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New Jersey

When to catch Forsythe Refugeat its best

Forsythe Refuge through the year: wildlife by season (4 separate phases, from in spring (March, April, and May)) and winter wildlife (local timing: December through February). Each has its own page with spots, sources and the latest reports.

RIGHT NOW · SEP 30

  • Latest reportNo dated report this season; the posters below show each usual window.
  • This weekend (NWS)Sat chance rain showers then mostly cloudy, 66°F · Sun chance rain showers, 64°F
  • Park alertsCheck the managing agency before you go

When are you going?

Fall at Forsythe Refuge

Good in fall

  • Ducks and geese start heading south to spend the winter here

From each place's own sources; no peak claimed.

Nearby in fall

Where to go at Forsythe Refuge

Spots, visitor points and places nearby
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Fall
  • Winter
Places on this map, as a list
Map: approximate positions; state lines US Census.

Best spots

Where each event's source says to go

Wildlife by season

  • Osprey OutlookOn the refuge boardwalk, with telescopes and an interpretive panel looking out at an osprey nest; an osprey cam shows the nest live on a monitor in the Visitor Information CenterU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
  • Purple martin colonyGourds hung on poles between the Visitor Information Center and the headquarters building; the colony is visible from the parking lot and as you enter the Wildlife DriveU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗

Winter wildlife

  • Wildlife DriveAn 8-mile self-guided drive through salt marsh, freshwater habitat and upland forest, with observation towers at Gull Pond and Turtle Cove; open year-round, sunrise to sunset, $4 per carU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
  • Leeds Eco-Trail and BoardwalkOpen year-round at the headquarters: a 400-foot boardwalk over the tidal salt marsh plus a quarter-mile (one way) path through maritime forest; wheelchair friendlyU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗

Next 7 days at Forsythe Refuge

Forecast: National Weather Service
  • TodayMostly Sunny74° / 61°–
  • ThuPartly Sunny76° / 65°–
  • FriMostly Sunny81° / 60°37% rain
  • SatChance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy66° / 57°27% rain
  • SunChance Rain Showers64° / 56°45% rain
  • MonSlight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny64° / 46°15% rain
  • TueSunny58° / 45°–

Today: sunrise 6:53 a.m., sunset 6:44 p.m., light until 7:10 p.m. · moon waning gibbous, 78% lit (our calculation)

Nearby, and when they peak

Straight-line miles; roads are longer

Towns nearby

Straight-line miles; each town page has frost dates and its nature year

Forsythe Refuge in pictures

Illustrative photos, not current conditions
Sunset over the marsh seen from an observation tower
Sunset from atop Gull Pond Tower on the Wildlife Drive, November 22, 2021. Photo: USFWS · public domain · resized
Snow-covered wetland at Edwin B. Forsythe refuge
The refuge's wetlands on a snowy day (date not given). Photo: Doug Canfield/USFWS · public domain · resized

Questions people ask

Where can I watch the ospreys nest?

From Osprey Outlook on the refuge boardwalk, which has telescopes and an interpretive panel. Inside the Visitor Information Center (Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), an osprey cam shows the nest live.Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Edwin B. Forsythe NWR: Species (Seasons of Wildlife) ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Edwin B. Forsythe NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Can I visit Holgate in summer?

No. The Holgate Wilderness Area on Long Beach Island is closed from April 1 to August 31 for nesting birds, and the closure can be extended until the chicks fledge. From September 1 to March 31, the beach is open to walking and to driving below the berm crest.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Edwin B. Forsythe NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)

What should I bring in the warm months?

Insect repellent (from late spring into early fall), sunscreen, sunglasses and water. Ticks are around all year but most active in warmer months.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Edwin B. Forsythe NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Where can I see fiddler crabs?

They scamper about at low tide in summer, and the boardwalk gives a great view of them.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Edwin B. Forsythe NWR: Species (Seasons of Wildlife) ↗ (opens in a new tab)

How we know

Every timing above, from these pages; checked Sep 28