Free Bird Walk On Sandy Hook July 20 With Monmouth Audubon

SANDY HOOK GATEWAY NATIONAL RECREATION AREA, NJ — Join the Monmouth County Audubon Society for a summer evening bird walk to look for nesters and shorebirds on Sandy Hook. The event will take place on Thursday, July 20, starting at 6:00 p.m. The trip will be led by members of the Monmouth County Audubon Society who are familiar with Sandy Hook and its birds.

“The evening is a great time to explore the quieter areas of Sandy Hook,” explains Linda Mack, trip leader and past president of the Monmouth County Audubon Society. “We never know what we will discover on these summer walks – herons, shorebirds, American Oystercatchers and terns are all regulars – and we may be able to sneak a peek at Piping Plovers, the endangered shorebirds that nest at Sandy Hook.”

Anyone interested in participating in the event can meet at 6:00 pm in parking lot "M," which is the northernmost parking lot on Sandy Hook (5.7 miles from the entrance gate). Follow Hartshorne Drive, the main park road, north to a right turn onto Atlantic Avenue, then right on Ford Road to parking lot M.The trip is open to both members and non-members of the Monmouth County Audubon Society, and participation is free. Advance registration is not required.

Participants should bring binoculars and field guides and should dress appropriately for the weather, including clothing suitable for rain if the forecast is questionable. Insect repellent also is recommended. The walk will take place light rain or shine. Pets are not permitted.

The Monmouth County Audubon Society, a chapter of the National Audubon Society, is dedicated to the enjoyment and study of nature, wildlife conservation, habitat protection, and education. Meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month September through May at the Knights of Columbus hall, 200 Fair Haven Road, Fair Haven; guest speakers address a wide variety of nature-related topics, and refreshments are provided. In addition, the group sponsors at least one field trip per month, and members receive The Osprey, the club’s bi-monthly newsletter. Further information can be obtained by visiting the organization’s Website at http://www.monmouthaudubon.org, or via e-mail at info@monmouthaudubon.org.

Photo of Sandy Hook dunes via the National Park Service