Calendar 2017-2018

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Saturday, September 2, 7:30 am
Bird Walk

Fran Uhler Natural Area. Monthly walk. Meet at 7:30 am at east end of Lemon’s Bridge Road, off Route 197 just north of Bowie State University. No reservations needed. Contact Bill Sefton (kiwisuits@msn.com) .

Thursday, September 7, 3 pm (Note start time is 3 pm September-March)
Bird Walk

Lake Artemesia Natural Area. Semi-monthly walk. Wheelchair-accessible. Meet at 3 pm at parking lot, at intersection of Berwyn Rd. and Ballew Ave. in Berwyn Heights. No reservations needed. Contact David Mozurkewich (mozurk@bellAtlantic.net) for more information.

Tuesday, September 12, 7:30 pm, doors open at 7 pm
Monthly Meeting and Speaker Program
College Park Airport Operations Building, 2nd Floor
1909 Corporal Frank Scott Dr
College Park, MD 20740 (Directions)

From Mountains to Saltmarsh: Rediscovering the MOS Sanctuaries, Presented by Marcia Watson

The Maryland Ornithological Society owns nine sanctuaries, totaling over 2,100 acres, spanning the state from Garrett County in the western part of the state, to Somerset County on the lower Eastern Shore. All of the sanctuaries are open to the public every day of the year, at no charge, and represent a microcosm of the habitats for birds in Maryland. Many people are aware of the Carey Run and Irish Grove Sanctuaries, where work-days are held each year, but the other sanctuaries are seldom visited. Drawing on the files of the MOS Sanctuary Committee, historic accounts in Maryland Birdlife, and photos and materials provided by MOS members from across the state, Marcia will review the history of the MOS Sanctuary Program, provide profiles and show maps and photos of all the sanctuaries, discuss the birds and habitats found there, and will cover some of the challenges that MOS faces in managing the properties. Marcia will conclude with suggestions on how interested individuals can become involved with the sanctuaries.

About the Presenter: Marcia Watson is a long-time member of the Maryland Ornithological Society. She was a founding member of the Cecil Bird Club, and served that chapter as president and webmaster. She now lives in Bowie and is Vice-President of the Patuxent Bird Club. Marcia recently joined the MOS Sanctuary Committee and is working to foster awareness of the sanctuaries among MOS members and the public. Interested in biology and the outdoors from the time she was a little girl, Marcia holds a doctoral degree in Biological Sciences, and for over 20 years specialized in research dealing with the environmental signals that animals use to coordinate their life cycles with seasonal changes such as daylength and temperature. Marcia is now retired and is concentrating on getting to know the great birding sites that Prince George’s County has to offer.

Free and open to the public.

Thursday, September 14, 3:45 pm
Field Trip

Jug Bay Pontoon Boat Trip. Sunset pontoon boat trip on the Patuxent River at Jug Bay to observe Sora and other rails, Least Bittern, and other specialties of this freshwater wild rice marsh. Arrive no later than 3:45 pm; the boat will depart the dock promptly at 4:00 pm. Meet at the boat launch area of Jackson’s Landing at Patuxent River Park (PG side). Trip will be led by Greg Kearns of the Patuxent River Park. Boat fee of $5 for residents of Prince George’s or Montgomery Counties; all others $7. Come earlier for bathroom stop, and have a crisp $5 (or $7) ready in your hand. Limited to 18 participants; preference will be given to Patuxent Bird Club and Prince George’s County Audubon Society members. For reservations (required) contact Fred Fallon (fwfallon@ymail.com).

Saturday, September 16, 7:30 am
Bird Walk

Governor Bridge Natural Area. Monthly walk. Meet at the Natural Area parking lot on the south side of Governor Bridge Rd., 1 mile east of Route 301. No reservations needed. For more information contact Bill Sefton at kiwisuits@msn.com.

Sunday, September 17
Fall Bird Count

Annual county-wide census of resident and migrating birds. Pick your own start and stop times. Contact the county compiler David Mozurkewich (mozurk@bellAtlantic.net) to receive an assigned area and for more information.

