Sunday, Sept. 27 Field Trips
Update (posted at 8:30 am on August 11): The MOS Convention Committee will be updating the website with new information as it becomes available.
Click here to sign up for your field trips.
Field Trip sign-ups opened for registered convention participants on Monday, August 3 at 6:00 pm.
Each registered participant must sign up for their own field trips. If you registered for two people, you can sign up two people for the same field trip(s). You will need to log in using the email and password associated with your MOS registration and membership.
Field Trip sign-ups will close on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 6:00 pm.
There will be opportunity to drop and add field trips at the DoubleTree on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 24 through Sunday morning, Sept. 27.
General field trip information for Sunday, Sept. 27
On Sunday, Sept. 27, field trips will be scheduled for the morning only. All field trips are hosted within a ~one-hour drive of the DoubleTree by Hilton in Salisbury. We also have a Sunday afternoon “on your way home” field trip to Pickering Creek near Easton, MD.
Field Trip sign-ups will open on Monday, August 3 at 6:00 pm.
Breakfast will be served at the DoubleTree from 5:45 – 6:45 am. Lunch will be served at the DoubleTree from 11:30 am – 12:30 pm.
Field trips must return in time for the 11:30 am lunch at the DoubleTree by Hilton, located at 300 S. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury, Maryland, 21801. The Sunday Tally Rally will be hosted at 12:30 pm at the DoubleTree following lunch.
Click here and scroll down for general information about convention field trips. Scroll down this page for specific information about field trips on Sunday, Sept. 27.
If you have any questions, please email Jim Rapp at jim.rapp@mdbirds.org.
Departure parking lots
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.
All field trips departing at 7:00 am and after will depart from the parking lot of the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center, located at 500 Glen Avenue, Salisbury, MD 21804. 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.
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(s) before the field trip in the designated meeting location.
The Google Map below displays the locations of the DoubleTree by Hilton and the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center, and the suggested driving route.
Sunday 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!
Before August 1, field trips will 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 6:15 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 6:15 am
Sunrise Birding at Assateague Island National Seashore
Guide: Kevin Graff & Jo Cox
Departure Time: 6:15 am
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 begin at the end of Bayside Drive on Assateague Island National Seashore for the post-dawn passerine flight (sunrise is 6:53 am). This trip will also include short hikes at the Life of the Marsh trail, the Life of the Forest trail, and sea watches from the beach.
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: 20
Driving time from Salisbury: ~50 minutes
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. You will then drive to the end of Bayside Drive on Assateague Island National Seashore. Please use these GPS coordinates: 38.209459, -75.167507.
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.
Elliott Island Road & Kraft Neck Road
Guide: Jim Green
Departure Time: 6:15 am
Description: This half-day trip will start on Elliot Island Road. We will head straight to the marshes and look for passerine migrants, shorebirds, herons, egrets, etc. On the way back from Elliott Island, we will visit Kraft Neck Road, a sandy/dirt road approximately 4 miles long passing through fields, pine and deciduous forest, and freshwater wetlands. Please bring sunscreen, insect spray, plenty of fluids and sturdy waterproof footwear.
Cost: free
Maximum # participants: 20. 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 70 – 90 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 morning.
Habitat: marshes, forests, freshwater wetlands
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 6:30 am
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
Guide: Steve Sheffield
Departure Time: 6:30 am
Description: Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge is a showcase for Maryland’s Eastern Shore wetland habitats and the birds that use them. It is the #1 eBird hotspot for Dorchester County. Because of the iconic habitats here, every birder should visit Blackwater at least once, and when you do, you’ll want to return again and again. Located 12 miles south of Cambridge, Maryland, the Refuge was established in 1933 as a stopover for migratory birds. The refuge includes more than 28,000 acres of rich tidal marsh and forests.
Cost: $3 per vehicle. Click here to pay your vehicle fee online. May use Duck Stamp, annual pass, or Lifetime Federal Pass.
Maximum # participants: 20
Driving time from Salisbury: ~50-55 minutes
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. You will then carpool to the wildlife drive at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, located near 2145 Key Wallace Drive, Cambridge, MD 21613. Please use these GPS coordinates: 38.446343, -76.091567
Facilities: Restrooms are available.
Habitat: tidal marsh, mixed hardwood and loblolly pine forests, managed freshwater wetlands, and croplands
Difficulty: Participants may hike 2 to 3 miles over level surfaces. Trail surfaces include asphalt, boardwalks and dirt. 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.
