Southern Maryland Heritage Festival
2025-05-17 11:00 - 2025-05-18 17:00 UTC | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
Family Fun at Historic Sotterley
A family-friendly celebration of Southern Maryland’s rich history and culture, and the incredible people who make it unique. Southern Maryland Audubon will be hosting bird walks, up close and personal views of an occupied Bald Eagle nest through scopes, children’s nature events and bird tips.
Note: The Heritage Festival has admissions charge. For more Information.

Annual Meeting and Picnic
2025-06-08 13:00 - 16:00 UTC | Maxwell Hall, 17388 Teagues Point Rd., Hughesville, 20637, United States
Business Meeting and Potluck Lunch Picnic

Business Meeting:
• Elections
• Presentation of AwardsActivities:
• Bird Walk
• Native plant sale
• Southern Maryland Audubon t-shirts, mugs and more sale
• Tours of historic Maxwell Hall
Please RSVP to assist us in planning for the picnic: Signup Genius

My Summer with Ospreys via Zoom
2025-09-03 19:00 - 20:00 UTC | Zoom Meeting
My Summer with Ospreys: A Therapist’s Journey Toward Hope, Community, and Healing Our Planet
Speaker: PAMELA LOWELL – MSW, LICSW, Therapist, Award Winning Author, Naturalist, Artist and Avid Birder
Description: As a trauma specialist, Pamela Lowell expertly guides us to the connections between therapy, the life of an artist, and the natural world as a place of healing. Lowell, an avid birder, jumped at the chance to accompany Mass. Audubon in their weekly Osprey nest monitoring project on the Westport River. She hoped to get some photos of cute Osprey chicks that she could use in her paintings. But what happened next was nothing short of transformation. In journal format, Lowell weaves together a deeply personal and exciting narrative as a passenger on the Lucky Me–along with a cast of dedicated staff and volunteers. Nature enthusiasts will enjoy descriptions of the nest monitoring process, banding, and translocation of Osprey chicks. Pamela perfectly captures our dilemma of being poised between desperate worry and the urgent need to do something specific to help our planet. With her original illustrations throughout, this book inspires us all to be better stewards and healers of our ever-changing world.
A zoom link to attend this meeting will automatically be sent out twice to all that have signed up for our Osprey newsletter.

Birding the Fields and Trails of Sotterley
2025-09-13 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
Leader: Dean Newman
Join us for an excursion to this scenic and historic Patuxent River property, sponsored jointly by SMAS and Historic Sotterley. Bald Eagles, migrant songbirds, and lingering meadowlarks and sparrows can be found via Sotterley’s trails and river views. The walk starts promptly at 9:00 a.m.; please arrive 10-15 minutes prior in the parking lot in front of the Visitor Center. To take your experience to the next level, download the “Merlin Bird ID” app from Cornell Lab. It’s available from Google Play and the App Store. Please bring binoculars if you have them. If not, loaners will be provided. Suggested to wear comfortable walking shoes and attire weather appropriate. For all levels of birdwatchers.
Bathrooms are available.

Slow Birding--Designed for Birders Who Don't Want to Walk but Enjoy Coffee and Snacks
2025-09-20 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | For Location contact Jan de Regt Email: Jederegt@gmail.com
Leader: Jan de Regt
Come join Jan on a laid-back birding adventure sitting on a back deck drinking coffee and enjoying snacks. There’s no walking involved. Bring your own binoculars if you have them. If not, a limited number of loaners will be provided. For maximum enjoyment, download the Merlin Bird ID app to your smart phone and install the “US: Southeast” bird pack. These apps are free, and there’s no massive email assault to deal with. Jan will show you how to use the program to identify all the birds without a bird guide. If you’re interested, email Jan at jederegt@me.com and she’ll give you the address where the event will take place.

Another Birding the Fields and Trails of Sotterley
2025-09-20 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
Leader: Dean Newman
Join us for an excursion to this scenic and historic Patuxent River property, sponsored jointly by SMAS and Historic Sotterley. Bald Eagles, migrant songbirds, and lingering meadowlarks and sparrows can be found via Sotterley’s trails and river views. The walk starts promptly at 9:00 am, please arrive 10-15 minutes prior in the parking lot in front of the Visitor Center. To take your experience to the next level, download the “Merlin Bird ID” app from Cornell Lab. It’s available from Google Play and the App Store. Please bring binoculars if you have them. If not, loaners will be provided. Suggested to wear comfortable walking shoes and attire weather appropriate. For all levels of birdwatchers.
Bathrooms are available.

