Vol. 42. No 4 The Maryland Yellowthroat November 2022 Birders at dawn at Lake Baringo, Kenya. Read Mike Bowen's account of his summer Africa experience, as well as the summaries of the adventures of other MOS members, in Chapter Chatter Photo by Mike Bowen In this Issue President's Corner Page 3 MD-DC BBAC Block Adoption Page 7 iel Fol New Business from the September Page 3 pSamrisuhe, 10th Board Meeting : J Spotlight on Piscataway MOS Page 8 Hog Island MOS Scholarship Update Page 5 Sanctuary by Anna Urciolo by Marcia Watson and Jeremy Castle MBCP Update Page 5 Maryland/DC Records Committee Status Page 13 by Chris Eberly Report by Phil Davis YMOS News - Fall, 2022 Page 5 ; by George Radcliffe Excerpt from Feather Bound: A History of Page 16 Birds and People” Washington College Establishes the Page 6 by Colin Rees Eirik A.T. Blom Ornithology Internship Chapter Chatter Page 19 by G S | y Gene scarpula by Jean Wheeler NOVEMBER 6, 2022 The Maryland Yellowthroat Publication of the Maryland Ornithological Society Editor: Dave Wood Copy Editor: Susan Pardew Yellowthroat@mdbirds.org Calendar Editor: Marilyn Veek Chapter Chatter: Jean Wheeler calendar@mdbirds.org jswheeler3@verizon.net Mailing List: Maryanne Dolan Webmaster: Tom Strikwerda maryanne.dolan@gmail.com webmaster@mabirds.org Editor's Note We are fortunate in this issue to feature an excerpt from "Feather Bound: A History of Birds and People,” a book manuscript being prepared by Colin Rees, a conservation biologist with worldwide experience and a long-time active member of MOS. Colin's book explores how 25 different birds found in the British Isles and North America have affected people through the ages in such arenas as folklore, religion, art, music, and literature, as well as more utilitarian concerns, among them food, recreation, and medicine. As Colin puts it in his prologue: "We are touched by birds in many ways: through study, contemplation and inspiration for literature, art, and music. They are symbols of joy and love, objects of frustration or bitter controversy, admiration, beauty, freedom, and life itself. They have provided food, materials, and sport, but have also been seen as competitors for which many have been persecuted and subjected to mindless cruelty. And many now face grave threat. Accordingly, | have taken these threads to weave chapters on the history of 25 species and explore man’s interactions with them over the centuries: the mystical and symbolic, the practical, and the socio-cultural, including language - what has become known as ethno-ornithology." We look forward to letting you know when this manuscript is published. Meanwhile, MOS Montgomery County chapter member Virginia Hartman has also completed a new book, a novel entitled "The Marsh Queen," which features the adventures of a Smithsonian bird artist in Florida. See Virginia's profile in Chapter Chatter. And, while you're there, read about the adventures of other members in such far-flung locales as India, Kenya, and Brazil. You will also learn about MOS Howard County chapter member Jo Solem observing her 300th bird species just in Howard County, proving that you don't need a plane ticket to achieve impressive birding milestones.. We are also grateful to Marcia Watson and Jeremy Castle for contributing their latest installment in their Spotlight on MOS Sanctuary series, this time profiling the Piscataway Sanctuary in Prince George's County. Phil Davis updates us on the latest decisions by the MD/DC records committee. Gene Scarpula alerts us to a new ornithology internship at Washington College that honors the late, noted ornithologist and MOS member, Eirik A.T. Blom. We get updates on the MOS Hog Island Scholarship program, the Youth Program, the Breeding Bird Atlas 3, and the Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership. And, we present the first President's Corner message from the new MOS president, Bonnie Borsa, following in the footsteps of John Mckitterick who did so much to keep MOS moving forward. Thanks, John, and welcome Bonnie! And, speaking of moving MOS forward, please check out the MOS volunteer opportunity descriptions on pages 4 and 8. MOS has plenty of ways to get involved in the organization, and we hope you can find some that are rewarding as MOS works to bring people together that want to observe, learn about, conserve, and be inspired by our avian heritage. 2 MDBIRDS.ORG President’s Corner Greetings to all members of MOS! | am pleased to be writing my very first "President's Corner" message to society members! It is a pleasure to be at the helm of an organization of like-minded souls - a love of birds is the common thread for all 1900+ of us scattered around the state! A little biography: | was born and raised in Ohio and attended Miami University (in Ohio). | was a biology major, and took ornithology and was hooked! Weekend field trips were to Magee Marsh, which was then called Crane Creek. There was no boardwalk, but there were LOTS of birds; with showy warblers down low, all over. It was such a rude awakening to discover that this was FAR from the norm! | came to Frederick in the 80's to do postdoctoral work at NCI. When | left for Maryland, my grandmother told me that | was returning to the family roots since our forebears were from Smithsburg, and that | should investigate the names "Griffin," "Stouffer," and "Russell". | have yet to do so! My husband Bill and | have two sons and a daughter-in-law. | have been a member of the Frederick Bird Club for decades, and was vice-president for two years and president for three years. | look forward to my next phase of being president of MOS! Our 15 MOS chapters stretch from Western Maryland Allegheny/Garrett chapter to Tri-County chapter at the farthest reach of the Eastern Shore. We look for breeding warblers in the mountains and seabirds at the coastline. We cover the state, which means that face-to-face communication and interaction is often difficult. Chapter sizes range from less than 20 to well over 400; therefore we face different problems, and run our chapters with great independence. Yet, we have many similarities; all chapters need a place to meet, to schedule speakers and field trips; we all need officers and other volunteers. Understandably, many members focus on their own chapters and have not explored what other chapters have or do, or what MOS is all about. One of my major goals is to encourage members to learn more about what our entire society has, does and offers! A second major goal is to examine what MOS does - how do we spend our money - do our expenditures align with our mission statement? What do we get in return from our support of various projects or initiatives? Our returns might be concrete or intangible, but we need to acknowledge that what we support aligns with our goals - and we need a way to measure success. The focus of our September 10th Board of Directors meeting was to begin discussion on issues our society is facing. Discussion topics over the next months: 1) We need to develop strategies to attract new leadership at both chapter and state levels. 2) We need to evaluate our convention format - do we want to offer overnights or one-day picnics? Does the structure of the Conservation Committee and Scholarship Committee still meet our mission goals? YOUR INPUT IS WELCOME! | value and appreciate the opinions and experiences of our members!. You can contact me at bonnie.borsa@md.birds.org or telephone / text me at 301-606-9383. | AM ASSIGNING YOU HOMEWORK! THOROUGHLY EXPLORE THE MOS WEBSITE!!! Check out out the MOS calendar - and see if there are meetings or field trips in other chapters that you want to attend. Learn about our 10 sanctuaries. Browse the Birder's Guide to find details about the best birding sites in every county! Learn about our partnership with MBCP; about how the Breeding Bird Atlas is going; about what we do at conventions. Do you have a child or grand-child interested in birding - look at the description of YMOS. Take a bit of time to immerse yourself in what MOS is and does! Good Birding! Bonnie Borsa President, MOS NEW BUSINESS FROM THE SEPTEMBER 10TH BOARD MEETING: Sanctuaries: Jeremy Castle as the new Sanctuary Chair. Election of Vice President: Evelyn Ralston of the Montgomery Chapter has stepped up to Vice-president. Conservation Chair Emeritus: Kurt Schwarz was appointed to Conservation Chair Emeritus for his outstanding contributions to the Conservation Committee. Volunteer to thank donors: Ed Vigezzi volunteered to send thank you notes for any MOS donations, relieving the Treasurer of this responsibility. Convention Registration Fee: The registration fee for the May convention was capped at $50. Maryland Ornithological Society 3 Volunteers Wanted! VOLUNTEER OPENINGS: INSURANCE LIAISON: We need insurance for MOS field trips, the convention, etc. It ould be great to have a knowledgeable volunteer to be the liaison with the company or when we have questions. YMOS VOLUNTEER: George Radcliffe and Wayne Bell shoulder the work for running MOS - help would be greatly appreciated!! GRANT WRITER: Do you have experience writing grants? Obtaining grant money to help fund expensive projects - such as the finished products for the BBA3 - would be a great help to our society. VOLUNTEERS FOR CONVENTION ASSISTANCE: REGISTRAR. (written by Tom Strikwerda) The MOS Convention Committee needs a Registrar for the Wisp Convention in 2023. The Registrar works closely with the Convention Committee, in particular the Convention Chair and the MOS webmaster, to monitor online registrations, process any paper registrations, and assist the Chair with the convention program. Closer to the convention the Registrar onitors online field trip sign ups, and helps with cancellation requests, makes volunteer assignments and works with the Chair to create registration packets. A more detailed list of duties and the timeline are available from the Convention Chair convention@mdbirds.org). CONVENTION FIELD TRIP LEADER: Are you knowledgeable about Western Maryland birding sites and trails? Your expertise is needed! REGISTRATION DURING CONVENTION: Starting Friday morning, we have a registration table to hand out registration packets and orient attendees. Volunteers ould be asked to arrive Thursday afternoon to help stuff registration envelopes, and o help Friday morning. And consider writing for the Yellowthroat! Our journal is the perfect way to share your thoughts with MOS members across the state. We can print opinions about bird-related issues in our Members Perch section, and we are trying to gather short accounts of the most exciting, unexpected, and/or embarrassing birding adventures hat you might have had. And, if you would like to discuss an article idea, please let us Know. It's time to tap into the deep reservoir of experience, expertise, and perspectives in our membership. 4 MDBIRDS.ORG Calling all teachers and naturalists involved with environmental education and conservation For details regarding the application process, please check the MOS web site: https://mdbirds.org/education/ Gearing up the Audubon Hog Island 2023 The Audubon Hog Island camp in Maine has been in existence for 86 years. 2023 will mark the 50th anniversary of the Puffin Restoration which is significant. Check out their website to learn more about this camp: httos://hogisland.audubon.org/ MOS has awarded scholarships to many people over the years to attend a workshop at Audubon Hog Island camp. | should take some time and research our history and connection with this camp, perhaps for a future issue of the Yellowthroat. All of the information about applying for a scholarship is on our website. | send flyers out to all of the Maryland county schools, nature centers, and environmental education centers mid-September. Applicants send a letter of intent, a resume, and two recommendations, one from a supervisor and one from an MOS member. The applicants do not have to be an MOS member. Camp logistics had been altered in 2021 and 2022 to accommodate campers safely. Last summer the camp returned a bit to its original state of cabins and numbers of campers accepted. This year's registration for scholarship groups (like ours) was open early on October 10th and normal registration began a few weeks later. However, we chose to make our deadline for applications on November ‘st and will announce the recipients a week later. The usual workshops that are available for applicants are “Joy of Birding, Field Ornithology, and Sharing Nature: an Educator's Week.” This year one person also chose “Arts and Birding - Sketching and Painting” which is what she concentrates on and teaches at her nature center. Last year’s MOS scholarship recipients have written short reports about their time spent in the camp, concentrating on what they've learned and what they can take back to their work situations in schools and nature centers. There is always a great deal of gratitude from these campers for what MOS has done for them and the spark they get from the camp lasts a very long time. Anna Urciolo, MOS Scholarship Chair YMOS NEWS - Fall 2022 YMOS has resumed a full slate of trips this fall with trips to Bombay Hook, Patuxent Refuge, and Cape May. The group is planning another Photo Big Day in December to raise money for an environmental cause, as they did last year. The group continues to grow in size, adding several remarkable younger students just in the last two months. While several years ago, there was discussion of how to recruit new members, we now have a group of considerable size. This year, we have had over 50 students attend a trip with 33 students and many parents on the Patuxent trip alone. In the last five years, the group’s median age has dropped from 714 to 11. After our successful run at last May’s World Series of Birding, the students are excited about returning to New Jersey next May 13. We plan to send high, middle, and elementary school teams again and a carbon-free team. We may be sending more than usual with even more students in the group. While the event is billed as a competition, it is, first and foremost, a fantastic learning opportunity for any student. The Birdathon, which we will hold March 18-19 of next year, will raise the needed funds to send teams to the event. Our participation in the World Series would be impossible without the fantastic support of so many MOS members. We again send out a hearty thank-you. George Ratcliffe MBCP Update by Chris Eberly, Executive Director, Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership Maryland Bird Conservation News You may know by now that in the last 50 years we have lost 3 billion birds from the breeding population in North America. A study published in the journal Science three years ago documented the decline in detail (see https://www.3billionbirds.org/). Why should we be concerned about this? We all love birds and enjoy going to places in our neighborhoods, county, state, and even other countries to watch birds. Our actions today will help determine If our children and grandchildren will be able to enjoy watching birds as we do. The Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership (MBCP) focuses on the 143 bird Species of Greatest Conservation Need identified in Maryland's State Wildlife Action Plan as needing immediate conservation attention. American Kestrels in North America have declined by almost 50% in the last 50 years and their distribution in Maryland was reduced by a third between the first and second Breeding Bird Atlases. Barns Owls have a worldwide distribution and are declining in many areas, especially in the Maryland Ornithological Society 5 northeast United States and Maryland. The Farmland Raptor Program is a collaboration with ongoing nest