Saturday, September 21, 2019 – 9:30am to 4:30pm
Buy tickets on site!
Ticket Price
Non-Member: $10 Adult, $8 Child, $30 Family 4-Pack
Member: $8 Adult, $6 Child, $25 Family 4-Pack
* Boat and kayak tour fees not included in ticket price.
Sitting in the heart of the Atlantic Flyway, thousands of birds make their way across the Cape May Peninsula every fall. In a single day one can go from spotting a Peregrine Falcon flying low along the salt marsh to watching flocks of White-winged Scoters migrate along the ocean front. The sheer abundance and diversity of species migrating through the Cape May Peninsula is an amazing sight to see. This combination therefore makes it among the top birding destinations in the world and a top birding destination in North America.
At The Wetlands Institute, fall is an especially good time to experience the changing of seasons and the spectacle of migration of raptors, warblers, waterfowl, and more. In an effort to spread the word about this incredible time of year, The Wetlands Institute will be hosting a Fall Migration Festival. Visitors of all ages will be able to see, explore, learn, and enjoy! We’ll have guided viewing of migratory birds from the Institute and on Seven Mile Island, and much more!
- Live Monarch Butterfly Presentations and Tagging
- Guided Nature Walks Focusing on Birds, Butterflies, Dragonflies, and Bees
- Guided Back-Bay Boat and Kayak Tours (additional fees and pre-registration required)
- Special Autumn Terrapin Release
- Live Animal Presentations by Matt Pelligrine of Cape May Point State Park
- Native Plant Garden Tours
- And More!
Festival Schedule
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| All day | Woodford Cedar Run Festival Table and Live Raptors |
| All day | Monarch Information and Activity Station |
| All day | Self-guided Tours of the Native Plant Gardens |
| 10am - 4pm | Assorted Fish, Sea Turtle, Butterfly and Bird Crafts |
| 10am - 4pm | Aquarium Teaching Tank |
| 9:30am - 10:30am | An Introduction to the Birds of the Salt Marsh and Beginning Birding |
| 10am - 11:30am | Back-Bay Birding and Wildlife Cruise** call 609-884-3100 or visit Skimmer.com to register |
| 10am - 12pm | Back-Bay Kayaking** call 609-368-1211 to register |
| 10:30am - 11:30am | Butterfly Migration Presentation Featuring Live Monarch Tagging and Release |
| 11am to 2pm | Guided Tours of the Gardens Plus Monarch Tagging |
| 11:30am - 12:30pm | Live Raptor Presentation by Woodford Cedar Run |
| 12pm - 1:30pm | Back-Bay Birding and Wildlife Cruise** call 609-884-3100 or visit Skimmer.com to register |
| 12:30pm - 1:30pm | Turtle Migration Presentation Featuring Live Terrapins and a Terrapin Hatchling Release |
| 1:30pm - 2:30pm | Live Animal Presentation by Cape May Point State Park |
| 2:30pm - 4pm | Back-Bay Birding and Wildlife Cruise** call 609-884-3100 or visit Skimmer.com to register |
| 2:30pm - 3:30pm | Moths in Flight Nightlife Fascination of the NJ Pinelands, Native Garden, and Coastal Landscape by Ann-Marie Woods |
| 4:30pm - 6pm | Guided Bird Walk at Stone Harbor Point |
| 4:30pm - 6pm | Back-Bay Birding and Wildlife Cruise** call 609-884-3100 or visit Skimmer.com to register |
This event is held in partnership with the Borough of Stone Harbor.
