Cape May Bird Observatory — Northwood Center Hummingbird Guide
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NectarBloom™ — 2 lb Bag
Fresh nectar in a minute.
No boiling, no dye. The same sugar hummingbird flowers make. One ingredient, nothing else. Makes up to 160 oz of fresh feeder nectar per bag.
- Fresh nectar in a minute: measure, stir until clear, and pour
- No boiling, no dye
- The same sugar hummingbird flowers make
- One ingredient, nothing else: 100% pure cane sugar
- Lab tested. Resealable 2 lb bag, sourced and packed in the USA
1 Bag · 2 lb
$21.99
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2 Bags · Season Supply
$39.88
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Overview
Founded in 1976 by New Jersey Audubon, the Cape May Bird Observatory (CMBO) is one of the premier bird observation and conservation institutions in North America, stationed at one of the world's most celebrated migratory junctions. National Geographic has listed Cape May as one of the world's best birding destinations. The narrow Cape May peninsula acts as a natural funnel, concentrating millions of migrating hawks, songbirds, shorebirds, and hummingbirds each autumn. August and September bring the highest densities of southbound ruby-throated hummingbirds anywhere in New Jersey.
Hummingbirds to Watch For
- • Ruby-throated
Most Common Hummingbird
The most commonly sighted hummingbird at Cape May Bird Observatory — Northwood Center is the Ruby-throated.
Best Time to Visit
Plan your visit during May, August, September for the highest chance of hummingbird sightings. Early morning and late afternoon are typically the most active feeding times.
Plants and Habitat
- • Trumpet vine (*Campsis radicans*) — common on fences and structures throughout Cape May County
- • Cardinal flower (*Lobelia cardinalis*) — native garden plantings around CMBO
- • Bee balm (*Monarda didyma*) — CMBO demonstration gardens
- • Jewelweed (*Impatiens capensis*) — abundant in moist areas throughout Cape May Point
- • Coral honeysuckle (*Lonicera sempervirens*) — native vine plantings
- • Salvia spp. — demonstration and pollinator garden areas
NectarBloom Tip
The CMBO Weekly Walks program requires no advance registration — just arrive before the listed start time. For the highest density of migrating hummingbirds, explore Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area (5-minute drive from Northwood Center) on a clear morning in mid-August to mid-September immediately after a cold front passes — post-frontal conditions concentrate migrants dramatically at the peninsula's tip.
Visitor Notes
Free to visit; some programs and tours have fees. Open year-round. Newly renovated Northwood Center (2025/2026). Photography welcome and encouraged. ADA accessible at the Center building.
Reviews and Sightings
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