box monitoring efforts around the state that utilize volunteer community scientists to monitor boxes during the breeding season. These species lack sufficient nesting structures and habitat. The program aims to work with willing landowners to educate them on habitat requirements and install nest boxes where appropriate. Aerial insectivores (swallows, swifts, nightjars) have declined by a third in the last 50 years. However, Chimney Swifts have declined by two-thirds (67%)! The Chimney Swift Conservation Program seeks to educate homeowners on how swifts and use of their chimneys are compatible. We also encourage building swift towers for additional nesting opportunities. The Maryland Ornithological Society (MOS) is one of our most important partners in these efforts. Our programs cannot function without the help and support of people like you - members of MOS! MOS Chapters can play a big role in coordinating people and activities at a county level. If you have the tools and willingness to help build nesting boxes and towers, we can especially use your help! | invite MOS chapters and members to consider how they can help our Farmland Raptors and Chimney Swifts by working with MBCP on these conservation programs. For other simple things we all can do to help birds see httos://marylandbirds.org/s/ Seven-Simple-Actions-to-Help-Birds.pdf). Let’s give birds a helping hand! Washington College Establishes the Eirik A. T. Blom Ornithology Internship By Gene Scarpulla - Editor,Maryland Birdlife Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, has announced the establishment of the Eirik A. T. Blom Ornithology Internship. Rick Blom, as he was known, was an eminent ornithologist and member of the Maryland Ornithological Society. Rick passed away in December 2002. Rick had several connections to Washington College. Toddler Rick and his family lived there for four years while his father, Lee E. Blom, attended the College, graduating in 1951. For a few semesters, 21-year-old Rick attended the College studying English. There, he met his first wife, Bonnie Kerr, and they were married in her senior year. Rick was a prolific author, editor, and project leader. Some of his contributions included serving as the Project Coordinator for theAtlas of the Breeding Birds of Maryland and the District of Columbia; Co-Chief Consultant for the first and second editions of theNational Geographic Society Field Guide to the Birds of North America; Editor ofBirding, the journal of the American Birding Association; Mid-Atlantic Region Co-Editor forAmerican Birds; Contributing Editor for Bird Watcher's Digest (Blom on Birds, Quick Takes, Species Profile, Book Notes); researcher and writer for The BWD Skimmer and Backyard Bird News; major contributor forBird Watching for Dummies; and Adjunct Faculty at The Johns Hopkins University where he taught continuing education birdwatching courses. In recent years, Rick’s former wife Bonnie became aware of studies that were being conducted at the Foreman's Branch Bird Observatory (originally founded as the Chino Farms Banding Station) at Washington College. Since 2018, Bonnie has contributed to the Bird Observatory’s Ornithology Scholarship, honoring Rick’s memory and his ornithological accomplishments by supporting internships for students. The Ornithology Scholarship was started as a fund to attract students interested in wild birds to Washington College and to its River and Field Campus. In June 2022, Bonnie met with Fannie Hobba Shenk, Washington College's 1782 Society and Alumni Engagement Director, to discuss Rick’s Washington College connection, his stature in the ornithological community, and the possibility of naming the scholarship after Rick. In July 2022, it was agreed that renaming the Ornithology Scholarship as the “Eirik A. T. Blom Ornithology Internship” would not only honor a great man, but also more aptly describe the student's program. Foreman’s Branch Bird Observatory (FBBO) is the only major migratory banding station on the Delmarva Peninsula. Founded in 1998, FBBO monitors spring and fall avian migration and collaborates with external partners on research projects ranging from how light affects migratory birds, to the testing of bird friendly glass. Eirik A. T. Blom interns will learn to identify and safely handle wild birds under the guidance of federally-licensed staff. They will gain insight into the uses of bird banding data, current threats to birds, and current research in avian biology. Any current Washington College student with a keen interest in wild birds is eligible to receive the internship. Students must have time in their schedule for early mornings at the FBBO banding station, an eagerness to be 6 MDBIRDS.ORG Eirik A. T. Blom Ornithology Internship Continued from Page 6 outdoors, and a passion for the environment. While most of the interns are majoring in biology, environmental science, and environmental studies, students of all majors are welcome to apply. Students awarded the Eirik A. T. Blom Internship will receive $1,500 to cover the students’ internship costs for one semester. The Internship currently funds three students per year but the College is looking for ways to open up the experience to more of their students. The Internship is not fully funded and is an open fund capable of receiving gifts from any source. Donations of any amount are welcome to help enrich the birding experience for the interns. If you knew Rick Blom, or are interested in Washington's College’s ornithological programs, or both, perhaps you would like to make a contribution to the Internship fund. You can do this online or by mail as follows: Online *Visit the “Giving at Washington College” webpage - https://www.washcoll.edu/giving/ . *Click on the “Make a Gift” button. *For the designation, select “Other (Specify below)”. *In the “If Other, please specify here” block, enter “Eirik A. T. Blom Ornithology Internship”. By Mail *Write your check made out to “Washington College”. *|ndicate that it is for the “Eirik A. T. Blom Ornithology Internship”. *Mail it to: Fannie Hobba Shenk 1782 Society and Alumni Engagement Director Washington College 300 Washington Avenue Chestertown, MD 21620-1197 Donating is an excellent way to honor Rick's legacy. | invite his, and my, birding friends and colleagues to join me in making a contribution to this worthy fund. Please consider donating. Thank you. MD-DC BBA3 Block Adoption by Gabriel Foley If you asked me to describe breeding bird atlases in one word, I'd probably say, “ambitious”. To effectively map each bird species in the region, an atlas requires tens of thousands of hours from hundreds of volunteers over a relatively short period of time. But Maryland and DC birders are ambitious folks and, as they have in the past, they have proven to be more than up for this challenge. Over the last three years (halfway through the project already!), we have accumulated almost 100,000 hours of atlasing effort and about 700,000 breeding codes. Checklists have been submitted from nearly every block—the most outstanding exception is Harford County's Aberdeen Proving Ground. Despite these tremendous accomplishments, there are still areas that need more attention over the next two years if we are to meet each block's completion criteria. Every 3x3 mile atlas block—the basic atlas sampling unit—has a set of goals that must be completed by the end of the project. These criteria ensure that each block's results can be accurately compared. The criteria are: -20 hours of daytime effort ‘1 hour of nocturnal effort -70 species with breeding codes -<25% Possible breeding codes ->25% Confirmed breeding codes -Effort during all breeding seasons ‘Effort in each habitat type Reaching these goals in 1,302 blocks is not an easy task. ‘Random atlasing’, or simply atlasing wherever you happen to be at the time, is great and much of our data has come from that. But its effectiveness for completing block completion targets decreases as the block gets closer to completion. ‘Strategic atlasing’, or targeting specific places and species that are still needed, is far more efficient and effective. For optimal planning (and stress reduction!) County Coordinators need to know that you are intentionally working towards completing a block. On top of that, to avoid duplicating effort, other atlasers need to knowa block is, effectively, taken care of. By ‘adopting’ a block, you are letting coordinators and other atlasers know that a specific block is effectively taken care of; you'll make sure this block reaches its completion goals. Block adoption is a critical part of successfully completing BBA3, and it reduces the workload for County Coordinators considerably. Of the currently completed blocks, over 90% were adopted—but only half of blocks overall have been adopted. If you haven't adopted a block, please consider doing so; you can always co-adopt a block too, if it seems like a bit much to take on by yourself. You can view a map of adopted blocks here: https://bit.ly/AtlaserBlockTool Maryland Ornithological Society 7 MD-DC BBAS3 Block Adoption Continued from Page 7 To adopt a block, send an email to that county’s coordinator. Each coordinator’s email is the county name followed by “@mdbirds.org” (eg, stmarys@mdbirds.org). You can also email me at mddcbba3@madbirds.org (particularly if you're interested in a Somerset or Wicomico block, since those counties do not have coordinators). The next two years will be busy ones, but the MD-DC atlasing crew (you!) is undoubtedly up for the task. By atlasing strategically and adopting blocks, we'll have no trouble reaching our project goals. Volunteer Needed for Piscataway Sanctuary By Jeremy Castle, MOS Sanctuary Committee Chair Piscataway Sanctuary currently is looking or someone to be its manager. The Sanctuary is an excellent opportunity for Someone to dip their toe into olunteering with MOS. The responsibilities can be as little as organizing trail maintenance once or wice a year. But the opportunity can really be as much as the manager wants o make of it. The sanctuary, just outside DC, is MOS's closest sanctuary to major population centers and borders a Suburban development. The sanctuary’s lose proximity to non-MOS members ould be a great opportunity for education and outreach through MOS-organized bird/nature walks. If you are interested or have questions, feel free o reach out to me at jeremy.castle@mdbirds.org. Spotlight on: Piscataway MOS Sanctuary Prince George’s County By Marcia Watson and Jeremy Castle Note: This article is the sixth in a series spotlighting the ten sanctuaries owned by the Maryland Ornithological Society. The MOS sanctuaries are spread across the state from Garrett County to Somerset County, but the majority are little-known and seldom visited. Yet all the sanctuaries have something to offer the birder, naturalist, or conservationist. If you're looking for a pleasant stroll among stately old trees, Piscataway MOS Sanctuary may fill the bill. The 82-acre sanctuary lies in the watershed of Piscataway Creek, a major tributary of the Potomac River. An unnamed stream that is a tributary of Piscataway Creek flows through a valley at the north end of the sanctuary, and there are many smaller feeder streams. The land is mostly wooded, with beech, oak, tulip poplar, and sweet gum predominating. Some of the trees on the slopes escaped earlier logging and have reached an impressive size. A good understory of dogwood, sassafras, and other small trees is present, with shrubs including spicebush and viburnums. Ferns and spring ephemeral wildflowers form a groundcover. A full assessment of the habitat and vegetation has yet to be conducted. Main entrance at end of Hardy Tavern Drive. Photo by Jeremy Castle. The sanctuary is located in southwestern Prince George's County and was donated to MOS in 2008 by Mid-Atlantic Builders. Part of the sanctuary is protected by a forest easement under Maryland’s Forest Conservation Act. 8 MDBIRDS.ORG Spotlight on: Piscataway MOS Sanctuary Continued from Page 8 The name “Piscataway” comes from the original inhabitants of the area, the Piscataway-Conoy Native American people. Some Piscataway-Conoy people still live in the area today. The name is also used for Piscataway Creek, for a small nearby town, and for Piscataway Park, a National Park Service property located on the Potomac River about 6 miles to the west of the sanctuary. Piscataway MOS Sanctuary is bounded on the north by the residential community “The Preserve at Piscataway,” the development built by the donor who gave the land to MOS. To the south lies Gardner Road Park, a 120-acre county park that is managed as a public hunting area in cooperation with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The main access to Piscataway MOS Sanctuary is from the north, at the end of Hardy Tavern Road in the adjoining residential development. One can park a car on the cul-de-sac just outside the gate or in the gravel MOS parking lot near MOS's covered pavilion; the gate to the gravel lot is closed but not locked. Take the obvious double-track grassy trail down the hill from the parking area, and at the bottom of the hill, turn right (west) to follow the sanctuary's Stream Valley Trail, which parallels an unnamed tributary of Piscataway Creek. The trail can be wet at times, and there are several stream crossings (no bridges), so waterproof footwear is advised. ‘Covered pavilion near parking area. Photo by Jeremy Castle. As of October 2022, it appears that mountain bikers have been using the trail, and it is currently easily walkable, now avoiding a more difficult stream crossing that lies upstream. Once you arrive on the far side of the stream, continue on the trail that runs almost due west. The area may be flooded after heavy rains or snow melt. The Stream Valley Trail ends at the junction of two streams that cannot be crossed on foot because of the width and swift current. Note that there is a large and well-vegetated stormwater pond on the far side of the stream, adjacent to the homes just north of the end of the trail. Linger here a while to watch for flying waterfowl and/or waders. Then turn around here and retrace your steps to return to your Car. Grassy road from parking area to Stream Valley Trail. Photo by Jeremy Castle. Asecond access point to Piscataway Sanctuary is through Gardner Road Park to the south. A gated parking area is located at the north end of Gardner Road; leave your car here and walk northwest into the woods following the obvious double-track old dirt road, which eventually narrows to a single track. The initial half-mile will be on Gardner Road Park property, and then the trail continues into Piscataway Sanctuary; the boundary is marked with a white and green MOS sign on a tree to the left of the trail. Maryland Ornithological Society 9 Spotlight on: Piscataway MOS Sanctuary Continued from Page 9 The mostly flat Gardner Park Road Trail provides easy walking, and takes you through open moist deciduous woodland of oak, beech, and tulip poplar, with several small stands of pine and small streams to both east and west. The trail heads northwest and nears, but does not currently connect with, the Piscataway Sanctuary’s Stream Valley Trail described above. The Gardner Road Park Trail peters out just before the slope that leads down to the stream valley. Turn around here and retrace your steps to the Gardner Road parking area. Mountain bikers help keep the Stream Valley Trail clear. Photo by Jeremy Castle. The Sanctuary Committee hopes to create a connector trail that will link the Stream Valley Trail at the north end of the sanctuary with the trail that comes in from Gardner Road Park, enabling easier exploration of the entire sanctuary. But we need someone