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A piping plover on a beach with chick.

Stories in New Jersey

New Jersey Seasonal Natural Events

Our small state offers an abundance of amazing natural areas that you can visit year-round. What you'll see at each preserve changes with the seasons.

December 14, 2020 | Last updated December 19, 2023

Autumn in New Jersey

A small owl with brown and white mottled feathers stands on a branch staring at the camera.
Each fall, migrating owls, songbirds, hawks and more funnel into southern New Jersey’s Cape May peninsula in great numbers.

Autumn Highlight: Fall Migration

Cape May, New Jersey is a fall migration hot spot and an excellent time of year to visit both our South Cape May Meadows Preserve and Garrett Family Preserve at Cape Island Creek. Expect to see songbirds, hawks, owls, monarchs and dragonflies as they funnel into southern New Jersey’s peninsula in great numbers. Visitors to both preserves can enjoy amenities like maintained trails, a picnic pavilion, bird blinds, benches, visitor kiosks and artists’ easels.

Leafy woods in the fall.

Vibrant Fall Colors

In northern New Jersey, the leaves start to change from greens to golds and reds early at High Mountain Park Preserve. The preserve's panaramic vistas, stunning views and 11 miles of hiking trails through dense forests provide visitors with a beautiful backdrop to view fall foliage at its finest. Be sure to check out the rock shelters in the Franklin Clove section of the preserve, determined to be sites of prehistoric human habitation. Native Americans of the Lenape tribe wintered in the Clove during the 1600s.

A hawk in flight viewed head on from below, exposing the underside of the wings and tail.
A hawk flying with trees in the background.

Raptor Migration Begins

Late summer marks the start of raptor migration! In mid-August, early start migrators like broad-winged hawks, bald eagles and northern harriers can be seen soaring through the skies of our High Mountain Park Preserve as they make their way down the Atlantic Flyway. Keep an eye out for sharp-shinned hawks, merlins and American kestrels in early September. 

Yellow goldenrod flowers against a bright blue sky.
Goldenrod in peak bloom at the Garrett Family Preserve in Cape Island Creek.
A black, yellow and orange monarch butterfly eating nectar from a white flower.
Monarch Butterfly Monarchs migrate through Cape May each fall. © Charles Larry

Migrating Monarchs and Gorgeous Goldenrod 

In autumn, a must-see is the gorgeous goldenrod that blankets much of the Garrett Family Preserve in Cape Island Creek. This bright flowering plant blooms in late August through October and is an important source of nectar for migrating monarch butterflies. The goldenrod blooms make the perfect backdrop for our Dream Machine Monarch sculpture, making fall the best time of year for a photo opp! Be sure to share your photos using #TNCMonarch.

A monarch butterfly statue sits in front of a meadow.
Our Dream Machine Monarch sculpture is surrounded by goldenrod, making it the perfect photo opp!

Fungi of the Maurice River Bluffs Preserve

After a generous period of rainfall, many fungi make their presence known by sending up mushrooms—lots and lots of mushrooms.

Cauliflower-shaped purple mushroom on forest floor.
Close-up of a deep orange mushroom growing on a tree.
Delicate orangish-yellow mushrooms.
Large, fat brown mushroom on bright green forest floor.
Spongy, yellow closed-top mushrooms.
White mushrooms covering the forest floor.
Leaves and pine needles surround a small mushroom.
Rocky, wet soil, forest with bright orange mushroom.
Close-up of a yellow mushroom on forest floor.
Orange mushrooms growing horizontally on tree.
Cauliflower-shaped purple mushroom on forest floor.
Close-up of a deep orange mushroom growing on a tree.
Delicate orangish-yellow mushrooms.
Large, fat brown mushroom on bright green forest floor.
Spongy, yellow closed-top mushrooms.
White mushrooms covering the forest floor.
Leaves and pine needles surround a small mushroom.
Rocky, wet soil, forest with bright orange mushroom.
Close-up of a yellow mushroom on forest floor.
Orange mushrooms growing horizontally on tree.

Fall is for fungi at the Maurice River Bluffs Preserve! Plan your visit a day or so after a good rain and you will see a plethora of different species. Take advantage of the 6 mile trail system, complete with a 35-foot long bridge, steps and rails throughout the steeper parts that make the trails accessible to all levels of hikers. 

Pools of dark blue water surrounded by trees and shrubs in fall color.
This limestone wetland provides excellent habitat for rare plant species. © Dwight Hiscano

Scenic Swamp

During autumn at Johnsonburg Swamp Preserve, visitors experience the color of familiar favorites, and also that of natural wonders that are less common. A must-see located in the heart of the preserve is Mud Pond, a limestone wetland providing excellent habitat for rare plant species, along with waterfowl and other wildlife. The scenic limestone outcrops that overlook the pond to the west and north are the largest rock formations of their kind in the state. 

