General Tour Information
ENTERING THE UNITED STATES: Non-U.S. citizens will need a valid passport and may need a tourist visa. Consult your nearest U.S. consulate for details. Canadian citizens should carry proof of citizenship in the form of a passport or birth certificate.
HEALTH: Although New Jersey presents no real hazards to the visiting birdwatcher, there are several factors to be considered. Temperatures have cooled down by mid-October but the sun can still be strong. A broad-brimmed hat, proper clothing, and sun screen are essential. Although rare in Cape May, the presence of deer ticks carrying Lyme Disease should be considered a possibility so certain precautions are wise. The leader will advise you when you are in tick country.
CLIMATE: Mid-October is usually quite pleasant but temperatures could range from the 30s at night to the 70s in the afternoon. Rain is always possible.
STRUCTURE/PACE OF THE TOUR: The emphasis of this workshop is on developing field identification skills rather than a large species list. Our field time will be in a few favorite locations where we can get repeated exposure to large numbers of raptors including some of the more difficult species. Whenever we get the chance, we may devote a great deal of time to an individual bird, watching its behavior and flight patterns and discussing its identifying characteristics. There will be several slide sessions where we’ll go over each species in detail and compare those that are similar. Although most of our attention will be focused on raptors, Cape May is host to a wide variety of species in mid-October and they will pleasantly distract us from time to time.
ACCOMMODATIONS: We stay at standard motels throughout.
DRESS: Informal throughout.
SMOKING: Smoking is not allowed in the vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists etc. If you are sharing a room with a non-smoker, please do not smoke in the room. If you smoke in the field, we ask that you do so well away and downwind from the group.
GENERAL INFORMATION & CONDITIONS: Please take a moment to read the WINGS General Information & Conditions here. This section contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, pace of the tours and other information that will help you prepare for the tour.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A more complete General Information for the Cape May Raptor Workshop will be sent to each registrant on receipt of their booking. Final information with instructions for meeting the group, hotel addresses, etc., will be mailed about three weeks before trip departure. Other news will be communicated as necessary. If you have any questions, please contact us.
Updated: November 2003