Friday, Sept. 25 Field Trips
Update (posted at 9:00 am on Sept. 24): The MOS Convention Committee will be updating the website with new information as it becomes available.
Online field trip sign-ups closed on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 6:00 pm. There will be opportunity to drop and add field trips at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Salisbury on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 24 through Sunday morning, Sept. 27.
Field trips are scheduled for Friday, Sept. 25 (morning, afternoon and all day), Saturday, Sept. 26 (morning, afternoon and all day) and Sunday, Sept. 27 (morning only). We also have Sunday afternoon “on the way home” field trips. We have 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. Scroll down this page for field trip and seminar information.
General field trip information for Friday, Sept. 25
On Friday, Sept. 25, field trips are scheduled for the morning, all day, and afternoon. All field trips are hosted within a ~one-hour drive of the DoubleTree by Hilton in Salisbury.
Breakfast and lunch are on your own on Friday. Please note that if you sign up for an all-day day trip, you may need to pack your lunch in the morning or the night before.
Field trips must return in time for the 4:00 – 6:00 pm wine & cheese social at the DoubleTree by Hilton, located at 300 S. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury, Maryland, 21801.
Click here and scroll down for general information about convention field trips. Scroll down this page for specific information about field trips on Friday, Sept. 25.
If you have any questions, please email Jim Rapp at jim.rapp@mdbirds.org.
Field trip departures and meeting locations
Field trips will depart in 15-minute intervals. Morning and all-day trips will begin departing at 6:15 am, 6:30 am, and so on. Several field trips may depart at the same time. Afternoon trips will depart beginning at 12:30 pm, then 12:45 pm, 1:00 pm, and so on.
Most field trips will depart from a central meeting location in Salisbury, MD. For these field trips, the field trip leader(s) will meet you in the designated parking lot. Some trips will meet at a location in the field. For these field trips, the field trip leader(s) will meet you at the field trip site. Addresses and GPS coordinates will be provided.
The 6:15 am, 6:30 am and 6:45 am field trips will depart from the DoubleTree by Hilton in Salisbury, MD, located at 300 S. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury, Maryland, 21801. Click here for a map illustrating where field trips will meet and line up at the DoubleTree.
Most field trips departing at 7:00 am and after (including the afternoon trips) will depart from the parking lot located just north of the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center, located at 500 Glen Avenue, Salisbury, MD 21804. The parking lot is located at the corner of Glen Avenue and Civic Avenue. The Wicomico Youth & Civic Center is ~1.4 miles (~7-minute drive) from the DoubleTree by Hilton. Click here for a map illustrating where field trips will meet and line up at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center.
The Google Map below displays the locations of the DoubleTree by Hilton and the parking lot near the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center, and the suggested driving route.
Friday Field Trip Descriptions
Many thanks to the field trip site descriptions provided by the Birder’s Guide to Maryland & DC, a project of the Maryland Ornithological Society!
Field trips are listed below in order of start time. Please note the meeting location of each field trip to estimate the driving time from your lodging for the weekend.
MORNING FIELD TRIPS
Departures for morning field trips will begin at 6:45 am and continue in 15-minute intervals until all trips have departed. Check this page often for updates to the field trip roster.
Departing at 6:45 am
Assateague Island National Seashore
Guide: Marcia Balestri
Departure Time: 6:45 am
This field trip is sponsored by Vortex.
Description: Assateague Island National Seashore is a unique birding site, offering access to the only remaining segment of unspoiled ocean beach habitat within the State of Maryland. Based on number of bird species reported, Assateague is the #1 eBird hotspot in all of MD and DC, with a total of more than 345 species reported at the various hotspots on the island. This tour will include short hikes at the Life of the Marsh trail, the Life of the Forest trail, and if there is time, birding down Old Ferry Landing Road.
Cost: The federal entrance is now using cashless operation. Have a credit card ready. 7-day per vehicle pass = $25.00; also covers entrance into Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Annual federal passes and Golden Age Passes accepted. Click here to learn more about entrance fees.
