BirdCapeMay.org

Q: Are there Snowy Owls in Cape May?

A: During certain years Snowy Owls have been sighted in Cape May although, they are rare. As shown in this photo from 2006, a Snowy Owl was found on the beach in Cape May (Atlantic Ocean side).

Q: Do Northern Harriers hover?

A: Yes. Northern Harriers hunt by flying low over fields while scanning the ground by sight as well as sound. When a harrier locates prey in dense cover, it may hover low over the area or attempt to drive its prey out into the open where it may be easier to catch.

Q: Do Black-capped Chickadees eat seeds?

A: Their diet consists mostly of seeds, insects, and berries and varies with the seasons. During the summer, vegetable matter (such as seeds and fruits) may only make up 10% of their diet while in the winter it may be up to 50%.

Their summer diet is mostly caterpillars and other insects, spiders, snails, other invertebrates and berries. In winter they feed on insects (especially eggs and pupae), seeds, berries and small fruits.

Q: How many Peregrines are counted each fall at the Cape May Hawk Watch?

A: Yesterday (10/7/07) our official counter, Jessie Barry, tallied 136 migrating Peregrines. The migration period is Sept-October with a yearly average of 636. The record daily total was 298 Peregrines tallied on 10/5/02. The record annual total of 1, 793 Peregrines occurred in 1997.

For daily Hawk Watch Counts visit View from the Field.

Click here for more information about the Cape May Hawk Watch.

Q: Are there Barn Owls at the Meadows (The Nature Conservancy's Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge)?

A: The Barn Owl (Tyto alba) is an uncommon fall migrant in Cape May. Fall migrants are mostly detected by call as they fly over Cape Island at night. Since they roost in red cedars along bayshore marshes and hunt for rodents in salt marshes, the Meadows is a prime habitat in which to find a migrating Barn Owl on Cape Island.

The historical record for Cape May Point is 50+ on October 7, 1974 but since the 1980s we have seen a rapid decline in their population. As farm lands continue to disappear so does their habitat.

Barn Owl sightings in Cape May have occurred from mid-September to mid-November with chances being greater at the end of October into early November. Migration continues at least until December 16th as The Birds of Cape May by David Sibley, reports one seen in Wildwood on that date in 1988.

(Reference: The Birds of Cape May by David Sibley)