SOMD Audubon

Bird City MD Campus Walk and Talk
2022-05-04 18:30 - 20:00 UTC | College of Southern MD, La Plata Campus, 8730 Mitchell Rd, La Plata, MD, 20646, United States
Eastern Bluebirds, Native Plants & World Migratory Bird Day
In-Person Monthly Meeting
Leaders: Barb Whipkey, Lynne Wheeler, and Tracey Stuller
Join us outdoors and see what College of Southern Maryland did to become the first Bird City Campus in Maryland! We will take a walk around campus with Barb Whipkey, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited stores in La Plata and Lexington Park. Barb is a champion for Eastern Bluebirds. As we walk the campus, we will check on the many bluebird boxes there, as Barb talks about bluebird trails, feeding bluebirds, as well as how to provide for the migratory birds that are here for nesting season.
Our walk will also stop at the site’s many native plant gardens, which helped the college be designated a Bee Campus USA! The event will end in the central area of the Science and Technology building with food treats. As the sun sets and lights come on, we will discuss the theme for this year’s World Migratory Bird Day – light pollution and migratory birds. We’ll also learn about the bird species that are being highlighted for 2022.
FIELD TRIP COVID POLICY: SMAS is restarting its program of outdoor birding field trips as of January 2022 using the following public health guidelines to ensure the safety of participants on all trips:
1. All participants must be fully vaccinated except those with medical exemptions;
2. Masks are optional;
3. Do not attend if you are experiencing any symptoms of a cold, flu or COVID;
4. Maintain social distancing.

Celebrate the Return of the Prothonotary Warbler
2022-05-01 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Sanctuary, 2880 Grays Road, Prince Frederick, MD, 20678, United States
Prothonotary Warbler. Photo by Gary Robinette / Audubon Photography Awards
Field Trip
Leader: Gene Groshon
Visit this unique swampland where one of Southern Maryland’s most eye-popping warblers makes its home. The Prothonotary Warbler will be in full song, setting up its breeding territories. Our leader Gene Groshon has been banding Prothonotaries in this location for several years. Our goal will be to identify individual warblers that have just returned from Venezuela, Colombia, or Mexico to the Cypress Swamp to nest again. The Sanctuary includes a visitors’ center and a boardwalk through the swamp, so the birding should be excellent at the height of spring migration. DIRECTIONS: About 2 mi south of Prince Frederick, MD on Rt 4, turn south on Sixes Road (Rt 506). In 2 miles turn left on Grays Road. Proceed for about a quarter mile to Sanctuary entrance on the right. Group size may be limited. Register online at: https://www.calvertparks.org/event-4657586
FIELD TRIP COVID POLICY: SMAS is restarting its program of outdoor birding field trips as of January 2022 using the following public health guidelines to ensure the safety of participants on all trips:
1. All participants must be fully vaccinated except those with medical exemptions;
2. Masks are optional, unless otherwise stated in the trip description;
3. Do not attend if you are experiencing any symptoms of a cold, flu or COVID;
4. Maintain social distancing.

Smallwood State Park: Red-Headed Woodpeckers & Migrants
2022-04-30 08:00 - 12:00 UTC | Smallwood State Park, 2750 Sweden Point Road, Marbury, 20658, United States
Red-headed Woodpecker. Photo by Barbara J. Saffir
Field Trip
Leaders: Marisa Rositol and Lynne Wheeler
Smallwood State Park is a great location for Red-headed Woodpeckers and a good variety of migrating birds and warblers. Louisiana Waterthrush highly likely. Meet at 8:00 a.m. and proceed to Pavilion 1 parking area, past the campground. RSVP to Lynne at somdaudubon@yahoo.com or 301-751-8097 (prefer text).
FIELD TRIP COVID POLICY: SMAS is restarting its program of outdoor birding field trips as of January 2022 using the following public health guidelines to ensure the safety of participants on all trips:
1. All participants must be fully vaccinated except those with medical exemptions;
2. Masks are optional, unless otherwise stated in the trip description;
3. Do not attend if you are experiencing any symptoms of a cold, flu or COVID;
4. Maintain social distancing.

