Amico Island! Fresh air, friendly folks, feathered friends, and Leona and George Fluck as leaders—what more can you ask for?
I was tickled to be asked to participate in the April 7 Club visit to Amico Island recently as the birding “point person.” And three years ago, I wouldn’t have considered myself even halfway qualified to point out the birdlife to anyone interested. But here’s the thing about my now-favorite hobby: In a few seasons of regular observations, going out with experienced people who are quick to point out what they see and hear, you can very quickly get a good working knowledge of many, many species beyond your back yard—and be the better for it.
A few years ago, I decided to start “birding” all 21 NJ counties. After a year, I could identify about 100 birds that are common to New Jersey, versus about 25 previously in my Mercer County neighborhood.
What an amazing state we have for birding! We have a wide variety of ecosystems—lakes, streams, ocean, hillsides, grasslands, fields. The cold months can be just as fascinating as summer for seeing the wonders of wildlife. I now enjoy being a kestrel box monitor for the NJ Department of Environmental Protection as a Wildlife Conservation Corps volunteer. I have also done grassland bird monitoring for NJ Audubon at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.
Amico Island Park is a charming spot in Delran Township along the Delaware River. Several trails allow you to pass under old growth trees, with many perching birds calling (though not always visible), but also navigate the shoreline, popular with lots of dark double-crested cormorants.
We had a good group attending. Several were modest about their beginner-birder skills, but after having the constant call of the Carolina Wren pointed out, people began to identify it before I did! Soon those close to me were picking up on other calls: the northern cardinal, chickadee, white-breasted nuthatch, red-bellied woodpecker, northern flicker, and many more birds in the branches.
Finally, George and Leona led us to the icing on the cake: In the middle of a small lake was an island featuring a great blue heron rookery! Several adults were sitting on the nest. With good binoculars, you should be able to see their chicks after they have hatched. In the meantime, the parents make a beautiful sight as they fly in and out with nesting material and food for their mates.
Some of our more experienced participants helped to spot hard-to-see birds in the thickets. Many eyes are always better than two, and you can always count on birders to help each other in solidarity.
As the morning ended, I had racked up 20 species on a walk of less than 2 miles; a warm day in early or late spring should bring in far more. Just as valuable were meeting some great Sierra Club members and being part of their enjoyment of the often-hidden bird life around us. Thanks, Sierra!
I hope you join us for future trips to focus on our feathered friends during a walk together.