Maximum # participants: 15
Driving time from Salisbury: ~35-40 minutes; you will meet your guide at 7:20 am
Departing from: the parking lot shared by the DoubleTree, M&T Bank and the H. Gray Reeves Professional Center, located at 300 S. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury, Maryland, 21801
Meeting Location: The group will carpool from the DoubleTree. You will meet your guide at in the parking lot of the Assateague Island Visitor Center, located in the Maryland District of Assateague Island on the southern side of Route 611, before the Verrazzano Bridge entrance into the park. The address is 11800 Marsh View Lane, Berlin, Maryland 21811.
Facilities: Restrooms are available.
Habitat: forest, marsh, mud flats, open ocean, beach, bay
Difficulty: Participants may hike 2 to 3 miles over level surfaces. Trail surfaces include sand, boardwalks and asphalt. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended. Prepare for flies, mosquitoes, ticks and chiggers during field trips. We suggest wearing long pants made of lightweight, quick-drying material. For information on preventing tickborne diseases, please click here.
Departing at 7:00 am
Assawoman Wildlife Area
Guides: Anthony Gonzon and Chris Bennett
Departure Time: 7:00 am
Description: Spend the morning birding at the 3,100-acre Assawoman Wildlife Area near Frankford, DE. Habitat at this state refuge includes freshwater impoundments, Little Assawoman Bay and its salt marshes, and loblolly pine forest. We will also bird from the newly constructed observation platform overlooking Mulberry Pond. This field trip requires a Conservation Access Pass (CAP). Scroll down fo more information.
Cost: Participants must purchase a Conservation Access Pass (CAP), which is required for any vehicle visiting a Delaware state wildlife area. The CAP provides needed funding to help the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife maintain and improve public access, facilities, and wildlife habitat in these beautiful refuges. A 3-day CAP can be purchased for $10 for a Delaware registered vehicle and $20 for an out-of-state registered vehicle. Only one CAP is required per vehicle. Annual passes are also available, and are valid July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. For more information about purchasing your Delaware CAP, please click here.
Maximum # participants: 24
Driving time from Salisbury: ~45-50 minutes; you will meet your guides at 8:00 am
Departing from: Parking Lot A at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center Parking Lot, located at 500 Glen Avenue, Salisbury, MD 21804
Meeting Location: The group will carpool from Salisbury. You will meet your guides at in the parking lot near the entrance to the Assawoman Wildlife Area, located at 36991-36945 Camp Barnes Road, Frankford, DE 19945. The parking lot is located ~0.1 miles past the entrance on the left. GPS coordinate 38.498409, -75.095598
Facilities: Portable restrooms are available.
Habitat: freshwater impoundments, open bay, salt marsh, loblolly pine
Difficulty: Participants may hike 1 to 2 miles over mostly level surfaces. Trail surfaces include dirt/grass and compact gravel paths. Sturdy, waterproof hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention. Prepare for flies, mosquitoes, ticks and chiggers during field trips. We suggest wearing long pants made of lightweight, quick-drying material. For information on preventing tickborne diseases, please click here.
Cypress Swamp Birdwatching by Boat and Foot
Guide: Cheryl Hogue
Departure Time: 7:00 am
Description: We’ll first birdwatch on an hour-long pontoon boat ride through a remnant of Delmarva’s Great Cypress Swamp at Trap Pond State Park. Boat tour to start approximately 7:45 am after mandatory safety talk and distribution of personal flotation devices. Next, we’ll walk about a mile in an upland forest on a crushed stone surface with a gentle grade. Indoor restrooms are available at the park’s Nature Center, which we will stop at between the boat trip and the walk. This trip will run even if it rains. However, it will be canceled or the start time of the boat trip delayed in case of a thunderstorm or high winds, as per park policy.
Cost: $7 per person for pontoon boat ride, paid to MOS during field trip sign-ups. Access to Trap Pond State Park is granted with a Delaware State Parks Annual Pass, or with a day-use fee of $10/vehicle with out-of-state tags or $5/vehicle with DE tags. For more information, please click here. Please bring cash to contribute your share. Carpooling is strongly encouraged.
Maximum # participants: 12
Driving time from Salisbury: ~25-30 minutes
Departing from: Parking Lot B at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center Parking Lot, located at 500 Glen Avenue, Salisbury, MD 21804
Meeting Location: You will meet your guide at Parking Lot B at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center for the drive to Trap Pond State Park, located at 33587 Baldcypress Lane, Laurel, DE 19956. Use these GPS Coordinates: 38.526324, -75.481633.
Facilities: Restrooms are available.
