‘Coffee and Conservation’ Bird Walks Back In Chester

CHESTER, NJ – After a one-year hiatus, New Jersey Conservation Foundation’s “Coffee & Conservation” morning nature walks are back this spring at the Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center at 170 Longview Road, Chester Township.

Spring migration bird walks will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. on three consecutive Wednesday mornings, April 28, May 5 and May 12.

“We’re very excited to bring back the bird walks, which had to be cancelled last year due to the coronavirus lockdown,” said naturalist Bill Lynch, who leads the walks and coordinates education events for New Jersey Conservation Foundation. “We’re really looking forward to getting people outside once again to see New Jersey’s amazing spring bird migration.”

In keeping with COVID-19 safety guidelines, all participants must wear face coverings and maintain a distance of six feet from people outside their immediate household. “Bamboo Brook is a spacious park, so we foresee no difficulty with social distancing,” said Lynch.

Each Coffee & Conservation event begins with hot or iced coffee provided by Black River Roasters, and a brief discussion about species that may be spotted. The group then takes off for a leisurely nature walk through the 100-acre park, which has a mix of wooded trails and open meadows.

The first walk on April 28 will focus on migrating and breeding birds found in Bamboo Brook’s meadows and forest edges.

“Songbirds love the transition between forest and field, and will use the treetops to sing their hearts out to potential mates,” said Lynch.

The May 5 walk will concentrate on birds in the forest interior.

“We hope to see scarlet tanagers, ovenbirds, woodpeckers and other species that prefer the taller trees and denser vegetation of mature woodland,” he said.

The May 12 walk will focus on “Birding by Ear,” or identifying birds by their songs.

“As more and more leaves cover the trees and understory of the forest, it becomes increasingly difficult to see birds and other wildlife,” noted Lynch, “but there are other ways to appreciate the biodiversity of the Garden State.”

Coffee & Conservation events are free and open to the public, but advance registration is requested for planning purposes. To register online, go to New Jersey Conservation’s events calendar at https://www.njconservation.org/events/.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own binoculars, although New Jersey Conservation has a few pairs that can be borrowed during the walks. Walks are held rain or shine, but may be cancelled in the event of heavy rain or lightning.

To learn more, contact Lynch at blynch@njconservation.org.

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