Spotting the Eastern Goldfinch in Cape May
By Jodi Kovacs
LISTEN TO MIKE CREWE OF THE CAPE MAY BIRD OBSERVATORY
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Mike Crewe is a naturalist at the birding school and store manager at the Cape May Bird Observatory.
CAPE MAY – As spring approaches, many South Jersey residents are rediscovering the joy of bird watching at The Cape May Bird Observatory. But spotting the Eastern Goldfinch, the official bird of New Jersey, is difficult this time of year.
The New Jersey State Bird: American Goldfinch - Photo courtesy of creativecommons.org
In the summer, the bird is a golden-yellow in color. In the fall and winter, it turns a deep brown, making it hard to distinguish from other birds. Many people mistake the Eastern Goldfinch for sparrows.
“If you didn’t know your birds you probably wouldn’t even believe it was a Goldfinch,” said Mike Crewe, a naturalist at the birding school and store manager at the Cape May Bird Observatory.
The Eastern Goldfinch, which stays in the area for winter, often feeds on common backyard feeders in New Jersey.
The Cape May Bird Observatory offers educational walks and activities year round.
The Cape May Bird Observatory was founded in 1976 and remains a non-profit center for research, environmental education, bird conservation, and recreational birding activities. It is open year-round five days a week.
Members can visit the shop and bird watch. Experts offer guided walks on trails and to points where bird watching is especially popular.
Throughout the year, the observatory has festivals, bird walks and boat trips, photo exhibits, bird watching classes, and events for kids.
