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Extending from the barrier island beaches of the Atlantic Coast to the mountain highlands of Garrett County in the West, Maryland spans four distinct geophysical regions: the Coastal Plain, the Piedmont Plateau, the Ridge and Valley area and the Allegheny Mountains. These four areas encompass a wide variety of habitats that offer the active birder many opportunities to seek out Maryland's 415 species of birds. The Coastal Plain includes the Eastern Shore Counties of Worcester, Somerset, Wicomico, Dorchester, and Talbot, the Assateague Island barrier beaches, and the back bays of Sinepuxent, Chincoteague, Isle of Wight, and Assawoman. These bays and their associated tidal wetlands teem with birdlife at all seasons of the year and are matched only by the vast wetland expanses bordering the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay. Further north, the Coastal Plain includes Caroline, Queen Anne's, Kent, Cecil, and the shoreline areas of Harford and Baltimore Counties, all in the Upper Chesapeake section. Moving down the Western Shore of Chesapeake Bay leads the avid birder to the counties of Southern Maryland, including Anne Arundel, Prince George's, Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's. Southern Maryland includes the wide expanses of the Patuxent and Potomac Rivers, two important watersheds of Eastern Maryland. The Piedmont Plateau includes Cecil, Harford, Baltimore, Carroll, Howard, Montgomery, and eastern Frederick Counties and is the area of the state most beset by rampant growth. At the same time many wild areas are preserved as State or local parks or wildlife management areas and continue to offer oases of bird diversity amidst to canyons of office buildings and expanses of suburban lawns. Frederick and Washington Counties comprise the Ridge and Valley area, with Allegany and Garrett Counties making up the Allegheny (and yes, they ARE spelled differently!) Mountain area. The Ridge and Valley section is essentially a transition zone between central Maryland and the mountain area to the West and is noted for its many species of grassland birds that breed in the wide valleys between the mountain regions. The Allegheny Mountains are the summer home for many species that normally breed far north of Maryland. Although experienced birders flock to Worcester County, the diversity of birding habitats in the state offers birders a rewarding birding experience just about anywhere! The Maryland Ornithological Society's State Web Site is your key to birding in the state. Here you will find information about birding in the state and the District of Columbia, as well as the official checklists, pictures of rare state birds, links to chapter sites and information about the activities of the MD/DC Records Committee. The Society's newsletter is available for downloading, and you can also link to the Maryland discussion list archives from the home page. Maryland is beautiful, as the state slogan goes, and we look forward to seeing you here! MOS Publish a newsletter, 'The Maryland Yellowthroat' that is now available on line: http://www.mdbirds.org/publications/yellowthroat/yellowthroat.html |
Fran Saunders
(Silver Spring, Maryland)http://www.mdbirds.org/
Number of bird species: 437
(Accurate as of November 2011)
(Accurate as of November 2011)
Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Maryland and the District of Colombia
Edited by Chandler S Robbins and Eirik AT Blom Series: PITTSBURGH SERIES IN NATURE AND NATURAL HISTORY 504 pages, illus, maps. University of Pittsburgh Press 1996ISBN: 0822939231
Buy this book from NHBS.com
Backyard Birds of Maryland
(Backyard Birds Of Series...) by Bill Fenimore Gibbs Smith Paperback 2008ISBN: 1423603540
Buy this book from NHBS.com
Birds of Maryland & Delaware Field Guide
(Includes Washington, D.C. & Chesapeake Bay) by Stan Tekiela Adventure Publications 2005 - PaperbackISBN: 1591931207
Buy this book from NHBS.com
National Geographic Field Guide to Birds: Maryland and Washington, D.C.
Jonathan Alderfer Series: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC STATE FIELD GUIDES TO BIRDS 272 pages, colour illus. National Geographic Society 2006ISBN: 1426200072
Buy this book from NHBS.com
State Bird
Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula
Allegany & Garrett Counties' Bird Club
WebsiteThis site is now the home of the Allegany & Garrett Counties' Bird Club. Here you will find information about our meetings and general information about birding in Western Maryland including site guides to birding spots in Allegany and Garrett Counties...
Audubon Naturalist Society
WebsiteMembers of the Audubon Naturalist Society, founded in 1897, work to increase the enjoyment and appreciation of the natural world and to preserve and protect the treasures of the Washington D.C. metropolitan region. You are welcome to visit Woodend, our sanctuary in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and to join us for walks, classes, trips, and special events.