Habitat: Bald Cypress swamp, upland forest
Difficulty: Participants will hike about a mile in an upland forest on a crushed stone surface with a gentle grade. Sturdy, waterproof hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention. Prepare for flies, mosquitoes, ticks and chiggers during field trips. We suggest wearing long pants made of lightweight, quick-drying material. For information on preventing tickborne diseases, please click here.
Puckum Branch
Guide: Jim Brighton
Departure Time: 7:00 am
Description: The field trip to Puckum Branch in Dorchester County will concentrate on bird migration, but also other biodiversity that we encounter. We will walk along Puckum Branch which empties into Marshy Hope Creek. We will explore various habitats including beaverpond wetlands, Loblolly Pine Woods, and freshwater swamps. Due to the on-going drought, water levels may vary. Migration should be in full swing, and we will be searching for flocks of migrating warblers, resident birds like Brown-headed Nuthatches, and lingering breeders like Red-headed Woodpeckers.
Cost: free
Maximum # participants: 20
Driving time from Salisbury: ~40-45 minutes
Departing from: Parking Lot C at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center Parking Lot, located at 500 Glen Avenue, Salisbury, MD 21804
Meeting Location: You will meet your guide and carpool from Parking Lot C at the civic center.
Facilities: Restrooms are not available.
Habitat: beaverpond wetlands, Loblolly Pine Woods, and freshwater swamps
Difficulty: Participants may hike 2 to 3 miles over mostly level, but unpaved, surfaces. Trail surfaces include dirt tracks and grass pathways. The trail may be weedy or muddy. Sturdy, waterproof hiking shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention. Prepare for flies, mosquitoes, ticks and chiggers during field trips. We suggest wearing long pants made of lightweight, quick-drying material. For information on preventing tickborne diseases, please click here.
Departing at 7:30 am
Sinepuxent Bay Boat Trip
Guide: Wayne Klockner
Departure Time: 7:30 am
PLEASE NOTE: This trip has been canceled. Participants should check their email for updates.
Description: The Sinepuxent Bay Boat Trip will explore the coastal bays behind Ocean City and Assateague Island. The 8:30 – 10:30 am tour with the OC Bay Hopper will begin in the West Ocean City Commercial Harbor. From there, the boat will cruise by the mudflats and shallow waters north of the Route 50 bridge. The boat will then cruise south to investigate the Downtown Ocean City docks, the south jetty at the Ocean City Inlet, and the bayside shoreline of Assateague Island. Please note: the boat is open-air with a canopy and does not have a heated cabin or restroom.
Cost: $40/person
Maximum # participants: 14
Driving time from Salisbury: ~35-40 minutes; boat departs at 8:30 am
Departing from: Parking Lot A at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center Parking Lot, located at 500 Glen Avenue, Salisbury, MD 21804
Meeting Location: You will meet your guide at the meeting location. The pickup location for the boat is the West Ocean City Boat Ramp, located on Sunset Avenue. There is no specific street address for the boat ramp, so please use these GPS coordinates: 38.3275, -75.10681. For reference, the boat ramp is located on Sunset Avenue 1/4-mile before you reach The Shark on the Harbor restaurant, which is located at 12924 Sunset Ave, Ocean City, MD 21842. Park in the large public parking lot, but please park in a short space designated for a single vehicle. Try to avoid parking in a long space designated for a vehicle and boat trailer. Use these GPS coordinates: 38.327622, -75.106806
Facilities: There is no head/toilet on the OC Bay Hopper, so please use the public restroom in the harbor prior to departure. The restroom is located next to the boat ramp.
Habitat: Open bay, sandy shorelines, marsh, mud flats, jetties
Difficulty: Although not physically demanding, boat trips do require participants to board and disembark with limited assistance. Once on board, participants will mostly sit. Standing to view or photograph wildlife is permitted when the captain allows it. Sturdy shoes are recommended.
The Sinepuxent Bay Boat Trip will be accessible to participants using mobility aids such as walkers and rollators. Assistance will be provided when boarding and disembarking the boat. There is no boarding ramp, so you will need to step into the boat with assistance. If you have questions, please contact Jim Rapp at jim.rapp@mdbirds.org.