Tuesday, September 19, 9 am
Bird Walk

Seasons at South Tract. One of a series of quarterly bird walks at the South Tract of the Patuxent Research Refuge. We will walk some of the trails and will stop at the Pollinator Garden bird feeding area by the Visitor Center. Be prepared to walk up to 2 miles. Wear sturdy shoes and bring a water bottle. Target species include migrating warblers, flycatchers, vireos, sparrows. Additional walks will be held on the first Wednesday of December, March, and June, to explore the seasonal variation in bird use of the South Tract habitats. Meet at 9:00 am in the parking lot of the National Wildlife Visitor Center; bear left on entering the parking area and go all the way to the last section of the lot past the covered solar recharging station for electric vehicles. For directions, see https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Patuxent/visit/directions.html. For further information, contact the leader, Marcia Watson at marshwren50@comcast.net.

Thursday, September 21, 3 pm (Note start time is 3 pm September-March )
Bird Walk

Saturday, September 23, 9 am to 1 pm
Bird Festival at Lake Artemesia

Lake Artemesia Natural Area. Sponsored by Prince George’s Audubon Society. 4th annual migration-themed birding festival with live raptors and 11:00 am raptor talk; artist-led field sketching demo/workshop; 7:30 am bird walk for all skill levels; 10:00 am family nature walk; children’s games, crafts, coloring pages, bilingual Spanish/English activity pages; spotting scope set up; Monarch butterfly life cycle display. For more information, contact Lynette Fullerton at birdzenbeads@yahoo.com.

Thursday, October 5, 3 pm
Bird Walk

Saturday, October 7, 7:30 am
Bird Walk

Tuesday, October 10, 7:30 pm, doors open at 7 pm
Monthly Meeting and Speaker Program
College Park Airport Operations Building, 2nd Floor
1909 Corporal Frank Scott Dr
College Park, MD 20740 (Directions)

Mom’s Big Year, presented by Nancy McAllister

Join Nancy McAllister on her journey through a ‘Mom’s Big Year’ of birding the U.S. Nancy traveled to hotspots from coast-to-coast to see as many birds as possible throughout 2016. She encountered beautiful birds and fascinating people along the way. A Big Year is no small feat for a mom managing all the duties that go along with three young children, a husband and two unexpected new jobs! Returning to her life-long passion for nature and travel proved to be both exhausting and exhilarating. Nancy used the Big Year to begin her journey of healing after a family tragedy and has many wonderful and heartwarming stories to share from her Big Year adventures. Hear more about how Nancy juggled life, work, and family, and used her birding adventures to heal, renew, and rediscover herself. Nancy’s adventures are sure to inspire! Come and hear about how fueling your passion for nature can change your life too! www.momsbigyear.com

About the presenter: Nancy McAllister is a biologist at the North American Bird Banding Laboratory and an adjunct professor of environmental science at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She loves combining a career in field work, research and education. Nancy became an avid birder in the mid-1980s in her home state of New Jersey. Since then she’s worked for The Nature Conservancy and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, and she started a non-profit watershed association. Recently, Nancy has been working with Wildside Nature Tours and did her own 2016 Big Year of birding, a Mom’s Big Year (www.momsbigyear.com). In February 2017, she was appointed by her County Executive to Howard County’s Environmental Sustainability Board. Nancy holds an M.S. in Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development and lives in Ellicott City, Maryland with her husband, Paul, and their three children.

Free and open to the public.

Thursday, October 19, 3 pm
Bird Walk

Saturday, October 21, 7:30 am
Bird Walk

Thursday, November 2, 3 pm
Bird Walk

Lake Artemesia Natural Area. Semi-monthly walk. Wheelchair-accessible. Meet at 3 pm at parking lot, at intersection of Berwyn Rd. and Ballew Ave. in Berwyn Heights. No reservations needed. Contact David Mozurkewich (mozurk@bellAtlantic.net) for more information.

