250 logoIn celebration of America’s 250th Birthday and as part of MonmouthNJ 250, the Monmouth County Park System Naturalists are launching a bird identification challenge to document 250 distinct bird species to promote the biological diversity that our great Park System provides. 
 
This initiative honors the nation’s 250th birthday by exploring our local and state ecosystems during our programs. The Park System is proud to protect important and diverse wildlife from the coastal shorelines of Bayshore Waterfront Park to the upland forests of Holmdel Park, and centennial forest of Clayton Park, 250 years after our country's founding and beyond.
   
To foster inspiration and education, an updated list of the annual sightings will be posted monthly below, allowing park patrons to track progress of our Park System Naturalists' findings throughout the year and learn about the year-round residents and seasonal migrants that call our county home. This challenge aims to showcase the remarkable biodiversity of our local parks while celebrating this historic milestone in our nation’s history.Species Scientific name Location first seen or heard.
  1. Snow Goose - Anser caerulescens - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  2. Ross's Goose - Anser rossii - Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center
  3. Brant - Branta bernicla - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  4. Canada Goose - Branta canadensis - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  5. Mute Swan - Cygnus olor - Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center
  6. Trumpeter Swan - Cygnus buccinator - Lilly Lake - Cape May (Bird Excursion Trip)
  7. Tundra Swan - Cygnus columbianus - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  8. Wood Duck - Aix sponsa - Ernest L. Oros Wildlife Preserve (Bird Excursion Trip)
  9. Blue-winged teal - Spatula discors - South Cape May Meadows (Bird Excursion Trip)  
  10. Northern Shoveler - Spatula clypeata - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  11. Gadwall - Mareca strepera - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  12. American Wigeon - Mareca americana - Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center
  13. Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  14. American Black Duck - Anas rubripes - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  15. Northern Pintail - Anas acuta - Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center
  16. Green-winged Teal - Anas crecca - Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center
  17. Canvasback - Aythya valisineria - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  18. Redhead - Aythya americana - Shark River (Bird Excursion Trip)
  19. Ring-necked Duck - Aythya collaris - Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center
  20. Greater Scaup - Aythya marila - Sandy Hook
  21. Lesser Scaup - Aythya affinis - Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center
  22. Surf Scoter - Melanitta perspicillata - Sandy Hook
  23. White-winged Scoter - Melanitta deglandi - Sandy Hook
  24. Black Scoter - Melanitta americana - Sandy Hook
  25. Long-tailed Duck - Clangula hyemalis - Sandy Hook
  26. Bufflehead - Bucephala albeola - Sandy Hook
  27. Common Goldeneye - Bucephala clangula - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  28. Hooded Merganser - Lophodytes cucullatus - Bayshore Waterfront Park
  29. Common Merganser - Mergus merganser - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  30. Red-breasted Merganser - Mergus serrator - Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center
  31. Ruddy Duck - Oxyura jamaicensis - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  32. Wild Turkey - Meleagris gallopavo - Garden State Parkway Shoulder (Bird Excursion Trip)
  33. Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) - Columba livia (Feral Pigeon) - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  34. Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  35. Yellow-billed Cuckoo - Coccyzus americanus - South Cape May Meadows (Bird Excursion Trip)
  36. Black-billed Cuckoo - Coccyzus erythropthalmus - Manasquan Reservoir
  37. Common Nighthawk - Chordeiles minor - Sandy Hook
  38. Chimney Swift - Chaetura pelagica - Thompson Park
  39. Ruby-throated Hummingbird - Archilochus colubris - Crosswicks Creek Park
  40. King Rail - Rallus elegans - Ernest L. Oros Wildlife Preserve (Bird Excursion Trip)
  41. Clapper Rail - Rallus crepitans - Ocean City Welcome Center (Bird Excursion Trip)
  42. Virginia Rail - Rallus limicola - Ocean City Welcome Center (Bird Excursion Trip)
  43. American Coot - Fulica americana - Lake of the Lilies (Bird Excursion Trip)
  44. American Avocet - Recurvirostra americana - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  45. American Oystercatcher - Haematopus palliatus - Gull Island (Bird Excursion Trip)
  46. Black-bellied Plover - Pluvialis squatarola - Sandy Hook
  47. American Golden-Plover - Pluvialis dominica - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  48. Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus - Bayshore Waterfront Park