Nanticoke River Wildlife Management Area – Nutter’s Neck
Guide: Jared Parks
Departure Time: 7:30 am
Description: The Nutter’s Neck Tract of the Nanticoke River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is a 1,587 acre parcel managed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). This area offers some of the best birding in Wicomico County. The tract sits on a thumb of land bordered on the north by the Manumsco and Rewastico Creeks, on the south by Quantico Creek, and to the west by the Nanticoke River. Since 2009, DNR has been restoring habitat here for Northern Bobwhite.
Cost: free
Maximum # participants: 20
Driving time from Salisbury: ~20-25 minutes;
Departing from: Parking Lot B at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center Parking Lot, located at 500 Glen Avenue, Salisbury, MD 21804
Meeting Location: You will meet your guide at the meeting location. The address for Nutter’s Neck is 23330 Nutter’s Neck Road, Hebron MD 21830. There is no reliable street address for our meeting location. When you enter Nutter’s Neck Road from Cherry Walk Road, drive ~1.8 miles along the dirt road to our meeting location. Use these GPS Coordinates: 38.376939, -75.804083.
Facilities: There are no restrooms at Nutter’s Neck.
Habitat: open fields, hedgerows, forest
Difficulty: Participants may hike 2 to 3 miles over mostly level surfaces. Trail surfaces include dirt roads and grass pathways. Some of the trails may be muddy. Sturdy, waterproof hiking shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention. Prepare for flies, mosquitoes, ticks and chiggers during field trips. We suggest wearing long pants made of lightweight, quick-drying material. For information on preventing tickborne diseases, please click here.
Wildwood Lavender Farm
Guides: Ginny Walker & Eden Bermingham
Departure Time: 7:30 am
Description: Wildwood Lavender Farm is a generational endeavor that began with a natural approach. They began their lavender journey in 2016 and now have a field with many different lavender cultivars and a farm shop. Mowed walking trails wind along shrubby field edges, around the lavender and wildflower fields, through hardwood and softwood forests, and around woodland ponds.
Cost: free
Maximum # participants: 20
Driving time from Salisbury: ~20-25 minutes;
Departing from: Parking Lot C at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center Parking Lot, located at 500 Glen Avenue, Salisbury, MD 21804
Meeting Location: You will meet your guides at Parking Lot C at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center before carpooling to to the Wildwood Lavender Farm, located at 6454 Cherry Walk Rd, Quantico, MD. Use these GPS coordinates: 38.370877, -75.757251
Facilities: Restrooms are available.
Habitat: lavendar fields, forest, shrubby edges, woodland ponds
Difficulty: Participants may hike 1 to 2 miles over mostly level surfaces. Trail surfaces include dirt roads and grass pathways. Some of the trails may be muddy. Sturdy, waterproof hiking shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention. Prepare for flies, mosquitoes, ticks and chiggers during field trips. We suggest wearing long pants made of lightweight, quick-drying material. For information on preventing tickborne diseases, please click here.
ALL-DAY FIELD TRIPS
Departures for all-day field trips will begin at 6:30 am and continue in 15-minute intervals until all trips have departed. Check this page often for updates to the field trip roster.
Departing at 6:30 am
Dorchester County Hotspots
Guide: Wayne Bell
Departure Time: 6:30 am
Description: The Dorchester County Hotpsots Trip will include stops at locations such as Elliott’s Island Road, Kraft Road, and the LeCompte Wildlife Management Area to search for post-breeding American Black Duck and Black-necked Stilt; dispersing herons, egrets, bitterns; Common Gallinule; Marsh and Sedge Wren; rails and shorebirds. Please bring sunscreen, insect spray, plenty of fluids and sturdy waterproof footwear.
Cost: free
Maximum # participants: 15. Carpooling is essential to minimize the number of cars.
Driving time from Salisbury: This trip will include a lot of driving to birding hotspots. Total distance covered may be between 100 – 120 miles. Please fuel up your vehicle before departure.
Departing from: the parking lot shared by the DoubleTree, M&T Bank and the H. Gray Reeves Professional Center, located at 300 S. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury, Maryland, 21801
Meeting Location: You will meet your guide and carpool from the DoubleTree.
Facilities: Restrooms will be available throughout the day.