A Bevy of Birds

Another fall spectacle you won't want to miss is the annual tree swallow migration at the South Cape May Meadows Preserve. Here's a sneak peek in the video below. 

Tree Swallow Migration (1:11) During the early fall, hundreds of thousands of tree swallows flock to the South Cape May Meadows Preserve. This marks the beginning of their migration, which takes 3-4 months for them to complete.

Spring in New Jersey

Nature truly comes to life during the spring season in New Jersey. From bird migration to flowers and trees blooming, there are countless incredible and natural events taking place on our preserves.

A dark adult mal purple martin is flying towards the camera.
A mayapple flower is blooming from a bright green stem.
A wood frog is surrounded by brown leaves on a forest floor.
A male red winged blackbird is singing while resting on a branch.
A flowering dogwood tree is in full bloom.
An adult killdeer is flying above a body of water.
A young red maple sprig is beginning to bloom.
Pale green and orange tulip tree flowers are surrounded by big, green leaves.
An eastern box turtle is looking directly at the camera.
A red knot is walking alongside the ocean.
A dark adult mal purple martin is flying towards the camera.
A mayapple flower is blooming from a bright green stem.
A wood frog is surrounded by brown leaves on a forest floor.
A male red winged blackbird is singing while resting on a branch.
A flowering dogwood tree is in full bloom.
An adult killdeer is flying above a body of water.
A young red maple sprig is beginning to bloom.
Pale green and orange tulip tree flowers are surrounded by big, green leaves.
An eastern box turtle is looking directly at the camera.
A red knot is walking alongside the ocean.

Return of our Beach Nesters

Each spring between March and May, beach-nesting birds like piping plovers, American oystercatchers, least terns and black skimmers make their way to the mile of protected beach at our South Cape May Meadows preserve. Once they find a suitable mate, they will begin laying and incubating eggs with the hopes of successful fledges.

An adult piping plover is standing on a beach.
Two American oystercatcher eggs are in their nest.
An American oystercatcher is sitting on its nest on the beach.
Two adult least terns are practicing a courtship ritual.
An adult piping plover is standing on a beach.
Two American oystercatcher eggs are in their nest.
An American oystercatcher is sitting on its nest on the beach.
Two adult least terns are practicing a courtship ritual.
A yellow prairie warbler is calling from a tree.
Prairie Warbler
Two adult purple martins are flying above their house.
Prairie Warbler

Spring Migration

Be sure to add visiting our South Cape May Meadows and Garrett Family preserves to your to-do list this spring. The preserves, located in Cape May, are some of the best spots in New Jersey to see spring migration. Neotropical birds, migrating waterfowl, and returning shorebirds are just some of the beautiful birds that can be seen this time of year. Spring migration also means the return of our resident purple martins at our South Cape May Meadows Preserve, who can be seen and heard near the main trail entrance by the welcome center. 

Two adult glossy ibises are standing in a freshwater pond.
A bright green Jack-in-the-pulpit plant is blooming in a forest.

Beautiful Blossoms

After a cold winter, everything bounces back to life in the spring, and the flora found on our preserves are no exception. Jack-in-the pulpit, mayapple, and columbine are just a few of the beautiful blooms found on our Johnsonburg Swamp Preserve. Keep your eye out for tulip trees, mountain laurel and pink lady slippers blooming at our Maurice River Bluffs Preserve. The inland red maple swamps found at our High Mountain Park Preserve make for a beautiful sight, as they begin to fruit in the spring. 

A small butterfly is resting on a pink mountain laurel flower.
A pink lady slipper flower is growing in a forest.

A Chorus of Frogs

Once spring arrives, the trails at our High Mountain Park Preserve are noisy with the calls of spring peepers. Only the males can chirp, which they often do during mating season from March to May. These welcomed calls are a reminder that spring has arrived! 

A male spring peeper calls while his vocal sac is inflated.

Outstanding Osprey

March marks the return of our resident osprey couple to their nest on our South Cape May Meadows Preserve. They can be seen gathering nesting materials and methodically arranging them, making sure everything is just right for the arrival of their eggs. The nest is visible from our observation platform along the east trail of the preserve. 

Osprey Cam (1:00) We stream live from the South Cape May Meadows Preserve! Our resident ospreys have headed south for the winter months. In the meantime, enjoy this highlights reel from their 2020 nesting season, and don't forget to tune in to the live-streamed nest this spring!
Four eastern painted turtles are basking in the sun.