to take charge of carrying out such projects. The Sanctuary Committee is currently recruiting for a manager for this sanctuary. See the related article in this issue of the Yellowthroat. Be aware that Gardner Road Park is an active hunting area, and you should not enter Monday through Saturday during hunting season, especially deer seasons (archery, muzzleloader, and shotgun). There may also be hunting on nearby private lands. But note that there is no hunting on Sundays in Prince George's County. Entrance to sanctuary from Gardner Road Park. Photo by Marcia Watson Another area that you might want to check out is along the northern edge of the “Preserve at Piscataway” community. There is a large wetland near the intersection of Floral Park Road and Saint Mary's View Road that often holds good birds. There are no trails into the wetland but good views can be obtained from or near the road. Other excellent birding spots in the area include several National Park Service properties located on the nearby Potomac River: Piscataway Park, especially the Boardwalk Trail and Farmington Landing (aka Wharf Road); Fort Foote Park; Fort Washington Park; and Oxon Cove Park/Oxon Hill Farm. Conservation Value Piscataway MOS Sanctuary is part of a larger conservation landscape that protects the streams and shorelines in the Piscataway Creek/Potomac River watershed. We've already discussed Gardner Road Park to the south of the sanctuary. Another county-owned property, Danville Estates Park (25 acres), is located nearby to the east, along with sizable Homeowners Association tracts - both Danville Estates Park and the Homeowners Association lands are under a Forest Conservation easement. Even 10 MDBIRDS.ORG Spotlight on: Piscataway MOS Sanctuary Continued from Page 10 more land is protected just a short distance away: the county owns a string of parks on the north side of Floral Park Road that protects over 6 linear miles of the Piscataway Creek stream valley all the way to the Potomac River. With nearby Piscataway Park and other National Park Service lands, over 8,000 acres are under permanent protection, a remarkable achievement in this densely populated area on the doorstep of Washington, DC. Piscataway MOS Sanctuary is within an area classified by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as a Targeted Ecological Area. Targeted Ecological Areas are lands and watersheds identified by the DNR as the most ecologically valuable areas in the State; they are considered the “Best of the Best” and receive priority for conservation by the State. The sanctuary is located in an area Classified as Tier 4 - Moderately Significant for Biodiversity Conservation under their Bionet - Biological Diversity Conservation Network initiative. DNR awards Piscataway Sanctuary: e5 stars out of 5 for providing “Habitat Connectivity.” e4 stars out of 5 for providing “Rare Species and Wildlife Habitat.” e4 stars out of 5 for “Support of Aquatic Life.” e4 stars out of 5 for “Forests Important for Water Quality Protection.” e4 stars out of 5 for “Proximity to Other Protected Lands.” The sanctuary is also categorized by DNR as a Green Infrastructure Wildlife Hub. Green Infrastructure refers to the State’s remaining large blocks of forest and wetlands (hubs) and the habitat corridors that connect them. The sanctuary and surrounding lands have also been identified by DNR as important for Forest Interior Dwelling Species. Why visit? As of this writing, an even 100 species of birds have been identified at Piscataway Sanctuary (see eBird hotspot https://ebird.org/hotspot/L5941724), The sanctuary has had modest visitation, with only 35 checklists submitted since the hotspot was established in 2017. Interestingly, some of the checklists date back to the days before the sanctuary was established, with the oldest from December of 1998. These early visits were conducted by family and associates of the principal donor of the sanctuary, and they added their observations to eBird at a later date. The Sanctuary has had a low level of atlasing activity for the Third Breeding Bird Atlas. There are several Probable and Possible breeding records from the sanctuary, but so far, no confirmations of breeding. On the other hand, the majority of confirmed breeding reports for the Piscataway CW atlas block have been made nearby, at the wetlands along Floral Park Road. Canada Geese, Wood Ducks, and Killdeer use the stormwater ponds in the neighboring residential community, and these birds are common flyovers at the sanctuary. eBird includes a longer list of waterfowl at Piscataway Sanctuary, but the majority of these reports date to the late 1990s and early 2000s, when the neighboring development did not yet exist and waterfowl were using natural wetlands in the vicinity. You might still find assorted waterfowl in the wetlands visible from Floral Park Road near the intersection with St. Mary’s View Road, at the entrance to the “Preserve at Piscataway” neighborhood. The woods of Piscataway Sanctuary offer year-round habitat for Wild Turkeys and for small woodland birds such as Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, and White-breasted Nuthatch. Pileated Woodpeckers are found here, along with Red-bellieds, Downies, Hairies, Northern Flickers, and, in winter, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. Other year-round residents include Blue Jays, American and Fish Crows, Carolina Wrens, Northern Mockingbirds, House Finches, American Goldfinches, Eastern Towhees, and Northern Cardinals. Eastern Bluebirds, American Robins, and Cedar Waxwings are present year-round; this trio of birds can often be found in mixed flocks feeding on berry-laden trees and bushes during the cold months. Overhead, watch for Turkey and Black Vultures, Ospreys, Bald Eagles, and assorted flyover waterfowl, gulls, and terns - remember that the Potomac River is only about 5 miles away, to the west. Red-shouldered Hawks and Red-tailed Hawks likely breed in the vicinity; Cooper's Hawks occur in the winter, but have so far not been found during breeding season. Warm-season birds include Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Eastern Phoebes, Eastern Wood Pewees, Acadian Flycatchers, Eastern Phoebes, Great Crested Flycatchers, and Eastern Kingbirds. You might find Great Blue Heron or Green Heron on one of the streams or flying up out of one of the nearby stormwater ponds. Other summer residents include White-eyed and Red-eyed Vireos, House Wrens, Gray Catbirds, Chipping Sparrows, Scarlet Tanagers, and Maryland Ornithological Society 11 Spotlight on: Piscataway MOS Sanctuary Continued from Page 11 Indigo Buntings. Wood Thrushes breed here in the summer, and Veeries have been found during migration. Ovenbirds are so prolific here that one birder who visited in 2009 nicknamed the sanctuary “MOS Ovenbird Alley.” Pine Warblers are present in the small conifer patches in the adjoining Gardner Road Park and on the ridge line on the south side of the sanctuary’s stream valley. Other warbler species that have been found here include Louisiana Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Hooded, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Blue, Palm, Yellow-rumped, and Black-throated Green. Ovenbirds are numerous in spring and summer. Photo by Dominic Nucifora Wntering species include both Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Brown Creeper, Hermit Thrush, Field Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, and Song Sparrow. When entering the sanctuary from the Gardner Road side, be alert for possible Northern Bobwhite in the grassy fields near the intersection of Gardner Road and Accokeek Road. This area was one of the last strongholds for bobwhite in Prince George's County; the last report was in spring of 2017. Eastern Meadowlarks can also be found in the fields along Gardner Road. We encourage anyone who is in the area to visit and submit an eBird checklist, especially during breeding season, when we hope you will submit checklists with breeding codes through the BBA3 Atlas portal. Please feel free to include notes on other wildlife and on plants and habitat in your checklist comments. Hours: Daylight hours year-round. The sanctuary is located n a residential area and care should be taken to avoid disturbing the neighbors. Parking: Small gravel lot at the sanctuary’s north (main) entrance at 14302 Hardy Tavern Road. The gate to the lot is kept closed but not locked. At the south side, there is a partly paved, partly gravel lot at Gardner Road Park, at the north end of Gardner Road. Location: Piscataway Sanctuary is located in southwestern Prince George's County, just 10 miles south of the DC Beltway (I-495/I-95). The main entrance is at 14300 Hardy Tavern Dr, Accokeek, MD 20607. GPS Coordinates: 38.693750, -76.949573. The sanctuary can also be reached on foot from Gardiner Road Park to the south; parking for Gardiner Road Park is at the north end of Gardiner Road, approximate street number 14700; GPS Coordinates: 38.688063, -76.947917. For detailed directions and printable sanctuary map, see the Birder’s Guide entry at https://birdersguidemddc.org/site /piscataway-mos-sanctuary/ or use Google maps (https://goo.gl/maps/ZHsY42AZ2wVsBMq3z8.) Cost: Free. Donations to the MOS Sanctuary Fund are always appreciated; donate online at https://mdbirds.org/conservation/refuges-sanctuaries/ #toggle-id-4, Tips: Trails at the park are not regularly maintained and during the warm months, you will encounter tall vegetation. There are also wet stream crossings - no bridges. Wear sturdy closed-toe hiking boots and take precautions against ticks and chiggers. Hunting is not permitted on sanctuary grounds, but the adjoining Gardiner Road Park is a public hunting area, and hunting may also take place on nearby private lands. Be aware of hunting seasons (https://dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide/ Documents/Hunting Seasons _Calendar.pdf) and plan your visit accordingly. Wear blaze orange during deer and turkey hunting seasons. There is no hunting on Sundays in Prince George's County. No restrooms. 12 MDBIRDS.ORG Spotlight on: Piscataway MOS Sanctuary Continued from Page 12 Wheelchair Access:The sanctuary is not wheelchair-accessible. However, limited birding is possible from or near the car at the main parking area off Hardy Tavern Road, or at the parking area for Gardner Road Park. Best Seasons: Spring and fall migration and early summer for breeding birds. Breeding Bird Atlas Block: Piscataway CW Multimedia: See photos in the Google Maps Photo Gallery at https://goo.gl/maps/Lr4UTNRWmPxDXxI]c8 (scroll down in the panel on the left for photos). About the authors: Jeremy Castle is the Chair of the MOS Sanctuary Committee and is a member of the Patuxent Bird Club; he lives in Washington, DC. Marcia Watson is the President of the Patuxent Bird Club and the secretary of the MOS Sanctuary Committee. Maryland/DC Records Committee Status Report as of October 21, 2022 by Phil Davis, MD/DCRC Secretary The Maryland/DC Records Committee (MD/DCRC) has reached the following record decisions since the latest committee status report was published in The Maryland Yellowthroat. This report covers MD/DCRC review packages 192 through 193. MD/DCRC report numbers are shown in brackets. These records will be addressed in additional detail in a future issue of Maryland Birdlife. New "state" species (marked with asterisks) include Heermann's Gull and Slaty-backed Gull for Maryland and Roseate Spoonbill for DC. These additions bring the total species on the Official Lists of the Birds of Maryland and DC to 461 and 344, respectively. More information on the MD/DCRC can be found on the committee's web page at the following URL: httos://mdbirds.org/records-committee/ MD Records Accepted: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck,Dendrocygna autumnalis [MD/2022-026] Susquehanna Flats, Havre de Grace, Harford County. 25-Aug-2020. One bird. Tufted Duck,Aythya fuligula [MD/2022-031] Fort Howard Park, Baltimore, Baltimore County. 21-Feb-2022 through 23-Feb-2022. One male. Barrow's Goldeneye,Bucephala Islandica [MD/2022-027] Point Lookout State Park, Scotland, Saint Mary's County. 06-Feb-2022 through 12-Feb-2022. One male. Black-chinned Hummingbird,Archilochus alexandri [MD/2021-140] North Beach, Calvert County. 31-Oct-2021 through 08-Nov-2021. One bird. Clapper Rail,Rallus crepitans [MD/2021-133] Inner Harbor area, Baltimore City. 07-Sep-2006. One bird. Clapper Rail,Ra/lus crepitans [MD/2022-039] Annapolis, Anne Arundel County. 12-Apr-2022. One bird. Northern Lapwing, Vanellus vanellus [MD/2021-138] Starr Road pond, Centreville, Queen Anne's County. 21-Dec-2021 through 04-Mar-2022. One bird. Northern Lapwing, Vanellus vanellus [MD/2022-032] Blackwater NWR, Cambridge, Dorchester County. 14-Mar-2022. One bird. Thick-billed Murre,Uria lomvia [MD/2022-029] Pelagic Zone, Worcester County. 12-Feb-2022. One bird. Thick-billed Murre,Uria lomvia[MD/2022-028] Pelagic Zone, Worcester County. 12-Feb-2022. One bird. Thick-billed Murre,Uria lomvia [MD/2022-030] Ocean City Inlet, Ocean City, Worcester County. 16-Feb-2022 through 26-Feb-2022. Two birds. Sabine's Gull,Xema sabini [MD/2019-175] Atlantic Ocean, Pelagic Zone, Worcester County. 07-Sep-2012. One adult. Maryland Ornithological Society 13 Maryland/DC Records Committee Status Report Continued from Page 13 Sabine's Gull,Xema sabini [MD/2020-058] Piscataway Park, Accokeek, Prince George's County. 13-Sep-2020 through 14-Sep-2020. One bird, juvenile plumage. Sabine's Gull,Xema sabini [MD/2021-111] Claiborne Landing, Claiborne, Talbot County. 20-Sep-2021. One bird. *Heermann's Gull,Larus heermanni [MD/2022-037] Pier 5, Baltimore City. 31-Mar-2022 through 05-Apr-2022. One sub-adult. *Slaty-backed Gull,Larus schistisagus [MD/2022-003] Swan Creek Wetland, Curtis Creek, Anne Arundel County. 14-Jan-2022 through 29-Jan-2022. One adult. Magnificent Frigatebird,Fregata magnificens [MD/2022-051] (Assateague on 5/21; various Ocean City area sightings on 5/22), Worcester County. 21-May-2022 through 22-May-2022. One immature. Brown Booby,Sula leucogaster [MD/2021-137] Ocean City Inlet, Ocean City, Worcester County. 19-Dec-2021. One adult. Brown Booby, Sula leucogaster [MD/2022-036] Maryland Wind Farm, Pelagic Zone, Worcester County. 31-Dec-2021. One adult. Roseate Spoonbill, Platalea ajaja[MD/2021-084] Violette’s Lock, Seneca, Montgomery County. 19-Jul-2021. One bird. Roseate Spoonbill, Platalea ajaja [MD/2021-085] Southwest Area Park, Landsdown, Baltimore County. 20-Jul-2021 through 21-Jul-2021. One bird. Roseate Spoonbill, Platalea ajaja [MD/2021-090] Sligo Creek Golf Course, Silver Spring, Montgomery County. 21-Jul-2021. One adult. Roseate Spoonbill, Platalea ajaja [MD/2022-057] Violettes Lock, Seneca, Montgomery County. 26-Jul-2021 through 31-Jul-2021. One immature. Roseate Spoonbill, Platalea ajaja [MD/2021-087] Potomac River, Fort Washington, Prince George's County. 28-Jul-2021. Two birds. Roseate Spoonbill, Platalea ajaja [MD/2021-091] Lake Frank, Derwood, Montgomery County. 02-Aug-2021. One bird. Roseate Spoonbill,Platalea ajaja [MD/2021-096] Monocacy River, Frederick and Carroll Counties. 08-Aug-2021 through 16-Aug-2021. One bird. Roseate Spoonbill, Platalea ajaja [MD/2021-097] Loch Raven Reservoir, Towson, Baltimore County. 09-Aug-2021 through 30-Aug-2021. One bird. Roseate Spoonbill,Platalea ajaja [MD/2021-126] Oxon Hill wetlands, Oxon Hill, Prince George's County. 15-Aug-2021. One bird. Roseate Spoonbill,Platalea ajaja [MD/2021-106] Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Lexington Park, Saint Mary's County. 22-Aug-2021. One bird. Scissor-tailed Flycatcher,7Tyrannus forficatus [MD/2022-041] St Inigoes, Saint Mary's County. 30-Apr-2022. One bird. Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Tyrannus savana [MD/2022-045] Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, Prince George's County. 30-May-2022. One bird. Northern Shrike,Lanius borealis [MD/2021-136] Blue Mash Nature Trail, Laystonsville, Montgomery County. 16-Dec-2021 through 19-Feb-2022. One bird. 14 MDBIRDS.ORG Maryland/DC Records Committee Status Report Continued from Page 14 Henslow's Sparrow, Centronyx henslowii [MD/2022-046] Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, Prince George's County. 03-May-2022 through 03-Jun-2022. One bird. Savannah Sparrow (Ipswich),Passerculus sandwichensis princeps [MD/2021-141] Poplar Island, Sherwood, Talbot County. 28-Dec-2021 through 22-Mar-2022. At least three birds, probably more. Lazuli Bunting,Passerina amoena [MD/2022-001] Gunpowder Falls State Park, Baldwin, Harford County. 02-Jan-2022. One female. MD Records Not Accepted: Cinnamon Teal,Spatula cyanoptera [MD/2022-035] Loch Raven Reservoir, Phoenix, Baltimore County. 07-Mar-1993. One adult male. Barrow's Goldeneye,Bucephala islandica [MD/2022-004] Wye Island Natural Resources Management Area, Queenstown, Queen Anne's County. 15-Jan-2022. Two males, one female. Western Grebe,Aechmophorus occidentalis [MD/2022-033] Loch Raven Reservoir, Cockeysville, Baltimore County. 18-Mar-2022. One adult. Black Rail,Laterallus jamaicensis [MD/2021-134] Point Lookout State Park, Scotland, Saint Mary's County. 21-Nov-2021. One bird. Loggerhead Shrike,Lanius ludovicianus [MD/2020-085] Hancock, Washington County. 13-Aug-2007. One bird. Savannah Sparrow (Ipswich),Passerculus sandwichensis princeps [MD/2022-025] Blackwater NWR, Cambridge, Dorchester County. 13-Jan-2022. One bird. Boat-tailed Grackle, Quiscalus major [MD/2022-044] Pat Lane, Huntingtown, Calvert County. 15-May-2022. One bird. DC Records Accepted: Sabine's Gull,Xema sabini[| DC/2020-057] Potomac River, SW, Washington Sailing Marina, Potomac River. 09-Sep-2020 through 11-Sep-2020. One bird, juvenile plumage. *Roseate Spoonbill,Platalea ajaja [DC/2021-088] Anacostia, NE, Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, Kenilworth Park. 31-Jul-2021 through 01-Aug-2021. One adult. Other Committee News: Taxonomy:The MD/DCRC’s web products (Official Lists, Review Lists, etc.) have been updated to reflect the 2022 AOS 63rd Checklist Supplement. The only change that directly affects our regional checklists is the reordering of the Troglodytidae (Wren) family. The revised order is: Rock Wren [MD only] Carolina Wren Bewick’s Wren House Wren Winter Wren Sedge Wren Marsh Wren Updates on New “State” Species of Interest Mottled Duck.: The reports of Maryland Mottled Ducks from the Carderock area of Montgomery County are being readied for review by the committee. Pacific-slope Flycatcher: COVID restrictions and other complications impeded the DNA analysis of the fecal samples from the Maryland February 2020 Frederick bird. We are putting this effort back on track. Western Wood-Pewee: Our historical analysis of Maryland 1960s-1970s banding and specimen collection records was also impacted by COVID access restrictions to the Smithsonian Institution and Patuxent Refuge. We are also restarting our efforts to try and resolve at least one Maryland historical record via DNA analysis. Maryland Ornithological Society 15 Excerpt from "Feather Bound: A History of Birds and People" by Colin Rees Golden Eagle Comparing him with our national bird, the Bald Eagle, we find that he seems built of finer clay. Forbush, 1925. He clasps the crag with crooked hands: Close to the sun in lonely lands, Ring’d with the azure world, he stands. The Eagle, Tennyson. With its massive size, soaring flight, superior eyesight and formidable hunting prowess,the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) resides proudly in the pantheon of avian royalty. Cultures throughout the Northern Hemisphere have bestowed this “King of Birds” with a mystic reverence and religious significance from the earliest recorded history. To the Ancient Greeks, it symbolized Zeus, their supreme deity; for the Romans, his equivalent was Jupiter (Jove) and, as Aquila, was honored with a constellation in the northern sky. During the deification of a dead Roman emperor (known as an ‘apotheosis’), an eagle freed over the funeral pyre was said to convey the emperor's soul to the heavens.1/ Loss of an eagle standard in battle brought great dishonor to Roman legionnaires. The pyre of Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus (63BC - 14AD). The first funeral during which an eagle was released, symbolizing the Emperor's soul set free from his body. The symbolism deepened when the Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder(who called the Golden Eagle the “most honorable and strongest of all birds”) made reference in his Natural History (c. 100 AD) to an eagle that fights a gigantic snake, the serpent wrapping itself around the giant bird so tightly that the two appeared to bea two-headed animal. The image's significance centers on a duality: a battle of good vs. evil; the eagle as a symbol of the power, king of the sky, and the snake as a symbol of the earth; a battle of the present vs. the past; and a dynamic amalgamation of opposites, forming a sort of ying and yang, which the poet Shelley picks up in his poem The Revolt of Islam: When the Snake and the Eagle meet - the world’s foundations tremble. Early Welsh folklore provides many tales drawing upon pre-Christian mythology. Lleu Llaw Gyffes, a 'Divine Warrior’ and Master Craftsman in the fourth book of The Mabinogion,escapes death from a hunter’s spear by assuming the shape of an eagle. The magician Gwydion then restores him to human form. 16 MDBIRDS.ORG Feather Bound: A History of Birds an People Continued from Page 16 Photo on previous page: Lleu rises in the form of an eagle. Image from The Mabinogion, Guest, 1877. The eagles of Snowdonia (in Welsh eryri, ‘the places of eagles’) in North Wales were thought to possess mysterious powers; a golden eagle flying high foretold the birth of a great hero or victory in battle, while flying low over valleys and uttering a yelping bark predicted death or disease (not surprising given that golden eagle’s few vocalizations have been described as weak, “quite pathetic” and “puppy like”). A lone eagle in the mountains was seen as a portent of the imminent arrival of an enemy, a pair, a symbol of peace. Such was the hold of the eagle's powers that several decades after they disappeared from North Wales, local people believed that if the weather looked threatening, eagles were breeding whirlwinds atop Mount Snowden. To this day, the Welsh name for shingles, eryr, stems from a belief that the descendants of those who have eaten eagle meat possess a certain level of immunity from the condition. Many of these ancient myths were absorbed into Christian mythology. The golden eagle became a symbol of resurrection, founded upon a belief that it periodically renewed its youthful plumage and vigor by flying toward the sun and then plunging aflame into the water (Psalm 103:5 ‘thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.’).The raptor, with its ability to soar until lost to sight, to gaze into the mid-day sun and contemplate divine splendor also emerged as a symbol of Jesus Christ, 2/ and earned God's protection because of the parental care the eagle provided its offspring, Less frequently, though no less potently, the bird evoked the devil or the sins of pride and worldly power and is mentioned in a list of ‘unclean’ animals in Deuteronomy 14: 11-20. Indeed, in earlier times, aspects of the eagle’s anatomy had drawn caution or fear: its gigantic claws earned an association with some ancient claw-bearing zodiac signs (as a stand-in for Cancer's crab - signifying chaos; and Scorpio's scorpion - signifying evil). Further conflicting attributes emerged.The observation that the stronger nestlings often killed the weaker (the phenomenon known as ‘Cainism’), gave the bird a reputation for malice, worsening when accused of stealing infants from cribs and killing domestic animals.3/ Still, in the context of nurturing, a popular medieval myth, stemming from early Christian belief, held that female eagles coerced their young to look straight into the sun. For the eaglet, failure to do so without their eyes watering necessitated being cast out of the nest. This is alluded to in a 12th century Bestiary and in Shakespeare's Henry VI, Part III, Act Il, Scene 1: Nay if thou be that princely bird Show thy descent by gazing ‘against the sun. These attributes were tempered by the belief that the eagle held curative powers.Like the raven and swallow, the eagle kept a magic stone in its nest to alleviate difficulty in laying its eggs, with the consequence that the stones were hunted for their ability to make childbirth easier. The bird's curative powers extended to the use of its body parts, throughout the British Isles, especially in medieval times. Over time, the golden eagle became an important Christian avatar, an embodiment of the inspiration of the gospels. A portrait of St. John shows an eagle carrying the bible in the Lindisfarne Gospels (720 AD). For its time, the plumage is very well illustrated (showing the rachis and the two rows of barbs of each feather), and the beak realistically drawn, suggesting the illumination was created with the bird at hand. In the present day, the bird can be often seen delicately crafted in wood or brass, supporting the bible on church lecterns, its open wings symbolizing the spread of Christianity. St John, with his symbol, an eagle carrying a book. From the Lindisfarne Gospels (715-720). Nowhere has the eagle enjoyed more spiritual significance than among the many native tribes of North America. For Plains warriors, as the largest predatory bird in North America, the Golden Eagle assumed a leadership role as “King of Birds,” serving as a messenger between humans and the creator. Cherokee lore speaks of an eagle that took the form of a fearsome human warrior to avenge the killing of his brother. In the Northeastern woodlands of North America, the Lenape tribe tells the story of a conceited young brave who had plucked a tail feather from an eagle he had baited to bring him luck. The boy was soon seized by a massive eagle who carried him off to a cliff nest and forced him to take care of its chicks, thus t Maryland Ornithological Society 17 Feather Bound: A History of Birds Continued from Page 17 teaching him humility. Evoking parallels with European myths, several Native American cultures represent the eagle as a "thunderbird," a mythical super bird (most often a golden eagle or bald eagle) that created thunder and lightning by beating its wings. The symbol, an emblem of power, is perched regally atop totem poles throughout the Pacific Northwest. As the supreme chief among the native pantheon of natural spirit Totem pole depicting an eagle energies, the Golden Eagle is said to dwell in regal solitude in mystic cedar forests where no human is allowed.The Abenaki of Quebec and the Maritimes of Canada and New England worshiped a solar deity - 'Kisosen,’ meaning "Sun-Bringer,” symbolized as an eagle whose wings opened to create the day and closed to create the night. Beyond myth, feathers and down were used in fans, snares and arrows, shields and spears, and to decorate clothing. In rituals, they were added to prayer sticks and adorned the pipes and rattles of medicine men. In one particularly striking example, the stem of a ceremonial Blackfoot pipe was almost covered by an entire eagle. Frequently, the eagle’s small body feathers were tied to bushes to ward off evil spirits, and the Canadian Sioux reportedly required a tribesman bushes to wait four days after killing an eagle before plucking its feathers. The courage and strength of the mighty ‘warrior’ or ‘war eagle’ was ascribed to the bird's feathers. An individual who owned one in his headdress earned the reverence and respect of other tribal members. Undoubtedly, the most striking use of feathers by Plains tribes lay in their iconic war headdresses made with the white tail feathers of immature eagles, the Golden Eagle's being the most coveted. Upwards of 60 feathers were drawn from as many as five birds and underpinned with plumes plucked from the underside of the tail. Feathers were awarded to warriors only for extreme acts of valor and bravery - a warrior would rather be parted from his horse or tepee than lose his eagle feathers. For some Native American tribes, to partake in tribal councils or to marry and have children required the earning of a feather. The Plains Indian’s Sun Dance ceremony of sacrifice and thanksgiving featured eagle feathers to help deliver of the dancer’s prayers to the Great Spirit. During the Sioux Eagle Dance, the participants wore eagle costumes and mimicked the birds’ movements, while frequently blowing eagle bone whistles and flutes. Should a feather be dropped during a Creek or Cherokee Eagle Dance, the ceremony was stopped, and a special cleansing ceremony performed. . | Se yer Eagle War Dance, Choctaw. George Catlin, 1835-37. Capturing an eagle for its feathers was a sacred act involving elaborate rituals and bows and arrows, nets, Snares, decoys and hooks or pit-traps. Use of the latter allowed the Hidatsa hunters of North Dakota to hide and await the arrival of an eagle. As bait, a stuffed white jackrabbit or coyote bait was laid on the cover with the lung of a buffalo secured nearby. When an eagle settled, the hunter seized both of its legs, climbed out of the pit and tied the bird’s legs and wings. If only one or two eagles were caught, they might be released after the tail feathers had been plucked. Should more be caught, some of them would be killed for the wings to make fans and plume arrows. Three eagle tails yielded enough feathers to make one good war-bonnet, or “maicu-mapuka" (eagle-hat). Hidatsa pit with a hunter awaiting an eagle to seize bait. 18 MDBIRDS.ORG Feather Bound: A History of Birds and People Continued from Page 18 Although reported to have been consumed by many tribal cultures (the Nootka of Vancouver Island sometimes ate a Golden or Bald Eagle in the autumn when the birds were fat from feeding on salmon), eagle meat was used for food only if absolutely necessary; for tribes, eating their meat was expressly forbidden, as was hunting and killing of eagles in general. Mesoamerican culture also held the eagle to be a sacred creature, believing it to have been present at the birth of the sun (hence, the blackened ‘singed’ wing tips). According to legend, the god Huitzilopochtli instructed the Aztecs to establish their capital where they saw an eagle eating a snake while perched on a cactus. Upon their arrival at Lake Texcoco, the settlers witnessed such a sight, and built their great city of Tenochtitlan. The coat of arms and flag of Mexico to this day depicts a duality in keeping with Pliny’s eagle, a battle of good vs evil is evoked here. European colonists of North America viewed the golden eagle with many of the contradictions brought with them from their homelands: admiration of its majesty and prowess on the one hand, death and destruction on the other. Especially from the 19thcentury on, farmers, ranchers and others saw the birds primarily as predators and killed as many as possible. For centuries in Britain, the Golden Eagle, because of its size, was endowed with the name “King or Royal Eagle”, the most spectacular in the sport of falconry and the preserve of kings being introduced by the returning Crusaders. An adept killer of rabbits, other small mammals, and reptiles, an eagle has been clocked chasing a Peregrine Falcon at speeds up to 120 mph. However, it was not until the 19th century that there was any serious attempt to train Golden Eagles with the appropriate methods.For the falconer in North America, the similarly aggressive yet smaller Ferruginous Hawk was used to provide a comparable hunting experience, a practice continuing to this day. udubon, 1833 (left) and Bateman, 1987 (right). Painters readily took to their palettes to capture the bird’s magnificence. Audubon’s painting is justly famous, more so because of its inclusion of a human figure as the female eagle strains to carry of her prey, a northern hare in winter coat. According to Roberta Olson, curator of drawings at the New York Historical Society, the encounter and the experience of painting the bird weighed heavily on Audubon. “He spent two weeks drawing it and after he had finished it, he had a mental breakdown because it took so much out of him.’ Audubon was paying homage to the eagle's inspirational power and the personal struggle he went through when he had to kill the bird. In contrast, the Golden Eagle of Canadian painter Robert Bateman is breathtakingly real, yet symbolic, possessing a depth and integration less well portrayed by Audubon. Symbolism of the Golden Eagle can be found throughout much of the world. It stands as the most common official national animal, representing intimidating power of the state, and appears in connection with many political entities, second only to the sun, moon, and stars in its appearance on Official flags and seals. It might have one or two heads, the latter representing the combination of secular and religious power. The eagle has appeared on coats of arms from the time of the Holy Roman Empire to the Weimar Republic, and its image was ubiquitous in Nazi iconography conveying the power of the regime. Germany called their attack on Britain Adlertag or “Eagle Day” and during the recent Iraq war, the Golden Eagle on the country’s coat of arms can be said to have ‘clashed’ with the American Bald Eagle. A number of interpretations are attached to the scientific naming of the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos). The Latin aquila’' eagle’ is originally from aquilus “dark” and from this to aqua “water”; also "aquilo” of the color of "turbid water”. It’s possible that it was the sea-eagle to which aquila was first given. Alternatively,aqua being derived the root ak-, ‘to be sharp’ is coincident with the eagle’s sharp sight, talonsand beak. The specific epithet, chrysaetos, Greek for Maryland Ornithological Society 19 Feather Bound: A History of Birds and People Continued from Page 19 “Golden Eagle,” is created by combining khrysos “golden” and aetos“eagle." Eagle,egle, in Middle English, derives from the French aigle ,and the common name for the bird appears first in the works of English ornithologist Francis Willughby (1678) and was adopted by succeeding authors. Studies and reported traditions indicate that the Golden Eagle formerly bred in the mountainous regions of eastern North America having been eradicated by gun, trap and poison. Ranchers and farmers of the plains states and provinces long considered eagles a threat to their livestock, and all-out war prevailed in the days before it finally became illegal to poison, trap, or shoot them in 1963. As late as 1971, ranchers in Wyoming hired aircraft with sharpshooters for over seven months to bring down more than 565 Golden Eagles and five Bald Eagles. Under US federal law, it is illegal to possess, use or sell eagle feathers or body parts. Any violation can result ina fine of up to $200,000, one year of imprisonment, or both. However, the law, which is part of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the 100-year old Migratory Bird Treaty Act, stipulates that Native Americans who are members of federally recognized tribes can obtain a permit under the Federally Recognized Tribal List Act of 1994 to hunt Golden and Bald Eagles for the use of their feathers in religious and cultural ceremonies. The National Eagle Repository, which is part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, provides “a central location for the receipt, storage and distribution of eagles found dead and their parts throughout the United States.” Sadly, over hunting drove the golden eagle from Wales and northern England by the 18th century, and pressure on the species in Scotland began during the second half with the arrival of flocks of sheep and, by implication, the killing of lambs and the management of moorland for grouse. Egg theft from wild nests caused Golden Eagle populations to fall to a dangerously low level by the mid 19th century. In Scotland, landowners still persecute the Golden to the point that increasingly large areas of suitable breeding habitat remain unoccupied. The bird became extinct in Ireland at the beginning of the 20th century due to mass killing by farmers, gamekeepers, egg collectors and trophy hunters. Today, the Golden Eagle global population is estimated to exceed 160,000 (80,000 in North America, 18,000 in Europe - 900 in the U.K., almost all residing in Scotland). Happily, on a global scale, the bird is not considered threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. For many, the Golden Eagle remains a compelling emblem of the wilderness. Colloquial Names British and Irish: Black Eagle, Ring-tailed Eagle, Mountain Eagle, Royal Eagle, Goldie and Erne.The old Manx name for the Golden Eagle was Dreain (Druid's bird), and it has been suggested that the Druids originated the phrase ‘King of the Birds.’ In Welsh Eryr Euraid. North American: Black Eagle, Brown Eagle, Grey Eagle, Canadian Eagle, Mountain Eagle, Ring-tailed Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Ringtail, Jackrabbit Eagle, Calumet Eagle, Calumet Bird, War Eagle, War Bird, American War Bird, King of Birds, Bird of Jupiter, Awdler, Lolair, Dubh Irish (black), Erne and Royal Eagle. French Canada: Aigle Royal. Spanish: Aguila Royal. Native American: gi-neu’ (name suggesting War Eagle). The question is often asked why is the wren the King of Birds and not the eagle? The answer to that is believed to go back as far as Aesop's fables (see portrait of the wren). Today, we use many a phrase acknowledging the eagle and its power. We talk of being ‘swift as an eagle’ or ‘fierce as an eagle,’ and the once popular saying ‘The eagle does not catch flies' may originate from the 15th century and suggests that VIPs do not concern themselves with the insignificant. According to Scottish golf lore, the term ‘eagle’was coined as a more impressive extension of the term birdie. These are remnants of sympathetic magic, which enabled our ancestors to take on the power of a bird or other animal. 1/ Some have questioned whether this really took place, or whether the eagle representing a departing soul was simply a literary fantasy, a metaphorical and philosophical construction with no basis of fact. 2/ Best explained by the provision of a translucent “nictitating membrane,” or extra eyelid typical of birds of prey. The word comes from the Latin nictare (to wink), as the eyelid closes to protect the eye. 3/ Such charges of infanticide dating to early times are without foundation, and their taking of lambs is quite rare and invariably involves the stillborn or placental remains. 7 Oct. 22 20 MDBIRDS.ORG ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY On a trip to India’s National Parks in 2022 near the end of their dry season and before the monsoons, we saw lots of birds and animals, especially tigers. The first park we visited was Kaziranga NP in NE India. This park has the endangered Greater One horned Rhinoceros, Asian Elephant and Water Buffalo. Bird highlights were Spot-billed Ducks, Stork-billed Kingfishers and Open-billed Storks. At Keoladeo NP, Grey Herons, Black-winged Stilts and Swamp Hens were in the wetlands. Mammals present there were the Nilgai, Sootted Deer and Rhesus Macaques. Cruising the Chambal River sanctuary, we observed Gharial and Mugger Crocodiles. Birds seen from the boat were Woolly-necked Storks, Great Thick-knee and Pied Kingfisher. At Kanha NP and Bandhavgarh NP, we saw lots of tigers and even witnessed a live kill of a young Spotted deer. Additional mammals included Gaur, Swamp Deer and Grey Langur monkeys. Birds spotted were the beautiful Egyptian Vulture, Asian Paradise Fycatcher and the Indian Pitta. It was extremely hot and dry with daytime temperatures averaging 118° F and the ground temperature 143° F. In the shade you could photograph birds and mammals in relative comfort. 240 bird species were found. India is a fascinating country! Larry Zoller CECIL COUNTY Woodlawn Wildlife Area / New Beginnings is a small gem tucked away in Cecil County near Port Deposit. This was at one time a landfill that is owned by Bridgestone that has been declared a Superfund Site by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. It has been rehabilitated and managed by the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) for the past twenty years. Cecil Bird Club Vice President Ken Drier recently met with the new (WHC) team to discuss plans for the reserve moving forward. Increased trail maintenance has already begun to take place. All new nest boxes will be in place by early spring. Bat houses as well as owl and Kestrel boxes will be placed around the reserve. A local Boy Scout troop has taken on that project. Most importantly the larger of the two meadows will be cut, thus insuring that the landfill cover remains intact. An in-depth look and description of Woodlawn can be found on a Birder’s Guide to Maryland and DC on the MOS website. Turkey Point in the Elk Neck State Park is hosting the second year of a Maryland's Biodiversity Project. This consists of a morning flight count conducted at the point where the lighthouse sits. Similar to the Cape May Bird Observatory’s count this is done daily from 15 minutes before sunrise until activity slacks off later in the morning. The on going count is from August 1st through the end of November. Jonathan Irons is the lead counter this year for the project. As of mid September 156 species of birds, or more than 25,000 individuals, have flown over the point. This is truly remarkable. Turkey Point has always been the spot to visit in the Fall. Hope you will put it on your calendars for future reference. Ken Drier HOWARD COUNTY “300th" species in Howard County for Jo Solem Howard County Bird Club would like to take a moment to congratulate one of our longest time members, Jo Solem, on her 300th county bird. Joe Hanfman puts Jo's accomplishment in perspective: “An amazing feat. There have only been 312 birds seen in Howard County, and Jo has seen 96% of them. There is no one in the state who has a higher percentage of county birds seen in any of Maryland's 23 counties.”A special number for the 50th anniversary of our club! Jo Solem observing her 300th bird species Photo by Kristin Trouton Jo saw the Western Kingbird, her 300th bird in Howard County, at Mount Pleasant on September 20, 2022. The kingbird was first spotted at the Howard County Conservancy (Mount Pleasant) by Allen Lewis in the morning of September 20 and was observed by many others when word was spread. Maryland Ornithological Society 21 Jo is a lifelong birder and has been active in the Howard County Bird Club since its first year (1972). She wrote "Birding Howard County, Maryland" and "Attracting Birds in the Maryland Piedmont". Jo has served as president of the Bird Club, was an initiator of the statewide Midwinter Bird Count, and since 1979 has compiled Howard County bird records for several publications. Currently she is chair of the club’s Fiftieth Anniversary Committee. Kelsey Wellons MONTGOMERY COUNTY Bruce Crise sent a photo of his giant zinnia patch with the following note:"This summer | kept up my tradition of planting 40 - 50,000 zinnias in my side yard. It’s 1.5 pounds of seed, a high density planting as a “choke” crop keeping the weeds blocked out. The flowers have been a magnet for hummingbirds. It’s been great fun watching them in their territorial jousting above the flowers. Also, for those Marylanders who know him, my son Owen summered in Philadelphia after finishing his junior year at U of Penn and reported spending time on the bridges spanning the Schuylkill River watching Peregrine Falcons launch from skyscraper rooftops to prey upon doves and pigeons.” Bruce Crise’s giant Zinnia patch! Photo by Bruce Crise Virginia Hartman answered the call for personal milestones with the news that her novel "The Marsh Queen" (Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster) was launched on September 6."Until then, | was really enjoying the birds in my backyard. Since then, I've been kind of busy! It seems like all I've done is talk birds. The protagonist is a bird artist at the Smithsonian who comes originally from a swampy area of Florida, and she has to go back there and canoe around, coming into contact with the luminous birds of the swamp, along with some unburied secrets. I've had a couple of local readings at bookstores since then and I'm pleased to find that the birds are the most popular feature of the book, and the element that garners the most questions.” “This isa marvelous debit. witty and wine.” —ALICE MeO ERMOTT 22 MDBIRDS.ORG Michael Bowen writes that he and Anne Cianni joined 4 other North American birders on a 2-week safari in Southwest and Central Kenya, in August, 2022. "The trip was led by Brazilian/former Englishman Andrew Whittaker and ran under the auspices of Victor Emmanuel Nature Tours. Starting with several days at a hotel on the outskirts of Nairobi, the group spent a full day at Nairobi National Park just outside the city, before moving on to the Keekorok Lodge at the edge of the vast Masai Mara National Reserve, where we stayed for a full week, going out on safari vehicles mornings and afternoons.The lodge had a large hippo pool area where in the early evening guests could watch hippos and water birds while sipping Tusker beers. One day was spent in the Mara Triangle area in the extreme west of the park. Quite apart from the thrill of seeing and photographing a profusion of birds, big and small, the daily sight of seemingly endless lines of thousands of Wildebeest and Zebras on their annual southward migration towards Tanzania was truly mind boggling. Not to mention Lions, Leopards, Cheetahs, Elephants, Giraffes, Rhinos, and several species of antelope. From Masai Mara, our group moved north to Lake Baringo, where we spent a truly magical morning in boats on the lake. The dawn views over the water were spectacular, and the number of Pied Kingfishers was startling. Water birds were everywhere, with Goliath Heron a big favorite of the group. The boat operators had trained an African Fish Eagle to respond to a whistled call and to retrieve a fish thrown from one of the boats. From Baringo, we did the big trek along often dusty and rough roads to the Buffalo Springs and Samburu Nature Reserves, where we stayed at the Samburu Simba Lodge at the edge of the reserve. The terrain was exceeding dry and dusty at the reserves, but despite that we had splendid birding, particularly in the few wet areas that were present by the big shallow river that divides the two reserves. One such area produced an African Painted-snipe, long a target sought by me. After three days at Samburu we had to head back south to Nairobi and our flights home, passing Mount Kenya en route and having terrific views of the peak. What can you say about a trip that gives you over 350 species of birds, 40% of them photographed by an amateur birder? Spectacular is no exaggeration.” Jane Quirk writes that while she was on vacation in British Columbia in June she went to Tofino on Vancouver Island for an afternoon whale-watching