Let's Go Camping in New Jersey: Birding is BIG here!

Let's go camping in New Jersey...and go BIRDING!

New Jersey features diverse habitats and a strategic location along the Atlantic Flyway, making ideal for birding.

Coastal marshes, forests, and urban parks offer numerous hot spots for observing a variety of bird species throughout the year.

Fun fact! Did you know the New Jersey State bird is the Eastern Goldfinch, with bright yellow feathers and a black head and wings? According to the National Audubon Society, the Eastern Goldfinch is a subspecies of the American Goldfinch.

(c) VisitNJ.org

Avid bird watchers can likely name hundreds of well-known and off-the-grid places around the Garden State to find the birds they seek to record in their journals. But we're listing just a few here to get you started.

Suggested Birding Spots in New Jersey

Cape May Area

• Why visit: Cape May is one of the premier birding locations in North America, especially for fall migration. It's renowned for hawk-watching, warblers, and shorebirds. National Geographic has named Cape May one of the best destinations in the world for birding.
• Hotspots: Cape May Point State Park, The Nature Conservancy's South Cape May Meadows, Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area.
• Seasonal highlights: Spring and fall migrations, especially September to November.

(c) VisitNJ.org

Meadowlands Area

• Why visit: Walk along developed trails, paddle along the waterways or visit the staffed nature centers, all while taking in views of shorebirds or raptors with the New York skyline in the backdrop.
• Birds to see: Wading birds and songbirds like Double-crested Cormorants, Great Blue Herons, Least Bitterns, Marsh Wrens, Mallards, egrets, and terns.
• Hotspots: Hackensack River watershed along the Hudson River.
• Seasonal highlights: The best time to visit is around dawn, when the birds are most active and alert.

Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge (Brigantine Division), 800 Great Creek Rd., Galloway, NJ

• Why visit: This 47,000-acre refuge provides essential habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds, and raptors.
• Birds to see: Snow geese, bald eagles, ospreys, herons, and a wide variety of ducks.
• Best time: Year-round, with peak waterfowl numbers in winter.

Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, 32 Pleasant Plains Rd., Basking Ridge, NJ

• Why visit: A critical stopover for migrating birds and a haven for woodpeckers, thrushes, and warblers.
• Birds to see: Red-shouldered hawks, great horned owls, and wood ducks.
• Best time: Spring and early summer.

Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, 208 Broadway & Long Beach Blvd., Barnegat Light, NJ

• Why visit: Excellent for winter birding, particularly sea ducks and gulls.
• Birds to see: Harlequin ducks, common eiders, and purple sandpipers.
• Best time: Late fall through early spring.

Garret Mountain Reservation, 8 Mountain Ave. & Park Rd., Paterson, NJ

• Why visit: A spring migration hotspot near urban areas.
• Birds to see: Warblers, thrushes, and tanagers.
• Best time: April and May.

Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary, 2nd Ave & 11th St., Stone Harbor, NJ

• Why visit: Guided tours are offered on weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
• Birds to see: Black Crowned Night Heron, Brown Thrasher, Gray Catbird, Eastern Phoebe, Northern Mockingbird, and more.
• Best time: Saturdays and Sundays in July and August.

(c) VisitNJ.org

Birding Seasons in New Jersey

• Spring (March-May): Migratory songbirds, including warblers, vireos, and thrushes.
• Summer (June-August): Breeding species like ospreys, herons, and woodpeckers.
• Fall (September-November): Raptor migration, shorebirds, and waterfowl.
• Winter (December-February): Sea ducks, snowy owls, and winter finches.

Birding Resources

• New Jersey Audubon Society: Offers guided bird walks, workshops, and conservation updates.
• National Audubon Society: Get to know your Goldfinches and more.
• eBird: Use this app to find recent bird sightings and hot spots in the state.
• Field Guides: "The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America" is excellent for identifying local species.
• New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism: Check out the locations listed in this article, plus read the blog about the best birding spots and events.

This article is featured in the 2025 edition of the New Jersey Camping and Vacation Guide. Order a FREE copy here.