Southern Ocean Birding Group

Owls of New Jersey

Each month, the Southern Ocean Birding Group brings in a speaker on the topics of birds in New Jersey.

Owls are among the most elusive and least-observed birds in New Jersey. Their nocturnal activity, secretive behavior, and cryptic appearance make them difficult to detect and study. Yet eight owl species can be found in New Jersey, including both migratory and year-round resident species, spanning from the soda can-sized Northern Saw-whet Owl to the formidable Snowy Owl with its 5-foot wingspan. Presenter Morgan Mark, a researcher with Wild Bird Research Group, will explore the natural history and conservation of New Jersey’s owls, with a focus on recent research that uses GPS tracking technologies and is reshaping our understanding of their movements and revealing previously undocumented long-distance migrations.

Morgan Mark is a PhD Candidate at Rutgers University in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources studying wildlife epidemiology. She has volunteered with the local nonprofit Wild Bird Research Group since 2018 and currently serves as Co-Chair of the Research Committee. She bands owls and songbirds and has contributed to projects investigating the habitat use and movement ecology of Northern Saw-whet and Long-eared Owls. Morgan is also the President of the New Jersey Chapter of The Wildlife Society and is an active member of the Eastern Bird Banding Association.

The meeting starts at 7PM, but the doors are open for socializing at 6:30. Join us.

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