print this page Print this page


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. Northern Shoveler - Spatula clypeata - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  10. Gadwall - Mareca strepera - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  11. American Wigeon - Mareca americana - Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center
  12. Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  13. American Black Duck - Anas rubripes - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  14. Northern Pintail - Anas acuta - Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center
  15. Green-winged Teal - Anas crecca - Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center
  16. Canvasback - Aythya valisineria - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  17. Redhead - Aythya americana - Shark River (Bird Excursion Trip)
  18. Ring-necked Duck - Aythya collaris - Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center
  19. Greater Scaup - Aythya marila - Sandy Hook
  20. Lesser Scaup - Aythya affinis - Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center
  21. Surf Scoter - Melanitta perspicillata - Sandy Hook
  22. White-winged Scoter - Melanitta deglandi - Sandy Hook
  23. Black Scoter - Melanitta americana - Sandy Hook
  24. Long-tailed Duck - Clangula hyemalis - Sandy Hook
  25. Bufflehead - Bucephala albeola - Sandy Hook
  26. Common Goldeneye - Bucephala clangula - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  27. Hooded Merganser - Lophodytes cucullatus - Bayshore Waterfront Park
  28. Common Merganser - Mergus merganser - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  29. Red-breasted Merganser - Mergus serrator - Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center
  30. Ruddy Duck - Oxyura jamaicensis - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  31. Wild Turkey - Meleagris gallopavo - Garden State Parkway Shoulder (Bird Excursion Trip)
  32. Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) - Columba livia (Feral Pigeon) - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  33. Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  34. Yellow-billed Cuckoo - Coccyzus americanus - South Cape May Meadows (Bird Excursion Trip)
  35. Black-billed Cuckoo - Coccyzus erythropthalmus - Manasquan Reservoir
  36. Common Nighthawk - Chordeiles minor - Sandy Hook
  37. Chimney Swift - Chaetura pelagica - Thompson Park
  38. Ruby-throated Hummingbird - Archilochus colubris - Crosswicks Creek Park
  39. King Rail - Rallus elegans - Ernest L. Oros Wildlife Preserve (Bird Excursion Trip)
  40. Clapper Rail - Rallus crepitans - Ocean City Welcome Center (Bird Excursion Trip)
  41. Virginia Rail - Rallus limicola - Ocean City Welcome Center (Bird Excursion Trip)
  42. American Coot - Fulica americana - Lake of the Lilies (Bird Excursion Trip)
  43. American Oystercatcher - Haematopus palliatus - Gull Island (Bird Excursion Trip)
  44. Black-bellied Plover - Pluvialis squatarola - Sandy Hook
  45. American Golden-Plover - Pluvialis dominica - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  46. Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus - Bayshore Waterfront Park
  47. Semipalmated Plover - Charadrius semipalmatus - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  48. Hudsonian Whimbrel - Numenius hudsonicus - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  49. Short-billed Dowitcher - Limnodromus griseus - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  50. American Woodcock - Scolopax minor - Big Brook Park
  51. Wilson's Snipe - Gallinago delicata - Dorbrook Recreation Area
  52. Spotted Sandpiper - Actitis macularius - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  53. Solitary Sandpiper - Tringa solitaria - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  54. Lesser Yellowlegs - Tringa flavipes - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  55. Willet - Tringa semipalmata - Ocean City Welcome Center (Bird Excursion Trip)
  56. Greater Yellowlegs - Tringa melanoleuca - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Tripn)
  57. Ruddy Turnstone - Arenaria interpres - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  58. Red Knot - Calidris canutus - Sandy Hook
  59. Stilt Sandpiper - Calidris himantopus - South Cape May Meadows (Bird Excursion Trip)
  60. Sanderling - Calidris alba - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  61. Dunlin - Calidris alpina - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  62. Purple Sandpiper - Calidris maritima - Manasquan Inlet (Bird Excursion Trip)
  63. White-rumped Sandpiper - Calidris fuscicollis - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  64. Least Sandpiper - Calidris minutilla - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  65. Pectoral Sandpiper - Calidris melanotos - Dorbrook Recreation Area
  66. Semipalmated Sandpiper - Calidris pusilla - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  67. Razorbill - Alca torda - Manasquan Inlet (Bird Excursion Trip)
  68. Bonaparte's Gull - Chroicocephalus philadelphia - Sandy Hook
  69. Laughing Gull - Leucophaeus atricilla - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  70. Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  71. American Herring Gull - Larus smithsonianus - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  72. Great Black-backed Gull - Larus marinus - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  73. Glaucous Gull - Larus hyperboreus - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  74. Black Skimmer - Rynchops niger - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  75. Least Tern - Sternula antillarum - Sandy Hook
