Customer Reviews

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

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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

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!

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.

I was a little skeptical about the guide because I have been disappointed in the past. This was a great guide and the best part, is that no matter what time of year you go, you will find the information you need to ensure a quality birding visit. Planning a trip to bird at Cape May? This is a must have.

This book was suggested to me by an employer, and I was not expecting to learn anything from reading it. However, this book is very thorough and covers everything from the history of birding and conservation in Cape May, to tips on identifying birds and even where most of the speed traps are located on the local roads. The information is presented in a captivating manner and is filled with funny/interesting stories and little-known facts about birds and birding at Cape May.
Definitely take the time to read this book from cover to cover before visiting Cape May for birding.

THIS WAS A CHRISTMAS PRESENT TO MY HUSBAND...HE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED AND LEARNED MUCH ABOUT THE BIRDS OF CAPE MAY...I BOUGHT THIS AND ANOTHER CAPE MAY BIRD BOOK FROM AMAZON.....GREAT PRICE....VERY PLEASED!

As a birder, I have traveled to Cape May many times, but some of the best times were taking birding workshops with Pat and Clay Sutton. Amazing naturalists and fantastic birders, the Suttons eagerly share their knowledge of the natural world around them. And one of their favorite subjects is the birds, birding, and birders of Cape May.

This well written book will engage you right from the first page and you will not want to put the book down at all until you have read the rich and fascinating history of birding in Cape May and discovered all of the many places to visit while there.

Many people go to Cape May and get no further than the hawk watch platform, but you are doing yourself a disservice if you don't take this book with you and discover the rest that Cape May has to offer. You will be amazed at the birding possibilities that exist there.