Program Calendar

Fall migration is the perfect time to visit this first-class birding hot spot on the Jersey Shore. Our Naturalist-in-Residence, Tait Johansson, will maximize your experience by leading you to a variety of habitats across Cape May in search of migrating raptors, migratory and resident passerines and waterbirds. On this trip, we can expect to encounter over a hundred different bird species and explore a range of habitat locations.

 This trip is timed to coincide with peak migration for some raptors (including Peregrine, American Kestrel, Osprey and more), and many, many species of landbirds are possible including 15+ different warblers and a big, spectacular flock of thousands of Tree Swallows is likely. Other species include interesting waterbirds such as: Black Scoter, Caspian Tern, Parasitic Jaeger, and many others. 

The exact itinerary for the weekend will be crafted closer to the departure date in order to optimize specific birding locations based on the most updated migration information. Possible locations include Cape May Point, Higbee Beach, Cox Hall Creek Wildlife Management area, the Hawkwatch platform in West Cape May, South Cape May Meadows, and/or several others.

The program fee for this trip is $165 (members); $200 (non-members and we’ll credit $35 toward an annual membership). The fee does not include hotel, transportation, or meals, but does include: 

• Tait’s expertise for full days of birding
• A jam-packed itinerary with all logistics worked out so you can focus on the main attraction – birds!
• A Welcome Reception on Friday evening that will include wine, cheese, and other refreshments
• Bonding over daily recaps and bird counts every evening

Want to join the trip or have questions? Please email Susan for more details including hotel recommendations, payment options, trip cancellation policy, and more.

Registration and payment can be made through our website: https://bedfordaudubon.org/extended-birding-trips/ 

*Note that registration is limited and our trips often fill up. Your registration is not confirmed until payment is received

Fall migration is the perfect time to visit this first-class birding hot spot on the Jersey Shore. Our Naturalist-in-Residence, Tait Johansson, will maximize your experience by leading you to a variety of habitats across Cape May in search of migrating raptors, migratory and resident passerines and waterbirds. On this trip, we can expect to encounter over a hundred different bird species and explore a range of habitat locations.

 This trip is timed to coincide with peak migration for some raptors (including Peregrine, American Kestrel, Osprey and more), and many, many species of landbirds are possible including 15+ different warblers and a big, spectacular flock of thousands of Tree Swallows is likely. Other species include interesting waterbirds such as: Black Scoter, Caspian Tern, Parasitic Jaeger, and many others. 

The exact itinerary for the weekend will be crafted closer to the departure date in order to optimize specific birding locations based on the most updated migration information. Possible locations include Cape May Point, Higbee Beach, Cox Hall Creek Wildlife Management area, the Hawkwatch platform in West Cape May, South Cape May Meadows, and/or several others.

The program fee for this trip is $165 (members); $200 (non-members and we’ll credit $35 toward an annual membership). The fee does not include hotel, transportation, or meals, but does include: 

• Tait’s expertise for full days of birding
• A jam-packed itinerary with all logistics worked out so you can focus on the main attraction – birds!
• A Welcome Reception on Friday evening that will include wine, cheese, and other refreshments
• Bonding over daily recaps and bird counts every evening

Want to join the trip or have questions? Please email Susan for more details including hotel recommendations, payment options, trip cancellation policy, and more.

Registration and payment can be made through our website: https://bedfordaudubon.org/extended-birding-trips/ 

*Note that registration is limited and our trips often fill up. Your registration is not confirmed until payment is received

You don’t want to miss this popular annual event at our Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch Platform. Naturalist Tait Johansson, Lead Counter Chris Waas and Director of Conservation and Wildlife Management at Westmoreland Sanctuary Steve Ricker will be on hand to “show and tell” the raptors and other avian species flying above, while we enjoy bagels, hot cocoa, coffee and some homemade treats. This much-loved event is perfect for families. (All children must be accompanied by an adult.) Among others, Red-shouldered Hawks are on the move this time of year, and it’s also the time for a better chance of seeing a Golden Eagle! This event is cosponsored by Westmoreland Sanctuary.

