THIS TRIP IS FULL. Half day. Once again, the B-CC Chapter is generously providing us access to this large private property south of Poolesville. Woods, hedgerows, streams, fields, and ponds provide a wide range of bird habitats, and migration should be well underway. Trip will start at 7 a.m. at the League’s Chapterhouse. Limit: 10. LEADER: Jim Nelson at [email protected].
Meet at 7am in the Wilson Mill Trailhead (Wilson Mill Trail, Little Bennet Regional Park, 25200 Clarksburg Rd, Clarksburg, MD 20871) to look for spring migrants. The walk will cover approximately 1.5 - 2 miles on natural surface trails. Plan your footwear accordingly. All children must be accompanied the entire time by an adult. Bring your binoculars. Reservations required. Limit: 10 youth. Mentor Leaders: Brooke Levey and Tara Clifton. RSVP: [email protected]
Tune up your ears as we listen for and learn to identify the songs and calls of migrant and local breeding birds. The trip will be geared to new birders but all are welcome. Meet at 7 a.m. at the parking lot at Hughes Hollow. Limit: 8. LEADER: Paul Woodward at [email protected].
CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER. Half day. We will be looking for warblers and other migrants on the Wilson Mill Trail. Possible Kentucky Warbler. Limit: 8. LEADER: Gemma Radko at [email protected].
CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER. No reservations needed! We’ll be looking for early warblers, orioles and vireo's as we head upstream and back during a two hour walk. Easy level walking. Meet at the Pennyfield parking lot at 7 am. LEADER: Dave Powell [email protected]
THIS TRIP IS FULL. WAITLIST ONLY. Come discover this lovely park during spring migration. Lots of migrants pass through, including many warblers. Meet in the parking lot at 7:30 a.m. Limit: 16. LEADER: Emily Huang at [email protected].
Every year, hundreds of millions of birds die in the US alone from collisions with glass. Birds strike glass as they fly toward reflections of sky or vegetation or as they try to reach habitat seen through glass. Unfortunately, advances in technology that increase the use of glass curtain walls and other large glass features also increase the rate of bird mortality. However, we now have materials that can make buildings safe for birds without sacrificing light, appearance, or view clarity. In 2011, San Francisco became the first US city to require bird-friendly design for some new construction. Since then, over 30 jurisdictions at levels from state to town—notably New York City in 2019—have legislated bird-friendly construction, and more are pending. Christine will discuss some of the latest solutions, including techniques for evaluating the relative threat level of different materials.
Morning walk through well-maintained meadow trails, along shrub and tree edges, and into some of the mature deciduous forest. We will be looking for resident species, early migrant songbirds, and raptors. Meet in the large parking lot at 22201 Zion Road, Olney, Md. No restrooms or water at this park. No reservations required. For additional information, contact the LEADER: Mark England at [email protected] or 240-308-4114. Or see park website: https://montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/rachel-carson-conservation-park/
TRIP RESCHEDULED FROM 4/1/23. THIS TRIP IS FULL. 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. Depending on the early spring weather trends, we have a chance for some early warbler species and other early neotropical migrants. Limit: 16. LEADER: Jim Nelson at [email protected].
We all love birds and would like more of them in our yards, but how do we go from lawn to habitat? Francesca undertook a 10-year journey to convert a rather barren Bethesda yard into a lawn-less, bird-centered habitat. She will talk about her favorite plants, including the unkillable native 10, and discuss the must-remove dozen. Whether your goal is to enhance the current landscape, create a hybrid native-cultivated plant environment, or take on a wholesale redo, Francesca will explore ways to provide the essentials—shelter, water, and food—that will increase the biodiversity of your yard and the birds who visit.
Morning walk through the varied habitats of this excellent 250-acre park, including two ponds, fields, and deciduous and coniferous woods. We’ll be looking for overwintering songbirds, waterfowl, and raptors. We will start at 8 a.m. in the parking lot at 8711 Snouffer School Road, Gaithersburg, Md. Walk will last about two hours. No restrooms or water at the park. No reservations needed. For more information contact the Leader: Dave Powell [email protected]
THIS TRIP IS FULL. A bit early for spring migration but who knows? Wheaton RP always surprises us. Ducks, woodpeckers, flycatchers, raptors (sometimes a Merlin!), bluebirds, towhees are all possible, and if you don’t know WRP you will enjoy the variety of terrain and landscape. Limit: 12 in two groups of 6 each. CO-LEADERS: Evelyn Ralston at [email protected] and Martha Morris at [email protected].