Saturday, November 4, 7:30 am
Bird Walk

Tuesday, November 14, 7:30 pm, doors open at 7 pm
Monthly Meeting and Speaker Program
College Park Airport Operations Building, 2nd Floor
1909 Corporal Frank Scott Dr
College Park, MD 20740 (Directions)

The Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership: A United Voice for Maryland’s Birds, presented by Chris Eberly

The Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership (https://marylandbirds.org) was launched in 2014 to build the foundation of a collaborative, sustained effort to conserve Maryland birds and their habitat. Modeled after Partners in Flight, the North American Bird Conservation Initiative, and other state-level efforts, MBCP is a coalition of government agencies, non-governmental groups, and citizen stakeholders that combines efforts to ensure the long-term health of native bird populations. To undertake this complex goal, MBCP facilitates collaboration on land conservation, research, data gathering and collation, citizen-science monitoring, outreach, and education. The Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership is giving birds one united voice in Maryland. Chris will describe how and where the Partnership is working and how you can become a part of this exciting conservation initiative.

About the presenter: Chris Eberly is Director of the Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership. A Marylander by birth, he worked in the computer industry for 11 years before returning to graduate school at the University of Georgia. After graduating with an M.S. in natural resources/ornithology, Chris coordinated the Department of Defense’s Partners in Flight program for 17 years. He then served as Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory. Chris is excited to return to his roots to help make MBCP the leader in bird conservation in Maryland and beyond.

Free and open to the public.

Wednesday, November 15, 9 am
Field Trip

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. Meet at the Bowie Park and Ride to carpool to Blackwater for wintering waterfowl, eagles and other raptors, lingering shorebirds and songbirds. Reservations required; limited to 10 participants. Must contact the leader, David Mozurkewich (mozurk@bellAtlantic.net), in advance. (Directions to Bowie Park & Ride)

Thursday, November 16, 3 pm
Bird Walk

Saturday, November 18, 7:30 am
Bird Walk

Saturday, December 2, 7:30 am
Bird Walk

Sunday, December 3, 8 am
Field Trip

Piscataway National Park. Field trip to this National Park Service facility on the Potomac River in the southwest corner of Prince George’s County, for wintering waterfowl, gulls, and songbirds. Meet at the fishing area at the north end of Wharf Road. From the DC Beltway (I-495), go south on Route 210/Indian Head Highway, then right (west) on Farmington Rd. West. Continue on Farmington Rd. to a sharp curve to the left, where you should turn right (north) onto Wharf Road (large wooden sign at intersection reads “Farmington Landing”). Follow Wharf Rd. to its end at the fishing area/boat launch. Contact the leader, David Mozurkewich, (mozurk@bellAtlantic.net), for more information.

Tuesday, December 5, 9 am
Bird Walk

Seasons at South Tract. One of a series of quarterly bird walks at the South Tract of the Patuxent Research Refuge. We will walk some of the trails and will stop at the Pollinator Garden bird feeding area by the Visitor Center. Be prepared to walk up to 2.5 miles. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes and bring a water bottle. Target species include wintering waterfowl, sparrows and small woodland birds such as kinglets. Additional walks will be in March and June, to explore the seasonal variation in bird use of the South Tract habitats. Meet at 9:00 am in the parking lot of the National Wildlife Visitor Center; bear left on entering the parking area and go all the way to the last section of the lot past the covered solar recharging station for electric vehicles. For directions, see https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Patuxent/visit/directions.html. For further information, contact the leader, Ken Cohen at kvulture@aol.com.

Thursday, December 7, 3 pm
Bird Walk

Tuesday, December 12, 7:30 pm, doors open at 7 pm
Monthly Meeting and Speaker Program
College Park Airport Operations Building, 2nd Floor
1909 Corporal Frank Scott Dr
College Park, MD 20740 (Directions)

Annual Holiday Social and Movie Night. Join the Patuxent Bird Club and Prince George’s Audubon Society for popcorn and other refreshments to enjoy during our annual movie night. One of the movies will be Birds of May, filmed in May 2016 on the beaches of the Delaware Bay. The short movie is filmmaker Jared Flesher’s ode to the natural spectacle of the Red Knot’s annual visit to the Delaware Bay. What makes the Red Knot (Calidris canutus rufa) remarkable is its epic journey of 19,000 miles per year, from Tierra del Fuego to the Arctic Circle and back again, one of the longest migrations in the animal kingdom. The film is also an investigation of a potential new threat to Red Knot survival: the expansion of oyster aquaculture onto Red Knot feeding grounds. Against the scenic backdrop of the bay, Flesher interviews both oyster farmers and the shorebird biologists who fear that an oyster farming boom here could push the Red Knot closer to extinction.