Saturday, October 10, 9:00-11:00am. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Moderate – the trail to the platform is about 1/4 mile, and somewhat steep in parts, with exposed root and rocks, including some smaller loose rocks in places. Please email to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org

Back by popular demand! Join Executive Director Medha Pandey, Naturalist Tait Johansson and our skilled volunteers as they once again bring banding to our own backyard. Watch live bird banding in action; learn what data is recorded; and enjoy a rare up-close encounter with some of our local bird species. This demonstration at Bylane Farm is a great opportunity to learn more about our MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity & Survivorship) Station in the Hunt-Parker Sanctuary and Bedford Audubon’s contributions to this important research as Tait and a team of volunteers band birds, explaining every step along the way. This is a family-friendly event, but children must be accompanied by an adult.

Sunday, October 11, 8:00-10:00am. Cost: Free, but donations welcomed to support our research. Level of difficulty: Easy. Please email Susan to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org

As autumn settles over the Leon Levy Native Habitat Garden, participants are invited to join Emily Lindquist for a guided mindfulness session to unplug and experience the landscape. This wellness-based program opens with guided sensory exploration - using the sights, sounds, and scents of the garden to help visitors cultivate a deeper connection to nature. Afterwards, guests will be invited to journal in the garden, reflecting on themes of seasonal transition. Finally, the program will conclude with a gratitude circle, allowing participants to develop a sense of interconnectedness with one another and the natural world. This event highlights the ecological significance of the fall season in a restorative and grounding environment.

Emily Lindquist is a nature-lover with a Bachelor's degree in psychology. While her background is in early childhood education, she currently finds her passion in exploring the relationship between the natural environment and mental well-being. She hopes to use her love of eco-wellness to encourage people to feel more present and grounded in nature

Saturday, October 17, 8:00-9:15am. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please email to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org

Do sparrows confuse you? You’re not alone. With their strikingly similar appearances, sparrows can be tricky to identify — even for seasoned birders. Back by popular demand, Naturalist Tait Johansson can help you distinguish these “little brown jobs” from one another in this two-part Sparrow Identification Workshop and Field Trip. In the first part, Tait will provide information on how to identify these underappreciated birds, from field markings, behaviors, and vocalizations; in the second part, we’ll take a field trip to Allen’s Meadows Park in Wilton, CT, a sparrow “hot spot,” to practice identifying them in the field. We’ll be on the lookout for Vesper Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrow, and others. *Space is limited on this program so register early if interested.  

Please email with any questions or to register and pay by cash/check: info@bedfordaudubon.org. Click on the link below to register by credit card securely online: https://bedfordaudubon.org/workshops/

Saturday, October 24, 7:00am-11:30am. Cost: $25 members, $40 non-members.  

Help make a tangible impact on bird habitat at our sanctuary — and learn how to apply what you learn to your own garden or yard. Join Bedford Audubon Board Member and Naturalist Steve Ricker for Habitat Renewal Day, a workshop session during which Steve will teach you how to identify and remove invasive plants and why this practice is so vital to the ecosystem. Tools and gloves will be provided, though you’re welcome to bring your own (loppers and hand pruners are especially useful). Please note that thorny plants and poison ivy may be present.

Saturday, October 24, 9:00am-10:00am. Location: Bylane Farm. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please email to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org.

This in-depth 4-hour photography workshop, Better Bird Shots: A Conceptual and Technical Approach to Improving Your Bird Photography, led by Dr. Loren Merrill, is designed for anyone interested in improving their bird photography skills, from beginners to experienced photographers.

The workshop emphasizes classroom learning and covers both Loren’s conceptual approach to bird photography and the technical elements needed to create impactful images. He will discuss preferred camera settings for different scenarios, with particular attention to photographing birds in flight under varying environmental conditions. Toward the end of the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to put these techniques and settings into practice, photographing birds at the feeders and elsewhere on the Bylane Farm grounds.

Dr. Loren Merrill is a photographer and science writer with a doctorate in avian ecology, animal behavior, and physiology. His deep knowledge of bird behavior informs his photography and teaching. An award-winning instructor and mentor, Loren works closely with participants to help them achieve their goals.

Saturday, September 26, 8:00am-12:00pm. Cost: $200 per person. Class size limited to 10 people. For more information, email: info@bedfordaudubon.org or register here: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/photographyworkshop/