Barn Owls & Bar-B-Que
2022-04-25 17:00 - 19:30 UTC
Barn Owl chick with metal band on its leg. Photo by Tiffany Farrell
Join Southern Maryland Audubon Society to meet Barn Owl nestlings up close! Mike Callahan will talk about these endangered raptors and describe their habitats and prey. A licensed bird handler will apply numbered bands to help identify the chicks when they are later photographed or found. Then enjoy a Bar-B-Que dinner from Founders Tavern and Grille! Cost is $30 per person and will benefit raptor conservation in Southern Maryland.
Space is limited. To register, contact Mike Callahan at raptorsrulemc@gmail.com or call him at 240-765-5192. When you register, you will be given driving directions to the private farm where the event will be held.

Earth Day Field Trip: What's Soaring at Sotterley
2022-04-24 08:00 - 11:00 UTC | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
Eastern Meadowlarks are in steep decline. Photo by Sheri Douse / Audubon Photography Awards
Field Trip
Leader: David Moulton
Celebrate Earth Day weekend with a bird walk at this scenic and historic Patuxent River property as the annual surge of migrating birds begins throughout St. Mary’s County. Nesting Bald Eagles, migrating warblers, meadowlarks, woodpeckers and waterfowl can all be found via Sotterley’s farm roads and trails. From Rt. 235, go north on Sotterley Road, turn right through the gates to the gravel parking lot on the Sotterley historic property. 10-person maximum; SMAS Covid rules apply. RSVP at moulton.davidh@gmail. com or 240-278-4473.
FIELD TRIP COVID POLICY: SMAS is restarting its program of outdoor birding field trips as of January 2022 using the following public health guidelines to ensure the safety of participants on all trips:
1. All participants must be fully vaccinated except those with medical exemptions;
2. Masks are optional, unless otherwise stated in the trip description;
3. Do not attend if you are experiencing any symptoms of a cold, flu or COVID;
4. Maintain social distancing.

The Mysteries and Marvels of Bird Migration
2022-04-06 19:00 - 20:30 UTC | Kings Landing Park, 3255 Kings Landing Road, Huntingtown, 20639, United States
Louisiana Waterthrush. Photo by Cameron Darnell / Audubon Photography Awards
In-Person Monthly Meeting
Join us to learn about examples of amazing bird migrations, from raptors to shorebirds to songbirds with Chris Eberly, executive director of the Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership since 2017. Chris earned his MS in natural resources and ornithology at the University of Georgia. Following grad school, he became the first coordinator of the Department of Defense’s bird conservation program (DoD Partners in Flight program). After serving as executive director of the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory in Texas, he returned to Maryland to head up the Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership. Chris strives to connect people to birds through Bird City Maryland, the Maryland Bald Eagle Nest Monitoring Program, and the Farmland Raptor Program.

Maryland Osprey & Nature Festival
2022-04-02 11:00 - 16:00 UTC | Drum Point Club, Lusby, MD
Bring the whole family to the inaugural Osprey & Nature Festival on Saturday, April 2, from 11 am to 4 pm!
Join us in Calvert County at the Drum Point Club, where the trees and the shoreline meet. Take a story walk, make an owl mask, see a live raptor up close, move through the nature activity stations and Rotunda Lectures with wildlife experts from all over the state.
If you’re a lover of birds and nature, or just want to learn more about wildlife, come out and enjoy a day of fun. You can also shop our amazing vendors for photography, souvenirs, jewelry, auction items, and much more. Grizzly Mountain Grill will be serving up some of Southern Maryland favorite dishes including Raptor Talon Pulled Pork and Oscar the Osprey Braised Beef.
ALL Parking at Patuxent High School with courtesy shuttle transportation. Parking will not be allowed at the Drum Point Club
Entry fee: $10 per family or $5 per person
Proceeds from the 2022 festival go to the Owl Moon Raptor Center, a facility that rehabilitates injured raptors with the goal of releasing them into the wild. Thanks to the Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership for being the fiscal host for the 2022 Maryland Osprey and Nature Festival.
For More Information please email Sal Icaza at Marylandospreyfestival@gmail.com or go to the event website at https://marylandospreyfestival.org/.

