Field Trips & Seminars

Update (posted at 6:00 am on April 9): The MOS Convention Committee will be updating the website with new information as it becomes available.

Thank you to our friends at the Tri-County Bird Club for helping us plan field trips and recruit field trip leaders! Thanks also to these organizations for helping with field trip planning:

Online field trip sign-ups will open in August (date TBD).

MOS has field trips on Friday, Sept. 25 (morning, afternoon and all day), Saturday, Sept. 26 (morning, afternoon and all day) and Sunday morning, Sept. 27. There will be field trips that are accessible to participants using mobility aids such as wheelchairs, walkers and rollators. Seminars will be offered at the DoubleTree by Hilton on Saturday afternoon.

If you are interested in leading or co-leading a field trip, please contact Jim Rapp at jim.rapp@mdbirds.org.

You can view this Google Map of possible 2026 field trip sites:

Possible field trip locations include:

More Field Trip Info

Click on the links below for information about our Field Trip Leaders and our field trip and seminar offerings on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (please note: these pages will be updated regularly before September):

Field Trip Registration and Sign Ups

Participants must register for the convention before signing up for field trips.

Online field trip sign-ups will open in August (date TBD).

Most field trips will depart from a central meeting location, usually a large parking lot at or near the hotel. Some trips will meet at a location in the field. For trips in the field, street addresses are provided when available, and GPS coordinates are provided for all locations. Check-in with the field trip leader before the field trip in the designated meeting location. Transportation to and from field trips is on your own. MOS does not provide transportation during the convention. If you join in carpooling, please offer the driver something to offset the cost of gas and admission to parks with entrance fees. If you are a driver, please ensure you know exactly where the trip is going.

Many times we are able to offer a field trip on a boat.  If you are interested in birding from a boat, remember to dress appropriately for the weather.  It will be windy as the boat moves. Wear comfortable shoes that won’t slip on a boat deck.  Bring something to drink and use sunscreen.

Please review these field trip suggestions:

  • Carpooling is expected and expedient. Please help out drivers with a contribution towards the cost of gas.
  • Some venues have a nominal fee per vehicle. Please be prepared to contribute to this cost.
  • Be sure to have appropriate field gear: sturdy, waterproof boots and jacket, sunscreen, insect repellent and a good supply of water. 
  • Please do not wander off the road except on public lands. Most private land is posted in Southern Maryland, but also do not enter the woods where trees are marked with blue paint blazes along public roads.

What to bring & how to dress

  • Wear layers of appropriate clothing and shoes for the weather. While we hope for good weather, we may not get it.  Be prepared for showers. Bring rain gear as all events are rain or shine. We only cancel field trips due to dangerous weather, such as lightning or strong winds. Boots for wet locations are recommended.
  • Bug spray and tick repellant are always a good idea. You can expect and prepare for flies, mosquitoes and ticks during some field trips. We suggest wearing long pants made of lightweight, quick-drying material. For information on preventing tickborne diseases, please click here.
  • Carry sunscreen, sunglasses and/or a hat to protect yourself from the sun.
  • Stay hydrated. Please bring a full water bottle.
  • Optics are not provided. Please bring your own binoculars, spotting scopes and/or cameras.