October 3 is almost here—and whether you’re competing, casually birding, bringing the family, or simply curious about what Wild Bird Research Group does, there’s a place for you at Wings Over Mercer.
Wings Over Mercer is more than a birding competition. It’s a day to celebrate birds, research, conservation, and the community that brings it all together. Haven’t signed up for the competition? It’s not too late to be part of the day.
A Day Made Possible by Our Partners
Wings Over Mercer wouldn’t be possible without the organizations and businesses supporting the event, including our major sponsor NOCS Provisions, along with Princeton University Press and our other event partners and prize sponsors.
- Bueto Books
- Princeton University Press
- Birdfy
- NOCS Provisions
- Birds & Beans Coffee
- My Backyard at Nectars
- Adams Rental
- Birds of Rey
NOCS is also helping make the day more accessible to birders who may not have their own optics. Binoculars will be available to borrow throughout Wings Over Mercer—whether you’re participating in the competition, joining one of our bird walks, or stopping by the Big Sit.
You don’t need expensive equipment to spend a day birding with us. Just show up ready to look for birds.
Join the Big Sit
Want to participate without spending the entire day traveling around Mercer County? Stop by the Wings Over Mercer Big Sit.
From 7 AM–5 PM, we’ll be stationed in one location with a simple goal: How many species can we find from one spot in one day?
Stay for five minutes or a few hours. Help us spot birds, add species to the board, try out a pair of NOCS binoculars, talk birds with the WBRG team, and see how the list grows throughout the day.
Everyone who stops by and participates in the Big Sit will be entered for a chance to win a pair of NOCS binoculars.
Take a Bird Walk
We’ll also have four bird walks throughout the day, giving you plenty of opportunities to get outside with experienced birders.
One of those walks will be led by WBRG researcher Ian Gray and is being designed especially with young birders and families in mind.
This isn’t going to be a stuffy birding lesson. Expect a fun, silly, kid-centric walk where young naturalists can ask questions, explore, look through binoculars, and experience birds on their own terms. No birding experience is necessary.
Kojo Baidoo will lead two additional walks, sharing his knowledge of local birds and fall migration.
Our final walk will be led by WBRG Executive Director Sean Graesser, offering another opportunity to explore the birds moving through Mercer County during fall migration.
NOCS binoculars will be available for participants to borrow, so don’t let not owning binoculars keep you from joining us.
Explore the Research Pavilion
Wings Over Mercer is about more than finding the most birds. Throughout the day, stop by our Research Pavilion to learn about the science happening here in New Jersey and beyond.
Meet researchers, hear about current projects, ask questions, and learn how studying wild birds can help us better understand migration, populations, habitat, and conservation. You can even get hands-on and dissect an owl pellet to discover what an owl has been eating.
Whether you’re an experienced birder, a student interested in wildlife science, or someone who has simply wondered what bird researchers actually do, come talk with us.
Grab Some Wings Over Mercer Gear
We’ll have Wings Over Mercer merchandise available throughout the day, including this year’s special event designs. You’ll also find additional WBRG merchandise and artwork, including pieces from Mike Illustrated. Purchases help support Wild Bird Research Group and the research, conservation, and public programming we conduct throughout the year.
Meet WBRG and Become Part of It
Have questions about owl research? Kestrels? Songbird migration? Bird banding? Volunteering? Membership? Come find us.
Members of the Wild Bird Research Group team will be around throughout the day to talk about our work, answer questions, and help you learn more about getting involved. You’ll also be able to become a WBRG member and directly support the research and conservation work behind programs like Wings Over Mercer. Mostly, though, you’ll find a bunch of happy bird people who are excited to spend the day talking about birds with you.
Test Your Bird Knowledge at Trivia
Before we close out the day, join Jack Hagen at 5:15 PM for Bird Trivia. Put everything you know about birds to the test—or come take some wild guesses. The trivia winner won’t just earn bragging rights. They’ll also head home with a framed Birds of Rey print.
Then We Celebrate
After trivia, we’ll gather for the Wings Over Mercer Awards Ceremony, recognize our competitors, announce the winners from across the day’s categories, and celebrate another year of birding across Mercer County.
Thanks to NOCS, our competition winners will also be heading home with some pretty great prizes. But the real goal of Wings Over Mercer isn’t simply finding the most birds.
It’s getting people outside.
It’s introducing someone to their first bird walk.
It’s watching a kid get excited about something they spotted through binoculars.
It’s connecting birders with researchers.
It’s bringing together people who care about wildlife and the places these birds depend on.
And during fall migration, you never know who might show up. So whether you’re competing from sunrise to sunset, joining us for a walk, adding one bird to the Big Sit, dissecting an owl pellet, testing your knowledge at trivia, or simply stopping by to say hello:
Come spend October 3 with us at Wings Over Mercer.
