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2012 Calendar of Events
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Jan | Feb | Mar
| Apr | May
| Jun
Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct
| Nov | Dec
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It
is not necessary to contact the trip leader in advance of a trip, but
leader's e-mail is shown in case you need directions or other information.
New participants are welcome – membership is not required to
participate in field trips. All are free and open to the public.
Please read Trip and
Meeting Participation Guidelines below.
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No club meeting in January
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Saturday January 21, 2012
Field Trip
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Ocean City
Area & Beyond [canceled because of snow]
A
classic trip to THE prime Maryland
winter birding hotspot. Click here
for a taste of what Ocean
City has to
offer. The Ocean
City inlet hosts
an unequaled variety of wintering ducks, possibly including all three
scoters, Long-tailed, Harlequin, mergansers, and maybe even an eider or
two. Add to that Red-throated and Common Loons, a grebe or two, Great
Cormorant, Northern Gannet, Purple Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstone, and
possibilities of rare gulls or a Razorbill or Murre.
Over at the 4th
St mudflats, there could be some lingering
shorebirds, and Brant should be about. The ponds in the vicinity should
hold an assortment of Canvasback, Redhead, Wigeon,
Gadwall, Bufflehead, Ruddy, Teal, Shoveler
– a great chance for good views to study the plumages at the time of
year when their colors are brightest. Depending on locations visited, there
could also be good opportunities for wintering sparrows – maybe even a
rarity like LeConte’s.
Meet near Dunkin' Donuts in Big Elk Mall,
intersection of Rt. 40 and Rt. 213 in Elkton at 6:00 a.m. for
a full-day trip. Bring breakfast, lunch and snack, or money
to buy take-out food on the way.
Dress for
extreme cold and wind. Bring scope if you have one.
Easy walking on level ground.
Trip Leader: Sean "Bird Dog"
McCandless
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Saturday
January 28,
2012
Field Trip
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Cecil Gulls
The field trip to North East
Community Park will assemble around 9:00 a.m. on Saturday morning in
the parking lot at the end of Walnut Street. We’ll likely see from
several hundred to thousands of gulls, with the possibility of Iceland,
Thayer’s, and Glaucous, among others.
Bring a spotting scope if you have one. Dress for extreme cold
and/or wind and be prepared for walking and then standing still while
we scan the flocks.
Trip Leader: Sean "Bird Dog"
McCandless
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Wednesday
February 1, 2012
Club Meeting
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Club Meeting
Speaker: Joanne Healey, Adkins Arboretum
Location:
Elkton High School, 110 James Street, Elkton.
Directions: From I-95 take the Elkton Exit and go south on MD 279
(Elkton Road) for about 2.5 miles. Turn right on James Street. The high
school is at the end of James Street. We meet in Room B-120, which is on
the right as soon as you walk in the main entrance.
Time:
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
For more information, contact President Maryanne Dolan.
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Friday – Monday, February 17-20, 2012
Bird Count
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13th
Annual Great Backyard Bird Count
The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event co-sponsored
by Audubon and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. The count engages
bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time
snapshot of where the birds are across the continent. Anyone can
participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as
little as 15 minutes. It’s free, fun, and easy – and it helps
the birds.
To participate:
1.
Plan to count birds for at least 15 minutes during February 17-20,
2012. Count birds at as many places and on as many days as you like – just keep a
separate list of counts for each day and/or location.
2. Count the greatest number of individuals of each species that you
see together at any one time, and write it down.
3. Enter your results on the Great Backyard Bird Count web site, http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/
More details and instructions are available at
the GBBC website.
In 2011, participants submitted more than 92,000 checklists and listed
a grand total of 594 species. Join the crowd and count in your
backyard!
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Saturday February
18, 2012
Field Trip
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Bombay Hook NWR
Join
us for a full-day trip to one of the premier birding spots in Delaware.
We should see a variety of waterfowl and raptors, with possible Screech
and Short-eared Owls. This trip will cover the refuge by car and if
time permits we will continue to other hot spots along Rt. 9.
To carpool, meet near Dunkin'
Donuts in Big Elk Mall, intersection of Rt. 40 and Rt. 213 in Elkton at
8:30 a.m. Bring lunch and snacks; there are few opportunities to
purchase food in the vicinity. Dress for possible extreme cold and wind
(well, this year, it may feel like spring! Check the weather the night
before!). Bring scope if you have one. Some easy walking on level
ground.