Early Spring Birds at the Neck, Southern Maryland Youth Birders
2022-03-26 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Newtowne Neck State Park, 21110 Newtowne Neck Road, Leonardtown, MD, 20650, United States
FIELD TRIP
SOUTHERN MD AUDUBON YOUTH BIRDERS CLUB –
YOUTH WELCOME TO JOIN!
Leader: Ben Springer
Join us for our first field trip for the Southern MD Audubon Youth Birders Club. This outing is for all youth interested in joining the club, those who want to meet other kids who love birds, or those who simply want to learn about birds and enjoy them more.
Defined by Breton Bay, the Potomac River, and St. Clements Bay, Newtowne Neck is a 776-acre
property of woodlands, wetlands, and agricultural fields that offers a wide variety of birding habitats.
Directions: From Rte. 5, north of Leonardtown, turn on Rte. 243 (Newtowne Neck Road) for 4.5 miles to parking lot on left just beyond the graveyard and before St. Francis Xavier’s Church. NOTE: Two adults will supervise the group on this outing. In addition, all participants under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult chaperone. RSVP to Lynne Wheeler at somdaudubon@yahoo.com or text 301-751-8097.
FIELD TRIP COVID POLICY: SMAS is restarting its program of outdoor birding field trips as of January 2022 using the following public health guidelines to ensure the safety of participants on all trips:
1. All participants must be fully vaccinated except those with medical exemptions;
2. Masks are optional;
3. Do not attend if you are experiencing any symptoms of a cold, flu or COVID;
4. Maintain social distancing.

Bald Eagles and Winter Birds--Youth Welcome!
2022-03-19 08:30 - 10:30 UTC | Port Tobacco River Park, 7740 Chapel Point Road, Port Tobacco, MD, 20677, United States
Bald Eagle pair in nest. Photo by Doug Kliewer / Audubon Photography Awards
Field Trip
Leaders: Lynne Wheeler and Brenda Nairn-Davies
Join us to celebrate our local Bald Eagles Chandler and Hope and learn eggciting facts about our rapturous birds. This event will begin at the park pavilion with a 30-minute talk, observation of the Bald Eagles nest, followed by a 60-to-90-minute walk around the trails looking for winter birds and waterfowl on the river. RSVP to Lynne Wheeler at somdaudubon@yahoo.com or text 301-851-8097.

FIELD TRIP COVID POLICY: SMAS is restarting its program of outdoor birding field trips as of January 2022 using the following public health guidelines to ensure the safety of participants on all trips:
1. All participants must be fully vaccinated except those with medical exemptions;
2. Masks are optional, unless otherwise stated in the trip description;
3. Do not attend if you are experiencing any symptoms of a cold, flu or COVID;
4. Maintain social distancing.

Winter Waterfowl Trip
2022-03-12 08:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum, 10515 Mackall Rd, St. Leonard, MD, 20685, United States
A breeding male Ruddy Duck. Photo by Joseph Mahoney / Audubon Photography Awards
Field Trip–Cancelled due to inclement weather
Leader: Tyler Bell
Open fields and wooded areas provide good land birding and the river frontage close views of waterfowl including Horned Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, lots of Ruddy Ducks, both scaup, Common Goldeneye, lots of others! Call or email Tyler for directions to the meeting spot. Maximum of 6 participants; SMAS Covid rules apply. RSVP to Tyler Bell at jtylerbell@yahoo.com or 301-862-4623.
FIELD TRIP COVID POLICY: SMAS is restarting its program of outdoor birding field trips as of January 2022 using the following public health guidelines to ensure the safety of participants on all trips:
1. All participants must be fully vaccinated except those with medical exemptions;
2. Masks are optional, unless otherwise stated in the trip description;
3. Do not attend if you are experiencing any symptoms of a cold, flu or COVID;
4. Maintain social distancing.

