Saturday, January 17, 2026: Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge

Song sparrow on left, field sparrow on right. Photo by Ric Cohn.

Meet at 8:30 am at the Helen C. Fenske Visitor Center, 32 Pleasant Plains Road, Harding Township, NJ.

Canceled if weather is threatening.

Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is a 7,000-acre refuge in suburban Morris County. It has a variety of habitats, including hardwood swamp, marsh, upland deciduous woods, fields, and open water, which support a wide diversity of bird life year-round. We will start at the Helen Fenske Visitor Center and make our way to the boardwalk areas. On last year’s January trip to Great Swamp, we saw 36 species, including the eastern bluebird, white-crowned sparrow, and red-shouldered hawk. Ebird lists 106 species for the month, including the American tree sparrow and rusty blackbird as well as a variety of waterfowl, raptors, and passerines.  

Bring binoculars, a snack and something to drink. Dress warmly. Be sure to email mbcoutings@gmail.com if you plan to come, in case of inclement weather or road closures. We will finish at 11:30 am.

There are outhouses at the meeting location and a bathroom by the boardwalks.