trip.” A Life Bird for me was a Pacific puffin with a blackish body unlike whitish Atlantic puffins. We also saw Gray Whales (another lifer for me), sea lions, sea otters, and eagles. So, | had two life sightings, a bird and a whale.” Chris Wright Brazil Dave Wood, his wife Margaret Pennock, brother-in -law Ned Pennock, and three friends took a wonderful three week trip to Brazil this past July. They spent one week in the Pantanal, one week in the Cerrado, and one week in the lower Amazon. The local organization they chose to lead them through the Pantanal and the Cerrado was the Pantanal Bird Club (PBC), which turned out to be basically one person, Braulio Carlos, a superbly knowledgeable Brazilian who had recently rediscovered the Cone-billed Tanager in Emas National Park. This bird had not been observed since the 1930s until Braulio refound it. Our transportation through the Pantanal and Cerrado was in Africa-style safari vehicles, while transportation between these two ecosystems was in a passenger van. Business has been slow for the Pantanal Bird Club however, thanks to COVID, and so vehicle maintenance had been deferred. This resulted in all three vehicles ending up in the shop at some point.in the trip. Nonetheless, it was spectacularly successful. The Pantanal teemed with wading birds, including four species of ibis, Jabiru Storks everywhere, and caiman under every little bridge, over 100 of which we passed over. The bridges got our attention, since many looked a little rickety, and, in fact, one overloaded truck went through one of them just 48 hours after we had driven over it. One morning on the Cuiaba River, in a little boat out of Porto Jofre, we gaped at no less than four Jaguars, a group of Giant Otters porpoising through the water chasing fish, and a pair of Hyacinth Macaws, all before lunch. It is absolutely astonishing to realize that the Brazilians have developed a system on the Cuiaba River in which Jaguar sightings are practically guaranteed. Highlights in the Cerrado included a morning flight of dozens of Blue-winged Macaws gathering at a cliffside clay lick in Chapada dos Guimaraes National Park (we saw no fewer than nine species of macaws in all), a Cone-billed Tanager, and a Maned Wolf, both in Emas National Park. Three hours after spotting the wolf, our safari vehicle fell to earth, so we ended up walking three miles to a ranger station in the dark. This turned out to be a welcome experience: the night was cool, there were no bugs, we needed the exercise, and, best of all, a tapir emerged from the brush, lumbered up to Margaret, and began nuzzling. One wonders how many people on foot this animal had seen previously. At any rate, Margaret was enchanted. And so, regarding the entire trip, were we all. Dave Wood Maryland Ornithological Society 23 A gallery of bird photos from India by Larry Zoller as = se = — Roiesh es Saree Se Wooly-necked Stork Open-billed Stork Indian Pitta 24 MDBIRDS.ORG A gallery of bird photos from Africa by Mike Bowen White-browed Coucal Woodland Kingfisher Masai Mara Reserve Sand River Area Maryland Ornithological Society 25 A gallery of photos from the Brazilian Cerrado by Ned Pennock | A . wee ; Ld # be . | i. : oe | y Y “ sf ! @ , \ A | Ay . a at Cone-billed Tanager Blue Finch Emas National Park Chapada dos Guimaraes National Park Amethyst Woodstar Streamer-tailed Tyrants Chapada dos Guimaraes National Park Emas National Park 26 MDBIRDS.ORG White-bellied Bustard Saddle-billed Stork Masai Mara Reserve Triangle Area, Kenya Masai Mara Reserve Triangle Area, Kenya Photo by Mike Bowen Photo by Mike Bowen Maned Wolf, Emas National Park, Brazil Photo by Ned Pennock Maryland Ornithological Society 27 POSTMASTER: TIME -DATED MATERIAL - PLEASE EXPEDITE MARYLAND ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC. Nonprofit Org. | 4915 Greenspring Avenue U.S. Postage PAID Baltimore, Maryland, 21209 Hagerstown, MD Permit No. 184 MOS is busy planning the annual convention for next year to be held May 19 - 21, 2023 at the Wisp Resort in Garrett County, MD. Check the convention website, mosconvention.org, to keep up with the latest information! This will be our 75th convention and we will make it a good one. Volunteers are needed for registration and leading field trips. If you are interested in olunteering, please send an email to conference@mabirds.org, giving your name, email address, phone number, and area of interest. We look forward to seeing folks next May! 28 MDBIRDS.ORG MOS Calendar Through 02/28/2023 Field Trips Please follow all restrictions requested by the host organization. Additional details are posted on MOS and chapter web sites. Host: Howard County Bird Club Description: Mount Pleasant Habitat Discovery series with Bonnie Ott, 12 PM at Mt Pleasant Farm sparrowdamsel@gmail.com: Biodiversity Walk — winter birds. Meet at the Montjoy Barn. 11/2 9-11 Fort McHenry Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Mary Chetelat, 443-564-6551. Description: Continuing survey of bird activity at AM Monitoring Walk the Fort. Binoculars required. A telescope can be useful for distance viewing. Meet in the large grassy unpaved roped-off parking lot to the left of the gate. An online National Aquarium release form is required to be filled out in advance for entry into the restricted Wetland area: https://aqua.formstack.com/forms/waiverandrelease. 11/3 3-5 Semi-Monthly Host: Patuxent Bird Club & PGAS. Description: Two-mile walk around lake on paved path; wheelchair-accessible. PM afternoon walk at Families welcome. Meet at parking area at corner of Berwyn Rd. and Ballew Ave. in Berwyn Heights. No Lake Artemesia reservations needed. For more information, see PGAS Meetup site at https://www.meetup.com/Prince-Georges- Audubon-Society/ 11/5 7 AM- Oxford Conservation Host: Talbot Bird Club Leader: Anne Walker (410-409-8714 or aywwalker@gmail.com) and Susan Henyon (240-682- 12 PM Park 3882 or suehenyon@rocketmail.com) Description: Sparrows, Meadowlarks. Breakfast to follow, hosted by Janet Mackey and Ron Ketter 11/5 7:30 - Monthly walk at Fran Host: Patuxent Bird Club & PGAS. Leader Bill Sefton (kiwisuits@msn.com). Description: Two-mile out-and-back walk 10 AM Uhler Natural Area at natural area on the Patuxent River; fields, wet woods, brushy areas. Trail is gravel and dirt and is mostly flat, no hills. Leader may require mask for unvaccinated people. Meet at 7:30 AM at east end of Lemon’s Bridge Road, off Route 197 just north of Bowie State University. 11/5 8-10 Rock Creek’s North Host: Montgomery Bird Club For reservations (required) and more information, contact leader Jo Cox at AM Branch Stream Valley jobird11@gmail.com or 240-506-1723. Kathy Reitz will co-lead. Description: Discover upper Rock Creek’s watershed with a variety of habitats with the opportunity to see a variety of sparrows, hawks, fall migrants, and turkeys. We will start at 8 AM at Bowie Mill Park next to Sequoyah Elementary School with the option to do the shorter paved walk or the longer loop. Limit: 16. Host: Caroline County Bird Club Leaders: Debby Bennett & friends. Description: Meet at parking area near woods at 12 PM Regional Park 8am. 11/5 8 AM - Chincoteague NWR Host: YMOS Contact: George Radcliffe, radclifg@gmail.com, 410-463-1669 Description: Refuge Exploration - ee ee ee ge Waterfowl, Wading Birds, Winter Arrivals 11/5 All day Bombay Hook Host: Frederick Bird Club Leaders Lynn Kieffer 301-943-5920 or lynnkieffer@yahoo.com and Lois Kauffman 301- 845-6690 or md.pa.birding@gmail.com. Description: all-day trip for waterfowl and wintering shorebirds. Contact leader for meeting time and location. 11/5 All day Howard Conservancy Host: Howard County Bird Club Leader Russ Ruffing, russruffing@gmail.com. Description: This trip will be strictly a at Mt Pleasant Farm sky watch for late-migrating raptors and other potential goodies. Bring water, lunch, hat, sunscreen, light-colored Sky Watch sun glasses, comfortable lawn chair (recliners are best), binocular, scope, and camera if you like. Participants can also walk the Conservancy trails if sky-watching proves non-productive. Facilities available. 11/5- | All day Sanctuary Work Host: MOS Sanctuary Committee. Contact Jeremy Castle (jeremy.castle@mdbirds.org) to register to attend; 6 Weekend at Irish deadline to sign-up Friday October 26th. Description: Work in small teams to complete maintenance and Grove Sanctuary improvement tasks on the grounds and in the sanctuary house. There will be time for birding and socializing. More details TBA. 10 AM Kinder Farm Park Centennial Park Host: Howard County Bird Club Leader Mary Maxey, maximom11998@gmail.com. Description: Easy walking on AM paved paths around Centennial Lake. Woodlands, fields and water host a wide variety of species.. Early waterfowl, lingering migrants likely. Facilities available. West end parking lot. 11/6 8-11 Middle Branch Park Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Nico Sarbanes, nasarbanes@yahoo.com. Description: Middle Branch is a AM greenspace in an urban landscape that attracts waterfowl, terns, gulls, and landbirds. RSVP to leader required. 11/8 8-10 Lois Y. Green Host: Montgomery Bird Club For reservations (required), contact the LEADER: Mark England at AM Conservation Park englandmark@comcast.net or 240-308-4114. Description: Morning walk through the woods. We'll be looking for overwintering songbirds, waterfowl, and raptors. The trip will start at 8 a.m. in the parking lot at 8711 Snouffer School Road, Gaithersburg, Md. Limit: 12. 11/9 8-11 Howard Conservancy Host: Howard County Bird Club Description: This is an impromptu leaderless walk for an opportunity to bird with AM at Mt Pleasant Farm any friends who show up. 11/11 8-11 Bird Walk at Host: Anne Arundel Bird Club Contact Adele Clagett adele@myoldpub.com, 410-212-2652 AM Chesapeake Env Center 11/11 8-11 Redgate Park: Seeing Host: Montgomery Bird Club For reservations (required), time, and directions, contact leader Jo Cox at AM Sparrows jobird11@gmail.com. Description: We'll work on ID-ing familiar species such as Song and White-throated while looking for less common ones like White-crowned and Swamp. This trip is geared to beginners. Limit: 8. Host: Talbot Bird Club Leader: Jeff Effinger (410-443-5016 or jkeffinger55@gmail.com). Description: Migrating 13 weekend Hawks Overnight trip. Contact Jeff Effinger for more details. Depart: Easton Acme Parking Lot at 6:00 am Check MDBIRDS.ORG/Calendar for updates 1 11/12 8 AM- Morgan Run South in Host: Carroll County Bird Club Contact: Bill Ellis billellis@ellislist.com or 443-520-8809 Description: We’ll look for 12 PM Carroll County late migrants and early winter residents, including fox sparrow and hermit thrush. Meet at the parking lot at the end of Ben Rose Lane. Moderate hiking. Host: Frederick Bird Club Leader Tom Humphrey 240-793-2508. Description: Hawk watch. Contact leader for meeting time and location. 11/13 7:30 AM | Trip to Delaware Host: Harford Bird Club Contact Dave Larkin (410-569-8319; larkin3003@comcast.net) for further details. -—-5PM Shore Description: Delaware’s diverse coastal wetland habitats offer a variety of shore birds, water birds, wading species, raptors and songbirds. Meet at the Havre de Grace commuter lot near Rt.155/I-95 at 7:30 AM. Bring a lunch and sufficient drink for the day. 11/13 8-11 Centennial Park Host: Howard County Bird Club Leader — Mary Lou Clark, doctorfx_99@yahoo.com. Description: Easy walking on AM paved paths around Centennial Lake. Woodlands, fields and water host a wide variety of species. Great view of the sky for flyovers. Early waterfowl, lingering migrants likely. Facilities available. West end parking lot. 8:30 - Irvine Nature Center Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Brian Rolfinke, brollfinke@gmail.com. Description: A great spot for sparrows 11:30 (Vesper Sparrow possible), raptors, and other birds of the transitional season. Recommended for young birders and AM their parents. Canceled if rain or winds. A fee of $5 per person is required. RSVP to leader required. Marshy Point Nature Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leaders: Brent and Mary Byers, baypuffin@hotmail.com or 410-686-7294. Description: AM Center Easy half-day walk through varied habitats for feeder birds and other songbirds, raptors, and waterfowl. A half-mile trail leads to a point overlooking Dundee Creek. All are welcome, including families. Telescopes useful. 11/17 3-5 Semi-Monthly Host: Patuxent Bird Club & PGAS. Description: Two-mile walk around lake on paved path; wheelchair-accessible. PM afternoon walk at Families welcome. Meet at parking area at corner of Berwyn Rd. and Ballew Ave. in Berwyn Heights. No Lake Artemesia reservations needed. For more information, see PGAS Meetup site at https://www.meetup.com/Prince-Georges- Audubon-Society/ Host: Talbot Bird Club Leader: Vince De Sanctis (410-886-2009 or vdesanctis@verizon.net) Description: 12 PM Waterfowl/Sparrows Depart: Easton Acme Parking Lot at 7:00 am Breakfast to follow, hosted by Bettye Maki. 11/19 7:30 - Monthly walk at Host: Patuxent Bird Club & PGAS. Leader Bill Sefton (kiwisuits@msn.com). Description: Two-mile loop at natural 10 AM Governor Bridge area on the Patuxent River. Natural surface trails may be wet; waterproof footwear advised. Leaders may require Natural Area mask for unvaccinated people. meet at 7:30 AM at the parking lot on the south side of Governor Bridge Rd., 1 mile east of US Route 301 in Bowie. 11/19 7:30 AM | Field Trip to Bombay Host: Tri-county Bird Club Contact Ellen Lawler at 410-982-8695 or emlawler534@comcast.net for more —-4PM Hook NWR information. Description: Search for fall migrants and early winter residents, including shorebirds, waterfowl and raptors. Meet at Ward Museum parking lot at 7:30am. Bring lunch, snacks, drinks. 11/19 8 — 9:30 Druid Hill Park Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Audubon. Description: Join Audubon and the Maryland Zoo to explore this leafy AM city park. From forest to lake, a variety of bird species await. For information, contact Patterson Park Audubon Center. Participants must adhere to our COVID code of conduct and register in advance at our website, www.patterson.audubon.org. 11/19 9-11 Fort McHenry Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Wendy Alexander, 443-204-3754. Description: Continuing survey of bird activity AM Monitoring Walk at the Fort. Binoculars required. A telescope can be useful for distance viewing. Meet in the large grassy unpaved roped-off parking lot to the left of the gate. An online National Aquarium release form is required to be filled out in advance for entry into the restricted Wetland area: https://aqua.formstack.com/forms/waiverandrelease. 11/19 9 AM - Bird Walk at Jug Bay Host: Anne Arundel Bird Club Contact Peter Hanan peter.hanan @icloud.com 301-580-2785 wate ei eo ee nee AM Quiet Waters Park 11/20 8-11 Centennial Park Host: Howard County Bird Club Leader — David Holmes, musiclobndr@gmail.com. Description: Easy walking on AM paved paths around Centennial Lake. Woodlands, fields and water host a wide variety of species. Great view of the sky for flyovers. Early waterfowl, lingering migrants likely. Facilities available. West end parking lot. 11/20 9-11 Youth Birding Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Daisy Sudano, dsudanotrainings@yahoo.com or 443-416-9867. Description: AM Meet at Cromwell Valley Park, Willow Grove entrance parking lot. This month’s topic is "Wild Turkey.” We will be able to get up close and personal learning about these amazing birds. We will make a fun turkey to take home. Time may change; check with the leader for latest information. 