What's Up with Maryland Plants?
2022-03-02 19:00 - 20:30 UTC | Zoom Meeting
Swamp Pink or Helonias bullata. Photo by Kerry Wixted
Monthly Meeting Program
Our speaker this month is Chris Frye, who has served as Maryland’s chief botanist for 26 years. He leads conservation efforts for plants and maintains the state’s list of rare, threatened, and endangered plant species. Chris will discuss some highlights of his research, detail some activities for management and recovery of rare plants, S3 plant species to look for, and talk generally about the challenges to conservation posed by small population size and isolation.
Instead of in-person meetings, SMAS is hosting virtual lectures using Zoom. We will send invitations via email with a link for joining each online event. If you do not get our Osprey newsletter via email, you need to sign up first. Please scroll to the bottom of this page and submit your email address to subscribe.

Winter Birds & Tundra Specialists at Pax River Airfield
2022-02-26 08:00 - 12:00 UTC | Patuxent River Naval Air Station, 21866 Cedar Point, Bldg. 2189, NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, 20670
Peregrine Falcon. Photo by Jon Ferguson / Audubon Photography Awards
Field Trip
Leader: Dean Newman
We are fortunate to have access to sections of the Navy base fronting on the confluence of the Patuxent River and the Chesapeake Bay. Airfields here provide tundra-like habitat. Previous trips have turned up winter birds such as Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspurs, Short-eared Owls, Horned Larks, Savannah Sparrows, Wilson’s Snipe and Peregrine Falcon. Preregistration is required and open to U.S. citizens only. Must bring photo I.D. Covid vaccination and masks are required. We will be escorted and traveling together in a van; participant size is limited. RSVP to Dean Newman at deannewman03@gmail.com. Information about meeting point will be sent to registered attendees.

FIELD TRIP COVID POLICY: SMAS is restarting its program of outdoor birding field trips as of January 2022 using the following public health guidelines to ensure the safety of participants on all trips:
1. All participants must be fully vaccinated except those with medical exemptions;
2. Masks are optional, unless otherwise stated in the trip description;
3. Do not attend if you are experiencing any symptoms of a cold, flu or COVID;
4. Maintain social distancing.

Winter Waterfowl and Resident Birds
2022-02-20 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Piscataway Park & Hard Bargain Farm, 2301 Bryan Point Road, Accokeek, MD, 20607, United States
Hooded Merganser. Photo by John Thornton / Audubon Photography Awards
Field Trip
Leaders: Lynne Wheeler and Bill Townsend
The varied habitat of water, woods, farm fields and edges provide for a great variety of birds. See fergusonfoundation.org for directions. Bill Townsend, Hard Bargain Farm educator, will meet you at the entrance. No fee. Limit to 12 participants. RSVP to Lynne Wheeler at somdaudubon@yahoo.com or 301-751-8097 (prefer text).
FIELD TRIP COVID POLICY: SMAS is restarting its program of outdoor birding field trips as of January 2022 using the following public health guidelines to ensure the safety of participants on all trips:
1. All participants must be fully vaccinated except those with medical exemptions;
2. Masks are optional;
3. Do not attend if you are experiencing any symptoms of a cold, flu or COVID;
4. Maintain social distancing.

Great Backyard Bird Count
2022-02-18 00:00 - 2022-02-21 00:00 UTC
Count Birds in Your Backyard!
Launched in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, the Great Backyard Bird Count
was the first online citizen-science project to collect data on wild birds and to display results in near real-time. For
information about the GBBC see their website at birdcount.org. You can help out by counting birds for as little as
15 minutes! Local GBBC get togethers throughout southern Maryland will be advertised on our Facebook page. The SMAS field trip at Hard Bargain Farm on Sunday, February 20 will participate in the count!

Owl Prowl
2022-02-11 17:50 - 19:30 UTC | Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum, 10515 Mackall Rd, St. Leonard, MD, 20685, United States
Barred Owl. Photo by John Creasman / Audubon Photography Awards
Flash Field Trip—Just Added!
Leader: Bob Boxwell
Owls are nocturnal, and therefore not easy to spot. Join us as we “call out” the owls! This is a great family “owting”. Dress appropriately for the weather, and avoid noisy clothing. Rain or high winds will result in cancellation.
Directions at the park: enter at the main entrance and follow the road to the parking lot at the bottom of the hill. Walk across the entrance road towards the big brown pavilion. Port-a-pot bathroom only available at the parking lot. Event ends depending on the owls! Event to last about 60 to 75 minutes. RSVP to Bob at robertboxwell1@outlook.com or 410-610-5124.
FIELD TRIP COVID POLICY: SMAS is restarting its program of outdoor birding field trips as of January 2022 using the following public health guidelines to ensure the safety of participants on all trips:
1. All participants must be fully vaccinated except those with medical exemptions;
2. Masks are optional;
3. Do not attend if you are experiencing any symptoms of a cold, flu or COVID;
4. Maintain social distancing.