Migration on the Point
2025-09-27 08:00 - 12:00 UTC | Point Lookout State Park, St. Mary’s County, 11175 Point Lookout Road, Scotland, MD, 20687
Leader: TYLER BELL
Join us at Southern Maryland’s premier birding hotspot as fall migrants funnel south to cross the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River. Loblolly pines, mixed hardwoods, beaches, marshes, and broad water views regularly deliver a wide variety of species and occasional rarities.
Directions: From Lexington Park drive south on Rte. 235 for 13 miles. Go left on Rte. 5 for 0.7 miles then left into the Ridge Post Office parking lot. We will arrange carpooling from there. Pt. Lookout State Park is a fee area. Bathroom facilities available. Flat, easy terrain. Mosquitos can be problematic so bring bug spray. Sunscreen recommended. Maximum of 15 participants.
RSVP to Tyler at jtylerbell@yahoo.com or 301-862-4623.

The Bug Guy! via Zoom
2025-10-01 19:00 - 20:00 UTC | Zoom Meeting
You Can Aid and Abet Mother Nature’s Hit-Squad to Keep Insect Pests at Bay
Speaker: DR. MICHAEL J. RAUPP, aka The Bug Guy!
Your landscape and garden can be a refuge for beneficial insects that provide the vital ecosystem service of biological control, the natural system of putting a beatdown on plant-damaging pests. Meet wicked wasps, bodacious beetles, fierce flies, and other arthropod allies as they provide vital functions and enhance the sustainability of landscapes and gardens. Learn simple steps to enhance the abundance and contributions of beneficial insects and ways to conserve them in gardens. Explore organic approaches to managing key insect and mite pests including the use of Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) listed insecticides.
Raupp is a professor emeritus and extension specialist at the University of Maryland. He is also a fellow of the Entomological Society of America.

A Lazy Bird Walk for Late Migrants
2025-10-11 08:00 - 11:00 UTC | Mount Aventine Chapman State Park, 3452 Ferry Pl, Indian Head, MD, 20640, United States
Field Trip: Mount Aventine Chapman State Park
Leader(s): Lynne Wheeler, Pam Brumbley
Bring your eyes, ears, and lazy bones as we leisurely walk along the road and trails of Chapman State Park, one of our Charles County birding “Hot Spots.” This officially designated Important Bird Area offers biodiversity of great significance and interest, as well as beauty. Maximum 12 participants. Difficulty level low – medium. RSVP to Lynne at 301-751-8097 at somdaudubon@yahoo.com.
Note: Rain date Oct. 12th.

Slow Birding at Lexington Manor Passive Park
2025-10-25 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | Lexington Manor Passive Park, 21675 S. Coral Drive, Lexington Park, MD, 21677, United States
Field Trip: Slow Birding
Leader: Jan de Regt
Come join us at the Community Garden at Lexington Manor Passive Park for a morning of slow birding. We will set a leisurely pace on smooth, accessible surfaces — ideal for walking as well as for assistive devices such as scooters, walkers, and wheelchairs. We’ll observe the birds around us, discuss their behaviors and preferred habitats. Bring your own binoculars or borrow one of a limited number of binoculars available for use during the walk. If you’re interested, email Jan at jederegt@gmail.com to register.

Gateway Native Garden Dedication
2025-10-26 13:00 - 16:00 UTC | Lexington Manor Passive Park, 21675 S. Coral Drive, Lexington Park, MD, 21677, United States
Join us at 2 p.m. for the official dedication of our Gateway Native Garden and celebrate the University of Maryland Extension Baywise certification.
The celebration will be part of the Lexington Manor Passive Park Community Gardens Harvest Festival from 1-4 p.m.
The Southern Maryland Audubon Society will have crafts for kids and native garden info.
The native learning garden is funded by a grant from the National Audubon Society and is supported by eleven community partners.

Raptorquest via Zoom
2025-11-05 19:00 - 20:00 UTC | Zoom Meeting
RAPTORQUEST: CHASING AMERICA’S RAPTORS
Wildlife photographer Scott Harris discusses his new book—RaptorQuest, Chasing America’s Raptors—which details his journey to find all 53 of the raptors that call the Lower 48 states home. He found all 53, along with a Bat Falcon, a Steller’s Sea Eagle, and a Eurasian Eagle Owl. The book is filled with stories about each bird and dozens of color photographs. The quest took him seventeen months and more than 100,000 miles of travel across 34 states. In his presentation, he shares his adventures, misadventures, successes, and failures. From minus 36-degree days, to one over 100, to getting stuck in the mud, to barely missing a bird, to just arriving in time. He talks about the raptors, of course, but also the people he met, the things he learned, and why he’s already in the middle of his next big birding adventure.
If you are on our Osprey newsletter list, you will receive the Zoom link via email. You can join the mailing list by using the form at the bottom of this page.

