Community Corner

Bird Lovers To Count Species In MD + Otter Hike Planned In Lothian

Calling all birders! Maryland is preparing for the Great Backyard Bird Count. Animal lovers can also get up close with otters in Lothian.

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The National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways and Chesapeake Conservancy suggested participating in the 2023 Great Backyard Bird Count. The event runs from Friday through Monday. A bird is pictured above perched on a branch in Anne Arundel County.
The National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways and Chesapeake Conservancy suggested participating in the 2023 Great Backyard Bird Count. The event runs from Friday through Monday. A bird is pictured above perched on a branch in Anne Arundel County. (Jacob Baumgart/Patch)

MARYLAND — Maryland bird enthusiasts will tally species during this year's Great Backyard Bird Count. Anne Arundel County residents can also get up close and personal with otters in Lothian. Plus, historical and cultural movie screenings are in store throughout the DMV.

Patch recently partnered with several local organizations to bring you their latest news. This guest contribution comes from National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways and Chesapeake Conservancy. Here's what Jody Hedeman Couser submitted to help you explore the Chesapeake Bay:

"The Great Backyard Bird Count, Feb. 17-20

Launched in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, the Great Backyard Bird Count was the first online citizen-science project to collect data on wild birds and to display results in near real-time. Now, more than 180,000 people of all ages and walks of life worldwide join the four-day count each February to create an annual snapshot of the distribution and abundance of birds. You are invited to participate. [For at least 15 minutes on one or more of the days, count how many kinds of birds you see.] You can count anywhere—at home, or if you like to join other birders, choose from nearby events, including several in this newsletter. You can report your sightings online at birdcount.org."

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"Great Backyard Bird Count/Maryland

Pickering Creek Audubon Center is welcoming visitors for its annual Great Backyard Bird Count. Experienced birders will be conducting a center-wide winter bird survey as part of the largest instantaneous snapshot of global bird populations around the globe, and additional volunteers of all birding skill levels are needed to join the survey group to listen and point out birds that might otherwise be missed. A family-friendly bird walk is also scheduled, complete with a scavenger hunt for little ones and an opportunity to make suet for winter birds visiting the Center’s feeders. Free. Feb. 18, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; Pickering Creek Audubon, Easton, MD. More details

Other Backyard Bird Count programs in Maryland include Patapsco Valley State Park on Feb. 18, Patuxent River State Park Feb. 19, Rosaryville State Park Feb. 17, and Cedarville State Forest Feb. 19."

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"Magnificent Marsh Mammals

Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary is home to several species of marsh mammals – beaver and otter included. The guide for this hike through the woods and along the edge of the marsh is Chuck Hatcher, Jug Bay’s resident expert on otters. Look and listen for signs of activity while Chuck shares interesting facts about these magnificent marsh mammals. $5 per person, all ages welcome. Feb. 25, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Lothian, MD More information and registration"

"Winter Rx: Otters!

Got the winter blues? We can think of no better way to boost your happy hormones than watching these semi-aquatic members of the weasel family. Fortunately, there are a number of places in the watershed where you can spend some otter-ly amazing time watching North American river otters, natives of the Chesapeake watershed. Mac and Tuck are the superstars of the Delmarva Discovery Museum. On Thursdays through Sundays (including the Otterly Silly Saturday program) you can watch lunchtime feeding and learn all about them. Chumley, Calvert, and Chessie Grace head up the entertainment at the Calvert Marine Museum, where they split their time between their indoor action and year-round outdoor habitat. The Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C. is home to a father and son pair Emmett and Potomac, who live on the Zoo’s American Trail. Moe and Molly are the resident otters at the Virginia Living Museum, where they can be found via the outdoor boardwalk that crosses Deer Park Lake and winds through the woods and a wetlands area. You can also make arrangements for a behind the scenes tour of where their diets are prepared and even have an opportunity to meet and feed them. Need a quickie otter fix? The Calvert Marine Museum has [an] indoor webcam and [an] outdoor webcam."

"The William Still Story: Free Documentary Screening

Join the B&O Railroad Museum in celebration of Black History Month for a free, public screening of the PBS documentary Underground Railroad: The William Still Story. William Still was a Philadelphia abolitionist who risked his life to help Freedom Seekers as an agent for the Underground Railroad. Before the screening, you can join chief curator Jonathan Goldman at 4:30 p.m. for a tour of the new exhibit, The Underground Railroad: Freedom Seekers on the B&O Railroad that examines the role of the B&O in the Underground Railroad network and gives an intimate look at the journeys of 27 individuals who sought freedom from slavery along the B&O. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Free admission begins at 4 p.m. Limited access to the Museum (roundhouse and exhibits) will be available 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The screening will begin [on] Feb. 23, [at] 5:30 p.m.; B&O Railroad Museum, Baltimore, MD. More information"

"Mother Tongue Film Fest

The Smithsonian’s Mother Tongue Film Festival celebrates cultural and linguistic diversity by showcasing films and filmmakers from around the world. Films deal with cultures [returning] to the traditions of ancestors, legacies of healing rituals, calling out the injustices of colonialism and resource extraction, and re-asserting sovereignty. All events are free, and advanced registration is required. Limited tickets may be available at the door on a first-come, first-served basis. Feb. 23-26, various Washington, DC museums. More about the films and registration"

"Backyard Poultry Basics

Would you like to raise chickens in your backyard, but don’t know where to begin? The Accokeek Foundation, [which] knows a good deal about raising farm animals, is hosting a two-day workshop that will cover everything you need to get started. The program is recommended for ages 16+ and will feature hands-on experience with the Accokeek Foundation’s flock of heritage birds. Recommended for ages 16+. March 25 and 26, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.; Accokeek, MD. More details and registration"

"Foraging: Evergreens

You don’t need to stop foraging just because it’s winter. Evergreens are easy to spot in winter and have a long history of medicinal uses and much-needed vitamins and even gourmet recipes. Learn which evergreens to harvest and which to avoid at this Irvine Nature Center workshop. The nature center foraging programs usually have something to taste! $20; adults only please. March 19, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Irvine Nature Center, Owings Mills, MD. More information and registration"

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