Bear Swamp Road and Upper Nassawango Creek
Guide: Wayne Bell
Departure Time: 6:30 am
Description: The Nature Conservancy’s Nassawango Creek Preserve is one of the last pieces of true wilderness left on the East Coast. Dominated by bald cypress and black gum, the massive trees of this primeval forest envelop visitors with ample shade and security. Starting with a gift of 154 acres given by E. Stanton Adkins in 1978, the effort to establish the preserve was spearheaded and led by a group of Worcester County residents who recognized the beauty and diversity of Nassawango Creek and its intrinsic value to the region. This trip will make stops at Bear Swamp Road and the upper Nassawango for post-breeding (Prothonotary, Yellow-throated) and migrant warblers and up to 5 species of vireo.
Cost: free
Maximum # participants: 15
Driving time from Salisbury: ~15-20 minutes to the first stop
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. You will then carpool to Bear Swamp Road.
Facilities: Restrooms might not be available, so plan accordingly.
Habitat: cypress swamp, mixed hardwood and loblolly pine forests
Difficulty: Participants may hike 2 to 3 miles over level surfaces. Trail surfaces include asphalt and dirt/grass. 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
Assateague Island National Seashore
Guide: Marcia Balestri
Departure Time: 6:45 am
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. Use these GPS coordinates: 38.248279, -75.154429
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
Irish Grove MOS Sanctuary
Guides: Bri Panos, Dave Curson and Jeremy Castle
Departure Time: 7:00 am
Description: Irish Grove MOS Sanctuary in Somerset County is considered by many to be the “jewel in the crown” of the MOS Sanctuary System, and is by far the largest of the ten MOS sanctuaries. Irish Grove Sanctuary occupies the Rumbly Point peninsula in southern Somerset County. The sanctuary now consists of 2,300+ acres, the majority being tidal marshes, with some higher ground in pine forests.
Audubon Mid-Atlantic and MOS are working together on the Marshes for Tomorrow initiative, which includes a restoration project at Irish Grove. The project focuses on revitalizing degraded saltmarsh habitat using innovative, low-impact “runnels”—shallow, hand-dug channels—to drain trapped water, re-establish native vegetation, and protect the nesting grounds of birds such as the Saltmarsh Sparrow. Audubon staff will be on hand to explain the project in more detail.
Cost: free
Maximum # participants: 20
Driving time from Salisbury: ~45-50 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 guides at Parking Lot A at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center for the drive to the Irish Grove MOS Sanctuary, located at 4110 Rumbly Point Road, Marion Station, MD 21838. Use these GPS Coordinates: 37.994382, -75.728238
Facilities: Restrooms are available.
Habitat: saltmarsh, forest, fields, shrubby meadows, mud flats, creek
Difficulty: Participants may hike 2 to 3 miles over mostly level surfaces. Trail surfaces include dirt/grass, mud/marsh, and gravel roads. 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.
Nanticoke River Wildlife Management Area – Nutter’s Neck
Guide: Mary & Kye Jenkins
Departure Time: 7:00 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.
Deal Island Wildlife Management Area
Guide: Marianne & Jeff Pettis
Departure Time: 7:00 am
Description: Deal Island Wildlife Management Area features expanses of tidal marsh, frequently broken by open water. The 13,000 acres contain forested wetlands and a 2,800-acre man-made pond or “impoundment.” The diversity of habitats and excellent access combine to make Deal Island WMA the #1 eBird Hotspot in Somerset County. There are about 9 miles of flat trails/gravel roads suitable for birding, hiking and nature photography.
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 guides at Parking Lot C at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center before carpooling to the Deal Island Marina on Ralph Abbott Road. Use these GPS Coordinates: 38.167699, -75.947096
Facilities: Restrooms are unavailable at Deal Island WMA. Portable toilets are available at the Deal Island Marina.
Habitat: forest, marsh, ponds, mud flats, creeks, bay
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.
Departing at 7:15 am
Cypress Park & Nature Trail
Guide: Alex Garnand
Departure Time: 7:15 am
Description: Cypress Park & Nature Trail in Pocomoke City, MD begins on the city dock and winds around Stevenson’s Pond to Winter Quarters Landing (a public boat ramp) for a total of 1.5 miles. The trail is enhanced by several sections of floating boardwalk, a pedestrian bridge, and a fishing pier. From the trail, you can view a diversity of trees and birds that make this portion of the Pocomoke River so special.