Bird Walk at Mallows Bay with Walk Charles County
2025-11-08 12:00 - 13:00 UTC | Mallows Bay Park and Marine Sanctuary, 1440 Wilson Landing Rd, Nanjemoy, MD, 20662, United States
Southern Maryland Audubon Society (SMAS) collaborates with Walk Charles County on November 8, at noon, at Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary. Join us for an informal bird walk welcoming birders of all levels! SMAS will have loaner binoculars available. No registration required; just show up, amble around a great habitat, and learn about this wonderful marine sanctuary.

Waterfowl on Mattawoman Creek, Walk the George Wilmot Trail
2025-11-29 08:15 - 12:00 UTC | Lackey High School, 3000 Chicamuxen Rd, Indian Head, Maryland, 20640, United States
Leader: Lynne Wheeler
Join us for an easy 1/3-mile walk through the woods on the George Wilmot Trail to a cove on the Mattawoman Creek. In the past the cove has shown up to 5,000 individuals and 13 different species of waterfowl. During the walk we will look for winter arrivals, woodpeckers (a known spot for Red-headed), Hermit Thrush, and raptors.
Meet at the lower parking lot of Lackey High School at 8:15 a.m. Bring waterproof shoes or low boots, and dress for possible wind.
RSVP to Lynne at 301-751-8097 (prefer text) or somdaudubon@yahoo.com.

Owlsome Owls in Maryland via Zoom
2025-12-03 19:00 - 20:00 UTC | Zoom Meeting
Biologist and educator Kerry Wixted will present owls as the magnificent and charismatic birds they are! She will explore the wonderful world of owls including their adaptations, species you can find in Maryland, and how to support them in the landscape.
Kerry is the Amphibian, Reptile, and Invasive Species Program Manager at the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies.
If you are on our Osprey newsletter list, you will receive the Zoom link via email. You can join the mailing list by using the form at the bottom of this page.

Christmas Bird Count, Port Tobacco
2025-12-14 | MD
Join us for the 126th annual Christmas Bird Count!
The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) began in 1900, a period of rampant hunting, to promote the conservation of birds. Now organized by the National Audubon Society, it is an early winter census, where thousands of volunteers go out to count birds. Open to people of all experience levels, the CBC is a great opportunity to learn!
For more info about the Christmas Bird Count, check out the National Audubon Society’s webpage at https://www.audubon.org/community-science/christmas-bird-count. Counts take place for one day in a given “circle,” or territory. Several circles in Southern Maryland need volunteers.
If you’d like to help in Port Tobacco on December 14, contact Mike Callahan at 240-765-5192 or email him at raptorsrulemc@gmail.com.

Christmas Bird Count, Point Lookout
2025-12-21 | Point Lookout State Park, St. Mary’s County, 11175 Point Lookout Road, Scotland, MD, 20687
Join us for the 126th annual Christmas Bird Count!
The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) began in 1900, a period of rampant hunting, to promote the conservation of birds. Now organized by the National Audubon Society, it is an early winter census, where thousands of volunteers go out to count birds. Open to people of all experience levels, the CBC is a great opportunity to learn!
For more info about the Christmas Bird Count, check out the National Audubon Society’s webpage at https://www.audubon.org/community-science/christmas-bird-count. Counts take place for one day in a given “circle,” or territory. Several circles in Southern Maryland need volunteers.
If you’d like to help in Point Lookout on December 21, contact Bob Boxwell at 410-231-1251 or email him at robertboxwell1@outlook.com.

Christmas Bird Count, Patuxent River
2025-12-27 | MD
Join us for the 126th annual Christmas Bird Count!
The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) began in 1900, a period of rampant hunting, to promote the conservation of birds. Now organized by the National Audubon Society, it is an early winter census, where thousands of volunteers go out to count birds. Open to people of all experience levels, the CBC is a great opportunity to learn!
For more info about the Christmas Bird Count, check out the National Audubon Society’s webpage at https://www.audubon.org/community-science/christmas-bird-count. Counts take place for one day in a given “circle,” or territory. Several circles in Southern Maryland need volunteers.
If you’d like to help at the Patuxent River on December 27, text Ben Springer at 443-771-6636 or email him at ben.springer@comcast.net.

