Birds and Birding at Cape May: What to See and When and Where to Go [Paperback]

Clay Sutton (Author), Pat Sutton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2006

First-ever birding guide to this celebrated site

Insider advice on 33 popular places and lesser-known hot spots

Describes birding opportunities any time of the year

Geography, topography, weather patterns, and unique natural features make Cape May, New Jersey, one of the most important birding sites in North America. Throughout the year thousands of birders travel to Cape May from around the country--and across the ocean--to witness the arrival of tens of thousands of raptors, songbirds, shorebirds, and seabirds. In this guide, Cape May birders can find out exactly when and where in the region to go, what birds they're likely to see, why the birds are there, and what factors could affect the birds' behavior. Filled with the authors' photos, this book offers insider information that will help any birder make the most of a visit. It features a complete Cape May bird list and a description of the region's history complemented by images that show how Cape May has changed over the years, and how it has stayed the same.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Clay and Pat Sutton are veteran naturalists and longtime residents of Cape May County. Pat is program director at the New Jersey Audubon Society's Cape May Bird Observatory. Together, they've written How to Spot an Owl (0-618-01220-6) and How to Spot Hawks & Eagles (1-576-30000-5).

Clay and Pat Sutton are veteran naturalists and longtime residents of Cape May County. Clay is the coauthor, with David Sibley and Pete Dunne, of Hawks in Flight (0-395-51022-8). Together, they've written How to Spot an Owl (0-618-01220-6) and How to Spot Hawks & Eagles (1-576-30000-5).

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Stackpole Books (December 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811731340
• ISBN-13: 978-0811731348
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #399,633 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the best guide to birding at Cape May, one of the best places in the US, April 11, 2008

By 

Robert C. Ross (New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Birds and Birding at Cape May: What to See and When and Where to Go (Paperback)

Cape May is a peninsula, the southernmost point of New Jersey. It separates Delaware Bay from the Atlantic Ocean, and lies only fourteen miles north of Delaware. Consequently, millions of birds funnel through the area in the spring and fall of each year. There are a number of nature preserves and wildlife refuges nearby. The Cape May Bird Observatory is the center of birding activity in the area.

"If birds are an excellent judge of climate, Cape May has the finest climate in the United States, for it has the greatest variety of birds." Alexander Wilson was writing in 1812 before Texas, the current US record holder, joined the union. But the area is still one of the best places to watch birds in the United States.

The climate also attracts thousands of people to the area. There is a wonderful array of attractions, beaches, restaurants, hotels and camping spots available to birders and to any companions who may not share their passions.

The authors have dozens of birding books and articles to their credit. As a quick perusal of the extracts on Amazon proves, they know the area intimately, and describe it in clear, helpful language. They profile 33 birding locations, and discuss the histories of popular birding sites. Some of the best passages deal with some of the great birders who enjoyed this area: Alexander Wilson to Roger Tory Peterson to Pete Dunne. They add delightful accounts of their own experiences; the sighting of a Yellow-nosed Albatross is especially good.

There is simply no better single volume resource covering the birds, history and geography of this area. If you go, take along this book, and stop in at the Cape May Bird Observatory to see what is going on. BirdCapeMay can give you a head start before you leave home.

Robert C. Ross, 2008

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a wonderful book!, February 1, 2007

By 

K. Steininger (Chadds Ford, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Birds and Birding at Cape May: What to See and When and Where to Go (Paperback)

A "must have" for anyone considering birding in the Cape May area!!! Clay and Pat Sutton are wonderful writers making this book not only a wealth of information but also very enjoyable to read!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, November 29, 2008

By 

Lalie - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Birds and Birding at Cape May: What to See and When and Where to Go (Paperback)

Being a birder for years and going to Cape May, NJ for years, this book is great to have. It summarizes all about Cape May and will tell others what Cape May is about and what to look forward to.