What is birding? Birding is simply the enjoyment of being outdoors, identifying and closely watching bird species. By watching birds you can learn a lot about their nesting habits, what they like to eat and where they like to live.
Where to Bird:
Wicomico County has many great spots for birding and even for brand new birders! Here are some spots where you can identify very common birds in large areas with lots of open space:
Pemberton Park- walk along the trails and watch in the open fields for different species of birds.
The Ward Museum- walk along their nature trail and check out the bird feeder behind the museum. On a cold winter day, sit inside and watch birds through the large glass windows.
Johnson Rd. Pond- many species of waterfowl hangout in the water and behind the reeds here.
Salisbury Landfill- Naylor Mill Rd. Pond- you'll see many seagulls flying around as well as waterfowl in the sand pit pond across the landfill.
Twilleys Bridge Rd.- many songbirds and migratory species in the forest and edges at this site.
Ellis Bay WMA(limited road access, need boat)- many seabirds and waterfowl like to hangout in the water as well as songbirds in the forested areas.
Not ready for a field guide?
Below is a map of all the Hotspots in Wicomico County- click on the map and it will take you to eBird, a birding site with collaborate information around the world. Type in "Wicomico County" in the search bar and see if there are any hotspots near your house!
Click on the document below to download a printable user-friendly field guide with common birds for the county!
Ever wanted to learn more information about birds like their geographic location, song and their look-a-likes? Below is a great website from Cornell for young birders as well as a super cool website for bird songs! www.bird-sounds.net/
Already an experienced birder or would like to meet other birders?
Do you know about the Tri-County Bird Club? This club accepts anyone who enjoy birds and bird watching (experienced or not) so it is a great way to gain experience and meet new people.The club meets every fourth Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at Asbury Methodist Church, in the Fox Room, South entrance. During their meetings, devoted birders meet from across the county where they present different programs related to birds around the world. They also take regular field trips to look for birds around Maryland, Delaware and Virginia! To join: check out page 4 for membership fees and their mail-in form.
Wicomico County has many birds that exists during only certain parts of the year- fall migration and spring migration are big times for birders! Many birds seek refuge overnight where as some birds migrate during the night to avoid predators. The link below will take you to bar charts of all the birds that have been present in the county throughout the year.
Birding is fun!
If you enjoy waterfowl like ducks and grebes, check out the page below for more information on the different species found here in Wicomico.