Audubon Society of Central Maryland
WebsiteAudrey Carroll Audubon Sanctuary in Mt. Airy, MD; Audubon Adventures curriculum materials in local classrooms; Monthly Evening Nature Talks; Audubon Christmas Bird Count; Spring Birdathon; Conservation Easements; July 4th Butterfly Count; Seasonal Walks.
Audubon in Maryland
WebsiteUsual list of local chapters, centers etc
Baltimore Bird Club
WebsiteWelcome to the home page of the Baltimore Bird Club, a chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society. Here you will find the latest RBAs; information about the BBC, the MOS, and their activities; and links to some of the finest birding sites on the web...
Cecil Bird Club - Maryland Ornithological Society Chapter
WebsiteThe Cecil Bird Club, known formally as the Ornithological Society of Cecil County, is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the understanding and enjoyment of birds, as well as the conservation of avian habitats. Founded in 1994, the Club promotes recreational and social events, educational programs, information exchange, research on bird populations, and cooperation on issues important to the future of birds...
Chesapeake Audubon Society
WebsiteChesapeake Audubon Society (CAS) is a group of citizens involved in the appreciation and preservation of the natural world around us. Linked together by membership in the National Audubon Society. Chesapeake Audubon, an independent, local Audubon Chapter, promotes the conservation of our natural resources through education and advocacy.
DC Audubon
WebsiteOn the Maryland side, eagles nest by the river above the parking lot; black crowned night herons fish below the falls at dusk. From the Beltway, Cabin John exit to MacArthur Blvd, N to Falls Rd...
DelMarVa Ornithological Society
WebsiteThe Delmarva peninsula comprises the state of Delaware and portions of Maryland and Virginia. Delmarva is characterized by the rolling hills of the piedmont to the north and the flat coastal plain to the south. Thousands of square miles of wetlands ring the peninsula, which is surrounded by the Delaware Bay, Chesapeake Bay, and Atlantic Ocean... [Primarily a Delaware society]
Frederick County Chapter - Maryland Ornithological Society
WebsiteWhat a great year we have planned. We hope you enjoy every moment of it. Meetings will be held at Frederick High School at 7:30 PM in the Music Room (unless school is closed that day). Field Trips will start at the Culler Lake Boathouse (2nd Street just west of College Terrace) at 7:30AM unless otherwise noted...
Harford Bird Club
WebsiteWelcome to the Home Page of the Harford Bird Club. Harford County is located in the northeast part of Maryland at the head of the Chesapeake Bay and offers a diverse habitat for both breeding and migrating bird species. With the bay and the Susquehanna River on the eastern border and Little Gunpowder Falls on the western border there is a variety of habitats. Four State Parks: Susquehanna, Palmer, Rocks and Gunpowder; as well as Eden Mill, Harford Glen and Conowingo Dam offer excellent birding opportunities. A total of 310 species have been recorded in Harford County...
Howard County Bird Club
WebsiteThe members of the Howard County Bird Club welcome you to Howard County, Maryland. We hope to see you looking for birds at one of the county's birding hotspots such as the Daniel's Area of Patapsco State Park or Schooley Mill Park. Good Birding...
Kent County Chapter - Maryland Ornithological Society
InformationThe Kent County Chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society (MOS) is a local non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the understanding and enjoyment of birds, as well as the conservation of wildlife habitats. It promotes recreational and social events, educational programs and information exchange...
Maryland Ornithological Society
WebsiteThe Maryland Ornithological Society (MOS) is a non-profit, state-wide organization of people who are interested in birds and nature. It was founded in 1945 and incorporated in 1956 to promote the study and enjoyment of birds. MOS promotes knowledge about our natural resources, and fosters its appreciation and conservation. The Society also maintains a system of sanctuaries to encourage the conservation of birds and bird habitat, and to help record and publish observations of bird life.
Maryland/District of Columbia Records Committee
InformationThe Maryland/District of Columbia Records Committee (MD/DCRC) was established in 1982 as a committee of the Maryland Ornithological Society. The function of the Committee is to review reports of unusual sightings within its area of coverage...
Montgomery Bird Club - Chapter of Maryland Ornithological Society
WebsiteMontgomery Bird Club members range from new birders to very serious bird enthusiasts. People of all ages and experience levels are welcome to join. If you are new to birding, our members will be happy to help you get started and pass along their knowledge through a variety of interesting field trips...
Nature Conservancy in Maryland
WebsiteAnother new NC site with stunning pictures on the opening page - Welcome to The Nature Conservancy's Maryland/DC Chapter home page. Here you'll find information on the many ways we're working to help preserve the diversity of living things by protecting the habitats they call home...