Habitat: marshes, forests, stream crossings, turf farms
Difficulty: Participants may hike 3 to 4 miles over asphalt, gravel roads, dirt roads, and muddy trails. Sturdy waterproof hiking shoes are recommended. Prepare for flies, mosquitoes, ticks and chiggers during field trips. We suggest wearing long pants made of lightweight, quick-drying material. For information on preventing tickborne diseases, please click here.
Departing at 6:45 am
Smith Island & Tangier Island Boat Trip
Guides: Russ Kovach & Kurt Schwarz
Departure Time: 6:45 am
This field trip is sponsored by Toler Financial Group.
Description: This tour will cruise aboard the Elizabeth Joy II to both Smith Island, MD and Tangier Island, VA. You’ll depart from the Somers Cove Marina in Crisfield, MD at 8:00 am for the ride to Smith Island in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay. When the group arrives, you will go for a birding hike in the Village of Ewell and explore the salt marsh for herons, egrets and songbirds. The Elizabeth Joy II will then depart for birding by boat along the jetties near the Villages of Ewell and Rhodes Point before heading south to Tangier Island, VA. When you arrive at Tangier, you will enjoy a birding hike through the village before boarding the boat around 2:00 pm for the return trip to Crisfield. You will be back at your cars by 3:00 pm to drive back to Salisbury.
Please note: The boat is open-air with a canopy and does not have a heated cabin or restroom. You must bring your own lunch, as there will not be time to eat at a Smith Island or Tangier Island restaurant. Due to the early Friday departure, you may want to pack your lunch the night before the trip departs.
Cost: $135/person. Please also bring a $15 – $20 per person cash tip for the First Mate aboard the Elizabeth Joy II
Maximum # participants: 18
Driving time from Salisbury: ~45-50 minutes; boat departs at 8:00 am
Departing from: the parking lot shared by the DoubleTree, M&T Bank and the H. Gray Reeves Professional Center, located at 300 S. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury, Maryland, 21801
Meeting Location: You will meet your guides in the DoubleTree parking lot. The group will carpool to Pier N at the Somers Cove Marina, located next to the Rodeway Inn at 700 Norris Harbor Dr, Crisfield, MD 21817. GPS Coordinates for the exact meeting location: 37.975257, -75.856673.
Facilities: There is no head/toilet on the Elizabeth Joy II, so please use the public restroom in the Somers Cove Marina prior to departure. Restrooms will be available in the Villages of Ewell and Tangier Island. We hope to have a “camp toilet” on the boat for anyone who needs it.
Habitat: Open bay, sandy shorelines, marsh, mud flats, jetties
Difficulty: Although not physically demanding, boat trips do require participants to board and disembark with limited assistance. Once on board, participants can stand to view and photograph wildlife. Sturdy shoes are recommended. Total hiking for the day will be 2-3 miles on mostly level, paved roads. Prepare for flies, mosquitoes, ticks and chiggers during field trips. We suggest wearing long pants made of lightweight, quick-drying material. For information on preventing tickborne diseases, please click here.
Departing at 7:00 am
Chincoteague Island Hotspots
Guides: Helen Belencan & Gary Smith
Departure Time: 7:00 am
This field trip is sponsored by CollidEscape.
Description: Many of you have birded the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, but have you birded “The Island”? Enjoy a casual day of birding focused on the birding hot spots in the town of Chincoteague Island. Expect to see an assortment of birds, ranging from the year-round resident egrets and herons to migrating shorebirds and warblers. After visiting a few spots we’ll have a lunch break at a locally-owned restaurant then maybe stop at Queen Sound Landing on our way back to Salisbury. The day will involve easy walking and short drives between birding and lunch spots. Please carpool as parking is limited in some locations.
Cost: free
Maximum # participants: 20 (4-5 vehicles maximum, please carpool)
Driving time from Salisbury: ~60-65 minutes, you will meet your guides at ~8:00 am
Departing from: Parking Lot A at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center Parking Lot, located at 500 Glen Avenue, Salisbury, MD 21804
Meeting Location: The group will carpool from Salisbury. You will meet your guides at the Robert N. Reed, Sr. Downtown Waterfront Park, located behind Don’s Seafood Restaurant at 4113 Main St, Chincoteague, VA 23336. Use these GPS coordinates: 37.934839, -75.376461
Facilities: Public restrooms are across the street from Robert Reed Park upon arrival and at multiple locations during the morning.
