Springwatch Swifts
NEW in 2026: the Springwatch Swifts have an official business sponsor, Mayer's Tavern! Mayer's represents the very best of Cape May. From its high-quality, locally-sourced food menu to its handcrafted cocktails, Mayer's is equally loved by locals and visitors. We are thrilled to have their backing in the 2026 WSB and hope that you will drop in for a drink or a meal! Directly across the street from the Miss Chris Marina (and The Osprey backbay birding boat), Mayer's is open from 4pm, Wednesday through Sunday. Tell them we sent you! MayersTavern.com, @mayerstavern on Instagram.
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On Saturday, May 9, 2026, the Springwatch Swifts will again participate in New Jersey Audubon’s World Series of Birding, now in its 43rd year. It is the longest running birding competition and fundraiser in the US.
The Cape May Springwatch, which began in the late 2000s as a volunteer driven data-gathering effort, was formally adopted by NJ Audubon's Cape May Bird Observatory in 2019. In the time since, the Springwatch has operated as a standardized, full-time migration monitoring project from March 1 - May 31 each year. In most years, roughly 200,000 individuals across 200 species are recorded, along with various migratory butterflies, dragonflies, and marine mammals.
The Springwatch has also become a central focus of the World Series of Birding in recent years, with many teams stopping by to add birds to their lists throughout the day. We look forward to seeing many of you again this spring!
This year, we have set a fundraising goal of $7,500. These funds will help ensure the future of the Springwatch, as well as CMBO's other migration monitoring projects.
You can donate to the team or to individual team members. After you donate you will receive a confirmation email, along with our deepest gratitude for your support of our long-term monitoring efforts.
Thank you!
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The 2026 Springwatch season is made possible by generous support from Judy & Larry Winne, Hawke Optics, and caring folks like you! CMBO also appreciates its continued partnership with the Borough of Cape May Point, which permits our long-term presence at the Coral Ave count site.