  76. Gull-billed Tern - Gelochelidon nilotica - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  77. Caspian Tern - Hydroprogne caspia - Norbury's Landing (Bird Excursion Trip)
  78. Forster's Tern - Sterna forsteri - Sandy Hook
  79. Common Tern - Sterna hirundo - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  80. Royal Tern - Thalasseus maximus - Cape May Point State Park (Bird Excursion Trip)
  81. Pied-billed Grebe - Podilymbus podiceps - Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center
  82. Horned Grebe - Podiceps auritus - Sandy Hook
  83. Red-throated Loon - Gavia stellata - Sandy Hook
  84. Common Loon - Gavia immer - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  85. Northern Gannet - Morus bassanus - Sandy Hook
  86. Double-crested Cormorant - Nannopterum auritum - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  87. White Ibis - Eudocimus albus - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  88. Glossy Ibis - Plegadis falcinellus - Belleplain State Park (Bird Excursion Trip)
  89. White-faced Ibis - Plegadis chihi - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  90. Yellow-crowned Night Heron - Nyctanassa violacea - Ernest L. Oros Wildlife Preserve (Bird Excursion Trip)
  91. Black-crowned Night Heron - Nycticorax nycticorax - Ocean City Welcome Center (Bird Excursion Trip)
  92. Little Blue Heron - Egretta caerulea - Ocean City Welcome Center (Bird Excursion Trip)
  93. Tricolored Heron - Egretta tricolor - Ocean City Welcome Center (Bird Excursion Trip)
  94. Snowy Egret - Egretta thula - Sandy Hook
  95. Green Heron - Butorides virescens - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  96. Great Egret - Ardea alba - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  97. Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  98. American White Pelican - Pelecanus erythrorhynchos - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  99. Black Vulture - Coragyps atratus - Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center
  100. Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  101. Osprey - Pandion haliaetus - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  102. Sharp-shinned Hawk - Accipiter striatus - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  103. Cooper's Hawk - Astur cooperii - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  104. Northern Harrier - Circus hudsonius - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  105. Bald Eagle - Haliaeetus leucocephalus - Thompson Park
  106. Mississippi Kite - Ictinia mississippiensis - CMBO Northwood Center (Bird Excursion Trip)
  107. Broad-winged Hawk - Buteo platypterus - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  108. Red-shouldered Hawk - Buteo lineatus - Freneau Woods
  109. Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  110. Rough-legged Hawk - Buteo lagopus - Thompson Park
  111. Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon - Thompson Park
  112. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Sphyrapicus varius - Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center
  113. Red-headed Woodpecker - Melanerpes erythrocephalus - Manasquan Reservoir
  114. Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus - Thompson Park
  115. Downy Woodpecker - Dryobates pubescens - Thompson Park
  116. Hairy Woodpecker - Leuconotopicus villosus - Deep Cut Gardens
  117. Pileated Woodpecker - Dryocopus pileatus - Deep Cut Gardens
  118. Northern Flicker - Colaptes auratus - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  119. American Kestrel - Falco sparverius - Thompson Park
  120. Merlin - Falco columbarius - Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center
  121. Eastern Wood-Pewee - Contopus virens - Manasquan Reservoir Visitor Center
  122. Acadian Flycatcher - Empidonax virescens - Belleplain State Park (Bird Excursion Trip)
  123. Willow Flycatcher - Empidonax traillii - Conaskonk Point
  124. Least Flycatcher - Empidonax minimus - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  125. Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe - Big Brook Park
  126. Great Crested Flycatcher - Myiarchus crinitus - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  127. Eastern Kingbird - Tyrannus tyrannus - Ernest L. Oros Wildlife Preserve (Bird Excursion Trip)
  128. White-eyed Vireo - Vireo griseus - Ernest L. Oros Wildlife Preserve (Bird Excursion Trip)
  129. Yellow-throated Vireo - Vireo flavifrons - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  130. Blue-headed Vireo - Vireo solitarius - Thompson Park
  131. Eastern Warbling Vireo - Vireo gilvus - Thompson Park
  132. Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus - Clayton Park
  133. Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  134. American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  135. Fish Crow - Corvus ossifragus - Crosswicks Creek
  136. Common Raven - Corvus corax - Sandy Hook
  137. Carolina Chickadee - Poecile carolinensis - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  138. Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus - Sandy Hook
  139. Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor - Deep Cut Gardens
  140. Horned Lark - Eremophila alpestris - Sandy Hook
  141. Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor - Crosswicks Creek
  142. Purple Martin - Progne subis - Thompson Park
  143. Northern Rough-winged Swallow - Stelgidopteryx serripennis - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  144. Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  145. Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Corthylio calendula - Bayshore Waterfront Park
  146. Golden-crowned Kinglet - Regulus satrapa - Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center