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
WebsiteTo excel in wildlife and natural resource science, providing the information needed to better manage the nation's biological resources.
Potomac Valley Audubon Society
WebsitePVAS is a chapter of the National Audubon Society and covers the counties of Jefferson, Berkeley and Morgan in West Virginia and Washington in Maryland.
Prince George's Audubon Society
WebsiteServing the communities of Prince George's County, Maryland - PO Box 2598, Laurel, MD 20709-2598 - William Sefton, President
Southern Maryland Audubon Society
WebsiteServing the people of the Southern Maryland Counties: Calvert, Charles, St. Mary's and Lower Prince George's. The public is enthusiastically welcomed at all of our activities, but we invite you to join us as Members to fully enjoy the benefits our chapter has to offer. Get to know the natural world of Southern Maryland, its environmental community, and our efforts in protecting our values...
Wilson Parrot Foundation
WebsiteWelcome to the Wilson Parrot Foundation website. WPF is a nonprofit foundation, located in Damascus, Maryland, dedicated to educational and charitable activities...
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
InformationSatellite View
The best time for viewing waterfowl is between mid-October and mid-March. Wintering species include tundra swans, Canada and snow geese, and over 20 ducks species. The most common ducks found here are mallards, black ducks, blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, widgeon, and pintails...
Chesapeake Bay
InformationSatellite View
A Directory of Wetlands of International Importance entry with lots of pages for each area covered...
Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge
InformationSatellite View
The refuge is a 2,285-acre island at the mouth of the Chester River and, while in sight of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, getting there requires a round-about journey of 50 miles from where the bridge is...
Fort Smallwood Park
InformationSatellite View
Fort Smallwood Park is a nationally significant spring hawkwatch site and the most prominent along the entire East Coast. The number of raptors counted in a spring season ranges from 9,000 to 12,500, and fifteen different raptor species are usually observed...
Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary
WebsiteSatellite View
Established in 1985, the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary comprises one of the largest freshwater tidal wetlands on the East Coast. Large stands of wild rice, cattail and other aquatic plants support a rich assortment of invertebrates, fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals. More than 250 bird species have been observed. Other habitats are mixed hardwood forests, non-tidal wetlands, agricultural fields, year-round streams and temporary ponds. A working farm with two well-preserved tobacco barns occupies 12 acres. Hikers and nature enthusiasts can enjoy seven miles of boardwalks and trails. An observation deck provides a panoramic view of the wetlands and the broad Patuxent River. Wildlife observation blinds reward the patient observer with close-up views of waterfowl, Bald Eagles, Ospreys, muskrats, beavers and turtles...
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
WebsiteThe Department maintains Maryland's parks, forests and wildlife management areas. The site provides maps and information about each. Some sites offer camping opportunities...
Pickering Creek Audubon Center
WebsiteSatellite View
With over 400 acres of forests, fields and shoreline, Pickering Creek is a private non-profit sanctuary dedicated to community-based conservation of natural resources and is preserved for the purpose of environmental education and outreach on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay.
Turkey Point
InformationSatellite View
The Turkey Point Hawk Watch is an all-volunteer effort to count diurnal birds of prey (hawks, eagles, and vultures) as they pass over Turkey Point and its historic lighthouse during the fall southbound migration. The Hawk Watch was started in 1994 by Charles Gant and Gary Griffith, members of the Cecil Bird Club. In each of the first two seasons, over 2,500 birds of prey were counted. The highest season total count to date was in 1999, when over 7,000 raptors passed through...
This section sponsored by: 
2000 [April] - Stauffer Miller - Big Day report
ReportStill having no sense of how we were doing, we stopped at Kirshner's Pond, the county's best waterfowl spot but often a bust in late April. This time it was a boom for us as we got Black Duck, Red-breasted and Hooded Merganser on the water, and Common Loon soaring above.
2002 [May] - Bill Stott and Paul Green
ReportFollowing a brief night's sleep, we headed west shortly after seven a.m. on Wednesday across the peninsula to the north-west shore of Delaware Bay and the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Reserve (NWR). Then, after a productive time at Finis Pool and its woods, we had our first good looks at Seaside Sparrow on the Boardwalk Trail through Spartina grass, several individuals of which were singing well by the boardwalk. We soon became familiar with this gray-bodied, long-billed sparrow...
Big Day Reports
ReportThere are a number of up to date big day reports in the MDOsprey Archives.
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Birding Pal
InformationLocal birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...
