SOMD Audubon

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, 2021-03-10 09:00 - 23:00, 2021-03-05 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.

Bald Eagle Nest Cam Chat
2021-03-08 16:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York)
Mama eagle “Hope” protected her eggs in recent snow.
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.

Vulture: The Private Life of an Unloved Bird
2021-03-03 19:00 - 20:30 UTC | Zoom Meeting
Author Katie Fallon with a vulture chick
Vultures are often overlooked, underappreciated, and unloved, despite the vital role they play in healthy ecosystems. Worldwide, vultures are more likely to be threatened or endangered than any other group of raptor, but in the United States Turkey and Black Vultures may be increasing in number. Speaker Katie Fallon discusses the life and times of the noble Turkey Vulture, including its feeding, nesting, and roosting habits, migratory behaviors, and common misconceptions.
Fallon is the author of Vulture: The Private Life of an Unloved Bird (2020, 2017). A member of the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators, Katie has worked with birds since 1998. Over the last twenty years she has given educational presentations featuring live raptors, vultures, parrots, and corvids.
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
2021-03-03 09:00 - 11:00, 2021-03-01 16:00 - 18:00, 2021-02-26 16:00 - 18:00, 2021-02-24 09:00 - 11:00, 2021-02-17 09:00 - 11:00, 2021-02-15 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!
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.

Bald Eagle Nest Cam Chat
2021-02-22 16:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York)
Mama eagle “Hope” protected her eggs in recent snow.
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!
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.

Bald Eagle Nest Cam Chat
2021-02-19 16:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York)
Bald Eagle “Hope” incubating in the snow!
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!
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.

Bald Eagle Nest Cam Chat
2021-02-12 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! Bonus: Hope laid two eggs this week!
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.