11/25 All day Barbara Riccardi Host: Anne Arundel Bird Club Contact Peter Hanan peter.hanan @icloud.com 301-580-2785 Meet at Bay 50, 7:00 Sil all Annual Black Friday AM Walk Host: Talbot Bird Club Leader: Jeff Effinger (410-443-5016 or jkeffinger55@gmail.com) Description: Owls Depart: PM Prowl Easton Acme Parking Lot at 4:00 pm 11/26 8 — 9:30 Patterson Park Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Audubon. Description: Join Audubon to explore this urban oasis in southeast AM Baltimore. For directions, contact Patterson Park Audubon Center. Participants must adhere to our COVID code of conduct and register in advance at our website, www.patterson.audubon.org. Conowingo Dam Gull Host: Harford Bird Club Leader is Diane Jones (410-404-9180; baltobirder55@gmail.com). Description: This 12 PM and Eagle Watch morning survey begins at Fisherman’s Park at 8:00 AM. Search for Bald Eagles, Black and Turkey Vultures, various gulls, water fowl and herons. 11/26 9 AM - Host: Cecil County Bird Club Leader Ken Drier Description: Bald Eagles hang out in the trees along the river and 12 PM Eagles without the Octoraro Creek. Possible early Mergansers and Common Goldeneye Ducks. Use the north parking lot near the crowds ballfiields next to Octoraro Creek. 11/27 8-11 Centennial Park Host: Howard County Bird Club Leader — David Ziolkowski, dziolkowski@usgs.gov. Description: Easy walking on AM paved paths. Woodlands, fields and water host a wide variety of species. Early waterfowl, lingering migrants likely. Facilities available. West end parking lot. Check MDBIRDS.ORG/Calendar for updates 2 11/27 All day Eastern Neck Host: Talbot Bird Club Leader: Wayne Bell (410-253-1663 or wbell2@washcoll.edu) and Dave Burgevin (301-788- 0916 or dburgevin@gmail.com) Description: Waterfowl, sparrows All day trip, return to Easton by 4:00. Bring lunch, drinks, bug spray. Depart: Easton Acme parking lot, 6:30 am. 12/1 3-5 Semi-Monthly Host: Patuxent Bird Club & PGAS. Description: Two-mile walk around lake on paved path; wheelchair-accessible. PM afternoon walk at Families welcome. Meet at parking area at corner of Berwyn Rd. and Ballew Ave. in Berwyn Heights. No Lake Artemesia reservations needed. For more information, see PGAS Meetup site at https://www.meetup.com/Prince-Georges- Audubon-Society/ Host: Talbot Bird Club Leader: Bettye Maki (248-225-0724 or bjmaki04@gmail.com) Description: Waterfowl, 12 PM sparrows Depart: Easton Acme parking lot, 7:00 am 12/3 7:30 - Monthly walk at Fran Host: Patuxent Bird Club & PGAS. Leader Bill Sefton (kiwisuits@msn.com). Description: Two-mile out-and-back walk 10 AM Uhler Natural Area at natural area on the Patuxent River; fields, wet woods, brushy areas. Trail is gravel and dirt and is mostly flat, no hills. Leader may require mask for unvaccinated people. Meet at 7:30 AM at east end of Lemon’s Bridge Road, off Route 197 just north of Bowie State University. 12/3 7:30 AM | Masonville Cove Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Tim Carney, tcarney@menv.com. Description: Breakfast with the Birds. Environmental and Masonville Cove in Baltimore City welcomes BBC for muffins and coffee and a look at waterfowl in Baltimore Education Center Harbor. Telescopes useful. RSVP to the leader to register; trip limited to 15. 12/3 8 -—9:30 Druid Hill Park Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Audubon. Description: Join Audubon and the Maryland Zoo to explore this leafy AM city park. From forest to lake, a variety of bird species await. For information, contact Patterson Park Audubon Center. Participants must adhere to our COVID code of conduct and register in advance at our website, www.patterson.audubon.org. 12/3 8 AM- Ponds and waterfowl Host: Carroll County Bird Club Contact: Scott Hodgdon scotthodgdon@msn.com Description: Migratory water fowl ee ae of northern Carroll should be here for the winter and there are ponds that are hotspots for them. Meet at the Westminster County Community Pond parking lot. 12/3 8 AM - Blackwater NWR Host: Montgomery Bird Club For reservations (required) and starting place and time, contact leader Mark England ee a at englandmark@comcast.net or 240-308-4114. Description: Early waterfowl and lingering migrants plus late afternoon marsh watch. Brown-headed Nuthatch possible. Bring lunch and drinks. Limit: 12. 10 AM Kinder Farm Park Lilypons/New Design Host: Montgomery Bird Club For reservations (required), contact leader Clive Harris at clivegharris@yahoo.com. 12 PM Road Description: Wintering field birds, targeting Fox and Tree Sparrows, possibly Virginia Rail and American Bittern. Limit: 8. 12/7 a 11 Fort McHenry Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Mary Chetelat, 443-564-6551. Description: Continuing survey of bird activity at Monitoring Walk the Fort. Binoculars required. A telescope can be useful for distance viewing. Meet in the large grassy unpaved roped-off parking lot to the left of the gate. An online National Aquarium release form is required to be filled out in advance for entry into the restricted Wetland area: https://aqua.formstack.com/forms/waiverandrelease. Ee | Host: Anne Arundel Bird Club Contact Alan Young alanmyoung@gmail.com, 410-913-8300; leader Kevin Graff, State Park keywestlifestyle2001 @gmail.com or 410-967-5896 (text only) —12PM 12/10 8 — 9:30 Patterson Park Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Audubon. Description: Join Audubon to explore this urban oasis in southeast AM Baltimore. For directions, contact Patterson Park Audubon Center. Participants must adhere to our COVID code of conduct and register in advance at our website, www.patterson.audubon.org. Host: YMOS Contact: George Radcliffe, radclifg@gmail.com, 410-463-1669 Description: Refuge Birding 12 PM Point Lookout 12 PM Park Host: YMOS Contact: George Radcliffe, radclifg@gmail.com, 410-463-1669 Description: Students photograph birds -11 to raise money for a cause. Host: Talbot Bird Club Leader: Jeff Effinger (410-443-5016 or jkeffinger55@gmail.com) Description: Waterfowl, 12 PM Road wintering birds Depart: Easton Acme Parking lot at 7:00 am 12/11 9-11 Marshy Point Nature Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leaders: Brent and Mary Byers, baypuffin@hotmail.com or 410-686-7294. Description: aa Center Easy half-day walk through varied habitats for feeder birds and other songbirds, raptors, and waterfowl. All are welcome, including families. Telescopes useful. 12/15 3-5 Semi-Monthly Host: Patuxent Bird Club & PGAS. Description: Two-mile walk around lake on paved path; wheelchair-accessible. PM afternoon walk at Families welcome. Meet at parking area at corner of Berwyn Rd. and Ballew Ave. in Berwyn Heights. No il al Lake Artemesia reservations needed. For more information, see PGAS Meetup site at https://www.meetup.com/Prince-Georges- Audubon-Society/ Monthly walk at Host: Patuxent Bird Club & PGAS. Leader Bill Sefton (kiwisuits@msn.com). Description: Two-mile loop at natural 10 AM Governor Bridge area on the Patuxent River. Natural surface trails may be wet; waterproof footwear advised. Leaders may require Natural Area mask for unvaccinated people. meet at 7:30 AM at the parking lot on the south side of Governor Bridge Rd., 1 mile east of US Route 301 in Bowie. 12/17 8-11 Druid Hill Park Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Toby Pessoa Gingerich, tags2011@gmail.com. Description: Easy walk through AM the southern half of the park, with an emphasis on waterfowl on the lake, winter passerines and hopefully some raptors. Scope useful. Meet at Swann Dr. entrance. RSVP required. 12/17 9-11 Fort McHenry Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Wendy Alexander, 443-204-3754. Description: Continuing survey of bird activity AM Monitoring Walk at the Fort. Binoculars required. A telescope can be useful for distance viewing. Meet in the large grassy unpaved roped-off parking lot to the left of the gate. An online National Aquarium release form is required to be filled out in advance for entry into the restricted Wetland area: https://aqua.formstack.com/forms/waiverandrelease. Check MDBIRDS.ORG/Calendar for updates 3 12/18 8-10 Monthly Walk at Host: Anne Arundel Bird Club Contact Jim Collatz, jcollatz@aol.com or 410-295-3344Anne Arundel Bird Club AM Quiet Waters Park 12/18 9-11 Youth Birding Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Daisy Sudano, dsudanotrainings@yahoo.com or 443-416-9867. Description: AM Birding Meet at Fisherman’s Park, Conowingo Dam. Look for the BBC table display. This month’s topic is "Conowingo Eagles"- if you have never been to Conowingo Dam to see the eagles, you are in for a treat. Time may change; check with the leader for latest information. —12PM —12 PM 1/1 10 - 1st Day Hike Host: Allegany/Garrett Counties Bird Club and Allegany Center for Life-Long Learning. Contact Melissa Hensel @ Eo 240-920-8260. Description: C&O Canal at the Terminus. Meet at the mule statue at the Cumberland Western MD AM Train Station at Canal Place. Walk as far as you wish. Dress for cold and wind. 1/1 8-11 New Year's Day Loch Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Joe Corcoran, corcoran2921@gmail.com, 667-231-6453. Description: Start off a Raven - Old Picnic the New Year birding at Old Picnic Area Trail section of Loch Raven Reservoir. The trail is unpaved and flat. Expect Area waterfowl, winter passerines, and raptors. RSVP to leader required. 1/1 8 AM - Start Your Year List Host: Howard County Bird Club Leader — Kurt Schwarz, krschwa1@verizon.net. Description: Easy walking on 12 PM woodland trails. May plan to bird several different locations to find as many species as possible. The one day of the year where every bird is new! Facilities available 1/1 8:30 AM | Annual New Year’s Host: Harford Bird Club Leader Dennis Kirkwood (newaekfarms@gmail.com; 410-692-5905). Description: Join us to —12PM | Day Bird Walk welcome in the New Year with a tour of the beautiful and historic Newark Farms properties. Meet at 2659 Bradenbaugh Road at 8:30 AM 1/2 8-11 North Point SP Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Kojo Baidoo, baidookojo6@gmail.com. Description: Expect to see waterfowl, a sparrows, and raptors. Scopes useful. Boots advised if we have had a lot of rain. Entrance fee is $3 unless you have a state park pass. RSVP to leader required. —12PM 1/4 9-11 Fort McHenry Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Mary Chetelat, 443-564-6551. Description: Continuing survey of bird activity at AM Monitoring Walk the Fort. Binoculars required. A telescope can be useful for distance viewing. Meet in the large grassy unpaved roped-off parking lot to the left of the gate. An online National Aquarium release form is required to be filled out in advance for entry into the restricted Wetland area: https://aqua.formstack.com/forms/waiverandrelease. AG fo 3-5 Semi-Monthly Host: Patuxent Bird Club & PGAS. Description: Two-mile walk around lake on paved path; wheelchair-accessible. PM afternoon walk at Families welcome. Meet at parking area at corner of Berwyn Rd. and Ballew Ave. in Berwyn Heights. No Lake Artemesia reservations needed. For more information, see PGAS Meetup site at https://www.meetup.com/Prince-Georges- Audubon-Society/ 1/7 7:30 - Monthly walk at Fran Host: Patuxent Bird Club & PGAS. Leader Bill Sefton (kiwisuits@msn.com). Description: Two-mile out-and-back walk 10 AM Uhler Natural Area at natural area on the Patuxent River; fields, wet woods, brushy areas. Trail is gravel and dirt and is mostly flat, no hills. Leader may require mask for unvaccinated people. Meet at 7:30 AM at east end of Lemon’s Bridge Road, off Route 197 just north of Bowie State University. 1/7 7:30 AM | Annual Coastal Birding | Host: Tri-county Bird Club For more information contact trip leader, Mike Walsh at 410-422-0428 or -4PM Trip mik.walsh@comcast.net. Description: Coastal Birding trip from Ocean City to Cape Henlopen for winter waterfowl and other winter visitors. Meet at the Ward Museum parking lot at 7:30 a.m. or the OC inlet parking lot at 8:15 a.m. Bring lunch, snacks and drinks. 1/7 8 AM- Piney Run Park in Host: Carroll County Bird Club For more details or to RSVP contact Scott Hodgdon scotthodgdon@msn.com ae Carroll County in Description: In the winter months the lake can be a good spot see waterfowl. We will be walking so dress for the Winter weather. Meet at the parking lot by the tennis courts. 1/7 All day Blackwater NWR Host: Howard County Bird Club Leader Kurt Schwarz, krschwa1@verizon.net. Description: Plan to stop at the Choptank River Bridge for ducks and coffee. Bring lunch and drinks. Dress warmly, Entrance fee or Duck Stamp required. Sanctuary Count 10 AM Kinder Farm Park 1/8 9-11 Marshy Point Nature Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leaders: Brent and Mary Byers, baypuffin@hotmail.com or 410-686-7294.. Description: AM Center Easy half-day walk through varied habitats for feeder birds and other songbirds, raptors, and waterfowl. All are welcome, including families. Telescopes useful. 1/10 9:30 AM | Perryville Park Ducks Host: Cecil County Bird Club Leader Maryanne Dolan Description: Seeking out winter waterfowl. —12PM 1/14 ae 11 Hanlon Park Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Toby Pessoa Gingerich, tags2011@gmail.com. Description: Expect lots of redheads and a mix of other ducks. Scopes useful. Meet along Hilton St. side of the lake. RSVP required. 1/14 3 AN - Walk at Sandy Point & Host Anne Arundel Bird Club Contact Jonas Lai, jonaselai@gmail.com or 203-915-6829 12 PM Thomas Point Feeder Watch Host: Harford Bird Club Contact Dennis Kirkwood at (410-692-5905; newarkfarms@gmail.com). Description:Join your fellow club members as we happily resume our annual feeder watch and enjoy homemade breakfast goodies and conversation. Carroll County Mid- Host: Carroll County Bird Club Contact: Bill Ellis billellis@ellislist.com or 443-520-8809 Description: Parties of winter Count counters will set their own schedules in their pre-arranged areas to count resident and late migrant bird species throughout the county. Check MDBIRDS.ORG/Calendar for updates 4 Sanctuary Count 1/15 8-11 Loch Raven Roundup Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leaders: Peter Lev and Debbie Terry, plev@comcast.net or 410-952-9426; 443-578-8243. aa Description: Loch Raven is a great place for winter waterfowl. Start at Loch Raven Point at 8 AM, then visit other productive spots around the reservoir. Scopes useful. Limit 12. RSVP required to Peter Lev. 1/15 8 AM - Winter Bird Hunt Host: YMOS Contact: George Radcliffe, radclifg@gmail.com, 410-463-1669 Description:Cambridge and South 5 PM Dorchester Bird Hunt ending with Short-eared Owl Search. 1/15 9-11 Youth Birding Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Daisy Sudano, dsudanotrainings@yahoo.com or 443-416-9867. Description: AM Meet across from the front door at Coppermine Fieldhouse. This month’s topic is "Winter Birding." Come see the many ways that we can help our birds survive the winter months. We will make a bird feeder to take home. Time may change; check with the leader for latest information. —12 PM 1/19 3-5 Semi-Monthly Host: Patuxent Bird Club & PGAS. Description: Two-mile walk around lake on paved path; wheelchair-accessible. PM afternoon walk at Families welcome. Meet at parking area at corner of Berwyn Rd. and Ballew Ave. in Berwyn Heights. No Lake Artemesia reservations needed. For more information, see PGAS Meetup site at https://www.meetup.com/Prince-Georges- Audubon-Society/ 1/21 7:30 - Monthly walk at Host: Patuxent Bird Club & PGAS. Leader Bill Sefton (kiwisuits@msn.com). Description: Two-mile loop at natural 10 AM Governor Bridge area on the Patuxent River. Natural surface trails may be wet; waterproof footwear advised. Leaders may require Natural Area mask for unvaccinated people. meet at 7:30 AM at the parking lot on the south side of Governor Bridge Rd., 1 mile east of US Route 301 in Bowie. 