Events

We’ll be looking for early warblers and lingering waterfowl as we head upstream for a several hour walk. Easy level walking. Start at the Pennyfield parking lot at 7 a.m. Limit: 6. For more information and for reservations (required), email the LEADER: Dave Powell at seneca.ranger@gmail.com.

Half day. We will begin at the Hughes Hollow parking lot in the McKee-Beshers WMA at 7 a.m. We will explore the wetlands and fields of Hughes Hollow. Species to be expected include Red-headed Woodpeckers, Wood Ducks, Blue-winged Teal, and many other marsh-dwellers, as well as lingering winter land birds. A chance for several warblers including Prothonotary and other early neotropical migrants. Limit: 16. For reservations (required) and more information, email the LEADER: Jim Nelson at kingfishers2@verizon.net.

THIS TRIP IS FULL. On this walk, aimed at new birders but open to all, we’ll spend a morning exploring Wheaton RP (accessible by Metrobuses Y2 and Y8). We’ll use our eyes and ears to identify forest birds, likely some waterfowl, and perhaps early migrants. Limit: 8. For reservations (required), time, and directions, email the LEADER: Cheryl Hogue at cheryl.hogue@gmail.com.

With Spring come the warblers—and the vireos and the thrushes and the orioles! We’ll stroll north toward Violette’s Lock, looking and listening for new arrivals and early nesters, not neglecting spring wildflowers. Limit: 8. For reservations (required) and starting time and place, email the LEADER: Lydia Schindler at lydia13621@gmail.com.

Across 11 Western states and millions of acres of public lands, the Greater Sage-Grouse continues to make its remarkable courtship displays where the birds congregate, at sites called leks. Patrick Newcombe, former MBC Chat editor and YMOS alumnus, has recently finished a documentary, Glory of the West, about conservation of the Greater Sage-Grouse. During a gap year from Princeton University, Patrick spent two months camping and filming the Greater Sage-Grouse on their leks in Colorado, Wyoming, Oregon, and Idaho. To supplement his footage, he interviewed ranchers, natural gas lobbyists, indigenous people, conservation professionals, and government biologists. Patrick will join us via Zoom to share his film and insights about the Greater Sage-Grouse and their fascinating ecosystem, home to hundreds of other species of birds.

Come discover this lovely park during spring migration. Lots of migrants pass through, including many warblers. We will start in the parking lot at 7:30 a.m. Limit: 16. For reservations (required) and more information, email one of the CO-LEADERS: Anne Mytych at amytych@yahoo.com or Emily Huang at EPHuang@verizon.net.