Basking Begins

Watch your step on the trails, turtles could be crossing! Warmer weather and water temperatures means increased turtle activity throughout our preserves. Eastern painted turtles can often be seen basking in the sun on rocks, logs, and marsh reeds. Common snapping turtles are more active, swimming throughout freshwater ponds and swamps. If you're lucky, you might even cross paths with a diamondback terrapin at our Garrett Family Preserve.

Winter in New Jersey

Don't let the cold weather keep you indoors this winter; there is so much to see and do in nature. Here are a few highlights.

Bright red cardinal on branch surrounded by green pine needles.
Patch of snow-covered pine trees in New Jersey.
Bobcat under snow-covered pine trees.
A tufted titmouse on a branch of frozen red berries.
Frozen pond and grasses with snow in cape may.
Close-up of a fox with snow in the air.
Bright blue jay against a snowy background.
Dark, icy waters against a cloudy sky in winter.
Barred owl perched on a bare tree.
Racoon tracks in the snow.
Bright red cardinal on branch surrounded by green pine needles.

Cardinal : © Damon Noe/TNC

Patch of snow-covered pine trees in New Jersey.
Bobcat under snow-covered pine trees.

Bobcat: © Kent Mason

A tufted titmouse on a branch of frozen red berries.
Frozen pond and grasses with snow in cape may.
Close-up of a fox with snow in the air.

Red Fox: Foxes are members of the dog family. © Shutterstock

Bright blue jay against a snowy background.

Blue Jay: Blue Jays are known for their intelligence. © Jessica Kirste

Dark, icy waters against a cloudy sky in winter.
Barred owl perched on a bare tree.

Barred Owl: Brown feathers seamlessly blend in among the bare trees © Oli Moorman

Racoon tracks in the snow.

Snowman: Winter is for the birds! © Shutterstock

Winter Highlight: New Jersey Owls

The gorgeous autumn leaves have fallen from the trees, making it the perfect time to see and listen for owls. New Jersey is home to a variety of owls, including the great horned, saw-whet, barred, barn, Eastern screech, long-eared and short-eared owls. In recent winters, we've been lucky enough to see snowy owls as they migrate south.

A barred owl on a stump surrounded by green foliage.
A close up of a snow-covered saw whet owl in winter.
A long-eared owl perched on a snow-covered tree.
Close-up of a snowy owl with what looks like a smile.
A barred owl on a stump surrounded by green foliage.
A close up of a snow-covered saw whet owl in winter.

Saw-whet Owl:

A long-eared owl perched on a snow-covered tree.
Close-up of a snowy owl with what looks like a smile.
Owls of South Cape May Meadows (2:15) Winter is an especially great time of year to see owls in New Jersey. The South Cape May Meadows Preserve is a haven for migrating birds, including owls! Expert owl researcher Katy Duffy highlights the importance of banding owls for understanding their conservation status.

Winter Birding in Cape May

The South Cape May Meadows Preserve is a year-round top birding destination. Even during winter, the birding doesn't have to come to an end! Wintering owls, ducks, hawks, and eagles are just some of the reasons why winter birding is so thrilling during the colder months. Whether you're interested in seeing late-season migrant raptors such as the red-tailed hawks or Northern harriers, or you're on the lookout for waterfowl like buffleheads or teals, The South Cape May Meadows Preserve is where you want to be. 

Snow-covered beach and view of the lighthouse.

The Feet You’ll Meet 

Snowfall in New Jersey makes for a great opportunity to put your animal tracking skills to the test. From white tailed deer, to red fox, to black bear, you’ll never know whose tracks you’ll stumble upon on our nature preserve trails. You might even be lucky enough to see tracks from the elusive New Jersey bobcat at our Johnsonburg Swamp Preserve. 

Bobcat footprints in snow.
A lone bobcat on snow-covered ground.

Wonderful Winter Waterfowl

After a busy fall migration for songbirds and raptors, winter is the time for migratory waterfowl to shine. The freshwater ponds at our South Cape May Meadows and Garrett Family Preserves come to life with northern shovelers, American black ducks, gadwalls and green-winged teals, just to name a few!

Close-up of a bufflehead with colorful head feathers.
Green head with wings in flight splashing in water.
Close-up side view shot of the duck, floating on water.
A white long-tailed duck bobs on water.
Close-up of a bufflehead with colorful head feathers.
Green head with wings in flight splashing in water.
Close-up side view shot of the duck, floating on water.
A white long-tailed duck bobs on water.
A wooden trail marker sign covered in snow.
Bald eagle on log in the snow looking off into distance as it snows around him.