One or more additional films on birds and/or conservation may be added to the evening’s roster; final movie titles TBA at a later date, so check www.patuxentbirdclub.org for more information.

Saturday, December 16, 7:30 am
Bird Walk

Sunday, December 17
Jug Bay Christmas Bird Count

Annual bird census. Volunteers are needed to count birds in a 15-mile diameter circle in the vicinity of Jug Bay. Choose your own start and stop times, then come to a tally rally at the end of the day to share your data and socialize. The compiler is Sam Droege but he will be out of town on the day of the count. Contact temporary coordinators Marcia Watson (marshwren50@comcast.net) or Gene Scarpulla (ejscarp@comcast.net) to be put in touch with a sector leader to receive an area assignment.

Thursday, December 21, 3 pm
Bird Walk

Sunday, January 1, 2018
Bowie Christmas Bird Count

Volunteers are needed to census birds in a 15-mile diameter circle in the vicinity of Bowie. Choose your own start and stop times, then come to a tally rally at the end of the day to share your data and socialize. Contact compiler David Mozurkewich (mozurk@bellAtlantic.net) to volunteer and to receive an assignment.

Thursday, January 4, 3 pm
Bird Walk

Lake Artemesia Natural Area. Semi-monthly walk. Wheelchair-accessible. Meet at 3 pm at parking lot, at intersection of Berwyn Rd. and Ballew Ave. in Berwyn Heights. No reservations needed. Contact David Mozurkewich (mozurk@bellAtlantic.net) for more information.

Saturday, January 6, 7:30 am
Bird Walk

Tuesday, January 9, 7:30 pm, doors open at 7 pm
Monthly Meeting and Speaker Program
College Park Airport Operations Building, 2nd Floor
1909 Corporal Frank Scott Dr
College Park, MD 20740 (Directions)

Birding the Galapagos, presented by Claudia Ferguson.

Join us to hear PGAS’s own Claudia Ferguson speak about her adventures birding in the Galapagos Islands. A native of Cuba, Claudia’s life-long passion for nature, wildlife, birds, and bird migration started during early childhood while playing outdoors in tropical Cuba, then later exploring rural Patagonia when her family moved to Argentina. Having lived in five countries and travelled to many places around the world, Claudia certainly can relate to migratory birds. To visit the Galapagos Islands was her wish for a long time and finally during September 2016, she had the opportunity to spend five days birding in several of the islands. She will share her photos and stories from her trip.

About the presenter: Claudia currently lives in Hyattsville, MD. Her home backyard has been recognized by Audubon as a Bird-friendly Habitat as well as a National Wildlife Federation Certified Habitat. Her second home is located in Pompano Beach, FL where she enjoys watching marine birds during long walks on the beach. Claudia works for the USDA-Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on plant health regulatory issues related to international trade, and has been involved in domestic programs for the eradication of invasive species. Claudia has been a Prince George’s Audubon Society Board member for the last two years.

Free and open to the public.

Thursday, January 18, 3 pm
Bird Walk

Saturday, January 20, 7:30 am
Bird Walk

Thursday, February 1, 3 pm
Bird Walk

Friday, February 2 through Sunday, February 4
MOS Convention, Holiday Inn, Coastal Highway at 66^th Street, Ocean City, MD

MOS will hold its annual convention in Ocean City, an iconic spot for winter birding, known to host a wide variety of wintering waterfowl and gulls, with possible alcids (Dovekies, Razorbills, etc.), and other rarities. Assateague Island often holds a surprise sparrow or owl. Field trips (maybe including some boat trips), wine and cheese party, research posters, seminars, nature store, end-of-convention tally rally, and more. Sign up for group meals at the Convention or sample Ocean City’s restaurants on your own. Keynote speaker on Friday evening will be Dr. Peter Marra, Head of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center. PBC members should already have received the convention brochure and registration form by email from the Patuxent Bird Club. Or you can download the Convention Registration Form here.

