Is This the Best Birding Spot in New Jersey!?

Edwin B. Forsyth National Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey is an expansive natural area consisting of miles of coastline, salt marsh, and forest. We got to explore the refuge in mid April to see what bird species we could find there. Take a look and see for yourself why Edwin B. Forsyth National Wildlife Refuge is a fantastic place for birding!

Special thanks to our members Liz McQuaid, Sarah Coffey, Barbara Cole, Chris Slagle, Sally, Sarah, and Scott Carmichael!

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Used for most bird videos) - check credits as we do source some photos/videos elsewhere which is noted in the description

Cayer FP2450 Fluid Head Tripod, 75 inches Aluminium Tripod
Derek's lighter tripod

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Derek's heavier tripod

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- Rail by Schmierer, Whimbrel by Stein Arne Jensen, Osprey by malibuskiboats all Public Domain

Saltmarsh Sparrow Photos by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region

Close up Whimbrel Photo by Stein Arne Jensen

Thanks to Terry Sohl for allowing us to use his range maps

All other photos and videos by Derek and Ryan Sallmann

#Birding #BirdWatching #BadgerlandBirding

[dankeener]

My son and I got the Black-throated Warbler there near the nature center November 25, 2022. It was a life bird for my son and a great memory for us both. What a great video of a well-loved Preserve. Thx!

[lukeocasio]

Work has me stressing out. However I can come home relax and watch this amazing video about my favorite hobby. Thanks for being the best part of my day.

[Pancake_De_Editz]

Thank you… I live 1 hour away and I needed a spot… you should try out Bombay Hook Wildlife Refuge in Delaware… they have some of the coolest views I’ve seen🔥

[Shrock]

I lover your campaign speech Ryan! I would totally vote for you!

[judygilbert]

NJ resident here . This is one of my favorite places especially in winter and spring and fall. The green heads are very plentiful on summer.

[Zugunru]

Great content, we definitely need to see the “President of the Marsh” again! Thanks for sharing.

[Carlos]

Wow what a great coincidence, I’m visiting New Jersey at the end of this month. I went last year and went to that exact same Wildlife Refuge so cool!

Also as an avid birder and bird nerd, it’d be interested in seeing your checklists on these trips you post.

[maryannhelpern]

Welcome to the turtle 🐢 savers !! (Sure you guys have saved many ) My family has been a member since forever !!
Making me homesick for my home state !!
💚💚💚💚🐾

[patrickhanly]

Local birders call this spot Brigantine. There are often a good selection of Terns there as well. The Whimbrels are my favorite. I've also had Avocet and good songbirds in Spring and all three falcons in Fall. Be careful if you go after late May or before late September as the green flies are the worst. Super aggresive and painful. Also, Cape May is just a jump down the Garden State for more great birding.

[thecornells]

Thanks guys. Always cheers us up in the UK when a new Badgerland birding video pops up. Great stuff, as ever. 👍👍

[susanbrown]

Thanks for this great video. Many beautiful birds.🦢🦆🪿🪶🦩🪽

[tonymcdonald]

Loved Forsythe when I went there. Recorded 74 different species. Love birding in Philly, and close to Cape May birding also!

[justastaronblox]

Glad you had fun down here in NJ, Forsythe is a great place, probably our second most birded area besides Cape May. Cant wait go back in a few weeks!

[denisem]

So cool to see you at my favorite wildlife location - I just (last night) posted a photo of a saltmarsh sparrow that I took at Forsythe. It took me weeks to get it. They can be so hard to see. I saw Barnegat Lighthouse state park at the beginning of the video. Hope you have a video from there also! Another great place in NJ.

[Beryllahawk]

Ospreys are my FAVORITE! So cool that there's plenty of nest areas set up for them there in Jersey.

[sw]

EBF is definitely one of my favorite spots to bird in New Jersey. I've done the wildlife loop several times and only seen the the salt marsh sparrow once. It was on the return leg. One of the best times to visit is early May.

[stevebonta]

The favorite birding spot of my youth, when it was still known as Brigantine NWR

[heronboy]

New Jersey resident here! This is by far my favorite spot to bird in the entire state! From my personal experience, Saltmarsh Sparrows are very hit or miss here! Tough bird for sure! If you guys are ever back in the state, I recommend checking out Cattus Island County Park. I usually see Saltmarsh Sparrows every time I go in spring/summer!

[Lorraine-uybp]

Great Video - I used to go birding there when I lived in NJ and it was called Brigantine National Wildlife Refuge. Nice to vicariously enjoy your adventure!

[Stukin_The_Pines]

Really enjoy your videos. Yes, in NJ the Brigantine Division of Forsythe NWR is a prime birding site.
(Not so much in summer, only because the nasty biting Greenhead Flies will not cease their attack.)
We birders call it "Brig". Living in southern coastal NJ, I visit there a lot, & I've gotten many of my
Life Birds there. Also, I've been fortunate enough to see some of the NJ rarities that occasionally
show up there, such as Garganey & Roseate Spoonbill.
I agree with someone who mentioned Cattus Island County Park, a gem of a coastal park located
on a bay in Toms River, NJ. Varied habitat, including two areas of expansive salt marsh, where
you'd be more likely to find the sparrow you seek.