Trip
leader: Maryanne Dolan
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Wednesday
March 7,
2012
Club Meeting
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Club Meeting
Speaker: Norm Dulak will talk about his recent trip to
Antarctica.
Location: Elkton High School, 110 James Street, Elkton.
Directions: From I-95 take the Elkton Exit and go south on MD 279
(Elkton Road) for about 2.5 miles. Turn right on James Street. The high
school is at the end of James Street. We meet in Room B-120, which is
on the right as soon as you walk in the main entrance.
Time:
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
For more information, contact President Maryanne Dolan.
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Saturday
March 10,
2012
Community Outreach
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Cabin Fever
This
family-friendly event will take place between 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Moore’s
Chapel United Methodist Church
392 Blake Road Elkton, Maryland
For more information contact President Maryanne Dolan
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Saturday
March
17,
2012
Field Trip
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Blackwater & Beyond
This trip is designed to see large numbers of waterfowl during the
height of spring staging season, at Blackwater
National Wildlife Refuge in Dorchester County. Bald
Eagles are a bonus feature. Ospreys may be newly arrived and if so,
will be setting up territories. Some early shorebirds might be on the
move. Come take advantage of the peaceful Eastern Shore ambiance before
the tourist season sets in.
To carpool, meet
near Dunkin' Donuts in Big Elk Mall, intersection of Rt. 40 and Rt. 213
in Elkton at 6:00 a.m., or meet at the
parking lot of Blackwater Headquarters at
9:00 a.m. for a full-day trip. See the Blackwater
NWR website for directions. Bring breakfast, lunch and
snacks; there are few opportunities to purchase food in the vicinity.
Dress for possible extreme cold and wind. Bring scope if you have one.
Some easy walking on level ground.
Trip
Leader: Sean
"Bird Dog" McCandless
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Wednesday
April
4,
2012
Club
Meeting
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Club Meeting
Speaker: TBA
Location: Elkton
High School, Room B120, 110 James Street, Elkton. Directions: From I-95
take the Elkton Exit and go south on MD 279 (Elkton Road) for about 2.5
miles. Turn right on James Street. The high school is at the end of
James Street.
Time:
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
For more information, contact President Maryanne Dolan
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Sunday
April 22,
2012
Field Trip
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Conowingo
Wildflowers and Birds
The Wildflower Trail at Conowingo
goes south from Fisherman's Park along the bank of the Susquehanna,
through wooded wetlands and along the base of cliffs that are, at this
season, blanketed with Dutchman's Breeches, Virginia Bluebells,
Trillium, and other spring wildflowers. It's still a little early for
spring migrant birds, but we'll see if some winter visitors, like
Winter Wren, are still lingering on the riverbank. We'll also spend
some time scoping the waters below the dam to see what's about.
Meet at Fisherman's Park below the Dam at 7:00
a.m. for a half-day trip. From Rising Sun, take Rt. 273 west to the
intersection of US1. Continue on US1 south and go over the dam. Make
the first left onto Shuresville Rd, and then the first
left again, onto Shures Landing Road. This road will
bring you down to the riverbank and Fisherman's Park. Bring scope if you
have one. Dress warmly if the weather is unseasonably cold. Easy
walking on a level, well-graded trail (be prepared for mud).
Trip leader: Pat Valdata
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Wednesday
May 2,
2012
Club Meeting
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Club Meeting
Speaker: None. At our last
meeting of the season, we’ll wrap up club business and maybe even hold
elections. Monthly meetings will resume in September.
Location: Elkton
High School, Room B120, 110 James Street, Elkton. Directions: From I-95
take the Elkton Exit and go south on MD 279 (Elkton Road) for about 2.5
miles. Turn right on James Street. The high school is at the end of
James Street.
Time:
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
For more information, contact President Maryanne Dolan
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Saturday,
May 5,
2012
Field Trip
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Bird
Banding at NorthBay Camp
NorthBay educator Melanie Reichley, assisted by Cecil Bird Club
member Lisa Wilson, will conduct a demonstration of the delicate art of
bird banding. Help Lisa set up mist nets to collect a variety of
songbirds that will receive tiny leg bands for identification. Likely
birds can include warblers, flycatchers, chickadees, and other migrants
and summer residents.