Saturday, February 3, 7:30 am
Bird Walk

Tuesday, February 13, 7:30 pm, doors open at 7 pm
Monthly Meeting and Speaker Program
College Park Airport Operations Building, 2nd Floor
1909 Corporal Frank Scott Dr
College Park, MD 20740 (Directions)

What a wonderful bird is the pelican … The expansion of Brown Pelicans into the Chesapeake Bay region, presented by Dave Brinker

During the mid-1900s, Brown Pelicans seriously declined along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States and were eventually listed as a threatened species. Historically, pelicans had never been recorded as a nesting species in Maryland or anywhere to the north. As pelican populations were recovering from the impacts of DDT, Dave discovered Maryland’s first Brown Pelican nesting in 1987. Since wandering into the Middle Atlantic States, Brown Pelican populations have increased dramatically. The remarkable expansion of local Brown Pelicans in the region will be described. Come learn how adults feed tiny chicks, and where Maryland nesting pelicans spend their winters, along with other snippets of the natural history of this facilitating water bird.

About the presenter: A regional ecologist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Natural Heritage Program since 1990, Dave works on biodiversity conservation, where he specializes in colonial nesting waterbirds, marshbirds, and raptors, as well as working on freshwater mussels, tiger beetles and odonates. He began bird banding in 1975 with raptors in Wisconsin at the Little Suamico Ornithological Station, and has been banding Northern Saw-whet Owls in Maryland since 1986, and at Assateague Island since 1991. He founded the now continental collaborative banding effort Project Owlnet in 1994. Along with colleagues and many volunteers he has organized banding of over 35,000 Brown Pelicans in Maryland and Virginia. In addition to his professional duties, during his free time he studies Northern Goshawks in West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania and has experience with traditional radio, satellite, and cellular telemetry of Black Skimmers, Northern Goshawks, Northern Saw-whet and Snowy Owls. Most recently he co-founded, and is a leading principal in Project SNOWstorm, a project tracking Snowy Owls. He has published a number of scientific papers and authored numerous species accounts in both Maryland Breeding Bird Atlases, as well as the Northern Goshawk accounts in the recent Pennsylvania and West Virginia atlases.

Free and open to the public.

Thursday, February 15, 3 pm
Bird Walk

Saturday, February 17, 7:30 am
Bird Walk

Saturday, February 24, 8 am
Field Trip

Ponds of Prince George’s County for Wintering Waterfowl. Join leader Fred Fallon in a pot-luck potpourri to see what the ponds of Prince George’s County might hold. A special target bird will be the PBC logo bird, Hooded Merganser. Exact locations to be visited will depend on current reports. Meet at the Bowie Park and Ride at 8 am for a ¾ day trip. Bring snacks and drinks. Contact Fred Fallon at fwfallon@ymail.com for more information.

Thursday, March 1, 3 pm
Bird Walk

Saturday, March 3, 7:30 am
Bird Walk

Tuesday, March 6, 9 am
Bird Walk

Seasons at South Tract. Half-day walk. One of a series of quarterly bird walks at the South Tract of the Patuxent Research Refuge. We will walk some of the trails and will stop at the Pollinator Garden bird feeding area by the Visitor Center. Be prepared to walk up to 2.5 miles. Wear sturdy shoes and bring a water bottle. Target species include early migrating landbirds and lingering waterfowl. The next walk will be held in June, to explore the seasonal variation in bird use of the South Tract habitats. Meet at 9:00 am in the parking lot of the National Wildlife Visitor Center; bear left on entering the parking area and go all the way to the last section of the lot past the covered solar recharging station for electric vehicles. For directions, see https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Patuxent/visit/directions.html . For further information, contact the leader, Marcia Watson at marshwren50@comcast.net.