Christmas Bird Count, Potomac River Shoreline
2026-01-04 | MD
Join us for the 126th annual Christmas Bird Count!
The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) began in 1900, a period of rampant hunting, to promote the conservation of birds. Now organized by the National Audubon Society, it is an early winter census, where thousands of volunteers go out to count birds. Open to people of all experience levels, the CBC is a great opportunity to learn!
For more info about the Christmas Bird Count, check out the National Audubon Society’s webpage at https://www.audubon.org/community-science/christmas-bird-count. Counts take place for one day in a given “circle,” or territory. Several circles in Southern Maryland need volunteers.
If you’d like to help along the Maryland Shoreline of the Potomac River (Charles County) on January 4, contact Lynne Wheeler at 301-751-8097 or somdaudubon@yahoo.com or reach out to Bob Lukinic at 301-283-6317 or rdlukinic@gmail.com.

Port Tobacco River Park Bald Eagles: Chandler & Hope; Plus an Update on Bald Eagle Nest Monitoring Program via Zoom
2026-01-07 19:00 - 20:00 UTC | Zoom Meeting
Presenters: Brenda Nairn Davies, Barbara Hill, and Lynne Wheeler
Bald Eagle nesting season is approaching, so what better time to present the historical nesting results for the stars of our Bald Eagle Nest cam—Chandler and Hope. The Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership will also give background and an update on the Bald Eagle Nest Monitoring Program (https://marylandbirds.org/bald-eagle-nest-monitoring). If you are wild about Bald Eagles, this project is a great opportunity to report Bald Eagle nests and to help monitor nesting activity.
If you are on our Osprey newsletter list, you will receive the Zoom link via email. You can join the mailing list by using the form at the bottom of this page.

Owl Prowl
2026-01-10 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | MD
*Please note: This is not a Barn Owl Prowl, as previously described.*
Leader: Mike Callahan
Join us for a night hike as we listen and look for owls! This is a great family outing for everyone who gives a hoot! RSVP to Mike at 240-765-5192 or raptorsrulemc@gmail.com.
Charles County, exact location to be determined.

Winter Birds and Tundra Specialists at Pax River Airfield
2026-01-24 08:00 - 12:00 UTC | Patuxent River Naval Air Station, 21866 Cedar Point, Bldg. 2189, NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, 20670
Leader: Dean Newman
This field trip offers access to sections of the Navy base fronting on the confluence of the Patuxent River and the Chesapeake Bay, which hosts airfields that provide tundra-like habitat. Previous trips here have found 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. We will be escorted and traveling together in a van; participant size is limited. No restrooms. RSVP to Dean Newman at deannewman03@gmail.com. Meet at Gate #2, pass office parking lot.

Frogs: Learn Who's Calling and How to Get Involved via Zoom
2026-02-04 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
Speaker: Matthew Neff, Curator of Estuarine Biology, Calvert Marine Museum. Formerly a zookeeper in the Department of Herpetology at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.
Did you know you can find sixteen species of frogs and toads in Southern Maryland? Learn about their calls and how you can get involved in their conservation. Matt will share his experiences in FrogWatch, a citizen science program that trains individuals to listen for and record frog calls during the breeding season. Last year, more than 1,263 observations of fourteen different frog species were submitted across the Southern Maryland and surrounding areas. Attendees will also learn what’s new at the Calvert Marine Museum.
If you are on our Osprey newsletter list, you will receive the Zoom link via email. You can join the mailing list by using the form at the bottom of this page.

Sea Ducks at the Point
2026-02-14 09:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Point Lookout State Park, St. Mary’s County, 11175 Point Lookout Road, Scotland, MD, 20687
Leader: Phin Rouland
We will meet at the picnic area parking lot before walking to the Chesapeake Bay side of the point to scan for sea ducks, including all three scoter species, Common Goldeneye, Greater Scaup, Bufflehead, and Long-tailed Ducks. Other species of note could include horned grebe, two loon species, and Northern Gannet. The remainder of the time will be used walking the picnic area and trails around Fort Lincoln and could include Brown-headed Nuthatch, Pine Warbler, and Fox Sparrow. Flat but unpaved sufaces. Gate fee $3 per car. Restrooms available. RSVP to phin.rouland@gmail.com.

Winter Waterfowl Trip
2026-02-21 08:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum, 10515 Mackall Rd, St. Leonard, MD, 20685, United States
PLEASE NOTE NEW DATE and RAIN DATE
Leader: Tyler Bell
Open fields, edge habitat, and wooded areas offer a variety of both resident and winter bird species. Additionally, the river frontage provides close views of waterfowl including Horned Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Ruddy Ducks, both scaup, Common Goldeneye, and lots more! Call or email Tyler for directions to the meeting spot. Flat with occasional hills and largely paved. No fee. Restrooms available. Maximum of 12 participants. RSVP to Tyler Bell at 301-862-4623 or jtylerbell@yahoo.com.
Please note: In case of rain or other inclement weather, this trip will take place on Sunday, February 22 instead.

