Peter Dunne: Evangelist for Birdwatching Heaven

CAPE MAY – “The reason I started birding,” said Pete Dunne, “was to get away from people.” In that regard, the 62-year-old birder, who last week announced his impending departure as director of the Cape May Bird Observatory, admits that he failed miserably.
After 37 years with the New Jersey Audubon Society, Dunne expects that his life won’t really be changing too much. Although he’ll put aside the day-to-day responsibilities of managing CMBO, he believes that when it comes to the future, “A lot of it is more of the same.” In his new role as “bird watching ambassador,” he still plans to be an advocate for New Jersey’s environment, using the platform that NJAS offers, and hopes to do for the rest of New Jersey what he and his co-workers have done in Cape May.
Born in Morristown, Dunne moved south at age 25. On his way to becoming the evangelist for North America’s birding heaven, he became a prolific writer. His “In The Natural State” column ran in the New York Times Sunday section from 1976 to 2001. He authored more than a dozen books, including Tales of a Low-Rent Birder, The Feather Quest: A North American Birder’s Year, and The Art of Bird Finding. His articles have appeared in every birding magazine.
In 2001, Dunne’s work led to him receiving the Roger Tory Peterson Award from the American Birding Association for lifetime achievement in promoting the cause of birding.
Along the way, he created the World Series of Birding, a statewide birding competition in May now entering its fourth decade. Birders from across the globe spend 24 hours looking and listening for birds, ending at the West Cape May Fire Hall just before midnight. The event has raised more than a million dollars for NJAS and other conservation groups.
But Dunne considers the World Series only a catalyst, a means to an end, and not his greatest achievement. Topping that list is establishing Cape May as the birding capital of North America. After pausing to consider his priorities, he noted that meeting and marrying his wife was also at the top of the list.
“I’ve had an incredibly fortunate life,” Dunne says. “I was lucky enough to find myself at the center of the birdwatching universe.” He added, “The things that I remember most are not the birds, it was the people I shared the experiences with.”
Those experiences have taken him to the ends of the Earth. He’s made multiple trips to the Arctic and Antarctica, and been nearly everywhere else following birds. The only spot he still hopes to visit is Southeast Asia.
Wherever he roams, Dunne intends to be in Cape May every fall. The Cape May Birding Festival is the last weekend of October, and Dunne still expects to be leading bird walks or holding forth from the hawk watch platform at Cape May Point State Park.
In March, a stroke finally slowed Dunne down. He’s still relearning to use some muscles on his left side. His writing has been changed both by the crash of the publishing industry, and by having to do all his typing with only his right hand. Dunne also admits that his sense of time is “a shambles,” causing him difficulty keeping track of days and hours.
Dunne expects to officially step down from his CMBO post sometime next summer. NJAS plans a nationwide search for his successor, but Dunne says, “I wouldn’t be surprised if it were someone from closer to home.”
In the meantime, he’s working to leave CMBO in a tidy package for his successor. Dunne credits the Audubon staff, calling his CMBO cohorts, “smooth running, talented, and a well-knit organization.”
New Jersey Audubon President Eric Stiles summarizes, “Pete has touched many lives through the wonder of birds and birding. As a birder, teacher, natural history maven and master chronicler of the natural world, I want to personally thank Pete for all he has accomplished as CMBO Director and will accomplish as our top ambassador. Pete and I will be spending the months ahead planning the transition.”
“It’s been a remarkable life,” says Dunne. “I’m heartened that Cape May’s residents regard their environment and natural treasures more than they did 30 years ago. What we have here is something very, very special.”
To contact Phil Broder, email pbroder@cmcherald.com.