Take MD-272
south through North East (Exit 100 if you are coming on I-95) You will
pass Sandy Hill Camp on your left after 9.0 miles; after Sandy Hill,
you will see a sign on the left indicating you have entered Elk Neck
State Park. Shortly afterwards you will see the NorthBay
sign on the right. Turn RIGHT into the NorthBay
property (Horseshoe Point Lane). Proceed on the driveway (less than a
mile) and down the big hill, until you arrive at the lower parking lot
on your left. Meet at the administration building deck. Be prepared for
muddy conditions as we walk through the hilly woodland. Bug spray and
sunscreen are recommended.
Meet
at NorthBay at 8:30 a.m. for this half-day trip.
Trip leader: Lisa Wilson
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May 2012
Day TBA
Field Trip/Bird Count
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DelMarVa
Ornithological Society Annual Bird-A-Thon
Our good friends in the DelMarVa
Ornithological Society sponsor an annual Bird-A-Thon to create
awareness of conservation issues and to raise
funds to support habitat preservation. We support this effort
with a field trip to Ft. Dupont State Park in
New Castle County, Delaware, during the first half of May. The specific
date will be announced depending on weather during that time.
Meet
near Dunkin' Donuts in Big Elk Mall, intersection of Rt. 40 and Rt. 213
in Elkton at 6:00 a.m. for a half-day
trip. Easy walking on level ground. Sunscreen and bug spray are
recommended.
Trip
leader: Pat Valdata
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Saturday
May 12,
2012
Field Trip
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Elk
Neck State Forest
Traverse the quiet wooded lanes of one of Cecil's
prime birding gems, Elk Neck
State Forest. At this time of year, the forest
is starting to ring with the songs of newly arrived summer
residents: Veery, Wood Thrush, Hooded
Warbler, Worm-Eating Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, Great Crested
Flycatcher, and other goodies. The forest is also a great place to
search for migrating thrushes, flycatchers, vireos and warblers. There
have been 17-warbler days in the forest!
Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the State
Forest office
parking lot off Irishtown
Rd. for a half-day trip. From the town of North
East, go south on Rt. 272 and when you reach the
south edge of town, turn left onto Irishtown
Rd. Follow Irishtown
Road to the forest entrance at the dirt road
on the left, just past Timberlane Drive on the
right. Park near the maintenance building on the left just after the
entrance. Wear sturdy footwear for walking
trails that may be muddy. Sunscreen and
bug spray are recommended.
Trip Leader: Parke
John
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Saturday,
May 19
2012
Conference
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Fair
Hill Natural Resources Management Area
Fair Hill is one of Cecil County’s loveliest birding spots. A variety of
habitats, including woods, fields and wetlands, means that we will see
a number of different species, especially spring migrants and breeding
birds like Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, Scarlet Tanagers, Warbling
Vireos, and many others. Be prepared for some muddy/wet areas, a few
hills, and lots of fun. Sunscreen and bug spray are recommended.
Meet at 7:00 a.m. for this half-day trip at the Foxcatcher Farm Covered Bridge parking lot near
the Fair Hill Nature and Environmental Center on Tawes
Drive. There is an honor system daily fee
($3 Maryland residents; $4 out-of-state visitors).
Trip leaders: Parke
John and David Francis
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Sunday,
May 27,
2012
Field Trip
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Courthouse Point Road
Courthouse
Point MHA is one of the most productive birding sites in Cecil County, boasting
a long list of regular and accidental species from both dry and wet
habitats. Courthouse Point is owned by the Army Corps of Engineers and
managed for hunting by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Possible sightings include Northern Harrier, Little Blue Heron, Wild
Turkey, Short-eared Owl, Marsh Wren, Winter Wren, Scarlet Tanager, Blue
Grosbeak, Yellow-breasted Chat, Swamp Sparrow. Watch for breeding Wood
Duck, Blue-Winged Teal, and Green-winged Teal.
Meet near Dunkin' Donuts in Big Elk Mall,
intersection of Rt. 40 and Rt. 213 in Elkton at
7:30 a.m. for a half-day trip. Easy walking on mostly level
ground. Sunscreen and bug spray are recommended.
