BIRD WATCHERS flock
to monmouth county
Cheesequake State Park I2 serves as the breeding ground for two pairs of nesting osprey, a threatened species in New Jersey.
Its location along the Atlantic coastline makes Monmouth County a bountiful area for viewing migrating fowl, grasslands birds,
forest-breeding species, songbirds, raptors and shorebirds, many of which are endangered species. Sandy Hook P1–Q3, a barrier
beach peninsula that juts out from Monmouth County’s northeastern tip, is a major stop along the migration pathway for over 340
species of birds traveling the Atlantic Flyway.
Sandy Hook is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area and has been designated as a globally significant Important Bird Area
(IBA) by the National Audubon Society. Due to its history as a military installation, Sandy Hook is largely undeveloped and offers a
variety of habitats: beach and dunes, mudflats, holly forest, deciduous woods, freshwater ponds, salt marshes, coastal scrub/shrub
and successional fields.
AUDUBON IBA: Important Bird Areas in Monmouth County
Upper Freehold Grasslands
B–C12, where several stateendangered
species can be observed
With its thousands of acres of riparian areas, bayshore forests, dunes, marsh and beach, tidal
mudflats, scrub, shrub, deciduous forests and agricultural lands, Monmouth County has several
officially designated IBAs. County and state parks offer many viewing and educational opportunities.
Assunpink Wildlife Management
Area D10, a breeding ground
for many species and where
Cooper’s Hawks nest
Big Brook Park Region
Grasslands K6, Raritan Bay and
Southern Shore, which is part of
the Sandy Hook Bay Complex
Navesink and Shrewsbury
Rivers O5–Q4; P6–Q5, where the
state-endangered Bald Eagle
breeds and thousands of winter
waterfowl are to be found
Shark River O11–P10, also an
important winter habitat for many
waterfowl
North Shore Coastal Ponds
Complex Q1–P13, where stateendangered
Piping Plovers and
Least Terns forage and breed,
among many other species
Turkey Swamp Wildlife
Management Area H11, an
important stopover for songbirds
during their spring and fall
migration
Manasquan River Watershed
N13, which provides temporary
habitat for hundreds of species of
migrating landbirds and wintering
waterfowl
destination fabulous food
DELICIOUS ORCHARDS
THE COUNTRY FOOD MARKET
What began over 100 years ago as an apple and peach orchard in
Colts Neck is now Delicious Orchards, The Country Food Market.
Over the decades, the Delicious Orchards name spread throughout
New Jersey and beyond. Visitors added a delicious stop in Colts Neck
to their Jersey Shore itinerary. Still family owned and operated, the
60,000 square-foot full-service culinary destination welcomes over 2.5
million people each year.
The market is a great source for fresh produce, gourmet foods and
legendary baked goods for the holidays and every day. Pick up a
snack to enjoy at the Cider Café indoors or under an apple tree. Send
that perfect hostess gift with DO’s convenient online ordering, or
arrange gift packages for friends, family and business associates.
HELPFUL WEBSITES
www.njaudubon.org
www.monmouthaudubon.org
www.monmouthcountyparks.com
www.birdlife.org
www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/cheesequake.html
Photo by T. Morrison
www.sparkvisitmonmouth.com 35
/www.njaudubon.org
/www.monmouthaudubon.org
/www.monmouthcountyparks.com
/www.birdlife.org
/cheesequake.html
/www.sparkvisitmonmouth.com
/www.deliciousorchardsnj.com