No, it isn’t quite Christmas time yet, but Oceanville compiler Mike Delesantro is planning ahead and has shared his request for volunteers, including possible compiling help, well in advance. This is forwarded at his request.
The Oceanville count includes Brigantine (Forsythe) refuge, Brigantine Island, Atlantic City and parts of the nearby mainland. Obviously it has some very good habitat as well as some more urban areas. This message was sent out to former participants; I’ve participated in this count, on the Atlantic City section, for a number of years. I’m not able to take on any compiling or organizing tasks but hope to help Mike find new participants and helpers so I got permission to post this.
If interested, please contact Mike, not me, not the list. The email address is <njocbc...> <mailto:<njocbc...>
> Hello, Christmas Bird Count Devotees!
> I know it's very, very, early to be talking about the next Oceanville CBC, (OCBC) but something has come up that will affect my participation in the count and I wanted to see what you all thought about any possible changes that may be needed.
> First, the “traditional” date for the OCBC is the first Saturday of the count season. For 2025, that will be Saturday, December 20. Count Week is 17 December to 23 December.
> I have been invited to participate in a birding tour to India that will occur immediately before that date and given airline flight delays and other “normal” travel problems, I may not be home in time to do the OCBC or I may be so jet lagged that I can't function in a useful manner.
> I can still act as compiler, after the reports are all submitted, but I will need the many count teams to be independent in the two weeks prior to count day. I will have limited internet access during the India tour so you all will need to coordinate all the typical last minute details and ensure you have everything arranged. That's why I am writing this message so early. We need to establish teams to cover as much of the count circle as possible, as soon as we can, so that planning will be complete before I depart. That means we need to recruit new people to cover areas that we missed last year and to help make sure nobody has an area they feel is too big to handle. Those of you who did the count last time should actively recruit to get more help and to groom successors for when you will inevitably be unable to continue your participation (many years in the future, I hope!).
> There are alternatives to this:
> 1. We can push the date back a week to December 27th. (Not ideal since that is so close to Christmas and some people may be traveling.)
> 2. Someone else can take on the role of planning and compiling the OCBC for 2025. Many of you have far more experience with doing the OCBC than I do.
> IN ANY CASE, please let me know what you think your level of participation in the next OCBC will be. Can you participate this year? Can you act as a team leader for one of the different areas within the count circle? To which area(s) would you like to be assigned? Will you be able to recruit helpers for your team?
> SEND ME EMAILS for potential new blood! We always will need more volunteers.
> Thanks!
> Michael Delesantro
Date: 6/29/25 5:42 am From: Meg Harmsen <000003d4354b962c-dmarc-request...> Subject: [JERSEYBI] WP article: What We’ll Lose If Bird Banding Ends
ICYMI, the Washington Post had an article this past week on the threat to eliminate USGS’s Ecosystems Mission Area funding that supports the Bird Banding Laboratory and the North American Breeding Bird Survey. It’s good to see the issue being elevated. I hope it’s not too late.
Date: 6/15/25 9:44 am From: Dena Temple <000006db6638e63f-dmarc-request...> Subject: [JERSEYBI] Where will Jerseybirders retire?
Laurie, if this is not allowed, please delete with my apologies. It relates to Jersey and birders, so here goes.
Many NJ birders are either at or near retirement age. I'm sure, like me, many of you hoped to spend your days birding around all your favorite NJ hotspots, only to realize you just can't afford to stay. If you are in this situation, I recommend you give Mississippi Gulf Coast a look. It's a Certified Retirement Region.
Housing costs are laughable compared to NJ, for starters. Middle class in NJ means waterfront palaces are suddenly within your budget! Other costs are somewhat comparable; homeowners insurance is higher in MS, but car insurance is lower.
Most important to you, Jerseybirders, are the birds. My house, one mile from the beach in Waveland, is loaded with birds! Anhingas and Bald Eagles soar overhead. We have nesting Bluebirds, Red-headed Woodpeckers, and a half-dozen other species. In migration, our large oaks and magnolias attract warblers, Orioles, Tanagers, and vireos. Our yard list for 2025 is up to 87 species! I have frigatebird and Common Gallinule on my yard list! There is an active Audubon chapter on the coast with field trips and ample opportunities to volunteer as well. You're a day's drive to major IBAs like Dauphin Island, AL, and great refuges in LA.
We are putting our house in Waveland, MS, up for sale to allow us to move closer to family in Florida. Waveland is a great town, adjacent to Bay St. Louis, named one of the prettiest and friendliest small towns in the South. Fishing and boating are also fantastic, with NO CROWDS!
The Mississippi Gulf Coast has long been known as a vacation area for new Orleans residents, and retired folks are flocking here from high-cost states like NJ, NY, and CA.
If anyone is considering a move and would like more info about the area or even our house, feel free to email me.
Good birding, Dena Temple <Denat01...> Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Date: 6/11/25 5:46 pm From: Michael Testa <0000138fc18dda4c-dmarc-request...> Subject: [JERSEYBI] Bayshore Bobwhites, Chats, and Yellow-throated warbler
This afternoon while conducting field work in the Heislersville area I had calling Bobwhites and many chats at two locations. Also had a singing Yellow- Throated Warbler at one location along with the usual Blue Grosbeaks, Brown Thrashers and Indigo Buntings and Yellow Billed Cuckoo’s.
