Limpkin bird spotted in Wall Township; a rare sighting in New Jersey

Dozens of bird enthusiasts, along with their high-powered lenses, flocked to Wall Township from all over the state to take in the rare sighting.

Jim Murdoch

Nov 15, 2023, 1:31 AM

Updated 384 days ago

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Bird enthusiasts got the thrill of a lifetime Tuesday in Wall Township when a vagrant Limpkin showed up in a neighborhood - a rare sighting in New Jersey.
Dozens of bird enthusiasts, along with their high-powered lenses, flocked to Wall Township from all over the state to take in the rare sighting. Limpkins are only native to Georgia, Florida, and points south.
While no one knows how or why the bird ended up in Wall, the New Jersey Audubon Society is monitoring the bird and, in a best-case scenario, it will head south back toward home.
"Last night, it was in the house, yard of the house next to me and I got up at 7 a.m. and it was still there," said Mary Grasdorf, of Wall.
"It’s good when it’s your home state. A lot of us are state birders. We want to see as many birds as we can in the state for the year and also for our life lists. All these birders can add Limpkins to their life lists at this time," said Kevin Cronin, who drove two hours from Sussex County.
Vagrant Limpkins have been seen in Pennsylvania, New York and Wisconsin.