Tuesday, March 13, 7:30 pm, doors open at 7 pm
Monthly Meeting and Speaker Program
College Park Airport Operations Building, 2nd Floor
1909 Corporal Frank Scott Dr
College Park, MD 20740 (Directions)

Birds and climate change: using climate change projections to inform conservation throughout the Americas, presented by Zachary Slavin

Zach Slavin from National Audubon will speak about Audubon’s work on climate change including the development of the Audubon climate models (http://climate.audubon.org/) based on citizen science data and how the new Climate Watch program is designed to test them.

About the presenter: Zach Slavin is a Program Manager with National Audubon Society’s Science division where he works on citizen science programs including the Christmas Bird Count, Great Backyard Bird Count, and Hummingbirds at Home. Previously he managed the Toyota TogetherGreen Innovation Grants program that provided funding and training to environmental projects and leaders around the country. Zach also serves on the Board of Directors of the Audubon Society of the District of Columbia and is currently president of that organization. Zach holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Environmental Studies from Brandeis University. Zach enjoys leading bird walks, especially for beginners, and is also interested in bird and wildlife photography.

Free and open to the public.

Thursday, March 15, 3 pm
Bird Walk

Saturday, March 17, 7:30 am
Bird Walk

Saturday, March 24, 9 am
Field Trip

Susquehanna River from Havre to Grace to Conowingo. ¾ day Trip. Reservations needed. We will bird from the top of the Chesapeake Bay up the Susquehanna River to the Conowingo Dam, stopping at various overlooks for the primary target species, gulls and waterfowl. The trip is planned for the peak period for Little Gull, Black-headed Gull, and Bonaparte’s Gull. Scoters, grebes and loons also possible. Eagles should be abundant, and the woods along the river usually harbor a good selection of wintering and resident birds, including woodpeckers, kinglets, thrushes, and Winter Wren. Bring snacks and drinks and dress warmly – conditions are often windy along the river. Meet at 9 AM at the Havre de Grace Marina, 723 Water Street. To reserve your seat and for more information, contact the leader, Gene Scarpulla, at ejscarp@comcast.net no later than March 17.

Thursday, April 5, 6 pm (Note: start time is 6 pm April through August)
Bird Walk

Lake Artemesia Natural Area. Semi-monthly walk. Wheelchair-accessible. Meet at 6 pm at parking lot, at intersection of Berwyn Rd. and Ballew Ave. in Berwyn Heights. No reservations needed. Contact David Mozurkewich (mozurk@bellAtlantic.net) for more information.

Saturday, April 7, 7:30 am
Bird Walk

Tuesday, April 10, 7:30 pm, doors open at 7 pm
Monthly Meeting and Speaker Program
College Park Airport Operations Building, 2nd Floor
1909 Corporal Frank Scott Dr
College Park, MD 20740 (Directions)

Playing Dr. Doolittle: Understanding Bird Songs and Social Behavior, presented by Kim Derrickson

Sex, Drugs, and Rock n’ Roll – Avian Style. Well maybe not the drugs, but more than enough of the other two to make an entertaining evening. Come hear about the amazing lives of our feathered friends. You will be utterly amazed by its complexity. Come learn about our local avian virtuoso, the Northern Mockingbird. Even learn why they keep you up at night singing from your chimney. Dr. Kim Derrickson, our speaker for this evening, will tell you all you ever wanted to know* about Northern Mockingbirds (*and you don’t have to be afraid to ask now). He will also discuss his various research endeavors attempting to unravel the social lives and singing styles of another local species with a beautiful song, the Wood Thrush, and a Panamanian suboscine, the Dusky Antbird. As these stories unfold you will see how experiences in the field, several completely unexpected, have directed and altered Kim’s research efforts. During the presentation we will explore questions such as: Why do mockingbirds have one of the largest vocal repertoires of any bird species? How do birds know how far away a neighbor is by listening? Why are there good Dads and poor Dads in Wood Thrushes when it comes to parental care? And, do Wood Thrushes actually see their eggs?