Habitat: Multiple habitats including views of tidal bays and channels, mudflats, marshes, and pine/deciduous woodland
Difficulty: Motoring from spot to spot with two walks on relatively level trails, one paved (0.8 mi, The Island Nature Trail) and the other at Mariners Point (0.5 mi.) is a well worn dog walker favorite over slightly irregular ground. Sturdy, waterproof hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention. Prepare for flies, mosquitoes, ticks and chiggers during field trips. We suggest wearing long pants made of lightweight, quick-drying material. For information on preventing tickborne diseases, please click here.
Departing at 8:00 am
Great Cypress Swamp – Delaware Wild Lands
Guide: Andrew Martin & Steve McInnis
Departure Time: 8:00 am
Description: After carpooling from Salisbury, the group will meet at 8:30 am at the headquarters of the Great Cypress Swamp in Frankford, DE to check everyone in, use the restrooms, and review the schedule for the morning. You’ll then board a van (or vans, depending on the group size) for a guided tour through the largest freshwater wetland and contiguous block of forestland in the State of Delaware.
The 10,000-acre Great Cypress Swamp is situated on the Southern edge of Sussex County and spills over into both Wicomico and Worcester Counties in Maryland. Historically, “The Swamp” was known as the headwaters of the Pocomoke River, but ditching in the 1930’s has diverted a large portion of its drainage to the Delaware Inland Bays. The Swamp is marked by hundreds of years of ditching and draining for agriculture, extensive timbering, and two major historical fires, the second of which is believed to have been started by the explosion of a prohibition-era still. While birding, the group will learn about the extensive hydrological restoration and habitat improvement projects managed by Delaware Wild Lands. Total hiking is expected to be less than one mile.
Cost: $50/person to cover van transportation
Maximum # participants: 20
Driving time from Salisbury: ~30-35 minutes;
Departing from: Parking Lot A at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center Parking Lot, located at 500 Glen Avenue, Salisbury, MD 21804
Meeting Location: You will carpool from Salisbury and meet your guides at the Delaware Wild Lands headquarters at the Great Cypress Swamp, located at located at 24588 Cypress Road, Frankford, DE. Use these GPS coordinates: 38.478253, -75.319342
Facilities: Restrooms are available.
Habitat: cypress swamp, forest, ponds, habitat restoration sites
Difficulty: Participants may hike one mile over mostly level surfaces. Trail surfaces include dirt roads and grass pathways. Some of the trails may be muddy. Sturdy, waterproof hiking shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention. Prepare for flies, mosquitoes, ticks and chiggers during field trips. We suggest wearing long pants made of lightweight, quick-drying material. For information on preventing tickborne diseases, please click here.
AFTERNOON FIELD TRIPS
Departures for afternoon field trips will begin at 12:30 pm and continue in 15-minute intervals until all trips have departed. Check this page often for updates to the field trip roster.
Departing at 12:30 pm
iNaturalist and the Maryland Biodiversity Project
Guide: Sue Muller
Departure Time: 12:30 pm
Description: This trip will focus on documenting species at the Hazel Outdoor Discovery Center for the Maryland Biodiversity Project using the iNaturalist app. Primary habitats explored will be forest, ponds and open fields. Please have the app installed on your phones. Training will be provided if you are not familiar with the app.
Cost: free
Maximum # participants: 10
Driving time from Salisbury: ~25-30 minutes
Departing from: Parking Lot A at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center Parking Lot, located at 500 Glen Avenue, Salisbury, MD 21804
Meeting Location: You will meet your guide at the Hazel Outdoor Discovery Center, located at 4025 Cooper Road, Eden, MD 21822. Use these GPS coordinates: 38.304985, -75.745467
Facilities: Restrooms are available.
Habitat: Mixed hardwood and pine forest, open fields, ponds, possible sod farms if time allows
Difficulty: Participants may hike 1 to 2 miles over mostly level surfaces. Trail surfaces include dirt/grass and compact gravel paths. Sturdy, waterproof hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention. Prepare for flies, mosquitoes, ticks and chiggers during field trips. We suggest wearing long pants made of lightweight, quick-drying material. For information on preventing tickborne diseases, please click here.
