Experience the joy of birdwatching at the Little Sit, where you can join experts at South Cape May Meadows to spot and identify a variety of migrating birds.
What is a Little Sit? A spin on the annual, international birding event The Big Sit, this event takes that idea and slows it down. Join Nature Conservancy and Cape May Bird Observatory staff for a fun, educational challenge to see how many birds we can identify from one location. In the spring, South Cape May Meadows is the perfect location to see migrating shorebirds, warblers in breeding plumage and soaring raptors.
As a part of this event, we will have benches for sitting, binoculars and spotting scopes for viewing and educational materials to assist with bird identification. No matter your level of birding experience, you are welcome to help us add to our morning species total! Feel free to stop by the new observation platform located on the Boardwalk Trail, anytime between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. for this event. There will be signs from the parking lot to help guide you. An ASL interpreter will be provided for this event.
Event Route: This event takes place on the Main and Boardwalk Trails.
The Nature Conservancy is excited to bring several accessibility features to our South Cape May Meadows preserve. An inclusive and accessible boardwalk nature trail, along with updates to the parking lot, entrance and existing trails, will connect people of all abilities and backgrounds with nature.
In 2024, The Nature Conservancy installed the Boardwalk Trail. This accessible and inclusive route is fully ADA-compliant and brings visitors through a previously inaccessible portion of the preserve. The half-mile, semi-raised boardwalk is made from a durable and sustainably minded combination of aluminum and recycled plastic. The six-foot wide, flat path provides a stable surface and is navigable for assistance-providing devices like wheelchairs and strollers. Four pullout areas with benches along its length serve as rest stops. A visually unobtrusive handrail on one side of the trail offers guidance or support to users who need it. Visitors can also enjoy interpretive signage that features braille and tactile elements.
A free, immersive audio tour allows visitors to engage in a self-guided experience at the preserve. It can be accessed by downloading the VoiceMap app, which uses GPS to play audio automatically at various points along the route. Throughout the roughly one-and-a-half-mile audio tour, visitors will learn about the preserve's history, ecological importance, and wildlife. Content is available in English and Spanish.
Many engaging interpretive signs are found along the trails of South Cape May Meadows, with translations available in Spanish, Simplified Chinese and French (Quebec dialect). The translations can be accessed online or onsite using QR codes near the welcome kiosk.
The South Cape May Meadows preserve has just over two miles of trail for visitors to explore. For enhanced resting opportunities, benches have been installed roughly every quarter of a mile.
Definitions
Slope/Grade: Lengthwise incline of the trail
Cross Slope: Incline across the trail
Minimum Width: Narrowest portion of the trail
Maximum Slope: Steepest incline of the trail
Flat: Average trail slope is between 0% and 3.5%
Nearly Flat: Typical trail slope is between 3.5% and 7%
Moderately Steep: Typical trail slope is between 7% and 14%
Steep: Typical trail slope is 15% or more.
Main Trail
Trail Rating: Flat (near dune crossing is moderately steep)
Length: 0.4 miles
Minimum Width: 36 inches
Typical Slope: 1.8%
Maximum Slope: 12.8% (near dune crossing)
Typical Cross Slope: 1.2%
Maximum Cross Slope: 10.7%
Surface Type: Compact crushed stone
Boardwalk Trail
Trail Rating: Flat
Length: 0.6 miles
Minimum Width: 60 inches
Typical Slope: 1.2%
Maximum Slope: 3.2%
Typical Cross Slope: 0.5%
Maximum Cross Slope: 2.9%
Surface Type: Recycled plastic
Dune Connection Trail
Trail Rating: Flat
Length: 0.1 miles
Minimum Width: 36 inches
Typical Slope: 1.3%
Maximum Slope: 3.9%
Typical Cross Slope: 1.6%
Maximum Cross Slope: 4.5%
Surface Type: Compact crushed stone
East Trail
Trail Rating: Flat (near dune crossing is moderately steep)
Length: 0.5 miles
Minimum Width: 36 inches
Typical Slope: 1.9%
Maximum Slope: 12.3% (near dune crossings)
Typical Cross Slope: 1.3%
Maximum Cross Slope: 5.4%
Surface Type: Compact crushed stone
East Trail Spur
Trail Rating: Flat
Length: 0.3 miles (one way—0.6 miles out and back)
An accessible picnic area with three wheelchair- or stroller-accessible picnic tables is located near the parking lot. The surrounding grounds are rich with native flowers and shrubs, providing guests with an enjoyable setting and seated nature-viewing opportunities.
A second, smaller sitting area with a device charging station is just a few steps away. Preserve visitors are welcome to charge their devices using the power of the sun (just don’t forget to bring a cord!) at any of the station's six USB ports.
The parking lot accommodates 37 standard cars. Coming soon, three paved ADA spaces will be installed in the southern portion of the lot.
The accessible parking will be located closest to the preserve’s main entrance, an area that is enhanced with many visitor-friendly features including a welcome shed with a digital kiosk, a water refill station and benches.
Photos from South Cape May Meadows
Tag your preserve visits on Instagram with #SouthCapeMayMeadows to have your photos featured here!