Trip Leader: Maryanne Dolan
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July
date TBA
Community Outreach
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3rd Annual Northeast River Wade-In
Join
us as we pull up our pant legs and wade into the Upper Chesapeake Bay
to measure water quality the way retired Maryland State Senator Bernie
Fowler did 23 years ago with his "sneaker index."
Details will be posted as soon as they
become available.
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Saturday
September 1, 2012
Field Trip
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Turkey
Point Migrants and Hawk Watch Kickoff
Join
us for the traditional kick-off to the annual Turkey
Point Hawk Watch, which runs every day from Labor Day
weekend through Thanksgiving. Walk through the woods and fields for
migrant songbirds. Be prepared for a round-trip hike to the Point, a
distance of about two miles. The pace will be leisurely. Most of the
walking is on a gravel road with good footing, but there are hilly
sections. Wear comfortable shoes/boots for walking. Bring drinks and/or
snacks. Sunscreen and bug spray are
strongly recommended.
Meet at the Turkey Point Parking Lot at 7:00 a.m. for a half-day trip.
From the town of North East,
go south on Rt. 272 about 11 miles. The road ends at the parking
lot.
Trip leader: Sean "Bird Dog"
McCandless
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Wednesday
September
5, 2012
Club Meeting
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Club Meeting
Speaker: Doug Tallamy,
from the University of Delaware, will speak about attracting birds and
butterflies to our gardens.
Location: Elkton High School, Room B120, 110 James Street,
Elkton. Directions: From I-95 take the Elkton Exit and go south on MD
279 (Elkton Road) for about 2.5 miles. Turn right on James Street. The
high school is at the end of James Street.
Time: 7:00 to 9:00
p.m. For more information, contact President Maryanne Dolan
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Wednesday
October
3, 2012
Club Meeting
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Club Meeting
Speaker TBA
Location: Elkton
High School, Room B120, 110 James Street, Elkton. Directions: From I-95
take the Elkton Exit and go south on MD 279 (Elkton Road) for about 2.5
miles. Turn right on James Street. The high school is at the end of
James Street.
Time:
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
For more information, contact President Maryanne Dolan
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Sunday October 14, 2012
Bird Count
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Turkey
Pointers BIG SIT! Birding's Most Sedentary Event
Cecil Bird Club will be participating in the Annual BIG SIT!, an
international, noncompetitive birding event hosted by Bird Watcher's
Digest and founded by the New Haven (CT) Bird Club. THE BIG SIT! is like a Big Day or a bird-a-thon, in that the
object is to tally as many bird species as can be seen or heard within
24 hours. The difference lies in the area limitation from which you can
observe. All counting is done from inside a circle 17 feet in diameter.
Counters sit inside the circle for 24 hours, counting all the bird
species seen or heard.
Our BIG SIT! count circle will be
based at the big cedar tree near the lighthouse at Turkey Point. Chris
Starling will be our official counter. In 2011, for the third year
in a row, the Turkey Pointers Circle reported the highest number of
species among the Maryland BIG SIT! circles,
with 67 species. Can we do it again? All are welcome to join the Turkey
Point BIG SIT! circle, so pack some food and
drink and come on out to join us. Chris will start at 4:30 a.m.; you
may come whenever you like and stay for as long as you like.
Hint: if you have any goodies to share, you might want to pack
some extras for our stalwart BIG SIT! counters,
to keep their spirits up for the long haul.
It is not necessary to contact the leader before this
event, just come on out any time during the day. For more basic BIG
SIT! Information, please visit Birdwatcher’s Digest.
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Wednesday,
November
7, 2012
Club Meeting
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Club Meeting
Speaker TBA
Location: Elkton High School, Room B120, 110 James Street,
Elkton. Directions: From I-95 take the Elkton Exit and go south on MD
279 (Elkton Road) for about 2.5 miles. Turn right on James Street. The
high school is at the end of James Street.
