Questions? Call Pam at 301-652-9188 x16 or email pam.oves@anshome.org.

OCTOBER

For Goodness Snakes 
Thursday, October 3 (7-9 pm) 
Leader: Kerry Wixted 
Free, but registration required. 
Snakes are fascinating yet highly misunderstood creatures. Learn the basics about snake biology and why we should care about them, as well as information on several of the species that call Maryland home. From the secretive rainbow snake to the social timber rattlesnake, Maryland’s snake species are highly diverse. Our presenter is Wildlife Education and Outreach Specialist for the MD Dept. of Natural Resources. REGISTER.

Fall Fungus Walk 
Saturday, October 5 (9 am-12:30 pm) 
Leader: Serenella Linares 
Members $26; nonmembers $36 
Fall is a great time to get introduced to the most common families of fungi in our area and find out more about their natural history and many ecological functions. Our outdoor classroom will be our own Woodend Sanctuary, where the natural surface trails will include some uphill and downhill walking. Note: the focus of our field trip is fungi’s important and under-appreciated role in forest ecology, not the edibility of particular species of mushrooms. REGISTER.

On the Move at Cape May  FULL – email pam.oves@anshome.org to register for waitlist.
Monday, October 7 (8 am) to Tuesday, October 8 (4 pm) 
Optional 3rd day: Wednesday, October 9 (8 am-4 pm) 
Leader: Mark Garland 
Two-day trip: Members $120; nonmembers $168 
Optional 3rd day: $50
Cape May is an astounding place to witness autumn migration.  Under the right weather conditions, a single day can bring several thousand southbound hawks, tens of thousands of migrating songbirds, and thousands of Monarch butterflies onto the southern tip of New Jersey.  Waterfowl, herons, dragonflies and even bats also travel through Cape May in October.  Under the guidance of an expert naturalist and birder who’s a local, we’ll visit many of the diverse natural areas around Cape May and celebrate the rich spectacle of fall migration.  Overnight options include hotels, B&B’s, owner rentals, and campgrounds in and around Cape May, which are booked by participants themselves.

Midweek Meanders Along the Canal 
Wednesdays (10 am-12:30 pm) 
C: October 9 – Violettes Lock FULL
D: October 23 – Pennyfield Lock  FULL
E: November 20 – Widewater FULL
F: December 4 – Swain’s Lock FULL
Leader: Stephanie Mason 
Each walk members $25; nonmembers $35 
Enjoy one or all of these leisurely autumn walks along portions of the C&O Canal that enjoy less traffic than the towpath stretches close to Washington. The focus of our walks, each beginning from a different location, will be general natural history of the varied habitats along the Potomac River and the C&O Canal. We’ll proceed at a “naturalist’s shuffle” pace, stopping often to observe birds, fall wildflowers and foliage, butterflies, snakes, turtles — and whatever else we might find. Participants interested in carpooling will meet at Woodend. 

Intro to Tree Identification 
Friday, October 11 (10 am-3 pm) 
Leader: Stephanie Mason 
Members $34; nonmembers $48 
Fall is a great time to learn to identify our local trees and shrubs. With brilliant leaves highlighting the twigs, new buds already formed, and many fruits hanging on, there are lots of distinguishing features that help sort out the various species. This program at our Woodend Sanctuary will begin indoors with a look at some techniques of tree identification, coupled with practice using a simple key. We’ll then move outdoors to use our new skills to identify many of the trees growing on the grounds. Both beginners and those who want to brush up on their ID skills are welcome. REGISTER.

Fall Birding Series 
D. Saturday, October 12: Patuxent River Park/Jug Bay Natural Area, MD (Mark England) (8-11am) FULL
E. Sunday, October 20: Blue Mash Nature Trail, MD (Lisa Norwalk & Len Bisson) (8-11 am) FULL
F. Saturday, November 2: Dyke Marsh, VA  (Paul Pisano) (8-11 am) FULL 
G. Sunday, November 10: Hughes Hollow, MD  (Lisa Shannon & Rob Hilton) (8-11 am) FULL
H. Saturday, November 23: Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, DC (Lisa Shannon & Rob Hilton) (8-11 am)
Each walk members $26; nonmembers $36
Our fall birding series visits eight protected areas, all under an hour’s drive from D.C., where a variety of habitats — including field, forest, and wetland — provide good opportunities for the observation and identification of birds in autumn. On the earliest walks, we’ll hope to catch some southbound migrants. As the season progresses, we’ll watch for sparrows, raptors, waterfowl, and other birds. These teaching walks are aimed at beginning to mid-level birders, but all are welcome. Most of our explorations will be on natural surface trails that may be uneven or muddy, but some destinations include mild uphill and downhill.  Image credit: Cephas REGISTER.

