Southern Maryland Audubon Society’s Annual Picnic on June 7 was a great success. About 36 attendees gathered, ate great food, and voted for chapter leaders for the upcoming program year. We are thrilled to announce our new president, Will Daniel, who has been an active member of SMAS since he moved to the area in 1993.
Some of our longtime members might remember Will as SMAS treasurer from 2007 to 2019. Fortunately for us, he recently retired from a career in civil engineering and the insurance industry, so he brings many skills and lots of enthusiasm for our mission.
Picnic attendees also voted to add two new directors—Susan Burch and Brandon Wilfong—to our board. Susan works at Wild Birds Unlimited in La Plata, where she shares her expertise and joy in bird feeding and watching. Brandon is currently an associate professor teaching Chemistry and Physics at the College of Southern Maryland. Among his many outdoor pursuits are birding (of course!) and trail running. In 2026 Brandon is having a trail running Big Year.
In another picnic highlight, Conservation Chair Bob Lukinic presented the Conservationist of the Year Award jointly to two teenage environmentalists—Alisa Gant (at right, with parents) and Jackson Crowley (left, with parents).
Both Alisa and Jackson volunteer at the Nanjemoy Creek Environmental Education Center (NCEEC), where they assist in caring for the raptors-in-residence and in public educational events. Alisa’s passion for conservation began in her youth with birdwatching, nature journaling, and foraging. She found new approaches to environmental stewardship when she attended weekly educational programs at a nearby organic farm. In addition to work at NCEEC, Jackson volunteers at the Calvert Marine Museum, where he especially likes introducing visitors to resident wildlife in the Discovery Room.
After the summer hiatus, we look forward to more bird walks, lectures, festivals, and new ideas from our amazing board members!