Nature Meets Tech: Cape May Embraces the Digital Age of Birding

Issue #424

August 14, 2025

In This Cape May Local Scoop Issue…

 📆 Cape May Events

☀️ Cape May Local Weather 

‍🦅 Nature Meets Tech: Cape May Embraces the Digital Age of Birding

✈️ Atlantic City Airport Gains New Carrier as Allegiant Adds Florida Routes

 🐎 Pastures by the Sea: Cape May’s Quiet Horse Culture Lives On

Cape May Local Scoop’s Events Are Sponsored By: Daisy Lane Boutique

👇 Here’s what’s going on in the Cape May Local Area👇  

 August 14

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Nature Meets Tech: Cape May Embraces the Digital Age of Birding

 

Birders and backyard naturalists now have access to a growing collection of smartphone apps that help identify wildlife in real time. Whether you're trying to figure out which bird is singing outside your window or want to contribute to global conservation efforts, these apps offer easy entry points for every level of outdoor enthusiast. Leading the way in birding tech are two tools from Cornell University’s Lab of Ornithology: eBird and Merlin. Over 15,000 birders in Cape May County alone have contributed more than 380,000 observations, helping scientists track bird populations and migration patterns. Adding a local twist to the high-tech nature trend is Terra, a product developed right here in Cape May County. Terra devices, available through the Cape May Bird Observatory, can identify birds by sight and sound in your backyard — even when you're not home. Built-in sensors detect tagged animals, from Monarch butterflies to eagles, offering an intimate look at migration and biodiversity.

Atlantic City Airport Gains New Carrier as Allegiant Adds Florida Routes

Travelers flying through Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) will soon have a new airline option for the first time in years. Allegiant Airlines is set to launch operations at ACY, breaking Spirit Airlines’ long-standing monopoly at the South Jersey airport. Starting in December 2025, the airline will offer four new nonstop routes to Florida destinations using smaller regional airports. Flights start as low as $39, providing more travel options for South Jersey residents. State officials praised the move as a win for regional transportation and economic growth. Atlantic City International, serving just over a million passengers annually, is dwarfed by nearby airports like Philadelphia International and Newark Liberty. However, its smaller size has long been marketed as a benefit, offering a simpler, less stressful travel experience.

Pastures by the Sea: Cape May’s Quiet Horse Culture Lives On

 Cape Island, home to historic Cape May, remains a rare haven for horses along the New Jersey coast. From the working carriage horses of downtown Cape May to long-standing family farms and newer equestrian facilities like Green Acres, horses are deeply woven into the island’s heritage. While the number of horses on Cape Island may have declined, the cultural legacy endures. From the hitching posts still visible along Washington Street to the quiet farms tucked among woods and marshes, horses remain an integral thread in the fabric of Cape May’s identity. Whether for work, recreation, or companionship, they continue to embody a lifestyle rooted in trust, tradition, and the enduring bond between human and animal. 

Cape May is renowned as one of the best locations in North America for observing which natural phenomenon, attracting enthusiasts from around the world?

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Answer to the August 13th Trivia Question

Which well-known architect, who worked on the United States Capitol, also designed an addition to a historic hotel in Cape May?

A) Stephen Decatur Button
B) Thomas U. Walter
C) Frank Furness
D) Samuel Sloan

Answer: B) Thomas U. Walter

Thomas U. Walter, who was one of the architects of the United States Capitol, also designed an addition to the Columbia Hotel in Cape May during the 19th century​.

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