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There are records that birds and bird identification were of interest to residents of Medford Leas from the first publication of Medford Leas Life in September of 1973. Billie Atwill wrote Bird Watchers Notes, later called For the Birds. In the fall of 1975, an article by resident Ruth Carver tells of a trip to Brigantine (now Edwin W. Forsythe) Wildlife Refuge.
After Wayne and Gertrude Marshall arrived at Medford Leas in 1987, there were monthly Bird Club meetings and two field trips a year. Birders went by bus to Brigantine, with lunch at the Sweetwater Casino. Other trips were to Cape May and Stone Harbor, and to Reed’s Beach to see the migration of Red Knots.
Wayne Marshall led the yearly January census of birds. The findings were sent to the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. Gertrude Marshall wrote nature articles about birds from 1988 to 2005.
In 1991 Wayne Marshall, Robert Martin, James Wasson and Edward Wildman, with lists collected by Barbara Hitchens, created a guide to the birds of Medford Leas. This pamphlet was a checklist arranged by season and frequency of appearance. This guide was revised in 2002.
Wayne continued to actively lead the Bird Club until the fall of 2001. David and Miriam Swartz led the Bird Club meetings after that time, and Louise Tompkins took charge of arrangements for the monthly Field Trips. In 2015, Robert Koch assumed the club leadership. A committee works with Robert to create the schedule of monthly programs and field trips.
Throughout its existence the bird club has had an interest in promoting bird observation, censusing, feeding, and other activities on our campuses. Annual censuses on both campuses continue to be held in January. Bluebird trails and other bird nest boxes are provided and monitored by residents, guided by Suzan Preiksat. Bird photography is a passion pursued by several members. Photographs on this web site have been contributed by Joe Costanza, Robert Koch, Fred Kahan, Miriam Swartz, Laurie Larson and others.
In 2020-21, meetings and field trips were suspended for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021 the Bluebird box program has been able to resume and it is hoped that normal activities will resume in the fall.