Time: 7:00 to 9:00
p.m. For more information, contact President Maryanne Dolan
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Saturday
November
24, 2012
Field Trip
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Eagle
Watch at Conowingo Dam
Conowingo Dam is one of the premier
eagle watching sites in the east. Some eagles breed near Conowingo and are present all year round, but the
number of individuals peaks in the winter. The reason: the water
flowing through the dam's turbines remains unfrozen all winter long,
and so the fishing is good and the living is easy. Eagles start moving
in from more northerly areas in November and stay until January or
February. It is normally possible to see as many as 60 individuals or
more at one time; we have seen as many as 175! In addition to eagles,
there will likely be other birds of interest, particularly gulls and
ducks.
Meet at Fisherman's Park below the Dam at 9:00
a.m. for a half-day trip. From Rising Sun, take Rt. 273 west to
the intersection of Rt. 1. Continue on Rt. 1 southwest and go
over the dam. Make the first left onto Shuresville Rd, and then the first
left again, onto Shures Landing Road. This road will
bring you down to the riverbank and Fisherman's Park.
Bring scope if you have one. Optional:
lawn chair, blanket, hot drinks, and snacks. Dress for possible
extreme cold and windy conditions.
Trip leaders: Sean "Bird Dog"
McCandless and Charlie "Eagle Eye" Gant
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Wednesday
December
7, 2012
Club Meeting
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Club Meeting
Location: Elkton High School, Room B120, 110 James Street,
Elkton. Directions: From I-95 take the Elkton Exit and go south on MD
279 (Elkton Road) for about 2.5 miles. Turn right on James Street. The
high school is at the end of James Street.
Time: 7:00 to 9:00
p.m. For more information, contact President Maryanne Dolan
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Sunday
December 16, 2012
Bird Count
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Elkton
Christmas Bird Count
Full day census of all birds in a circle of
7.5-mile radius centered on Black Hill on Elk Neck. You may count in your
choice of locations in the count circle, if you contact the compiler
early. Count for full day or as much as you can. No experience
necessary – if you are new to counting, you will be assigned to a team.
Feeder watchers also welcome – count in your own backyard, if you are
located within the count circle. Tally Rally at McDonald’s in Elkton at
4 p.m.
Must contact compiler Laura Balascio ahead of time for
assignment to an area and for reporting forms and instructions. Note:
There is a $5 fee to participate; this fee helps pay for compiling and
printing the nationwide results.
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Date TBA
Bird Count
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Rock Run Christmas Count
Full day census of all birds in a circle of 7.5 mi
radius centered on Rock Run Mill opposite Port Deposit. The count
circle includes portions of Cecil
County along the
Susquehanna, from above Rt. 1 and the Conowingo
Dam south to Perryville. You may count in your choice of locations in
the count circle, if you contact the compiler early. Feeder watchers also welcome
– count in your own backyard, if you are located within the count
circle. Count for full day or as much as you
can.
Must contact compiler Mark Johnson ahead of
time for assignment to an area and for reporting forms and instructions.
Note:
There is a $5 fee to participate; this fee helps pay for compiling and
printing the nationwide results.
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For
other Christmas Counts to be conducted this season in Maryland,
please visit the Christmas
Count page of the MOS website.
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Trip and Meeting Participation Guidelines
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- All events are free and
open to the public, unless otherwise indicated (some destinations
have an admission fee or will require payment of road/bridge
toll).
- Due to limited parking,
reservations may be necessary for some field trips, and carpooling
is always encouraged.
- It is a courtesy to
contact the trip leader (shown in the last column) if you are
planning to attend a field trip.
- Please try to arrive at
the field trip meeting place ten to fifteen minutes before the
stated time to ensure you are not left behind.
- Trips designated as
half-day are usually over by noon.
- It is a good idea to
pack a lunch and drink for any trips designated full day.
- In inclement weather:
- Field trips may be
canceled due to heavy rain or snow. The trip leader will call you
if you have indicated you will attend.
- Bird counts are held
rain or shine.
- Meetings may be
canceled because of severe weather and dangerous driving
conditions; such cancellations (meetings only, not field trips)
will be announced via e-mail.
- Look for the symbol for recent
additions to the calendar.
- For general trip
information, to suggest a destination, or to volunteer as a trip
leader, contact Field Trip Chair Sean McCandless by
e-mail.
- For more events, check
the statewide MOS
calendar.
- Most importantly, try
to attend as many trips and meetings as you can and Have Fun!
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