Pemberton Historical Park
Guides: Mary Huebner, Katie & Chris Register
Departure Time: 12:30 pm
Description: Pemberton Historical Park, owned by Wicomico County, is a 262-acre former plantation that includes a historic home built in 1741 by Isaac Handy, one of the founders of the town of Salisbury. Don’t let the name “historical park” dissuade you from birding here. Pemberton is the #1 eBird hotspot in Wicomico County! The park is located on the Wicomico River west of Salisbury. The grounds offer a system of natural-surface trails, which are thoughtfully arranged in loops that allow exploration of all the different habitats on the property.
Cost: free
Maximum # participants: 20
Driving time from Salisbury: ~15-20 minutes
Departing from: Parking Lot B at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center Parking Lot, located at 500 Glen Avenue, Salisbury, MD 21804
Meeting Location: You will meet your guides at Parking Lot B at the the civic center and carpool to Pemberton Historical Park, located at 5561 Plantation Lane, Salisbury, MD 21801. Use these GPS coordinates: 38.346953, -75.642875
Facilities: Restrooms are available.
Habitat: fields, pine and deciduous forest, small ponds, freshwater marshes, open river
Difficulty: Participants may hike 2 to 3 miles over mostly level surfaces with some small hills. Trail surfaces include dirt/grass and compact gravel paths. Sturdy, waterproof hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention. Prepare for flies, mosquitoes, ticks and chiggers during field trips. We suggest wearing long pants made of lightweight, quick-drying material. For information on preventing tickborne diseases, please click here.
Meeting at 1:00 pm
Beginner Bird Stroll in the Salisbury City Park
Guides: Sarah Kulis, María-Elena Montero & Jim Rapp
Departure Time: 1:00 pm
Description: Like the name describes, this trip is aimed at beginning birders! We’ll meet at the DoubleTree and carpool to the bandstand in the Salisbury City Park. The 95-acre park stretches along Beaverdam Creek and the south prong of the Wicomico River. The park is also home to the Salisbury Zoo. The pace will be slower so no one will be left behind.
Cost: free
Maximum # participants: 24
Driving time from Salisbury: ~3-5 minutes from the DoubleTree
Departing from: the parking lot shared by the DoubleTree, M&T Bank and the H. Gray Reeves Professional Center, located at 300 S. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury, Maryland, 21801
Meeting Location: You will meet your guides in the lobby of the DoubleTree and carpool to the parking area along South Park Drive near the Salisbury City Park Bandstand. The parking area is across the street from 506 South Park Drive, Salisbury, MD 21804. Use these GPS coordinates: 38.363881, -75.591235
Facilities: Restrooms will be available at the nearby Salisbury Zoo.
Habitat: open river, park, some mature forest
Difficulty: Participants will stroll less than a mile along the level trails of the city park. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended. Prepare for flies, mosquitoes, ticks and chiggers during field trips. We suggest wearing long pants made of lightweight, quick-drying material. For information on preventing tickborne diseases, please click here.
The Beginner Bird Stroll at the Salisbury City Park will be accessible to participants using mobility aids such as wheelchairs, walkers and rollators. If you have questions, please contact Jim Rapp at jim.rapp@mdbirds.org.
Beginner Bird Walk at the DoubleTree
Guides: Karlyn McPartland and Mary Lou Clark
Departure Time: 1:00 pm
Description: Like the name describes, this trip is aimed at beginning birders! We’ll start inside the banquet rooms at the hotel and introduce the group to how to use binoculars, including getting them set up for their particular eyes. We will talk about birding basics while we are still inside. Then we will go outside and practice using the binoculars and how to work with a small group to discover birds. The pace will be slower so no one will be left behind. Questions will be encouraged! We won’t go far but will try to see birds along the Wicomico River in Salisbury. Extra binoculars will be available.
Cost: free
Maximum # participants: 20
Driving time from Salisbury: no driving time, since this trip will meet in the banquet room at the DoubleTree and walk from the hotel
Departing from: the DoubleTree, located at 300 S. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury, Maryland, 21801
Meeting Location: the banquet room in the DoubleTree
Facilities: Restrooms will be available.
Habitat: open river, small city parks
Difficulty: Participants will hike less than a mile along the paved riverwalk. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended.
The Beginner Bird Walk at the DoubleTree will be accessible to participants using mobility aids such as wheelchairs, walkers and rollators.. If you have questions, please contact Jim Rapp at jim.rapp@mdbirds.org.