Lands End Manor on the Bay B&B
AccommodationArea Attractions: 17+ acres located on Bay in Maryland , Annapolis (30 minutes); Wild Life (birds) sanctuary, Seafood Restaurants, Antique Shops.
Middle Plantation Inn B&B
AccommodationThis charming stone and log home offers guests a peaceful setting and weekend retreat. The Inn's 26 acre grounds include a picturesque garden and hen house where fresh vegetables and eggs are still yielded, as well as Addison's Run, a nearby brook, which is beautiful in any season...
Whitehaven B&B
AccommodationOur guests may explore the many activities and sights the Delmarva peninsula offers and return to an environment of complete calm to enjoy the beauty of the marsh, the river, beautiful sunsets, a lovely garden and lots of pampering in a place where the peace of the night is broken by only sounds of night birds, where everyone is friendly and welcoming and nobody needs to lock their doors...
*MDOsprey
Mailing ListTo subscribe to list:LISTSERV@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM
SUBSCRIBE MDOsprey YOUR NAME
The Maryland State Birding Listserv - This discussion list is dedicated to issues concerning Maryland birders and birding. Participants eagerly answer questions from future visitors. You must subscribe to leave a message, although the archives can be viewed by all.
MarVaDel
Mailing ListTo post to list:marvadel@yahoogroups.com
List contact:marvadel-owner@yahoogroups.com
To subscribe to list:marvadel-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
MARVADEL is an electronic discussion group for birders of all descriptions in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and surrounding areas. The group will concentrate on local birding issues and events, such asinteresting sightings, advice on local birding hotspots, announcements of local bird club meetings, events and exhibitions, planning of days out and joint birding expeditions, etc. MARVADEL is open to all individuals with a sense of humor and an interest in wild birds in the mid-Atlantic region.
MD-SMAS · Southern Maryland Audubon Society
Mailing ListTo post to list:md-smas@yahoogroups.com
List contact:md-smas-owner@yahoogroups.com
To subscribe to list:md-smas-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Welcome to MD-SMAS, the email discussion list forAudubon in Southern Maryland, where you can share timely information about Southern Marylandenvironmental issues compare notes about Southern Maryland Audubon chapter activities, discuss birds and birding in Southern Maryland, and stay in touch with the Southern Maryland Audubon Society Board of Directors
Assateague Birding
WebsiteBird watching along Assateague Island gives visitors the chance to enjoy the islands` wealth of over 300 species of migratory and resident birds. Birdwatchers know the Chincoteague National Wildlife refuge as one of America`s finest places for Birdwatching along the East Coast. The US Fish & Wildlife Service Refuge at Assateague (Chincoteague NWR) is one of the richest birding regions in the US with outstanding year-round birding.
Birding in Kent County
WebsiteIt has been said that years ago one could walk across the Chester River on the backs of the canvasbacks and other ducks that packed the waters. Those days are long gone, but still one can see great blue herons, osprey, Canada geese, several species of ducks, Forster`s terns, mergansers and even eagles...
Birding in the Burbs
WebsiteWhen you discover the world of birding, your visual universe will expand ten fold, and before you know it, even the simple act of looking out the window can yield amazing new discoveries. Just look at what's been in my back yard...
Checklist
WebsiteMaryland's Lower Eastern Shore - Wildlife Management Areas
WebsiteAn annotated list of sites...
Nestbox
WebsiteA Website Celebrating Nature - Welcome to The Nest Box. This personal home page reflects my interests in natural history from birds to butterflies including photography and travel. Enjoy your visit! Arlene Ripley
Western Maryland Birding
WebsiteBirds and Birding in Western Maryland…
Worcester County
WebsiteCome spring, the Pocomoke Forest is alive with nesting activity. Local residents, such as the Brown-headed Nuthatch, are visible before the arrival of northern migrants - the White-eyed Vireo, Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Wood Pewee and the Worm-eating and Black-and-white Warblers. Now is the perfect time for canoeing on the Pocomoke River, where kingfishers are diving, Wood Ducks are nesting, and where you may spot a Bald Eagle high in the cypress trees.
Photographer - Charlie Lentz - Birds in Maryland
GalleryI started seriously photographing wild birds during 2005 as a stimulating retirement pastime. The Birds in Maryland gallery has quickly grown to a current 144 different species. A few of the photos were actually taken in VA and DE but all of these birds are occasionally seen in Maryland. I know that I have a long way to go but it is a good start...
Photographer - Larry Hitchens
GalleryExcellent photos - check out the owls!
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This site was last updated on Sunday, 29th January 2012.
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