Saturday, May 13 |
Time |
Activity |
Location |
12:30pm – 1:30pm |
Party on the Beach! The Horseshoe Crab and Shorebird Connection Every spring the Delaware Bay transforms from a quiet space to a raucous gathering as thousands of Horseshoe Crabs come ashore to lay their eggs, followed by shorebirds ready to join the party! In this presentation, we’ll introduce the Horseshoe Crabs and shorebirds you can find along the beaches, and dive into why exactly these animals come together in a phenomenon only found in our backyard. |
Wetlands Institute |
Sunday, May 14 |
Time |
Activity |
Location |
11am – 1pm |
Shorebird Viewing at Cooks Beach View the masses of migrating shorebirds from one of the best spots on the Delaware Bay. There will be so much to see, and hear, and learn, with guides available to assist. Bring your binoculars, scopes, and cameras! Staff will also have spotting scopes to enhance your experience. This is an open event, so come and go as you please! |
Cooks Beach |
Monday, May 15 |
Time |
Activity |
Location |
9:30am – 11am Full and closed |
reTURN the Favor Walk and Training Opportunity Spend a morning on the Delaware Bay to learn about the ecology of the Bay and the connection between horseshoe crabs and migratory shorebirds. You’ll also have the opportunity to rescue horseshoe crabs that have become stranded during spawning as you learn about reTURN the Favor, a volunteer-based program focused on horseshoe crab rescue and conservation. The walk will cover 1 km of beach (walked in both directions for a total of 2 km) Limited to 12 participants |
Villas Beach |
Tuesday, May 16 |
Time |
Activity |
Location |
8:30am – 10am |
Stone Harbor Point Migratory Bird Walk Enjoy our feathered friends? Love a good walk on a beautiful beach? Join our guide for an enjoyable morning exploring the wonders of Stone Harbor Point, and learn why beaches like it are so important. The Point offers the chance to see shorebirds, songbirds, and other migrants. You never know what you’ll see, but you’ll be glad you went. |
Stone Harbor Point |
11am – 12:30pm |
We Put a Ring On It! American Oystercatcher Conservation and Management Join this interactive presentation to learn about one of the region’s most charismatic shorebird species, the American Oystercatcher! In this presentation, you will discover why the American Oystercatcher is such a unique and important species within our coastal habitats and learn about some of the research efforts being conducted to understand populations in New Jersey. Join us following the presentation for a special banding demonstration that will give you an idea what this process would look like for a researcher in the field! |
Wetlands Institute |
Wednesday, May 17 |
Time |
Activity |
Location |
8am – 9am |
Morning Birding Join our guide for an easy morning exploration right here on the grounds of The Wetlands Institute. We’ll have a chance to see a good mix of seasonal migrants and summer residents – from warblers to waders and shorebirds to swallows. Whether you’re a beginning birder or an experienced enthusiast, there’s something for everyone – and with a property list of nearly 250 species, you never know what surprises await!
|
Wetlands Institute |
2pm – 3pm |
Horseshoe Crab Anatomy Workshop Horseshoe crabs have survived for millions of years on earth, but what is it about this “living fossil” that makes them so resilient? Learn about horseshoe crab anatomy and their survival strategies. Get ready for a close up examination of these incredible ocean creatures using live horseshoe crabs and molt specimens. Limited to 25 participants.
|
Wetlands Institute |
7:45pm (appx. 3 hours) Full and closed |
Horseshoe Crab Survey and reTURN the Favor Walk Spend an evening on the Delaware Bay to see firsthand the phenomenon of horseshoe crab spawning and contribute to horseshoe crab conservation. Join us as we conduct a spawning survey, collecting valuable data on horseshoe crab populations. After the survey, our group will rescue horseshoe crabs that have become stranded during spawning. The survey will cover 1 km of beach (walked in both directions, for 2 km of walking total) and will require walking in sand and water up to knee height. Limited to 8 participants per survey.
|
Villas Beach |
Thursday, May 18 |
Time |
Activity |
Location |
8am – 9am |
Morning Birding Join our guide for an easy morning exploration right here on the grounds of The Wetlands Institute. We’ll have a chance to see a good mix of seasonal migrants and summer residents – from warblers to waders and shorebirds to swallows. Whether you’re a beginning birder or an experienced enthusiast, there’s something for everyone – and with a property list of nearly 250 species, you never know what surprises await! |
Wetlands Institute |
Friday, May 19 |
Time |
Activity |
Location |
8am – 9am |
Morning Birding Join our guide for an easy morning exploration right here on the grounds of The Wetlands Institute. We’ll have a chance to see a good mix of seasonal migrants and summer residents – from warblers to waders and shorebirds to swallows. Whether you’re a beginning birder or an experienced enthusiast, there’s something for everyone – and with a property list of nearly 250 species, you never know what surprises await! |
Wetlands Institute |
2pm – 4pm |
Shorebird Viewing at Cooks Beach View the masses of migrating shorebirds from one of the best spots on Delaware Bay. There will be so much to see, and hear, and learn, with guides available to assist. Bring your binoculars, scopes, and cameras! Staff will also have spotting scopes to enhance your experience. This is an open event, so come and go as you please!
|
Cooks Beach |
9:15pm (appx. 3 hours) Full and closed |
Horseshoe Crab Survey and reTURN the Favor Walk Spend an evening on the Delaware Bay to see firsthand the phenomenon of horseshoe crab spawning and contribute to horseshoe crab conservation. Join us as we conduct a spawning survey, collecting valuable data on horseshoe crab populations. After the survey, our group will rescue horseshoe crabs that have become stranded during spawning. The survey will cover 1 km of beach (walked in both directions, for 2 km of walking total) and will require walking in sand and water up to knee height. Limited to 8 participants per survey. |
Villas Beach |
Saturday, May 20 |
Time |
Activity |
Location |
2:30pm – 4:30pm |
Shorebird Viewing at Cooks Beach – Canceled due to weather View the masses of migrating shorebirds from one of the best spots on Delaware Bay. There will be so much to see, and hear, and learn, with guides available to assist. Bring your binoculars, scopes, and cameras! Staff will also have spotting scopes to enhance your experience. This is an open event, so come and go as you please! |
Cooks Beach |
Sunday, May 21 |
Time |
Activity |
Location |
1pm – 2:30pm |
Stone Harbor Point Migratory Bird Walk Enjoy our feathered friends? Love a good walk on a beautiful beach? Join our guide for an enjoyable morning exploring the wonders of Stone Harbor Point, and learn why beaches like it are so important. The Point offers the chance to see shorebirds, songbirds, and other migrants. You never know what you’ll see, but you’ll be glad you went. |
Stone Harbor Point |
3:30pm – 5:30pm |
Shorebird Viewing at Cooks Beach – Just added! View the masses of migrating shorebirds from one of the best spots on Delaware Bay. There will be so much to see, and hear, and learn, with guides available to assist. Bring your binoculars, scopes, and cameras! Staff will also have spotting scopes to enhance your experience. This is an open event, so come and go as you please! |
Cooks Beach |