Cape May, NJ 2009
Jun//2009
Before arriving we had made contact with Larry Niles and his wife Amanda Dey two leading Red Knot researchers in New Jersey both of which have been banding Red Knots for many years. Upon arriving at the Madison Avenue Motel (which I recommend) I called Larry and he urged us to make our way over to Reeds Beach to get some footage of some banding that was about to take place. We skipped lunch and with little hast drove directly to where they were. Let me tell you I’m SO GLAD WE DID! We were able to video tape the entire process and get some GREAT video footage all of which will be useful when telling the story of Red Knots and the important part Cape May and horseshoe crabs play in the survival of all the shorebirds that use this resource to “fuel up” before they make their way north to the breeding grounds.
Saturday morning we spent time getting some “b-roll footage” of the beaches, birds and Horseshoe Crabs before interviewing Larry, Amanda and one other person that is involved with the banding over the last 14 years. We were able to record some of the history of what has taken place at these beaches over the past 20+ years and longer. What the research is showing, what has been taking place with the harvest of the Horseshoe Crabs and what people are doing to protect birds, land and crabs. Later that day we spent more time trying to get some video footage (b-roll) of some of the large flocks of the shorebirds. I must say if you have not been to Cape May to see this natural wonder that happens every year in mid to late May you owe it to yourself to go there. I can’t really put into words how impressed I (we) was to view large numbers of Red Knots, Ruddy Turnstones as well as many other shorebirds and I might add Laughing Gulls most in breeding plumage. I’ve seen many Red Knots in the Fall here in Massachusetts and during the winter in Florida but to see so many of them in prime breeding plumage....WOW....what a GREAT looking bird! I know many of you (and myself) are running around looking for warblers during the same time and I think for many people the thought of going to see shorebirds in May just does not compute. Besides if you live in Massachusetts then many of us go to South Beach in late July and August to see huge flocks of shorebirds and terns as they migrate south. The big difference is you don’t get to see them in breeding plumage.
Sunday morning we were up again at 5:00 AM out the door from our hotel and back to the beach to get some additional “b-roll footage” before interviewing two more people. We said our good-bys and thanked all the good folks that had helped us during our brief stay and were back on the road by about 11:00 AM and I pulled up to my home by about 6:30 PM.
In closing I would once again recommend anyone with an interest in Red Knots and all shorebirds to plan a trip to Cape May and stay tuned for more information about Migration Productions shorebird video. If all goes well we hope to be showing the first “cut” sometime next year.
View more photos of our trip to Cape May, NJ, May 22 - 24, 2009.
Red Knots and Laughing Gulls
Saturday morning we spent time getting some “b-roll footage” of the beaches, birds and Horseshoe Crabs before interviewing Larry, Amanda and one other person that is involved with the banding over the last 14 years. We were able to record some of the history of what has taken place at these beaches over the past 20+ years and longer. What the research is showing, what has been taking place with the harvest of the Horseshoe Crabs and what people are doing to protect birds, land and crabs. Later that day we spent more time trying to get some video footage (b-roll) of some of the large flocks of the shorebirds. I must say if you have not been to Cape May to see this natural wonder that happens every year in mid to late May you owe it to yourself to go there. I can’t really put into words how impressed I (we) was to view large numbers of Red Knots, Ruddy Turnstones as well as many other shorebirds and I might add Laughing Gulls most in breeding plumage. I’ve seen many Red Knots in the Fall here in Massachusetts and during the winter in Florida but to see so many of them in prime breeding plumage....WOW....what a GREAT looking bird! I know many of you (and myself) are running around looking for warblers during the same time and I think for many people the thought of going to see shorebirds in May just does not compute. Besides if you live in Massachusetts then many of us go to South Beach in late July and August to see huge flocks of shorebirds and terns as they migrate south. The big difference is you don’t get to see them in breeding plumage.
Sunday morning we were up again at 5:00 AM out the door from our hotel and back to the beach to get some additional “b-roll footage” before interviewing two more people. We said our good-bys and thanked all the good folks that had helped us during our brief stay and were back on the road by about 11:00 AM and I pulled up to my home by about 6:30 PM.
In closing I would once again recommend anyone with an interest in Red Knots and all shorebirds to plan a trip to Cape May and stay tuned for more information about Migration Productions shorebird video. If all goes well we hope to be showing the first “cut” sometime next year.
View more photos of our trip to Cape May, NJ, May 22 - 24, 2009.
Red Knots and Laughing Gulls
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