  147. White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis - Thompson Park
  148. Red-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta canadensis - Deep Cut Gardens
  149. Brown Creeper - Certhia americana - Thompson Park
  150. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea - Clayton Park
  151. Northern House Wren - Troglodytes aedon - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  152. Marsh Wren - Cistothorus palustris - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  153. Carolina Wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  154. European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  155. Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis - Clayton Park
  156. Brown Thrasher - Toxostoma rufum - Crosswicks Creek
  157. Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  158. Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis - Thompson Park
  159. Veery - Catharus fuscescens - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  160. Swainson's Thrush - Catharus ustulatus - Belleplain State Park (Bird Excursion Trip)
  161. Hermit Thrush - Catharus guttatus - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  162. Wood Thrush - Hylocichla mustelina - Clayton Park
  163. American Robin - Turdus migratorius - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  164. Cedar Waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum - Sandy Hook
  165. House Sparrow - Passer domesticus - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  166. House Finch - Haemorhous mexicanus - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  167. Purple Finch - Haemorhous purpureus - Sandy Hook
  168. American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  169. Lapland Longspur - Calcarius lapponicus - Bree-Zee-Lee Marina - Cape May (Bird Excursion Trip)
  170. Snow Bunting - Plectrophenax nivalis - Sandy Hook
  171. Chipping Sparrow - Spizella passerina - Thompson Park
  172. Field Sparrow - Spizella pusilla - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  173. American Tree Sparrow - Spizelloides arborea - Thompson Park
  174. Fox Sparrow - Passerella iliaca - Thompson Park
  175. Dark-eyed Junco - Junco hyemalis - Thompson Park
  176. White-crowned Sparrow - Zonotrichia leucophrys - Belleplain State Park (Bird Excursion Trip)
  177. White-throated Sparrow - Zonotrichia albicollis - Thompson Park
  178. Seaside Sparrow - Ammospiza maritima - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  179. Savannah Sparrow - Passerculus sandwichensis - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bus trip -Bird Excursion)
  180. Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  181. Swamp Sparrow - Melospiza georgiana - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  182. Eastern Towhee - Pipilo erythrophthalmus - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  183. Yellow-breasted Chat - Icteria virens - Cape May Point State Park (Bird Excursion Trip)
  184. Bobolink - Dolichonyx oryzivorus - Conaskonk Point
  185. Orchard Oriole - Icterus spurius - Thompson Park
  186. Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  187. Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  188. Brown-headed Cowbird - Molothrus ater - Thompson Park
  189. Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula - Bayshore Waterfront Park
  190. Boat-tailed Grackle - Quiscalus major - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  191. Ovenbird - Seiurus aurocapilla - Clayton Park
  192. Worm-eating Warbler - Helmitheros vermivorum - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  193. Louisiana Waterthrush - Parkesia motacilla - Belleplain State Park (Bird Excursion Trip)
  194. Northern Waterthrush - Parkesia noveboracensis - Sandy Hook
  195. Blue-winged Warbler - Vermivora cyanoptera - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  196. Black-and-white Warbler - Mniotilta varia - Clayton Park
  197. Prothonotary Warbler - Protonotaria citrea - Belleplain State Park (Bird Excursion Trip)
  198. Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas - Clayton Park
  199. American Redstart - Setophaga ruticilla - Sandy Hook
  200. Northern Parula - Setophaga americana - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  201. Magnolia Warbler - Setophaga magnolia - Sandy Hook
  202. Northern Yellow Warbler - Setophaga aestiva - Sandy Hook
  203. Chestnut-sided Warbler - Setophaga pensylvanica - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  204. Blackpoll Warbler - Setophaga striata - Thompson Park
  205. Black-throated Blue Warbler - Setophaga caerulescens - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  206. Palm Warbler - Setophaga palmarum - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  207. Pine Warbler - Setophaga pinus - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR - Wildlife Drive (Bird Excursion Trip)
  208. Yellow-rumped Warbler - Setophaga coronata - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  209. Yellow-throated Warbler - Setophaga dominica - Belleplain State Park (Bird Excursion Trip)
  210. Prairie Warbler - Setophaga discolor - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  211. Black-throated Green Warbler - Setophaga virens - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  212. Canada Warbler - Cardellina canadensis - Weltz Conservation Area
  213. Scarlet Tanager - Piranga olivacea - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  214. Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis - Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area
  215. Rose-breasted Grosbeak - Pheucticus ludovicianus - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)
  216. Indigo Bunting - Passerina cyanea - Garret Mountain Reservation (Bird Excursion Trip)