Local Wildlife: River Otters
2022-02-02 19:00 - 20:30 UTC | Zoom Meeting
North American river otters by Dmitry Azovtsev Wikimedia CC BY-SA 3.0. http://www.daphoto.info/en/
Monthly Meeting
In this Zoom meeting, Karen McDonald of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center will introduce us to the North American River Otter. It is native to the Chesapeake Bay, but not much research has been done on its populations, habits, and role in the Bay’s food webs. Karen will share basic river otter biology and otter research occurring at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. She will also touch on the newly formed Chesapeake Bay River Otter Alliance.
Instead of in-person meetings, SMAS is hosting virtual lectures using Zoom. We will send invitations via email with a link for joining each online event. If you do not get our Osprey newsletter via email, you need to sign up first. Please scroll to the bottom of this page and submit your email address to subscribe.

Owl Prowl at the Elms: A Great Family Owting!
2022-01-14 19:00 UTC | Elms Environmental Center, 49300 St. James Church Road, Lexington Park, MD, 20653, United States
Barred Owl. Photo by John Creasman / Audubon Photography Awards
Field Trip
Leaders: Bob Boxwell and Margarita Rochow
Come “call out” the owls!! Owls are nocturnal, and therefore not easy to spot. A great Friday night family outing at The Elms. Dress appropriately for the weather, and avoid noisy clothing. This event is weather dependent. Rain or high winds will result in cancellation.
Directions: Take Rt 235 south, left onto St. James Church Road (opposite Mattapany Rd). You will see the sign for The Elms Environmental Education Center. We will meet in the hunter’s dirt parking lot on the right 100 yards before the gate (Do not drive past the gate!) RSVP to Bob Boxwell at robertboxwell1@outlook.com or 410-610-
5124.
COVID: Per St. Mary’s County Public Schools, masks are not required outdoors at this site.
FIELD TRIP COVID POLICY: SMAS is restarting its program of outdoor birding field trips as of January 2022 using the following public health guidelines to ensure the safety of participants on all trips:
1. All participants must be fully vaccinated except those with medical exemptions;
2. Masks are optional;
3. Do not attend if you are experiencing any symptoms of a cold, flu or COVID;
4. Maintain social distancing.

Alaska: Birds, Mammals and Vast Vistas
2022-01-05 19:00 - 20:30 UTC | Zoom Meeting
Bluethroat performing a territorial song and display. Photo by Ken Archer / Audubon Photography Awards
Monthly Meeting
SMAS field trip coordinator and volunteer leader David Moulton traveled to Alaska last June for an 18-day birding trip. He will present his photographs of the trip, including rare birds such as Bristle-thighed Curlew, Bluethroat, and Arctic Warbler, as well as large mammals and vast vistas from Seward to Nome to Denali. David is a lifelong birder and currently serves on the Board of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Instead of in-person meetings, SMAS is hosting virtual lectures using Zoom. We will send invitations via email with a link for joining each online event. If you do not get our Osprey newsletter via email, you need to sign up first. Please scroll to the bottom of this page and submit your email address to subscribe.

Birds and Cold Weather Adaptation
2021-12-01 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
Photo by Suniti Bhushan Datta
Most bird species enjoy warmer climes, but many have adapted to frigid conditions. How and why has this occurred? Dr. Sahas Barve will answer these and other questions about cold weather adaptation, with an emphasis on Himalayan birds. Amongst other degrees, Dr. Barve has a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Cornell University and is currently a Peter Buck Fellow at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
Instead of in-person meetings, SMAS is hosting virtual lectures using Zoom. We will send invitations via email with a link for joining each online event. If you do not get our Osprey newsletter via email, you need to sign up first. Please scroll to the bottom of this page and submit your email address to subscribe.

