princeton.edu/~llarson/njb/jbird.html Sussex County bird club

http://www.sussexbirdclub.org Rare Bird Alert (online AND Hotline) Meadowlands Commission Blog - http://www.meadowblog.net Delaware Valley - http://www.dvoc.org/DelValBirding/Sightings.htm eBird

Events Linked with Birdwatching

Christmas Bird Count http://www.audubon.org/Bird/cbc/

World Series of Birding http://www.birdcapemay.org/wsob.shtml

Great Backyard Bird Count http://www.audubon.org/gbbc/

Pelagics http://www.paulagics.com/

ABA Big Day http://www.aba.org/bigday/

Local and NJ Events

PelagicsBird walks

Nature Conservancy http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/newje

rsey/events/

NJ Audubon http://www.njaudubon.org/calendar/

Great Swamp http://www.friendsofgreatswamp.org/

Sherman-Hoffman http://www.njaudubon.org/Centers/Scherman/

Sussex County Bird Club http://www.sussexbirdclub.org/

Meadowlands Commission http://www.meadowblog.net/

Birdwatching Groups

National Organizations Audubon Society

NJ Chapter http://www.njaudubon.org/

American Birding Association http://www.americanbirding.org

Local Sussex County Bird Club http://www.sussexbirdclub.org/

Friends of the Great Swamp http://www.friendsofgreatswamp.org/

Scherman-Hoffman http://www.njaudubon.org/Centers/Scherman/