Southern Maryland Audubon Society (SMAS), a chapter of the National Audubon Society, is the largest citizen group involved in bird and nature study and natural resource conservation issues in Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s, and southern Prince George’s counties. Founded in 1971, Southern Maryland Audubon Society is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization incorporated in Maryland. Our activities are financed by memberships, fundraising activities, and donors. Our volunteer officers and directors are elected by our membership to conduct chapter programs.
Our primary missions are education, public outreach, and environmental advocacy to support birds and the habitat they need to thrive in Southern Maryland and beyond.
Bird Walks and Talks
SMAS offers a robust calendar of free bird walks and monthly talks by local and national experts. Field trips, led by experienced members, take place throughout the year to some of the most scenic parks and private properties across Southern Maryland. We offer youth bird walks, beginning birding outings for all ages, and neighborhood bird walks. Birders of all ages and experience levels are always welcome!
Conservation
The SMAS conservation team advocates for healthy habitats for people, birds, and wildlife. We educate homeowners and renters, public officials and business leaders in creating Bird-friendly Habitats around their homes and in their communities. To achieve our conservation goals, we often partner with like-minded groups. In 2020 we assisted the Town of La Plata to become the FIRST Bird City Maryland by working with the Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership. This initiative led to many bird-friendly actions throughout the town–for example, the creation of the Bird City Pocket Park–and has provided a way to inform residents about the hazards that bird face. We also collaborate with Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay in educating about the need for native plants in our landscape. Finally, through our longstanding ties with the Port Tobacco River Conservancy, we host birding field trips and meadow walks at the Port Tobacco River Park, the home of our webcam and the nesting pair of Bald Eagles, Chandler and Hope.
Our Raptor and Grasslands Conservation Committee provides volunteer Grassland Ambassadors to work with farmers and other landowners to encourage management of fields and crops to support threatened raptors and grassland birds, such as the Eastern Meadowlark. We build and monitor Barn Owl boxes and band the fledglings for research.
Nature Camp Scholarships
SMAS sponsors scholarships that send local teachers and students to Hog Island Audubon Camp in Maine to learn conservation practices from national experts in a variety of bird and wildlife fields. Applications open each January for camps the following summer.
Youth & Public Outreach
Our Youth Outreach and other volunteers offer classes and workshops to the public, students, 4-H groups, gardening organizations, and others in birding, creating bird-friendly habitats, and related conservation issues. We take classrooms outside and share our expertise at local festivals and community science events.
Please see our Calendar of Events for a full listing of current trips and meetings.