Let's Talk Turkey!
2021-11-03 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
Wild Turkey, photo by Clark Peterson, Audubon Photography Awards

Wild Turkeys, one of the world’s great game birds, are front and center in November. Turkeys were abundant when colonists arrived in North America, but their numbers were dangerously low by the 1930s. Conservation efforts have since helped them rebound. The leader of Maryland’s Upland Game Bird Project for twenty years, Bob Long will provide an overview of this magnificent bird, its habits and behavior, and our state’s game bird program. Learn some new information to share over your Thanksgiving meal!
Instead of in-person meetings, SMAS is hosting virtual lectures using Zoom. We will send invitations via email with a link for joining each online event. If you do not get our Osprey newsletter via email, you need to sign up first. Please scroll to the bottom of this page and submit your email address to subscribe.

Why Diversity Matters: Gender Biases and the Study of Female Bird Song
2021-10-06 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
Female birds have historically been neglected or ignored in studies of coloration and song. Fortunately, now that researchers of diverse backgrounds participate, this prejudice is changing. Studies are indicating female song is much more common than previously thought, and their role in bird song evolution may be significant.
Our expert speaker will be Dr. Kevin Omland, Professor Biological Sciences at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Please join us for what promises to be a fascinating discussion!
Instead of in-person meetings, SMAS is hosting virtual lectures using Zoom. We will send invitations via email with a link for joining each online event. If you do not get our Osprey newsletter via email, you need to sign up first. Please scroll to the bottom of this page and submit your email address to subscribe.

USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey
2021-09-01 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
Prairie Warbler, photo by Michael Stubblefield, Audubon Photography Awards
The United States Geological Survey’s Breeding Bird Survey is considered the primary source of trend information for North American birdlife and is active in tracking Maryland birds. David Ziolkowski, a program biologist with the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, will discuss how the survey works and what it has revealed about changes in bird numbers and ranges, including those in southern Maryland.
Instead of in-person meetings, SMAS is hosting virtual lectures using Zoom. We will send invitations via email with a link for joining each online event. If you do not get our Osprey newsletter via email, you need to sign up first. Please scroll to the bottom of this page and submit your email address to subscribe.

Celebrate SMAS's 50-Year Anniversary!
2021-07-10 13:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Smallwood State Park, 2750 Sweden Point Road, Marbury, 20658, United States
SMAS will host its annual meeting and picnic on Saturday, July 10, 2021 at Smallwood State Park. This year’s event is extra special because it marks the 50th anniversary of our founding in 1971! We are also celebrating our new Osprey nest cam, which we helped install in this same park earlier this spring. Come on out to pavilion #3 (near the tobacco barn & playground), at 1:00 pm for food, fun, awards, our annual election, and a bird walk. As usual, we will have a pot-luck lunch, so bring some food to share, and wear your favorite tie-dye ensemble to help us celebrate!

Please note that Smallwood State Park charges a nominal entry fee of $3 per person (Maryland resident) or $5 per person (out-of-state resident) that must be paid in cash at the gate.

Native Plants for Birds and Butterflies
2021-05-05 19:00 - 20:30 UTC
Great Spangled Fritillary on Wild Bergamot blossom. Photo by Lynne Wheeler
Native plant gardens are quite literally for the birds. While many of us like songbirds, insects are often less appealing. But backyard species like caterpillars play a crucial role in supporting our most beloved bird species. When you create native plant gardens, you support insect diversity—more bugs for birds!
Join Dr. Chris Puttock as he explains the importance of native plants. Chris has three decades’ experience in conservation and restoration. He is the chair of ESRAG (Environmental Sustainability Rotarian Action Group) and is executive director of Chesapeake Natives, a nursery producing plants to sustain the ecology of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Instead of in-person meetings, SMAS is hosting virtual lectures using Zoom. We will send invitations via email with a link for joining each online event. If you do not get our Osprey newsletter via email, you need to sign up first. Please scroll to the bottom of this page and submit your email address to subscribe.

