WELCOME!
For the best birding in Ocean County, New Jersey
The Southern Ocean Birding Group (SOBG) was organized in September 2008 for the enjoyment and education of its members and guests. We are the only birding group located in Ocean County. The SOBG has monthly field trips and presents educational programs at our monthly meetings that are open and free to the public. We welcome bird enthusiasts at all levels, from beginner to expert.
We invite you to come visit us and experience the joy of birding!
Our home territory extends from Manasquan Inlet southward past Barnegat Inlet to Great Bay and westward into the Pinelands of New Jersey. This area is on the Atlantic Flyway and a prime location for a wide variety of birds from diving sea ducks to forest song birds.
Meetings
We meet the first Thursday of most months, usually at the Barnegat Branch of the Ocean County Library, 112 Burr St. in Barnegat, NJ 08005. Check the monthly meeting notifications for locations. Our meetings start at 7PM, with the doors open at 6:30 for socializing. All meetings are free and open to the public.
Field Trips
We run monthly field trips to various birding areas in southern New Jersey. These trips are a way for our members to share their collective knowledge of birds along with providing an opportunity to improve their observational skills. Check out our calendar.
You can see eBird trip report checklists from some of our field trips here (access requires a free eBird user ID): https://ebird.org/profile/MzY4OTUzMA/US-NJ.
Tuckerton Birding-by-boat tour
Some of our ‘field trips’ are birding-by-boat tours run out of Tuckerton Seaport. These trips provide access to areas not possible on foot, and are great for those with mobility issues. A video by Sandy Levine for her podcast “Still Time For Joy” describing these trips can be found here. Birding-by-boat tours are also run out of Cattus Island County Park through the Ocean County Parks system. Check their Program Guide for current tour offerings.
Help support our environmental and educational efforts
SOBG is a non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status. We are happy to accept tax-deductible donations, in addition to membership dues, which allows us to offer:
- some of the best programs and speakers on birds in New Jersey
- programs on environmental issues
- cleanups in Ocean County
- scholarships awarded to Ocean County high school seniors ($4,000 over the past four years)
SOBG Summer Picnic at Wells Mills Park
Citizen Science
Our group participates annually in the Christmas Bird Count (CBC), which is sponsored by the National Audubon Society. The CBC provides data about the health and well-being of our bird populations. Over the past few years our Tuckerton CBC averages around 96 different species within our circle.
Visit our Friends in SOBG Facebook group and Instagram accounts.
Click here for a map of the best birding locations in Ocean County and here for a printable version.