1/21 7:30 AM | Dorchester County Host: Harford Bird Club. For more information contact trip leader, Mike Walsh at 410-422-0428 or —-4PM Birding Trip mik.walsh@comcast.net. Description: Birding trip to Dorchester County, including Choptank River and Blackwater NWR, for waterfowl, raptors, other winter residents. Meet at the Royal Farms on Rt. 50 west of Salisbury at 7:30 a.m. Bring lunch, snacks and drinks and if you have a National Parks Pass bring for free entry into Blackwater. 1/21 7:30 AM | Marshes of Somerset Host: Tri-county Bird Club Contact leader Mary Huebner at 301-876-7545 or marybrd22@gmail.com. Description: -4PM County Trip Explore the Fairmount WMA and nearby Rumbley and Frenchtown looking for winter residents. Meet at the Ward Museum parking lot at 7:30 am or at the parking area near the Exxon station (across from McDonalds) in Princess Anne at 7:50. Bring lunch, snacks and drinks. Comfortable, waterproof shoes are recommended. 1/21 8 — 9:30 Druid Hill Park Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Audubon. Description: Join Audubon and the Maryland Zoo to explore this leafy AM city park. From forest to lake, a variety of bird species await. For information, contact Patterson Park Audubon Center. Participants must adhere to our COVID code of conduct and register in advance at our website, www.patterson.audubon.org. 1/21 8 AM- Traveling the Host: Harford Bird Club Leader Dennis Kirkwood Description: Begin at Jarrettsville Elementary School parking lot at 12 PM Bradenbaugh Flats 8 AM for a tour through NW Harford County’s agricultural area to search out wintering field birds and waterfowl. (AKA The Soup Trip) End at the leader’s home for soup, breads, good conversation and maybe a glimpse of the resident screech owl. 1/21 9-11 Fort McHenry Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Ben Poscover, 410-905-8991. Description: Continuing survey of bird activity at AM Monitoring Walk the Fort. Binoculars required. A telescope can be useful for distance viewing. Meet in the large grassy unpaved roped-off parking lot to the left of the gate. An online National Aquarium release form is required to be filled out in advance for entry into the restricted Wetland area: https://aqua.formstack.com/forms/waiverandrelease. AM Quiet Waters Park 1/28 8 —9:30 Patterson Park Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Audubon. Description: Join Audubon to explore this urban oasis in southeast AM Baltimore. For directions, contact Patterson Park Audubon Center. Participants must adhere to our COVID code of conduct and register in advance at our website, www.patterson.audubon.org. winter Count 1/29 9 AM - Chesapeake Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Joe Corcoran, corcoran2921@gmail.com or 667-231-6453. Description: We will wae Environmental Center be looking for ducks, geese, swans, sparrows, Bald Eagles, and Brown-headed Nuthatches. Paths are unpaved and level. Trip canceled in snow, rain, or slippery conditions. 2/1 9-11 Fort McHenry Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Mary Chetelat, 443-564-6551. Description: Continuing survey of bird activity at AM Monitoring Walk the Fort. Binoculars required. A telescope can be useful for distance viewing. Meet in the large grassy unpaved roped-off parking lot to the left of the gate. An online National Aquarium release form is required to be filled out in advance for entry into the restricted Wetland area: https://aqua.formstack.com/forms/waiverandrelease. 2/1 All day Bird Ride/Walk Host: Anne Arundel Bird Club Contact Alan Young alanmyoung@gmail.com, 410-913-8300 Bombay Hook & other 2/2 3-5 PM Semi-Monthly Host: Patuxent Bird Club & PGAS. Description: Two-mile walk around lake on paved path; wheelchair-accessible. afternoon walk at Families welcome. Meet at parking area at corner of Berwyn Rd. and Ballew Ave. in Berwyn Heights. No Lake Artemesia reservations needed. For more information, see PGAS Meetup site at https://www.meetup.com/Prince-Georges- Audubon-Society/ 2/4 7:30 - Monthly walk at Fran Host: Patuxent Bird Club & PGAS. Leader Bill Sefton (kiwisuits@msn.com). Description: Two-mile out-and-back walk 10 AM Uhler Natural Area at natural area on the Patuxent River; fields, wet woods, brushy areas. Trail is gravel and dirt and is mostly flat, no hills. Leader may require mask for unvaccinated people. Meet at 7:30 AM at east end of Lemon’s Bridge Road, off Route 197 just north of Bowie State University. 2/5 7:30 - Monthly Walk at Host: Anne Arundel Bird Club Contact Alan Young alanmyoung@gmail.com, 410-913-8300 10 AM Kinder Farm Park Check MDBIRDS.ORG/Calendar for updates 5 Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Mark Linardi, 443-834-8413 or mlinardi@outlook.com. Description: Loch Raven is a great place for winter waterfowl. Start at Loch Raven Point at 8 AM, then visit other productive spots around the reservoir. Scopes useful. Limit 12. RSVP required to leader. Host: YMOS Contact: George Radcliffe, radclifg@gmail.com, 410-463-1669 Description:Ocean City Area to Assateague Birding Walk at Spriggs Farm Host: Anne Arundel Bird Club Leo Dilling, leodilling@hotmail.com or 703-282-0011 & Broadneck Park Habitat Walk: Herring Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leaders: Ashley Bowers and Kim Tomko, 443-414-8034 or ktomkat@gmail.com. Run Park Description: Expect a variety of wintering birds in both upland and lowland hardwood forests dominated by Oaks and Tulip Poplars. Please come prepared for potential cold, ice, and some steep terrain. RSVP to Kim Tomko. 2/12 9-11 Marshy Point Nature Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leaders: Brent and Mary Byers, baypuffin@hotmail.com or 410-686-7294.. Description: r | AM Center Easy half-day walk through varied habitats for feeder birds and other songbirds, raptors, and waterfowl. All are welcome, including families. Telescopes useful. 2/15 9 AM- Gull Boot Camp Host: Anne Arundel Bird Club Fred Shaffer, glaucousgull@verizon.net, 443-926-6457 1PM 2/16 3-5 Semi-Monthly Host: Patuxent Bird Club & PGAS. Description: Two-mile walk around lake on paved path; wheelchair-accessible. PM afternoon walk at Families welcome. Meet at parking area at corner of Berwyn Rd. and Ballew Ave. in Berwyn Heights. No Lake Artemesia reservations needed. For more information, see PGAS Meetup site at https://www.meetup.com/Prince-Georges- Audubon-Society/ Host: Frederick Bird Club Contact Tom Humphrey, 240-793-2508. Description: Waterfowl and wintering seabirds. 19 2/18 7:30 - Monthly walk at Host: Patuxent Bird Club & PGAS. Leader Bill Sefton (kiwisuits@msn.com). Description: Two-mile loop at natural 10 AM Governor Bridge area on the Patuxent River. Natural surface trails may be wet; waterproof footwear advised. Leaders may require Natural Area mask for unvaccinated people. meet at 7:30 AM at the parking lot on the south side of Governor Bridge Rd., 1 mile east of US Route 301 in Bowie. 2/18 8 —9:30 Druid Hill Park Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Audubon. Description: Join Audubon and the Maryland Zoo to explore this leafy AM city park. From forest to lake, a variety of bird species await. For information, contact Patterson Park Audubon Center. Participants must adhere to our COVID code of conduct and register in advance at our website, www.patterson.audubon.org. Host: YMOS Contact: George Radcliffe, radclifg@gmail.com, 410-463-1669 Description: Cambridge and South 5:30 PM | Birding Dorchester Bird Hunt ending with Short-eared Owl Search 2/18 9-11 Fort McHenry Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Ben Poscover, 410-905-8991. Description: Continuing survey of bird activity at AM Monitoring Walk the Fort. Binoculars required. A telescope can be useful for distance viewing. Meet in the large grassy unpaved roped-off parking lot to the left of the gate. An online National Aquarium release form is required to be filled out in advance for entry into the restricted Wetland area: https://aqua.formstack.com/forms/waiverandrelease. 2/19 8-10 Monthly Walk at Host: Anne Arundel Bird Club Contact Jim Collatz, jcollatz@aol.com or 410-295-3344 AM Quiet Waters Park 2/19 9-11 Youth Birding Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Daisy Sudano, dsudanotrainings@yahoo.com or 443-416-9867. Description: AM Meet at Oregon Ridge Park at the Kidd's Nature Pavilion near the Nature Center. This month’s topic is "Owls.” Oregon Ridge has caged owls that we can explore up close while we try to spot some of our own in the trees around the Nature Center. We will also dig into some cool owl pellets to see what the owls have been eating. Time may change; check with the leader for latest information. Host: Anne Arundel Bird Club Contact Alan Young alanmyoung@gmail.com, 410-913-8300; leader Kevin Graff, 12 PM & Herrington Harbor keywestlifestyle2001 @gmail.com or 410-967-5896 (text only) 2/25 8 — 9:30 Patterson Park Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Audubon. Description: Join Audubon to explore this urban oasis in southeast AM Baltimore. For directions, contact Patterson Park Audubon Center. Participants must adhere to our COVID code of conduct and register in advance at our website, www.patterson.audubon.org. 2/26 9 AM - Blackwater NWR Host: Baltimore Bird Club. Leader: Joe Corcoran, corcoran2921@gmail.com or 667-231-6453. Description: All-day 5 PM trip for ducks, geese, swans, raptors, and landbirds. $4 per car unless you have a Duck Stamp or National Parks Pass. Scopes useful. Meet at 7:00 AM at Nursery Road Park and Ride or at 9:00 AM at Blackwater Visitor Center. Canceled in bad weather. Limit 12. RSVP to leader. . Meetings Meetings may be virtual or in-person (or both)! Additional details, including links, will be posted on chapter web sites and the MOS calendar, as available. Conservation Efforts. Gary Van Velsir will join us live and will present his program on “Warblers and other Club Neotropical Migrants” 11/3 7-9PM Frederick Bird Club Greg Kearns will speak on “Jug Bay, MD: Of Rice, Rails, Motus, and Bermuda... a Homewood at Crumland Matt Hafner will speak on “Rare Birds: What are they and what should you do if you 8:30 PM find one?” Dinner meeting. Church Check MDBIRDS.ORG/Calendar for updates 6 11/8 7-9PM Patuxent Bird Club Guest speaker Matt Felperin, "Birding and Exploring Puerto Rico." Meeting will be Virtual & PGAS on Zoom. For Zoom link, go to: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAlpQLSebe2IGjahbvVCM_542FFbGp3yueF - 7UGHGw2xMMltr7aC5w/viewform?usp=sharing Talbot Bird Club Dr. Jennie Rineheimer, Washington College will present "Eating, Being Eaten, and Breeding: Predation Risk and Reproductive Trade-offs in Birds". Business meeting will follow. PM Caroline Bird Club Meeting and tour. Meet at the aviary. A brief business meeting will follow the tour. 12 PM 11/15 7-9 PM BBC Board Meeting While only authorized board members have a vote, any club member is welcome to | Virtual ii alah attend and participate in discussions. Contact any club officer or board member for al | details. Club Heron Center Gail Mackiernan will speak on "Birding Taiwan (and a Bit of China)" 9:30 PM Club Church We will watch the film “The Secret Life of Birds” Part 1 Bird Club "Changing Delmarva; Assateague Coastal Trusts’ priorities and challenges in our coastal watershed" presented by Gabby Ross. 7-9 PM Frederick Bird Club Dave Harvey will speak on Bosque del Apache NWR, New Mexico. Silent Auction. Homewood at Crumland Rial rere aa eee oe ue ae eae ee eee See le | 12 PM 1 1 2/ 2/ 2/ 2/ 2 / / / = 7-9PM Carroll County Bird George Jett will present virtually and will be doing his program on “The Big Picture” Carroll Nonprofit Center Club 12/13 7-9 PM Patuxent Bird Club Annual holiday film night; film title TBA. Meeting will be on Zoom. For Zoom link, go | Virtual & PGAS to: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAlpQLSeLCjQdR-tyh- YMpCGzP55nO0i9hbDYJhzhNxL414W8CkKktfJw/viewform ?usp=sharin / 7-9PM Montgomery Bird Join us for Wine and Cheese and the infamous Bird Quiz! Potomac Presbyterian Club Church 7-9PM_| YMOS Speaker TBA 3 1/5 7-9 PM Frederick Bird Club Nancy McAllister will speak on “Mom’s Big Year” Homewood at Crumland Pewee ee ae 1/10 7-9 PM Patuxent Bird Club Guest speaker David Moulton, "Saving Grassland Birds in Southern Maryland." Virtual & PGAS Meeting will be on Zoom. For Zoom link, go to: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAlpQLSd VmgBZVg5TtYPWCNftmNPute- P1iMyGYfpS4sctcATQSTw7g/viewform?usp=sharin David Curson will speak on “Can Floating Islands save Endangered Seabirds in Maryland’s Coastal Bays?” Covered dish dinner and meeting. Center 1/2 7-9PM | Tri-County Bird Club | “Migration: New Technologies Shed Light on Ancient Mysteries” presented by Ellen Beer er So unikesee el ree ae ee 1/2 1 / / / / /10 16 22 1 3 6 7 14 8 3 4 pes 7-9PM Washington County We will watch the film “The Secret Life of Birds” Part 2 Mt. Aetna Nature Center Bird Club 2 7-9 PM Carroll County Bird Former State Senator and naturalist Gerald Winegrad will present live on “The Birds | Carroll Nonprofit Center Club and other Wildlife of Buenos Aires, Tierra del Fuego, the Falklands, South Georgia Island, and Antarctica” 7-9 PM Frederick Bird Club Members’ Night Homewood at Crumland Farms 7-9 PM Patuxent Bird Club Guest speaker TBA. Meeting will be on Zoom. For Zoom link, go to: & PGAS https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAlpQLSfCo3E1z8uvIPIBOmHDgbVUC4sCBt M30Ahfog7TBbm5f_4yA/viewform?usp=sharing Club Church Club Heron Center 2/27 7-9PM_ | Tri-County Bird Club | “Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise” presented by Marcia Balestri. MAC Education Center 2/28 7-9PM_ | Washington County Kathy Barylski, Naturalist, will talk to us about Birds and Butterflies of Honduras. Mt. Aetna Nature Center Bird Club Check MDBIRDS.ORG/Calendar for updates 7 Christmas Counts Information is current as of publication date, but subject to change if state pandemic guidance/restrictions change. CBC: Allegany County CBC: Garrett County (Oakland) CBC: Triadelphia Reservoir feos | eat, Center, Lower Level. Backup date 12/31. 12/17 CBC: Washington, DC CBC: York, PA CBC: Bombay Hook register. CBC: Middle River CBC: Salisbury CBC: Salisbury Compiler Mike Walsh, 410-422-0428 or mik.walsh@comcast.net 12/18 Compiler Jim Nelson at kingfishers2 @verizon.net 12/18 Contact Wayne Bell (410-253-1663 or wbell2@washcoll.edu) for more | eee information. Compilation pot-luck dinner immediately following. 12/18 Contact: Bridget Bradshaw (bbradshaw@cliftoninstitute.org) or register at , oe https://cliftoninstitute.org/event/christmas-bird-count-2/ 12/18 CBC: Southern Dorchester County | Contact Bruce Peterjohn, bpetejohn@verizon.net 12/26 Sign up at www.loudounwildlife.org or contact compilers, Joe Coleman: jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org or Bryan Henson at bhenson@loudounwildlife.org. 12/28 Compiler Paul Bystrak (shrike@comcast.net) 12/28 Compiler Mark Hoffman (443-223-4587, wcbirding@gmail.com) 12/28 Compiler Kurt Gaskill (kurtcapt87@verizon.net). MD Coordinator Lynne Wheeler 12/31 Compiler Libby Errickson, elizabeth.errickson@gmail.com. CBC: Annapolis/Gibson Island Compilers Hal Wierenga and Lynn Davidson (hal.lynn@comcast.net) CBC: Rehoboth Compiler Sally O’Byrne (salobyrne@gmail.com) CBC: Chesterville Compiler Maren Gimpel (maren.gimpel@gmail.com) CBC: Rock Run check Harford Bird Club web site harfordbirdclub.org Compiler David Mozurkewich (mozurk@verizon.net) Compiler: Bob Dean, bobdean52@gmail.com CBC: Sugarloaf Mountain Compiler Janet Millenson at janet@twocrows.com Compiler Bruce Peterjohn, bpeterjohn@verizon.net Check MDBIRDS.ORG/Calendar for updates 8