Virtual Osprey Festival
2021-04-24 10:00 - 12:30 UTC
Two adult Osprey in a nest
Join us via Zoom or FaceBook Live for our first Osprey Festival!
Keynote speaker Greg Kearns, park naturalist at Patuxent River Park’s Jug Bay Natural Area, will discuss his 38 years of Osprey research in Ospreys of the Patuxent. Known for his dynamic speaking style, Mr. Kearns will discuss local Osprey and their biology, nest platforms and other efforts to increase Osprey numbers, tracking of Osprey migration, and his public banding program.
Greg Kearns teaches about Osprey with a juvenile bird. Photo by Tiffany Farrell
Our second speaker will be Reese F Lukei, Jr., volunteer research associate for the Center for Conservation Biology, College of William and Mary. He has banded over 1,000 Osprey since about 1982. Mr. Lukei will talk about the Ospreys of Hampton Roads, Virginia, including where to look for them, what they eat, and problems they encounter living in our environment. Lukei is also the co-founder of Osprey Watch, and he will share details about this community science project.
During this festival, the SMAS Raptor Conservation Committee will launch Osprey Watch and our partnership with the Center for Conservation Biology. Learn how you can get involved in monitoring Osprey nests in Southern Maryland!
Instead of in-person meetings, SMAS is hosting virtual events using Zoom. We will send invitations via email with a link for joining each online event. If you do not get our Osprey newsletter via email, you need to sign up first. Please scroll to the bottom of this page and submit your email address to subscribe. The Osprey Festival will also be available though FaceBook Live.

Help Document Breeding Birds in Maryland!
2021-04-07 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
The third Breeding Bird Atlas (BBA3), now in its second of five years, is in full swing. Under the auspices of the Maryland Ornithological Society and Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the project had an extremely successful 2020. In this presentation, Atlas Coordinator Gabriel Foley will provide an overview and update. This is an excellent opportunity to learn how to observe and identify breeding behaviors in the field and to hone your skills.
Instead of in-person meetings, SMAS is hosting virtual lectures using Zoom. We will send invitations via email with a link for joining each online event. If you do not get our Osprey newsletter via email, you need to sign up first. Please scroll to the bottom of this page and submit your email address to subscribe.

Bald Eagle Nest Cam Chat
2021-03-19 17:00 - 19:00, 2021-03-17 09:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
Bald Eagle nesting season has arrived in Southern Maryland, and our local nest cam captures the action! Join us online to meet our nest monitors. These experts are thrilled to explain Bald Eagle behavior in real time while watching our resident pair, Hope and Chandler. Learn about this couple’s story and ask your burning questions about eagles. The chicks should be hatching soon!
These moderated chat sessions will occur on the following weekly schedule: Monday evenings from 5 until 7, Wednesday mornings from 9 to 11, and Friday evenings from 5 until 7.
This free event is available via our YouTube live streaming video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPI9mWmmc7M.

Bald Eagle Nest Cam Chat
2021-03-15 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York)
Bald Eagle nesting season has arrived in Southern Maryland, and our local nest cam captures the action! Join us online to meet our nest monitors. These experts are thrilled to explain Bald Eagle behavior in real time while watching our resident pair, Hope and Chandler. Learn about this couple’s story and ask your burning questions about eagles. The chicks should be hatching this week!
These moderated chat sessions will occur on the following weekly schedule: Monday evenings from 5 until 7, Wednesday mornings from 9 to 11, and Friday evenings from 5 until 7.
This free event is available via our YouTube live streaming video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPI9mWmmc7M.

Bald Eagle Nest Cam Chat
2021-03-12 16:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York)
Bald Eagle nesting season has arrived in Southern Maryland, and our local nest cam captures the action! Join us online to meet our nest monitors. These experts are thrilled to explain Bald Eagle behavior in real time while watching our resident pair, Hope and Chandler. Learn about this couple’s story and ask your burning questions about eagles. The chicks should be hatching soon!
These moderated chat sessions will occur on the following weekly schedule: Monday evenings from 4 until sunset, Wednesday mornings from 9 to 11, and Friday evenings from 4 until sunset.
This free event is available via our YouTube live streaming video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPI9mWmmc7M.
