Cape May Naturally is a bi-weekly column about birding, wildlife, and preservation in Cape May County, written by a rotating cast of experts at the New Jersey Audubon.
Have you noticed an uptick in the number of birds all around us? Pretty soon, you’ll also notice an uptick in the number of birders all around Cape May, too!
Since there have been birders, there have been Big Days. What’s a Big Day? It’s a day when a birder or two or three decide the conditions are just right to get out and find as many different species as they can in a 24-hour period.
We’re nearing the peak of spring migration, as birds that overwintered in warmer climates make their way north to their breeding grounds. Some will stay for only a day or two and continue to the Boreal Forests far north. Some birds, like the increasingly rare Red Knot, even head to the Arctic Tundra. Others find southern New Jersey to be just right. They will get down to business upon arrival: finding a mate, building a nest, and then tending to their offspring.
Here in New Jersey, some 42 years ago, it appeared no one could tally more than 200 species in 24 hours, no matter how ideal the conditions appeared. A handful of gentleman birders enjoying foamy beverages at the C-View Inn in Cape May had an idea. Why not introduce the element of competition?
So the date was set, May 19, 1984, at the peak of spring migration for the first ever World Series of Birding, organized by New Jersey Audubon. 13 teams started at midnight in points north, such as the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, and zig zagged their way south to Cape May Point, all in an effort to count as many different kinds of birds as possible in 24 hours.
But it’s not just about seeing a lot of birds. Since its inception, the World Series of Birding has been a fundraiser for wildlife conservation. It’s New Jersey Audubon’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and it’s a fundraising platform for dozens of other conservation organizations that participate and raise money for their own conservation causes.
As of this writing, we’re up to 85 teams registered and prepping for the Big Day on May 10th. Participants will be converging in New Jersey from across the country to play a part in this legendary event. Mind you, driving the length of the state in search of birds for 24 hours isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, so the event has evolved over the years, adding new ways to join the fun.
Teams can focus on their home counties, go carbon-free, or even stay in one place and wait for the birds to come to them. That’s called a Big Stay, and it’s all about location, location, location. And most do NOT bird for 24 hours straight. I mean, that’s kind of crazy, right?
New Jersey Audubon Ambassador teams have no entry fees, bird at their own pace, raise some money for New Jersey Audubon, and most of all, have FUN! You can join the fun by visiting www.njaudubon.org to learn more and donate to your favorite team or participant!
