Ornithological Ooh La La! (Rating: C)

You must read the following NVHC Sign-in Sheet Statement/Liability Disclaimer, https://nvhc.com/signin.pdf and then answer the question that you will see when you RSVP with "I accept" to be permitted on the hike.

(Another nature TWO-FER! Attend a bird banding for 2 hours and afterward do a moderately paced fitness and nature hike for roughly 8 flat and hilly miles on dirt trails and a potentially slippery boardwalk with gobs of stops for birds & beasts.)

FIRST, we'll attend a migratory bird banding on the Patuxent River by licensed bander Alex Pellegrini -- one of our region's most STELLAR banders and researchers. We'll watch him band perching birds like sunshine-yellow warblers and their cousins with teensy-weensy numbered bands so scientists can learn about their migratory patterns and more. AFTER the banding, we'll hike a very roughly 8-mile (* LARGELY UNSCOUTED*) loop at a moderate pace (2.5-3 mph).

Our halfway point is the visitor center, where we'll dawdle there hoping to glimpse a hummingbird slurping a "soda" from a native coral honeysuckle, to watch movie-star osprey babies and parents by the dock (they are on two popular webcams), and then we'll slowly wind our way along a possibly slippery boardwalk to enjoy the antics of birds that flew over a thousand miles just to nest there, including (hopefully!) beauty kings & queens like prothonotary warblers, indigo buntings, and bright orange/red scarlet and/or summer tanagers. We'll also look for slinky snakes and other sultry swamp creatures along the boardwalk's neotropical fantasyland.

IMPORTANT NOTES: Adults only. No pets, including pet hummingbirds. Our end time of 2 pm is approximate. We'll likely end earlier, depending on discoveries during our hike. Elevation is unknown since I have NOT scouted the main trail on this hike. I would estimate maybe 500 feet of elevation change. We can't hold the birds or use flash photography. BRING A FOLDING CHAIR FOR THE BANDING if you don't want to stand for two hours. You can put it back in your car before the hike.

BRING: Sense of awe, sense of humor, LOTS OF WATER (freeze a couple of bottles the day before), lunch, bug spray, sunblock, full-charged cell phone with optional iNaturalist app, optional camera and/or binoculars, and dress for the weather, including "grippy" shoes for a potentially slippery boardwalk and trails.

MEET: 6:50 a.m. at Patuxent River Park's SELBY LANDING on the river. There is no street address there so please copy these GPS coordinates into Google Maps 38.753111, -76.700193 BEFORE you go. Ask the leader any questions you might have at least one day BEFORE the hike so you don't get lost or arrive late.

PATUXENT RIVER PARK: (main site and trail map):
https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/pages/naturalareas/southern/patuxent-river-park.aspx

https://www.pgparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/PRP-New-Trails-Map-3.30.2023.pdf

RESTROOMS: Portapotty at the start and restrooms by the visitor center.

WEATHER:
Bander will contact leader the day before the hike if weather will cause a cancellation. But so far the weather looks great but hot.

USGS BIRD BANDING LABORATORY:
(Learn about the science behind these bandings):
https://www.usgs.gov/labs/bird-banding-laboratory#:~:text=The%20Bird%20Banding%20Laboratory%20(Est,science%2C%20management%2C%20and%20conservation.

CHESAPEAKE BAY CRITICAL AREA DRIVING TOUR:
(Open Sundays 10-3)
https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/southern/merkle/driving-tour.aspx

PATUXENT BIRD GUIDE:
(from Birder’s Guide to Maryland & DC)
https://birdersguidemddc.org/site/patuxent-river-park-jug-bay-natural-area/

THE INSTITUTE FOR BIRD POPULATIONS and MAPS PROGRAM:
(Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship). Donations welcome.
https://www.birdpop.org

EBIRD:
https://ebird.org/

INATURALIST:
https://www.inaturalist.org