  49. Semipalmated Plover - Charadrius semipalmatus - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  50. Hudsonian Whimbrel - Numenius hudsonicus - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  51. Marbled Godwit - Limosa fedoa - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  52. Short-billed Dowitcher - Limnodromus griseus - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  53. Long-billed Dowitcher- Limnodromus scolopaceus - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  54. American Woodcock - Scolopax minor - Big Brook Park 
  55. Wilson's Snipe - Gallinago delicata - Dorbrook Recreation Area
  56. Wilson's Phalarope - Phalaropus tricolor - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  57. Red-necked Phalarope - Phalaropus lobatus - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip) 
  58. Spotted Sandpiper - Actitis macularius - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  59. Solitary Sandpiper - Tringa solitaria - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  60. Lesser Yellowlegs - Tringa flavipes - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  61. Willet - Tringa semipalmata - Ocean City Welcome Center (Bird Excursion Trip)
  62. Greater Yellowlegs - Tringa melanoleuca - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Tripn)
  63. Ruddy Turnstone - Arenaria interpres - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  64. Red Knot - Calidris canutus - Sandy Hook
  65. Stilt Sandpiper - Calidris himantopus - South Cape May Meadows (Bird Excursion Trip)
  66. Buff-breasted Sandpiper - Calidris subruficollis - Sandy Hook 
  67. Sanderling - Calidris alba - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  68. Dunlin - Calidris alpina - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  69. Purple Sandpiper - Calidris maritima - Manasquan Inlet (Bird Excursion Trip)
  70. White-rumped Sandpiper - Calidris fuscicollis - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  71. Least Sandpiper - Calidris minutilla - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  72. Pectoral Sandpiper - Calidris melanotos - Dorbrook Recreation Area
  73. Semipalmated Sandpiper - Calidris pusilla - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  74. Razorbill - Alca torda - Manasquan Inlet (Bird Excursion Trip)
  75. Bonaparte's Gull - Chroicocephalus philadelphia - Sandy Hook
  76. Laughing Gull - Leucophaeus atricilla - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  77. Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  78. American Herring Gull - Larus smithsonianus - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  79. Great Black-backed Gull - Larus marinus - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  80. Glaucous Gull - Larus hyperboreus - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  81. Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus - Bayshore Waterfront Park
  82. Black Skimmer - Rynchops niger - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  83. Least Tern - Sternula antillarum - Sandy Hook
  84. Gull-billed Tern - Gelochelidon nilotica - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip) 
  85. Roseate Tern - Sterna dougallii - Sandy Hook  
  86. Caspian Tern - Hydroprogne caspia - Norbury's Landing (Bird Excursion Trip)
  87. Forster's Tern - Sterna forsteri - Sandy Hook
  88. Common Tern - Sterna hirundo - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  89. Royal Tern - Thalasseus maximus - Cape May Point State Park (Bird Excursion Trip)
  90. Pied-billed Grebe - Podilymbus podiceps - Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center
  91. Horned Grebe - Podiceps auritus - Sandy Hook
  92. Red-throated Loon - Gavia stellata - Sandy Hook
  93. Common Loon - Gavia immer - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  94. Wood Stork - Mycteria americana - Cape Island Lafayette St. Bridge Marina (Bird Excursion Trip) 
  95. Northern Gannet - Morus bassanus - Sandy Hook
  96. Double-crested Cormorant - Nannopterum auritum - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  97. White Ibis - Eudocimus albus - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  98. Glossy Ibis - Plegadis falcinellus - Belleplain State Park (Bird Excursion Trip)
  99. White-faced Ibis - Plegadis chihi - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  100. Yellow-crowned Night Heron - Nyctanassa violacea - Ernest L. Oros Wildlife Preserve (Bird Excursion Trip)
  101. Black-crowned Night Heron - Nycticorax nycticorax - Ocean City Welcome Center (Bird Excursion Trip)
  102. Little Blue Heron - Egretta caerulea - Ocean City Welcome Center (Bird Excursion Trip)
  103. Tricolored Heron - Egretta tricolor - Ocean City Welcome Center (Bird Excursion Trip)
  104. Snowy Egret - Egretta thula - Sandy Hook
  105. Green Heron - Butorides virescens - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  106. Great Egret - Ardea alba - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  107. Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  108. American White Pelican - Pelecanus erythrorhynchos - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  109. Black Vulture - Coragyps atratus - Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center
