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Mindful Birding Event Series

Join us for an inclusive birding outing and nature preserve tour as part of the celebration, on Saturday, October 24 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

A photo of a birder holding up binoculars.
Birding Hot Spot Migratory and year-round songbirds, raptors, waterfowl and more can be seen throughout the South Cape May Meadows Preserve. © Lily Mullock/TNC
Event Overview

The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey and New Jersey Audubon are co-hosting an inclusive birding outing and nature preserve tour as part of Birdability Week on Saturday, October 24 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. (rain date Sunday, October 25). This event is open to people of all birding levels, from first-timers to pros.

Together, at a leisurely pace, we will explore one and a half miles of trail at the South Cape May Meadows Preserve. Visitors will learn about the preserve’s history and habitat. At about halfway through the tour, we will gather at the observation platform on the Boardwalk Trail to practice mindful birding for about 20 minutes. This practice aims to deeply engage with and enjoy the birds and nature around you. Feel free to bring a journal for nature journaling!

The South Cape May Meadows

Photographs from the South Cape May Meadows Preserve.

A great blue heron has a fish in its bill.
Swamp rose mallow is blooming in the wetlands.
A shaded picnic area with two tables and two benches.
A Halloween pennant dragonfly is perched on a twig.
Purple martin adults are flying above their house.
An aerial view shows nature trails that lead to a beach.
A bench sits up against a split rail fence with forest in the background.
Eastern painted turtles are basking in the sun.
Two least tern chicks on a beach.
A monarch butterfly is sitting on goldenrod.
A great blue heron has a fish in its bill.

Just Caught: Great blue heron with fish. © Bruce Gray/TNC Photo Contest 2019

Swamp rose mallow is blooming in the wetlands.

Swamp Rose Mallow: Every year in July, hundreds of swamp rose mallow flowers bloom throughout the wetlands. © Lily Mullock / TNC

A shaded picnic area with two tables and two benches.

Shade and Picnic Structure: Located just off the parking lot, visitors can enjoy a shaded picnic area complete with two picnic tables and two ADA-compliant benches. © Lily Mullock / TNC

A Halloween pennant dragonfly is perched on a twig.

Halloween Pennant: Halloween pennants can often be seen perched on tips of vegetation near the edges of waterways. © John Winfree / TNC

Purple martin adults are flying above their house.

Purple Martin Houses: Each year, purple martins nest in the houses at our South Cape May Meadows Preserve. © Jennifer Emerling

An aerial view shows nature trails that lead to a beach.

Beach Access: Our trails through the vast wetlands eventually lead to our 1 mile of protected beach. © TNC

A bench sits up against a split rail fence with forest in the background.

Recycled ADA Bench: Thoughtfully placed benches can be found throughout the trails of South Cape May Meadows. In total, this preserve has 12 benches, with more to come. © Lily Mullock / TNC

Eastern painted turtles are basking in the sun.

Eastern Painted Turtles: Eastern painted turtles are most active from April to September. © Shutterstock

Two least tern chicks on a beach.

Least Tern Chicks: These least tern chicks were spotted inside of the nesting bird enclosure on the South Cape May Meadows Preserve protected beach. © Mark S Garland

A monarch butterfly is sitting on goldenrod.

Monarch Butterfly: Monarch migration typically starts in late September and continues into October. © Trisha Seelman / TNC

Additional Information

  • Water coolers will be available for attendees to refill their bottles.
  • An accessible portable restroom is available at this preserve.
  • Binoculars will be provided as requested.
  • This event is limited to 10 people per day; you will receive an email confirming that you have reserved a space on the tour. If you do not receive an email, that means the event is full.
  • If you need to cancel your reservation, please contact Lily Mullock (lillian.mullock@tnc.org) before the event.

Parking Information: The back 1/3 of the parking lot is paved concrete, with three designated accessible parking spaces. Additionally, there are 37 standard car spaces on compact gravel.

Route Information:
Surface Type: Firm—compact crushed concrete and recycled plastic boardwalk.
Length: 1.5 miles
Width: Average trail width is 6ft; minimum is 3ft on the bridge crossings.
Average Grade: 5% or less
Average Cross Slope: 5% or less
Benches: There are 11 bench rest areas and 2 picnic tables along this route.
Braille: Five interpretive signs feature braille.

Our Preserves in New Jersey

In addition to providing much-needed habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, our nature preserves in New Jersey are top-rated visitor destinations. Whether you're looking to explore pristine forests, go birding alongside freshwater marshes or conquer a mountain, our preserves have you covered.

Explore Our Preserves
Views of New York City from a mountain summit.
Adult bobcat on a rock.
Aerial view of the Maurice River and its surrounding wetlands.
Wildflowers growing in a field.
Views of New York City from a mountain summit.

High Mountain Park Preserve: A natural oasis amid urban sprawl, unique High Mountain Park Preserve is located in the Preakness Range of the Watchung Mountains. © TNC

Adult bobcat on a rock.

Bobcat: Bobcats are endangered in New Jersey. © Jeff Wendorff

Aerial view of the Maurice River and its surrounding wetlands.

Maurice River: The 535-acre preserve gets its name from the majestic bluffs overlooking the Maurice River. © TNC

Wildflowers growing in a field.

Garrett Family Preserve Wildflowers: Wildflowers of the Garrett Family Preserve. © Damon Noe/TNC