I have to say there is one reason – besides seeing family – I look forward to going down to New Jersey every Thanksgiving. It’s the opportunity to see birds, and lots of them.

Granted, there are parts of the Garden State that are anything but gardenlike – densely populated, paved-over, congested with traffic – but havens for wildlife exist in the midst of this excessive development. These oases concentrate birds into a relatively small area, enabling good viewing opportunities.

Those of you who read this column regularly may recall that I’ve written about one of these gems in the past. Lenape Park is one of my favorite places to go. It is part of a large 450-acre wetland complex along the Rahway River, which also includes meadows and forests. It provides refuge for more than 190 species of birds, many of which are on the state’s Endangered and Threatened Species List.

My father had shown me this park, as well as two others in the area. When he was alive we’d often visit them to go jogging or walking together, and I’d point out the birds to him.

The walking path in Lenape Park is elevated above the surrounding area, which is swamp and forest. Here there are many foraging and roosting sites for woodpeckers: downy, hairy, flicker, pileated, and red-bellied woodpecker. The latter bird has been expanding its range north, and was widely reported in Maine last winter; it is also being seen again this year.

Sparrows – white-throated and song – and juncos were too numerous to count, quickly darting through the underbrush near the path. Cardinals were plentiful as well, adding a bright spot of color against bare gray tree limbs.

Just as I was about to leave the park one day, I noticed three mourning doves explode from a tree and fly wildly away. The cause was evident: A hunting merlin had entered the area. A few minutes later, I spied a larger raptor as it rose from the trees – I was pretty sure this was a Cooper’s hawk. There was certainly plenty of food around for them, as these birds of prey specialize in catching smaller birds in flight – if they are fast enough. The element of surprise is also crucial, which was missing in the merlin’s case; no mourning dove for breakfast that day.

My other favorite place is Nomahegan Park, which sits across the boulevard from Lenape. It is smaller, 118 acres, and is encircled by a walking/running path complete with exercise stations. The wooded interior contains a stream, the combination making it great bird habitat.

As I was about to cross the narrow wooden bridge over the stream one morning, I was again warned that a raptor was around by the frenzied flight of morning doves, and the alarm calls of a blue jay. This time, it was a red-tailed hawk that glided into view.

This impressive bird flew to a bare branch to survey the area, and I had wonderful views even without the binoculars. Although it would no doubt take advantage of any prey that came within its reach, this hawk was more specialized to hunt for small mammals and other ground-dwelling animals. Its large, broad wings and short tail make it less able to navigate at speed through trees, as can a Cooper’s hawk, or to chase a fleeing bird down, as can a merlin.

Suddenly the red-tail launched itself from its perch and made a bee-line toward the nearby neighborhood, disappearing around the corner of someone’s house. I imagined the occupant’s surprise at seeing the hawk pounce on a squirrel just outside the window, for I was sure this was what the bird was after.

Yep, New Jersey definitely has its perks – but I’ll stay in Maine for now.

Coming Up: Christmas Bird Count Preview for beginning birders, Sunday, Dec. 11, at the Fields Pond Audubon Center. Call 989-2591 for details and to sign up.

Christmas Bird Counts: Saturday, Dec. 17, for Orono-Old Town Saturday, Dec. 31, for Bangor-Bucksport.

NEWS bird columnist Chris Corio can be reached at bdnsports@bangordailynews.net