2/19/12 - Great Backyard Bird Count at Cape May National Wildlife Refuge
Join us Sunday afternoon for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count, 1-3 pm! Free loaner binoculars will be available. Bring the whole family, it's FREE! Bird walk leaders from Friends of Cape May NWR at three refuge locations: Two Mile Beach, Kimbles Beach Rd., or Tyler Rd (Upper Twp.). Email us for directions: Friendsofcapemayrefuge@gmail.com.

10/6/11 - Free Family Bird Walks October Saturdays, 9am!
Friends of Cape May National Wildlife Refuge are leading free bird walks for the whole family at beautiful Two-Mile Beach Saturday mornings during October. A grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has enabled us to purchase loaner binoculars, a spotting scope, bird Identification guides and other items to enhance and encourage birding on the Refuge. Early fall is an excellent time to get outdoors and learn about the beautiful and fascinating birds that can be found in southern Cape May County.   These walks last approximately an hour and a half, and will be fun for novice and experienced birders alike.  Families with children are welcome!

No pre-registration is necessary.  Meet in the Visitor's Center parking lot (2nd lot on the left) on Loran Drive, which is just off Ocean Drive (Pacific Avenue) south of Wildwood Crest.  You may wish to bring bug spray, sunscreen and water.  Restrooms will be available at the Vistor's Center before and after the walk.

Bird Walk Schedule:
Saturday October 15th, 9am - Leader: John King
Wednesday October 19th, 9am - Leader: Warren Cairo
Saturday October 22nd, 9am - Leader: Tom Magarian
Saturday October 29nd, 9am - Leader: Keith Seager

Directions to Two-Mile Beach

6/18/11 - Join Friends at Cape May Harborfest!
Friends of Cape May National Wildlife Refuge will be manning a table at the Cape May Harborfest Saturday June 18th, from 10 - 5.  Come out for this fantastic event at the Nature Center of Cape May, send us an email to volunteer to staff the Friends table. 

2/27/11 - Help Paint a Rain Barrel at Kids Can! Expo
Join the Friends of Cape May NWR as we encourage  kids of all ages to decorate rain barrels with paintings of the animals and plants of Cape May National Wildlife Refuge. These rain barrels will then be auctioned off throughout the summer to help us raise funds to support our mission.  All paints and equipment will be provided.
   This year's Kids Can Expo, sponsored by The Nature Center of Cape May,  will be held at the Lafayette St. Elementary School in Cape May on Sunday, Feb. 27, from 11 am until 4pm.  Visit the Nature Center of Cape May website for more information.
   If you have some artistic background and could spare an hour or two to help us out at this event, please contact us.

2/20/11 - The Great Backyard Bird Count at Cape May NWR
The Great Backyard Bird Count, sponsored by Cornell University and Audubon, is an annual event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent. Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It’s free, fun, and easy—and it helps the birds.
   This year, we will hold counts at three separate locations, representing the three sections of the Refuge: 1) Tyler Road/Cedar Swamp Trail in Upper Township, 2) Kimbles Beach Road/Songbird Trail in Middle Township, or 3) Two-Mile Beach/Marsh Trail in Lower Township. You can choose whichever location you wish!  All necessary information and forms will be provided when you arrive.  Leaders and expert birders will be on hand to help with identification.
    Counts will last approximately one hour, depending on weather conditions and turnout.  Some easy walking will be involved, so wear appropriate clothing and footwear.  This is a great family activity, so bring the kids.  Binoculars and field guides (bird books) are helpful but not required. For more information on the Great Backyard Bird Count, check out the GBBC website.

10/30/10 - Beach & Trail Cleanup at Two Mile Beach
Help Friends welcome Cape May National Wildlife Refuge's new Visitor Services Manager, David Bocanegra-Ramirez!  Friends of Cape May NWR are pleased to join with the 4H Club of Cape May County for a Beach and Trail Cleanup Day, Oct. 30, from 10am-noon at Two Mile Beach.  Bring gloves if you have them.  We will also be planting some Beach Plum trees and installing rain barrels, so bring some tools if you'd like to help. 
Meet at the Visitors Contact Station at Two Mile Beach (off Ocean Drive near the former Coast Guard Loran Station, Wildwood Crest.) For more information or directions, please email us. Coffee and light refreshments will be provided.