About the presenter: Dr. Kim Derrickson is an Associate Professor of Biology and Chair of the Department of Biology at Loyola University Maryland where he teaches an introductory course on ecology, evolution and biodiversity and upper level courses in animal behavior and evolution. He has also taught upper level courses in avian biology, ecology, conservation biology, and exploring ecosystems in which he took classes to the Amazon Rainforest and the Desert Southwest. His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation and Smithsonian Institution. He has published over 20 scientific papers and given numerous professional presentations on the behavior of several local species, most notably the Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) and Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina). Kim is recognized as one of the world’s experts on the Northern Mockingbird, a local species with an exceptionally large vocal repertoire. He, along with Dr. Randall Breitwisch, wrote the Birds of North America species account for the mockingbird. He also participated in a long-term study at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute on the singing behavior and mating system of a Panamanian suboscine, the Dusky Antbird (Cercomacra tyrannina). Colleagues have recognized his research and appointed him an Elective Fellow of the American Ornithologists’ Union. Dr. Derrickson earned his B.Sc. degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. He was a Research Associate at the National Zoological Park, Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C. before joining the faculty at Loyola.

Free and open to the public.

Thursday, April 19, 6 pm (Note: start time is 6 pm April through August)
Bird Walk

Saturday, April 21, 7:30 am
Bird Walk

Saturday, April 28, 8:30 am
Field Trip

Fort Smallwood Hawk Watch. We will car-pool to Fort Smallwood Park in Anne Arundel County to observe the spring raptor migration spectacle. Data for the spring raptor migration are compiled annually by a team of counters organized by Sue Ricciardi from the Anne Arundel Bird Club. The number of raptors counted in a spring season ranges from 9,000 to 12,500, and fifteen different raptor species are usually observed, though not all may be present on any one day. In recognition of the significance of the hawkwatch, Fort Smallwood Park has been named an Important Bird Area by Audubon Maryland-DC. Migration of non-raptor species is also noteworthy, especially waterfowl, swallows, and Blue Jays and other passerines. About 260 species of birds have been observed at the Park. Bring folding chair, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, drinks and snacks. Also bring cash for daily parking fee of $6.00 per vehicle (annual passes are also available for $30 for Anne Arundel County residents or $40 for non-Anne Arundel County residents; a lifetime pass is available for $40 for those aged 60 years and older). Meet at the Bowie Park and Ride at 8:30 am. No reservations needed. Contact David Mozurkewich (mozurk@bellAtlantic.net) for more information.

Thursday, May 3, 6 pm
Bird Walk

Saturday, May 5, 7:30 am
Bird Walk

Tuesday, May 8, 7:30 pm, doors open at 7 pm
Monthly Meeting and Speaker Program
College Park Airport Operations Building, 2nd Floor
1909 Corporal Frank Scott Dr
College Park, MD 20740 (Directions)

Marshes for Tomorrow – The Fight to Save Maryland’s Salt Marshes from Sea Level Rise, presented by David R. Curson

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge lies at the heart of one of the largest tidal marsh complexes in the northeastern United States, which is recognized as an Important Bird Area (Southern Dorchester County IBA) supporting globally important populations of Black Rail and Saltmarsh Sparrow. Rapid sea level rise threatens the survival of this ecosystem during the current century. Audubon is working with Federal, State and NGO partners to ensure that Maryland’s salt marshes and their birds do survive, by implementing innovative strategies including thin-layer sediment application, removing salt-stressed trees to facilitate the transition of dying forests to salt marsh, and enhancing tidal exchange through hydrological management.

About the presenter: David Curson has worked as Director of Bird Conservation for Audubon Maryland-DC, since 2004, overseeing the Important Bird Areas (IBA) Program and running conservation projects for birds and their habitats. In recent years, Dave’s work has focused on tidal marsh conservation and climate change issues in the Chesapeake Bay. David also teaches ecology classes at Johns Hopkins University as an adjunct professor. David received his B.Sc. in Ecology at the University of East Anglia, UK and earned M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in the Department of Wildlife Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His graduate research focused on the ecology and behavior of Brown-headed Cowbirds.

Free and open to the public.

Saturday May 12
Annual Spring Migration Bird Count

Annual county-wide census of resident and migrating birds. Pick your own start and stop times. Contact the county compiler Fred Fallon at fwfallon@ymail.com to receive an assigned area and for more information. Click here to download a printable checklist for submitting data for the May count.

