Front photo, Park Naturalist Matthew Pelligrine , Left, view from lighthouse. Photos by Leslie Truluck

By LESLIE TRULUCK

CAPE MAY POINT — Winter visitors of Cape May Point State Park here can view the natural freshwater wetlands, enjoy bird watching, hiking, exploring the museum, or simply walking a dog along the beachfront where they can see a military bunker from World War II.

Park Naturalist Matthew Pelligrine spends winter months doing research for the interior displays at the park’s museum, maintaining the three color-coded trails through the wetlands and providing educational services.

Bird watching extends the tourism industry well after Labor Day and into the winter through January.

“This is one of the top ten birding areas in the United States and it is very well known in other parts of the world,” Pelligrine said.
Pelligrine said visitors travel from England, Holland, Germany and all over the United States to watch birds migrate through the park’s location at the southernmost tip of New Jersey.

Roger and Kathy Horn from Bucks County, Pa visit the park every two weeks to enjoy identifying and observing birds with a digital telescope or “digi-scope” to take photographs.

The park's hawk watch platform, set directly in their flight path, gives visitors a spectacular view. Northwest winds push birds towards the seashore where they hug the coast during their flight south, Pelligrine said.

The Cape May Bird Observatory reported 80,000 birds of prey migrating through the area this year and bird statistics are displayed on a table near the observation platform.

Dennis and Mary Ann Cronin of Egg Harbor Township took a brisk afternoon walk with their grandchildren Desi and Denay Brunson on the wooden trails above the wetlands.

Visitors can view mallard ducks, muskrat lodges, otter and other aquatic animals swim through channels around Lighthouse Pond.

“People might not see much in the winter but they will often see something exciting. Winter is when the deer, otter, straying hawks, American Bald Eagle and osprey are visible.

“When it’s cold with less people we get very lucky when animals wander close to a trail and visitors get a quick but excellent up-close look,” Pelligrine said.

The museum holds several native animals found in the park or in the nearby Pine Barrens Forest with ample information about freshwater wetlands, the military bunker, the history of beach erosion at Cape May Point and the plethora of plants and animals that live there.

A black rat snake, orange corn snake, water snake, endangered pine snake and box turtle are kept in the museum's wall display. Most of these animals were unwanted pets donated from area homes. A display of land hermit crabs demonstrates the proper care for their survival outside their native habitat of the Florida Keys.

Outside, visitors can see ducks, deer, rabbits and several birds, including blue heron.

Dedicated volunteers help Pelligrine educate the public and work on the park's reforestation project. The park offers guided tours through the wooden walkways above the freshwater wetlands and through the restoration project where baby trees are marked with small pink ribbons.

Annually the park clears the forest overtaken by the invasive vines Clematis and Japanese Honeysuckle.

These rope-like weeds coil around trees damaging and eventually killing them. Pelligrine said these exotic vines are grown in local home gardens and replace the forest when birds eat and spread seeds.

The Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) through the federal Soil Conservation Service provides money for the restoration project and state-designated preservation area.

The park encourages people to volunteer and Pelligrine said the work often becomes a fun social activity.

Pelligrine also works on education and he travels to local elementary schools for educational presentations and invites school field trips to the park’s classroom to learn about the unique habitat and critical bird migration path.

“It’s important that locals understand exactly what we have here,” Pelligrine said.

The lighthouse is considered separate from the park and is leased to the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts for renovations.

Visitors are able to walk dogs on the beach until April 15, but dogs are never allowed on the trails.

Pelligrine said the park aims to offer one family program per month during winter. To learn of upcoming events and volunteer opportunities or to donate funds for the museum call 884-2159. The museum is open between 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and most weekdays.

Contact Truluck at (609) 886-8600 Ext 24 or at ltruluck@cmcherald.com