  110. Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  111. Osprey - Pandion haliaetus - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  112. Sharp-shinned Hawk - Accipiter striatus - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  113. Cooper's Hawk - Astur cooperii - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  114. Northern Harrier - Circus hudsonius - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  115. Bald Eagle - Haliaeetus leucocephalus - Thompson Park
  116. Mississippi Kite - Ictinia mississippiensis - CMBO Northwood Center (Bird Excursion Trip)
  117. Broad-winged Hawk - Buteo platypterus - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  118. Red-shouldered Hawk - Buteo lineatus - Freneau Woods
  119. Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  120. Rough-legged Hawk - Buteo lagopus - Thompson Park
  121. Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon - Thompson Park
  122. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Sphyrapicus varius - Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center
  123. Red-headed Woodpecker - Melanerpes erythrocephalus - Manasquan Reservoir
  124. Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus - Thompson Park
  125. Downy Woodpecker - Dryobates pubescens - Thompson Park
  126. Hairy Woodpecker - Leuconotopicus villosus - Deep Cut Gardens
  127. Pileated Woodpecker - Dryocopus pileatus - Deep Cut Gardens
  128. Northern Flicker - Colaptes auratus - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  129. American Kestrel - Falco sparverius - Thompson Park
  130. Merlin - Falco columbarius - Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center
  131. Peregrine Falcon - Falco peregrinus - Sandy Hook  
  132. Eastern Wood-Pewee - Contopus virens - Manasquan Reservoir Visitor Center
  133. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - Empidonax flaviventris - South Cape May Meadows (Bird Excursion Trip)
  134. Acadian Flycatcher - Empidonax virescens - Belleplain State Park (Bird Excursion Trip)
  135. Willow Flycatcher - Empidonax traillii - Conaskonk Point
  136. Least Flycatcher - Empidonax minimus - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  137. Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe - Big Brook Park
  138. Great Crested Flycatcher - Myiarchus crinitus - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  139. Eastern Kingbird - Tyrannus tyrannus - Ernest L. Oros Wildlife Preserve (Bird Excursion Trip)
  140. White-eyed Vireo - Vireo griseus - Ernest L. Oros Wildlife Preserve (Bird Excursion Trip)
  141. Yellow-throated Vireo - Vireo flavifrons - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  142. Blue-headed Vireo - Vireo solitarius - Thompson Park
  143. Eastern Warbling Vireo - Vireo gilvus - Thompson Park
  144. Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus - Clayton Park
  145. Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  146. American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  147. Fish Crow - Corvus ossifragus - Crosswicks Creek
  148. Common Raven - Corvus corax - Sandy Hook
  149. Carolina Chickadee - Poecile carolinensis - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  150. Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus - Sandy Hook
  151. Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor - Deep Cut Gardens
  152. Horned Lark - Eremophila alpestris - Sandy Hook
  153. Bank Swallow - Riparia riparia - Bayshore Waterfront Park
  154. Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor - Crosswicks Creek
  155. Purple Martin - Progne subis - Thompson Park
  156. Northern Rough-winged Swallow - Stelgidopteryx serripennis - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  157. Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  158. Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Corthylio calendula - Bayshore Waterfront Park
  159. Golden-crowned Kinglet - Regulus satrapa - Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center
  160. White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis - Thompson Park
  161. Red-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta canadensis - Deep Cut Gardens
  162. Brown Creeper - Certhia americana - Thompson Park
  163. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea - Clayton Park
  164. Northern House Wren - Troglodytes aedon - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  165. Marsh Wren - Cistothorus palustris - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  166. Carolina Wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  167. European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  168. Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis - Clayton Park
  169. Brown Thrasher - Toxostoma rufum - Crosswicks Creek
  170. Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  171. Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis - Thompson Park
  172. Veery - Catharus fuscescens - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  173. Gray-cheeked Thrush - Catharus minimus - Palmyra Cove Nature Park (Bird Excursion Trip) 
  174. Swainson's Thrush - Catharus ustulatus - Belleplain State Park (Bird Excursion Trip)
  175. Hermit Thrush - Catharus guttatus - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  176. Wood Thrush - Hylocichla mustelina - Clayton Park