10/1/10 - Rock for Refuges Raises $2500 for Gulf Spill Relief
The Rock for Refuges, Wine for Wildlife Benefit on September 25th at Natali Vineyards was a rockin' success! Over 200 supporters joined Friends of Cape May NWR on a hot, sunny September afternoon to enjoy wine, live music & local food in support of the National Wildlife Refuge Association's Gulf Oil Spill Relief Fund.  40+ local businesses generously donated prizes for our fishbowl & silent auctions, including restaurant gift certificates, boat trips, kayak rentals and fishing gear.  This was the Friends Group's first fundraiser--and it was wonderful to see such a great turnout and such a strong response to our call to help Gulf Coast Wildlife Refuges.  Special thanks to US Fish & Wildlife Service employee Annette Scherer who gave a presentation about her experiences in the gulf as part of the response team. A check for $2500 was sent to the NWRA to support Friends groups on the gulf coast, representing 100%+ of the proceeds of this event. 

4/3/10 - Friends Clean Up!
Over 30 people joined Friends of Cape May NWR and The Nature Conservancy for a clean up in The Indian Trail Swamp Preserve - a forested wetland and mixed upland forest site containing headwaters of both the Dias and Green Creeks.  Literally tons of debris were collected, including a towering pile of old tires, construction materials and an old sofa. Special thanks to our partners at AmeriCorps NJ and The Nature Conservancy, as well as the Public Works Departments of both Cape May County and Middle Township,  Lenora Boninfante, Robert Springer and Leslie Ginemo at Cape May County, Bill Doan and students from Middle Township High School, and Albrecht Huen for their help and support.  More photos

4/3/10 - Indian Trail Swamp Cleanup April 3rd
For our first major project of 2010, the Friends of Cape May NWR are partnering with The Nature Conservancy to clean up adjacent Refuge and TNC preserved land located within the Indian Trail Swamp in Middle Township.  The cleanups will take place on Saturday April 3rd, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Following each cleanup, there will be an optional hike through the rare Cape May lowland swamp.  Go to the Indian Trail Swamp page for more details...

2/17/10 - Wine & Cheese Toast to the Refuge on Wed March 3rd
The Friends of Cape May NWR will hold our annual public meeting on March 3rd at 7PM to welcome new Friends and share our incredible progress over the past year. This free event is a great opportunity to meet current and future Friends and learn how you can get involved while sipping wine and nibbling on cheeses donated by Cape May’s Seaside Cheese Company! The meeting will be held from 7:00 to 8:30 pm at NJ Audubon's Center for Research and Education, 600 Route 47 North in Cape May Court House.  We hope to see you there!
 

11/15/09 - Nor'easter Brings Natural Wonders to the Beach
Cape May County made national news when a 3-day storm hit our shores, bringing extremely high tides, 50 mph wind gusts and huge crashing waves to the Atlantic Coast.   On the Sunday after the storm, a treasure trove of natural wonders, including hundreds of shells big and small, sponges &  starfish, littered Two Mile Beach. Happy birds (gulls and sanderlings) also feasted on an all-you-can-eat buffet featuring crabs, clams and mussels and other ocean delicacies.

10/31/09 – Big Turnout for Halloween Beach Cleanup
Over 30 volunteers, including 4-H members, Middle Twp. High students and volunteers from the Forsythe Refuge in Atlantic County joined Cape May Friends for our Halloween Beach cleanup at Two Mile Beach. Warm, breezy weather greeted the cleanup crew as they picked up debris on the stretch of beach extending from Diamond Beach/Wildwood Crest to the jetty at Cape May inlet. Thanks to all who joined us for the cleanup and helped celebrate the opening of the beach for the fall and winter seasons!

10/29/09 – Cape May NWR gets $2 million for Land Acquisition
Cape May National Wildlife Refuge will receive $2 million in funding for land acquisition as part of the  the FY 2010 Department of Interior Appropriation Act just approved by Congress.  Cape May NWR was one of only 3 refuges in NJ to receive this funding, along with Edwin B. Forsythe NWR in Atlantic County ($1.1 million) and Great Swamp NWR in Morris County ($1 million).  See articles in the Press of Atlantic City and the Cape May Herald for more details...

10/25/09 - Wild Meadow Project Underway, Volunteers Needed to help with the project, and the creation of Butterfly Garden at Two Mile Beach Visitor Contact Center.