From Mountains to Saltmarsh: Rediscovering the MOS Sanctuaries--via Zoom
2026-03-04 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
Speaker: Marcia Watson, Maryland Ornithological Society
The Maryland Ornithological Society (MOS) owns ten wildlife sanctuaries, totaling almost 3,000 acres, across the state. All of them are open to the public every day of the year, at no charge, and represent a microcosm of Maryland bird habitats. Many people have heard of the Carey Run and Irish Grove Sanctuaries, but the others have been seldom visited. Marcia will review the history of the MOS Sanctuary Program, show maps and photos of all the sanctuaries, discuss the birds and habitats found there, and explain some of the challenges that MOS faces in managing the properties. Attendees will also learn about some of the research being conducted at the sanctuaries as well as their conservation value, and why it’s important to preserve these lands.
If you are on our Osprey newsletter list, you will receive the Zoom link via email to attend this event. You can join the mailing list by using the form at the bottom of this page.

Film screening: The Little Things That Run the World
2026-03-27 18:00 - 20:30 UTC | College of Southern MD, La Plata Campus, 8730 Mitchell Rd, La Plata, MD, 20646, United States
Still from the movie The Little Things That Run the World.
Join a free screening of the documentary The Little Things That Run the World on March 27th at 6:00 PM in CE Room 101 on the La Plata Campus of the College of Southern Maryland (CSM).
This engaging film explores the vital role that insects play in sustaining ecosystems around the globe. From pollination to nutrient cycling, these often-overlooked species are essential to the health of our environment and our own survival.
Representatives from local and national conservation organizations — including Xerces Society, Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay, and the Southern Maryland Audubon Society — will share information and opportunities to get involved in insect and pollinator conservation efforts in our community.
The event is free but registration is required. Please visit the CSM web page https://www.csmd.edu/calendar/2026/03/documentary-screening-mar27.html to sign up.
Be sure to check out the movie trailer on YouTube: THE LITTLE THINGS THAT RUN THE WORLD – Trailer #2.

March on the Mattawoman, a State Park Event with SMAS Bird Walks
2026-03-28 10:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Smallwood State Park, 2750 Sweden Point Road, Marbury, 20658, United States
Trip Leader: Lynne Wheeler
Family fun! Come to Smallwood State Park, where you can enjoy fishing activities, hands-on kids’ activities, a food truck, demonstrations, and the park’s Discovery Center. Smallwood also hosts an Osprey nest cam, which generous SMAS donors made possible. If we are lucky, we might see Ospreys when they first return for the breeding season! As part of the full day’s lineup, Lynne Wheeler will lead bird walks at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Park entrance fee is $5 per vehicle. Pre-registration is required and information will be shared soon, when the park’s link becomes available.

Spring Migration in Southern Maryland--via Zoom
2026-04-01 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
Speakers: Dr. Gwen Brewer and George Jett
Black-throated Blue Warbler. Photo by Eric Peterson/Audubon Photography Awards
Need an introduction to or refresher on spring migrants in Southern Maryland? Dr. Gwen Brewer and George Jett will provide insights into finding and identifying the birds you might not have seen or heard for six months or more. Gwen and George will suggest good habitats and locations to search and offer tips for identifying tricky or confusing species. They will also provide sound clips of songs and suggest mnemonics to help you remember them, such as the buzzy “I am so lazy” of the Black-throated Blue Warbler.
George Jett is a retired chemical engineer who spent thirty years at the Environmental Protection Agency but always had a passion for nature. Dr. Gwen Brewer manages the science program for rare species at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
If you are on our Osprey newsletter list, you will receive the Zoom link via email to attend this event. You can join the mailing list by using the form at the bottom of this page.

Maryland Osprey and Nature Festival
2026-04-18 11:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | MD
If you love birds, wildlife, and nature, or just want to learn about them, head out to the Maryland Osprey and Nature Festival at the town of North Beach. Bring the whole family! There you can watch a live raptor up close, meet Oscar the Osprey and get a selfie, enjoy the child-focused nature activity stations, browse vendors’ tables, and listen to a lecture series. Southern Maryland Audubon Society will have a booth and we can’t wait to see you! Entry fees are $10/person, $20/family. Proceeds from the festival go to non-profit organizations who protect and conserve Ospreys, Bald Eagles, other wildlife, and natural areas. See marylandospreyfestival.org for additional information.
