The Bald Eagle is my “spark” bird. What does that mean? When I first saw a Bald Eagle in the wild, it sparked my interest in all things birds and birding. That was almost 40 years ago, when Bald Eagles were relatively rare in New Jersey. I lived in North Jersey, so we took I-80 out to the Delaware Water Gap in the dead of winter to see if any eagles were hunting fish in the open water. When we finally caught a few glimpses through the trees, I knew I needed more.
Now I live in a place where I can see a Bald Eagle almost every day, year-round. But if I want to see a whole lot of Bald Eagles in one day, I head down to the Cape May Hawkwatch platform at Cape May Point State Park from mid-October to mid-November on days with a north or northwest wind.
Lucky for us, it’s a short drive down the Parkway. Fact is, hundreds of people travel from across the country to spend a day or more at this storied site during peak fall migration. The platform will be buzzing with human activity while the birds stream overhead on their southward migration. Old friends meet again and new friendships are made; all for the love of this annual spectacle.
During a typical fall season, the first month or so is dominated by falcons, including American Kestrals, Merlins and Peregrines, and Osprey. Cooper’s and Sharp-Shinned Hawks soon outnumber them and it’s not until late October and November that some of the larger species begin to move through in numbers. Bald Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks, and the occasional Rough-legged Hawk, Golden Eagle, Goshawk or Swainson’s Hawk can be observed. While hawks migrate during daylight hours, owls are journeying through the night.
Of course, all kinds of birds are migrating either north in the springtime or south in the fall, with seemingly little time in between. But people get hooked on birds of prey, just like I did. Maybe because they’re simply bigger, and therefore easier to see and identify. Nothing wrong with that! They’re also majestic and bold; they demand your attention. Most raptors are hyper carnivorous predators, eating mainly small mammals and other birds, with the occasional side of insect or reptile, although Bald Eagles and Osprey focus on fish – and they’ll fight one another for a good meal.
It’s those kinds of bird-to-bird interactions that can turn a great day at the Hawkwatch into a day you will remember forever. “Did you see that Bald Eagle snatch that fish right out of the Osprey’s talons? Amazing!” Or a Peregrine Falcon might swoop up behind a Cooper’s
Hawk as if to say, “Hey! Get outta my way! I’m way faster than you!” With so many alpha predators coming through at the same time, odds are there will be a dust-up or two.
National Geographic does “Best of” lists for all kinds of things and a few years ago they did the “World’s Best Destinations for Bird-Watching.” Cape May came in second in the world after South Georgia Island in Antarctica. I dare say most of us will never have the opportunity to go to Antarctica.
So make your way to the Cape May Hawkwatch if you can. Check out the license plates of all the cars in the parking lot to see how far folks have come to witness the magic of migration. They’ll be sporting their t-shirts and ball caps with logos of distant birding hotspots, but this is the place to be in the fall. Seasonal naturalists hired by New Jersey Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory will be on hand for a few more days to get you on the birds and answer your questions. Even after they’re gone, you’re likely to find an enthusiast who’s more than willing to share their passion, too.