Busy Bald Eagles

While the rest of us are cooped up inside avoiding the cold, bald eagles in Southern New Jersey are busy preparing for their nesting season. Throughout December, they can be seen gathering sticks, grass, and other materials to repair and rebuild their nests. Just two weeks in to the New Year, they will start laying eggs. At our Maurice River Bluffs Preserve, visitors can watch this process from start to finish, as there are incredible views of a nest from our floating dock. The Maurice River and surrounding marshes provide excellent habitat for them. Be on the lookout for bald eagles hunting along the river and in the vast marshes.

Summer in New Jersey

A wildflower field has yellow, pink and white flowers growing among tall grasses.
Garrett Family Preserve Wildflowers Wildflowers of the Garrett Family Preserve. © Damon Noe/TNC

Wildflower Meadows

Weather depending, late May to August is when the wildflower meadows of the Garrett Family Preserve are in full bloom. Clusters of tiny common yarrow, cheerful white oxeye daisies, big and bold orange poppies, delicate Queen Anne’s lace and many other varieties can be seen in bloom throughout the preserve, especially along the pollinator trail.

A cluster of purple New England aster is surrounded by green leaves.
A large white Queen Anne's lace flower is growing in a field.
Meadow buttercup flowers are blooming in a field.
Deep red sweet William flowers are growing in a field.
A cluster of purple New England aster is surrounded by green leaves.
A large white Queen Anne's lace flower is growing in a field.
Meadow buttercup flowers are blooming in a field.
Deep red sweet William flowers are growing in a field.

The vast wildflower fields and lush surrounding tree lines make for an excellent opportunity to paint or draw. The three adjustable art easels found within the Garrett Family Preserve allow visitors to enjoy both art and nature. 

An art easel overlooks a wetland.

Happy Hatchlings

By late spring, osprey chicks have begun hatching but it won't be until early to mid-summer when they are big enough to be visible to preserve visitors. The chicks can be seen being fed in the nest from the floating dock at our Maurice River Bluffs Preserve, or along the East Trail of our South Cape May Meadows Preserve. By mid-July into August, the young osprey can be observed taking practice flights, spending days rehearsing to get it right. If you're lucky, you may even see them learning to hunt fish!
A newly hatched osprey chick is laying down in its nest.
Osprey fledgelings stretch their wings in the nest.
Young Osprey Osprey chicks will take their first flight at seven to eight weeks of age.

Dragonflies and Damselflies

In New Jersey, the season for dragonflies and damselflies runs from April through October; however, the best months for spotting the most species are June and July.

A red male calico pennant is perched on a thin, green twig.
An adult Halloween pennant has black and orange striped wings.
An adult widow skimmer is perched on a single blade of grass.
A recently emerged green darner dragonfly is perched on a leaf.
An iridescent black and blue ebony jewelwing rests on a leaf.
A yellow cherry-faced meadowhawk is perched on a plant.
An eastern pondhawk is resting on a lily pad.
A male blue dasher is perched on a twig with its wings folded forward.
A tan needham skimmer clings to a flower.
A painted skimmer sits in front of a green background.
A red male calico pennant is perched on a thin, green twig.
An adult Halloween pennant has black and orange striped wings.
An adult widow skimmer is perched on a single blade of grass.
A recently emerged green darner dragonfly is perched on a leaf.
An iridescent black and blue ebony jewelwing rests on a leaf.
A yellow cherry-faced meadowhawk is perched on a plant.
An eastern pondhawk is resting on a lily pad.
A male blue dasher is perched on a twig with its wings folded forward.
A tan needham skimmer clings to a flower.

Needham Skimmer : This species prefers wetlands with lots of vegetation.

A painted skimmer sits in front of a green background.

Longer days and moderating temperatures bring a myriad of dragonflies and damselflies throughout the state. They can be seen skimming across Mud Pond at our Johnsonburg Swamp Preserve or zipping through the wetlands and riverbanks of our Maurice River Bluffs Preserve. The summer months are the best time of year to put your Odonata identifying skills to the test! 

Large white and pink mallow flowers are growing in a freshwater wetland.
Every July, hundreds of swamp rose mallow flowers bloom in the wetlands of the South Cape May Meadows preserve.
A large white marsh mallow flower stands in a lush, green wetland.

Marvelous Mallows

Swamp rose mallow, also known as rose mallow hibiscus, blooms by the hundreds during July at our South Cape May Meadows Preserve. The freshwater wetlands of the preserve provide optimal habitat for this stunning perennial to thrive. Hundreds, if not thousands, of white and pink swamp rose mallow flowers can be seen in the marshes from July to September. They are best seen from the Main and East Trails. 

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