Hooked on Birding

On a cold January afternoon, two gentlemen sit still, peering through spotting scopes on the Spring Lake boardwalk. They have driven all the way from Philadelphia to see arctic waterfowl. They spot the Atlantic Brant, Common Goldeneye, a Bufflehead and various species of Scaup ducks. They are in a debate about the markings of the Scaups they see. This is the pastime of birding.

The Birding Bug

Patti Piazza of Wall Township, formerly of Spring Lake, caught the birding bug on New Year’s Eve 2020.

“It was COVID, and outdoor activities were being encouraged. I went for a walk. I clamored over the rocks to the end of the Manasquan Inlet, and there were people spotting birds. I thought, oh, they are just the mallards we see here all the time. I thought a duck is a duck. But then they showed me all the different types, and I was hooked,” she said.

“Now I rarely go out without my binoculars or my Sibley’s Guide,” Piazza continued. “It’s a wonderful activity. Most birders are friendly and conversational which helps new people learn the ropes.”

Piazza volunteers at Sandy Hook as a Shorebird Ambassador for the National Park Service, which allows her to spot many species that frequent the Atlantic flyway, and she helps protect the nests of threatened or endangered species. She is also on the Seal Education team, which provides park visitors with a safe and informative experience viewing seals without disturbing their vitally important “Haul Out” resting periods.

A Long History

Birding has a long tradition. The Audubon Society was founded in the late 1800s in the name of John Audubon, writer and illustrator of the first comprehensive guide, “Birds of America.” It was started by women protesting the killing of birds for hat plumage. Their initial goal was to end the wholesale slaughter of birds which was all too common in the late 1800s.

In addition to changing their headwear, the organization raised awareness regarding the worst day of the year for birds: Christmas. The traditional Christmas bird hunt was a contest of shooting skills.

Parties of men would hunt birds during their southern migration, felling hundreds, and the shooter whose hunting pouch weighed the most was declared the winner. The birds were rarely used for food or plumage, simply for sport.

The society proposed an alternate contest, a tradition of bird counts, as the hunts had been effective in nearly emptying the skies. Watchers counted the different types of birds they saw. Over time, the Society developed a practice of helping to shepherd forests and other habitats for birds to help restore their numbers.

The hobby became a year-round passion. 47 million people count themselves as birders. Fall and spring migratory patterns keep the species changing. Each birder keeps a list of every species of they have seen, both in the current year and in their lifetime.

Birders like Piazza carry binoculars, ornithologist David Sibley’s guidebooks, plus her annual and lifetime checklists. The guides help birders identify each species, with details on feather variety during the year, gender and adult vs, juvenile birds. Sibley, originally from Connecticut, grew up following his father, also an orchidologist. He began sketching birds as a seven-year-old in Cape May in the 1960s. Birders learn the songs, nesting habits and mating schedules to help them.

When asked about her most impressive sighting, Piazza noted, “The snowy owl is the holy grail around here for most birders. They migrate from the Arctic in the winter and hide in the dunes and coastal woodland. They are shy and very wary. I saw one at Sandy Hook when I first got into the hobby and really did not appreciate the rarity of the find. This winter is predicted to be an irruption year, and I’m hoping to see another one.” Piazza explained that under the right conditions of temperature and food supply, the number of owls erupts or jumps dramatically.

Birders help each other. “Social media helps,” Piazza said. “The community is very cooperative in helping other birders find the species they are looking for. But the one thing they will not disclose is the location of owls. The unwanted attention would put stress on the animal and chase it off.”

Getting Started

The hobby is easy to get started in. Many of our birds are not as shy or can be seen from a distance. Swans, osprey, bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, black vultures, egrets and blue herons are just a few of the larger birds our area supports. Shorebirds are abundant. Songbirds nesting in the treetops are easier to see once they set up house and are caring for the young. People also plant or set out attractors for songbirds and hummingbirds.

The average hobbyist bird watcher will record around 110 different species in a year, while a professional might record 225. Yes, there are professionals: Some are ornithologists, others guide for other bird watchers or photographers.

The New Jersey Audubon Society sponsors The World Series of Birding each year. In a single 24-hour period in May, teams, usually of six, travel the state, often sighting a year’s worth of species before the day is over.

Some teams have sponsors. 95% of the birds need to be seen or heard by the whole team and documented to count when the contest ends in Cape May at midnight.

Community

But walking alone enough for Piazza. “It is very peaceful. Some people do it in groups, but I prefer to be more solitary. The songbirds are skittish and fly away at the smallest noise or movement. This area is wonderful for birding. We not only have the coast, but we have abundant woodlands and open fields, all of which are habitats for different types of birds,” she said.

The birders on the boardwalk don’t see the Dovekie, also known as the Little Auk, a bird related to the puffin that rarely comes to shore, except for its home in rocky, arctic cliffs.

“The nor’easters sometimes blow them in from out in the ocean,” she said. “We have not had a storm recently. We’ll be back and maybe get them next time.”

Vincent Dicks is a local author and historian; visit vincentdicks.com to learn more.