Written and photographed by Tyler Steinbrunn, age 15, freshman at the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science. Tyler is an amateur photographer and birder
I captured these shots on an early morning birding excursion for the New Jersey Audubon World Series of Birding on May 11th. Our crew, “No Time To Fly,” led by mentor Jason Kelsey, had planned meticulously for weeks to make the most of our time. We kicked off our day at 12:30 a.m., rolling out from Jackson towards Island Beach State Park. Along the way, a pit stop in Barnegat treated us to some owl hoots, setting our day off just right. Arriving at the park around 4:30 a.m., we were met with the fresh dawn air and the serene sounds of Chuck-Wills-Widows in the distance. As I geared up to start birding, a subtle hue caught my eye. To our utter amazement, the aurora borealis made a surprise appearance, casting its colorful spectacle on the background of the Big Dipper. I wasted no time grabbing my phone to capture the moment, each snap etching the magic into memory. The site, a testament to nature’s unpredictability and beauty, left us all speechless. As the sun rose, we pressed deep into the maritime forest, eager for more discoveries. By nightfall the next evening, our efforts paid off, tallying up an impressive count of 129 species and landing us a respectable third place in our category. But it was not the accolades that stuck with us; it was the shared wonder of witnessing something extraordinary in our own backyard. Encountering the aurora in New Jersey was an unforgettable moment, a reminder of the wonders waiting to be discovered if we go out and enjoy nature.
