The Monmouth County Audubon Society will sponsor an evening
field trip to the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in search of American
Woodcock on Saturday, March 15. Participation is free.
The
United States Congress designated the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
Wilderness Area in 1968, and it now has a total of over 7,200 acres of hardwood
swamp, upland timber, marsh and water, brush, pasture and cropland. This
diverse habitat attracts a wide variety of migratory and residential birds. One
bird species in particular is the target for this trip: the American Woodcock. American
Woodcock spend most of their time hidden in fields and on the forest floor,
where they probe for earthworms. On spring nights, however, their priorities
change, and attracting a mate becomes more important than remaining
camouflaged. Males advertise for a mate with a buzzy “peent” call. That
vocalization signals the start of one wacky courtship display. The male takes flight
and climbs from 50 to 100 yards into the air. He descends, zigzagging and
banking while singing a liquid, chirping song. This high spiraling flight
produces a melodious twittering sound as air rushes through the male's outer
primary wing feathers. This display is truly like nothing else in nature and is
why the group is making a special trip at dusk to experience it.
The
group will meet at 4:00 pm in the
parking lot of the Helen C
Fenske Visitor Center,
located at 32 Pleasant Plains Road,
Basking Ridge. From Monmouth County,
follow the Garden State Parkway North
to I-287 North to Exit 30A (North Maple Avenue,
Basking Ridge). Follow North Maple Avenue
less than one mile to the first traffic light; turn left onto Madisonville
Road. Follow this road for approximately one mile;
the road will turn into Lees Hill Road.
Turn right onto Pleasant Plains Road
and proceed 0.2 miles to the visitor center on the right.
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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 dress in weather-appropriate clothing. Binoculars are essential, and a
field guide is helpful.
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 Church of the Nativity, 180 Ridge 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.