Thursday, May 17, 6 pm
Bird Walk

Saturday, May 19, 7:30 am
Bird Walk

Saturday, May 26, 7 am
Field Trip

Delaware Bayshore. Full day trip. Join leader Fred Fallon for our annual Memorial Day weekend shorebird hunt at the great refuges of the Delaware Bayshore. Migrating shorebirds are the main target species. We can also expect to see gulls, terns, some waterfowl, and waders. Exact route and stops will be determined by current bird reports and by tides. Bring lunch, snacks, drinks, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, scope, and money for tolls and possible dinner stop. Reservations required. Carpool will leave from the Bowie Park and Ride at 7 am. Please contact Fred Fallon at fwfallon@ymail.com no later than May 20 to reserve your spot, and for more information.

Saturday, June 2, 7:30 am
Bird Walk

Tuesday, June 5, 8 am
Bird Walk

Seasons at South Tract. Half-day walk. The last of a series of quarterly bird walks at the South Tract of the Patuxent Research Refuge. We will walk some of the trails and will stop at the Pollinator Garden bird feeding area by the Visitor Center. Be prepared to walk up to 2.5 miles. Wear sturdy shoes and bring a water bottle. Target species include late migrating landbirds and resident breeding birds. Meet at 8:00 am in the parking lot of the National Wildlife Visitor Center; bear left on entering the parking area and go all the way to the last section of the lot past the covered solar recharging station for electric vehicles. For directions, see https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Patuxent/visit/directions.html . For further information, contact the leader, Ken Cohen at kvulture@aol.com.

Thursday, June 7, 6 pm
Bird Walk

Tuesday, June 12, 7:30 pm, doors open at 7 pm
Monthly Meeting and Speaker Program
College Park Airport Operations Building, 2nd Floor
1909 Corporal Frank Scott Dr
College Park, MD 20740 (Directions)

Members’ Night. Join members of the Patuxent Bird Club and PGAS as they present a few of their favorite photos and give brief presentations about their birding adventures. Members who wish to present must contact Fred Fallon at fwfallon@ymail.com no later than June 5 so that he can organize the agenda.

Free and open to the public. Doors open at 7 pm for 7:30 pm meeting start time.

Saturday, June 16, 7:30 am
Bird Walk

Thursday, June 21, 6 pm
Bird Walk

Thursday, July 5, 6 pm –CANCELLED
Bird Walk

The walk scheduled for Thursday July 5 is cancelled because of another event that evening at Lake Artemesia.

Saturday, July 7, 7:30 am
Bird Walk

Fran Uhler Natural Area. Monthly walk. Meet at 7:30 am at the east end of Lemon’s Bridge Road, off Route 197 just north of Bowie State University. No reservations needed. Contact Bill Sefton (mailto:mkiwisuits@msn.com).

Thursday, July 19, 6 pm
Bird Walk

Saturday, July 21, 7:30 am
Bird Walk

Thursday, August 2, 6 pm
Bird Walk

Saturday, August 4, 7:30 am
Bird Walk

Fran Uhler Natural Area. Monthly walk. Meet at 7:30 am at the east end of Lemon’s Bridge Road, off Route 197 just north of Bowie State University. No reservations needed. Contact Bill Sefton (kiwisuits@msn.com).

Saturday, August 11, 9 am
Field Trip

Delaware Bayshore. The trip will visit Bombay Hook and other refuges along the shores of the Delaware Bay, with a focus on migrating shorebirds, waders, and passerines. Bring spotting scope, sunscreen, bug repellant, water & other drinks, lunch and snacks. Long pants, long-sleeved shirt, and closed-toes shoes recommended. Meet at 9:00 am at the Visitor Center at Bombay Hook. (directions available from leaders). Leaders will be Marcia Watson and Gene Scarpulla. Please RSVP to Marcia (marshwren50@comcast.net) no later than August 8 so that they have a headcount and know who to expect.

Thursday, August 16, 6 pm
Bird Walk

Saturday, August 18, 7:30 am
Bird Walk

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