Here are some of the upcoming field trips I will be leading in my home region.

Cape May: Our home is in Cape May for a reason -- this is a superb natural history destination.  Nature enthusiasts can find much to enjoy in this seaside locale at any time of year, but Cape May really shines in autumn, when literally millions of southbound birds and insects pass through our airspace.  Enjoy it all from the shadows of the stately Cape May Point lighthouse on any of these programs. 

Road Scholar (formerly Exploritas, formerly Elderhostel): In 2010 I will again be leading Road Scholar birding programs at Cape May.  Birds are the primary focus, but a taste of Cape May’s history and culture are also included, thanks to co-leader Bob Heinly, also known as “Dr. Emlen Physick” and “The Beachchair Birder.”  For details check the website www.elderhostel.org.  Cape May birding Road Scholar programs for autumn 2010 are scheduled for September 26 to 29, and October 17 to 22.

Audubon Naturalist Society Donors’ Trip: Each autumn the Audubon Naturalist Society sponsors a special 4-day trip to Cape May as a fundraiser.  Special donors who support the organization are given a full menu of great experiences.  Timed for the peak of fall migration, October 9 - 12, 2010, this trip is based at the Queen Victoria Inn, Cape May’s finest B&B, and included all meals, with dinners at some of Cape May’s most celebrated restaurants.  Contact Kathryn Mitchell at (301) 652-9188 x31.

NJ Audubon Cape May Spring and Fall Weekends:  The New Jersey Audubon Society annually sponsors 2 weekends jam-packed with activities, from field walks and boat trips to presentations, workshops, displays, and dinner banquets with noted speakers.  The next weekends are scheduled for Oct. 29 to 31, 2010 and May 20 to 22, 2011.  Contact the Cape May Bird Observatory for details, www.cmbo.org or (609) 884-2736.

The Cape May School of Birding:  The Cape May Bird Observatory sponsors a series of field-based workshops, most based in Cape May but some in northern New Jersey or in Delaware.  For 2010 - 11 I’m scheduled to lead these programs in the School of Birding:

    Bird & Tree ID, Sept. 20 - 21, 2010 (with Don Freiday)

    Cape May Birding Holiday, Oct. 2 - 3, 2010 (with Don Freiday)

    Appalachian Birdsong Immersion, May 25 - 26, 2011 (with Don Freiday)

    Shorebirds at Bombay Hook, July 28, 2011 (with Michael O’Brien)

Contact CMBO for more details: www.cmbo.org or (609) 861-0700.

New River Birding & Nature Festival:  I will be returning to West Virginia’s New River region next spring for this wonderful, relaxed and warbler-rich birding festival.  I can’t think of a better place to spend the last week of April!  The festival runs from May 2 to 7 in 2011.  Details won’t be ready for a while, but for more info check the website http://www.birding-wv.com.

Private Tours: Want to set up a field trip or tour for a group of friends or family?  We can do this for you!  I have planned and led private tours to Costa Rica, Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, Tanzania, and of course around Cape May and other areas close to home.  Drop me a note by e-mail if you’d like to explore this possibility.

Speaking gigs:  Every year I give talks to a few birding clubs, nature festivals, etc.  In recent years I’ve given the talk, “The Wilds of Alaska” for the Smithsonian in Washington, and “Tropical Birds Do the Coolest Things” to many different groups.  The latest talk, “Birds are Crazy!” has been well received at several venues.  I’ve also been a featured speaker for the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival in southern Texas, and at the New River Birding and Wildlife Festival.  I’ve presented programs to various Audubon groups and birding clubs in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland.  Upcoming talks include the Burlington County (NJ) Natural Sciences Club on December 8, 2010, and the Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club, near Albany, NY, on April 27, 2011.  Interested in having me speak to your group?  Contact me at mgnature@mac.com for rates and scheduling information.

ANS field trips:  The next field trip I will be leading for the Audubon Naturalist Society visits Cape May late in the fall migration season, Nov. 6 & 7, a time when rare birds historically tend to show up in Cape May.  See details of all upcoming ANS programs at: www.audubonnaturalist.org.

Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival:  I will be leading field trips at this well-known South Texas event from Nov. 10 - 14.  For details or to register visit: http://www.rgvbirdfestival.com.