Birds And Birding at Cape May

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 568 pages
• Published by: Stackpole Books December 1, 2006
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0811731340
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0811731348
• Book Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.7 inches
• Weighs: 2 pounds

Book Description
Geography, topography, weather patterns, and unique natural features make Cape May, New Jersey, one of the most important birding sites in North America. Throughout the year thousands of birders travel to Cape May from around the country--and across the ocean--to witness the arrival of tens of thousands of raptors, songbirds, shorebirds, and seabirds. In this guide, Cape May birders can find out exactly when and where in the region to go, what birds theyre likely to see, why the birds are there, and what factors could affect the birds behavior. Filled with the authors photos, this book offers insider information that will help any birder make the most of a visit. It features a complete Cape May bird list and a description of the regions history complemented by images that show how Cape May has changed over the years, and how it has stayed the same.

About The Author
Clay and Pat Sutton are veteran naturalists and longtime residents of Cape May County. Clay is the coauthor, with David Sibley and Pete Dunne, of Hawks in Flight (0395510228). Pat is program director at the New Jersey Audubon Societys Cape May Bird Observatory. Together, theyve written How to Spot an Owl (0618012206) and How to Spot Hawks & Eagles (1576300005).

Reader Reviews
Cape May is a peninsula, the southernmost point of New Jersey. It separates Delaware Bay from the Atlantic Ocean, and lies only fourteen miles north of Delaware. Consequently, millions of birds funnel through the area in the spring and fall of each year. There are a number of nature preserves and wildlife refuges nearby. The Cape May Bird Observatory is the center of birding activity in the area. "If birds are an excellent judge of climate, Cape May has the finest climate in the United States, for it has the greatest variety of birds." Alexander Wilson was writing in 1812 before Texas, the current US record holder, joined the union. But the area is still one of the best places to watch birds in the United States. The climate also attracts thousands of people to the area. There is a wonderful array of attractions, beaches, restaurants, hotels and camping spots available to birders and to any companions who may not share their passions. The authors have dozens of birding books and articles to their credit. As a quick perusal of the extracts on Amazon proves, they know the area intimately, and describe it in clear, helpful language. They profile 33 birding locations, and discuss the histories of popular birding sites. Some of the best passages deal with some of the great birders who enjoyed this area: Alexander Wilson to Roger Tory Peterson to Pete Dunne. They add delightful accounts of their own experiences; the sighting of a Yellow-nosed Albatross is especially good. There is simply no better single volume resource covering the birds, history and geography of this area. If you go, take along this book, and stop in at the Cape May Bird Observatory to see what is going on. BirdCapeMay can give you a head start before you leave home. Robert C. Ross, 2008 Comments (4) | | (Report this)