  177. American Robin - Turdus migratorius - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  178. Cedar Waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum - Sandy Hook
  179. American Pipit - Anthus rubescens - Sharon Station Road, Union Transportation Trail 
  180. House Sparrow - Passer domesticus - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  181. House Finch - Haemorhous mexicanus - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  182. Purple Finch - Haemorhous purpureus - Sandy Hook
  183. American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  184. Lapland Longspur - Calcarius lapponicus - Bree-Zee-Lee Marina - Cape May (Bird Excursion Trip)
  185. Snow Bunting - Plectrophenax nivalis - Sandy Hook
  186. Chipping Sparrow - Spizella passerina - Thompson Park
  187. Field Sparrow - Spizella pusilla - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  188. American Tree Sparrow - Spizelloides arborea - Thompson Park
  189. Fox Sparrow - Passerella iliaca - Thompson Park
  190. Dark-eyed Junco - Junco hyemalis - Thompson Park
  191. White-crowned Sparrow - Zonotrichia leucophrys - Belleplain State Park (Bird Excursion Trip)
  192. White-throated Sparrow - Zonotrichia albicollis - Thompson Park
  193. Seaside Sparrow - Ammospiza maritima - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  194. Saltmarsh Sparrow - Ammospiza caudacuta - Conaskonk Point
  195. Savannah Sparrow - Passerculus sandwichensis - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bus trip -Bird Excursion)
  196. Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  197. Swamp Sparrow - Melospiza georgiana - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  198. Eastern Towhee - Pipilo erythrophthalmus - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  199. Yellow-breasted Chat - Icteria virens - Cape May Point State Park (Bird Excursion Trip)
  200. Bobolink - Dolichonyx oryzivorus - Conaskonk Point
  201. Eastern Meadowlark - Sturnella magna - Big Brook Park
  202. Orchard Oriole - Icterus spurius - Thompson Park
  203. Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  204. Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  205. Brown-headed Cowbird - Molothrus ater - Thompson Park
  206. Rusty blackbird - Euphagus carolinus - Palmyra Cove Nature Park (Bird Excursion Trip) 
  207. Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula - Bayshore Waterfront Park
  208. Boat-tailed Grackle - Quiscalus major - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  209. Ovenbird - Seiurus aurocapilla - Clayton Park
  210. Worm-eating Warbler - Helmitheros vermivorum - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  211. Louisiana Waterthrush - Parkesia motacilla - Belleplain State Park (Bird Excursion Trip)
  212. Northern Waterthrush - Parkesia noveboracensis - Sandy Hook
  213. Blue-winged Warbler - Vermivora cyanoptera - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  214. Black-and-white Warbler - Mniotilta varia - Clayton Park
  215. Prothonotary Warbler - Protonotaria citrea - Belleplain State Park (Bird Excursion Trip)
  216. Tennessee Warbler - Leiothlypis peregrina - Hartshorne Woods Park
  217. Nashville Warbler - Leiothlypis ruficapilla - Hartshorne Woods Park
  218. Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas - Clayton Park
  219. American Redstart - Setophaga ruticilla - Sandy Hook
  220. Cape May Warbler - Setophaga tigrina - Hawk Mountain Sanctuary (Bird Excursion Trip) 
  221. Northern Parula - Setophaga americana - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  222. Magnolia Warbler - Setophaga magnolia - Sandy Hook
  223. Northern Yellow Warbler - Setophaga aestiva - Sandy Hook
  224. Chestnut-sided Warbler - Setophaga pensylvanica - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  225. Blackpoll Warbler - Setophaga striata - Thompson Park
  226. Black-throated Blue Warbler - Setophaga caerulescens - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  227. Palm Warbler - Setophaga palmarum - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  228. Pine Warbler - Setophaga pinus - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  229. Yellow-rumped Warbler - Setophaga coronata - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  230. Yellow-throated Warbler - Setophaga dominica - Belleplain State Park (Bird Excursion Trip)
  231. Prairie Warbler - Setophaga discolor - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  232. Black-throated Green Warbler - Setophaga virens - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  233. Canada Warbler - Cardellina canadensis - Weltz Conservation Area
  234. Summer Tanager - Piranga rubra - Palmyra Cove Nature Park (Bird Excursion Trip)
  235. Scarlet Tanager - Piranga olivacea - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  236. Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  237. Rose-breasted Grosbeak - Pheucticus ludovicianus - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  238. Blue Grosbeak - Passerina caerulea - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  239. Indigo Bunting - Passerina cyanea - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  240. Dickcissel - Spiza americana - Sharon Station Road, Union Transportation Trail