Cost: free
Maximum # participants: 15
Driving time from Salisbury: ~35-40 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 the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center and meet your guide in the municipal parking lot on Market Street in Pocomoke City. The municipal parking lot is located across the street from the Delmarva Discovery Center, located at 2 Market St, Pocomoke City, MD 21851. Use these GPS coordinates: 38.076432, -75.569859
Facilities: Restrooms are available.
Habitat: cypress swamp, open river
Difficulty: Participants may hike up to 2 miles over mostly level surfaces. Trail surfaces include asphalt, boardwalk and dirt/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.
Departing at 7:30 am
Sinepuxent Bay Boat Trip
Guide: Scott Housten
Departure Time: 7:30 am
Description: The Sinepuxent Bay Boat Trip will explore the coastal bays behind Ocean City and Assateague Island. The 2-hour 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 jmrpp2@gmail.com.
Pirate’s Wharf Park
Guides: Ginny Walker & Ellen Lawler
Departure Time: 7:30 am
Description: Pirate’s Wharf Park is Wicomico’s County’s newest public park, having opened in fall of 2023. The county purchased the 341-acre property in 1997 from a farming family, using State of Maryland Program Open Space funds, and began the process of planning for the park around 2015. The county is still building out the park’s amenities, but most of the park is now open for the general public and birders to enjoy. Some parts of the park are still off-limits; obey posted signs.
Cost: free
Maximum # participants: 24
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 guides at Parking Lot B at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center before carpooling to Pirate’s Wharf, located at 4701 Whitehaven Rd, Quantico, MD 21856. Use these GPS coordinates: 38.321939, -75.748730
Facilities: Restrooms are available.
Habitat: meadows, open fields, river, wetlands, deciduous and pine forests
Difficulty: Participants will stroll less than two miles. Trails in the main part of the park are paved with packed stone dust and are ADA-accessible. 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 Pirate’s Wharf field trip 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.
Departing at 8:15 am
Hazel Outdoor Discovery Center
Guides: Jim Rapp & Russ Kovach
Departure Time: 8:15 am
Description: The Hazel Outdoor Discovery Center was the vision of Richard F. Hazel, Eastern Shore philanthropist and former president of the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of Salisbury. Mr. Hazel loved seeing people connect with nature at his “farm” on Cooper Road in Eden, Maryland. We’ll explore the farm roads and forested trails of this 500+ acre private property searching for songbirds and raptors. If time allows, we may search the nearby sod farms on Collins Wharf Road for shorebirds.
Cost: free
Maximum # participants: 24
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 guides at Parking Lot A at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center for the drive to 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.
AFTERNOON “ON YOUR WAY HOME” FIELD TRIP
Departing at 1:30 pm
Pickering Creek – Meadows, Wetlands and Birds
Guide: Mark Scallion
Departure Time: 1:30 pm
Description: Pickering Creek Audubon Center began converting the 270 acres of agriculture on the Center’s 450-acre property to wildlife habitat in 1997. During this field trip, we’ll be exploring over 150 acres of those former agricultural lands at Pickering Creek that have become freshwater wetlands and meadows. Our exploration is a great opportunity to learn about the process of creation and management of these habitats. Learn about which birds benefit from these landscape changes and how it might pertain to your yard. During our walk we’ll visit four wetland areas created at different times over the last twenty years as well as over 30 acres of emergent meadows. Four viewing platforms will give us elevated views and a chance to absorb the size of these wonderful additions to the landscape. This is a great chance to become acquainted with this hidden gem. Read more about Pickering Creek here.
Cost: free
Maximum # participants: 20
Driving time from Salisbury: ~one hour and 15 minutes
Departing from: DoubleTree by Hilton. Since participants are going home after this field trip, there will be no carpooling.
Meeting Location: The field trip will meet at the Pickering Creek Audubon Center, 11450 Audubon Lane, Easton, MD 21601. Mark will meet you in the parking lot between 2:30 – 3:00 pm. GPS coordinates for the parking area: 38.859973, -76.123767
Facilities: Restrooms are available.
Habitat: forest, fields, shrubby meadows, marsh, ponds, mud flats, creek
Difficulty: Participants may hike 1 to 2 miles over mostly level surfaces. Trail surfaces include dirt/grass, boardwalk, 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.