Natural Heritage Hike: Calvert Cliffs State Park 
Sunday, October 13 (10 am-4:30 pm) 
Leader: Stephanie Mason 
Members $34; nonmembers $48 
While most visit Calvert Cliffs State Park for the marine fossils along its Chesapeake Bay Beach, this park in southern Maryland offers rich natural history as well. We’ll hike out to the Bay and back (total of 4 miles) as we explore coastal plain forests, marshland, and stream valley habitats. We’ll look and listen for all manner of fall wildlife activity, as we make stops along the way to study plant communities in their seasonal aspects. The Park charges a per car admission fee. Carpooling will be encouraged and facilitated with a central meeting point not far outside the Beltway. REGISTER.

Wonders at Woodend: Forest Bathing through the Seasons
Wednesdays (10 am-Noon)
Section D: October 16
FULL – email pam.oves@anshome.org to register for waitlist.
Leader: Melanie Choukas-Bradley
Each walk members $26; nonmembers $36
Savor the natural joys of each season on forest bathing walks led by Melanie Choukas-Bradley, a longtime ANS field trip leader and the author of The Joy of Forest Bathing—Reconnect with Wild Places & Rejuvenate Your Life. Discover the magic of shinrin-yoku, translated as “forest bathing,” a nature-oriented mindfulness practice that originated in Japan and has become popular all over the world. Our leader is a Nature & Forest Therapy Guide with certification from the Association of Nature & Forest Therapy Guides and Programs of Sonoma County, California. Experience the restoration of Woodend as we explore and commune with the living things in our meadows, forest, and Blair Garden. A serving of maple sap “tea” and a sharing of nature poetry will conclude each walk.

Native Plant Gardening
Fall Walk: Thursday, October 17 (10 am-Noon)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $20; nonmembers $28
Explore the Blair Native Plant Garden, located just outside the Sanctuary Shop, with our Senior Naturalist who helped develop the garden and its educational focus. Find out more about the values of gardening with native plant species, including: lower maintenance; more value to native birds, butterflies and other insects, including pollinators; reduced negative impact on local ecosystems, and more. We’ll discuss native alternatives to popular non-native species such as English ivy, as well as resources for broadening one’s knowledge and understanding of plants natives to the mid-Atlantic. You’re welcome to bring along a bag lunch to eat with the leader after the walks, which are scheduled to highlight seasonal aspects of the garden. REGISTER.

Fall Birding Series 
E. Sunday, October 20: Blue Mash Nature Trail, MD (Lisa Norwalk & Len Bisson) (8-11 am) FULL
F. Saturday, November 2: Dyke Marsh, VA  (Paul Pisano) (8-11 am)  FULL
G. Sunday, November 10: Hughes Hollow, MD  (Lisa Shannon & Rob Hilton) (8-11 am) FULL
H. Saturday, November 23: Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, DC (Lisa Shannon & Rob Hilton) (8-11 am)
Each walk members $26; nonmembers $36
Our fall birding series visits eight protected areas, all under an hour’s drive from D.C., where a variety of habitats — including field, forest, and wetland — provide good opportunities for the observation and identification of birds in autumn. On the earliest walks, we’ll hope to catch some southbound migrants. As the season progresses, we’ll watch for sparrows, raptors, waterfowl, and other birds. These teaching walks are aimed at beginning to mid-level birders, but all are welcome. Most of our explorations will be on natural surface trails that may be uneven or muddy, but some destinations include mild uphill and downhill. REGISTER.

Fall in the Parks 
Sundays (8:30 am-1 pm) 
B. October 20—Pennyfield Lock, C&O Canal, MD 
C. November 17—US National Arboretum, DC 
Leaders: Stephanie Mason & Cathy Stragar
Each walk: members $28; nonmembers $38 
Sign up for one or all of these seasonal, broad-based nature explorations of nearby parks rich in natural history. We’ll walk between 3-4 miles, on natural surface and possibly muddy trails, as we enjoy the development of fall color, late season blooms and butterflies, resident and migrating birds, and all manner of wildlife.  The C&O Canal Towpath will be our trail along the Potomac as we walk upriver from Pennyfield Lock, MD, near Potomac, MD. Our explorations in the National Arboretum in Southeast DC will visit the Fern Valley area and adjacent woodlands and prairie habitat plantings. REGISTER.

Midweek Meanders Along the Canal 
Wednesdays (10 am-12:30 pm) 
D: October 23 – Pennyfield Lock FULL 
E: November 20 – Widewater FULL
F: December 4 – Swain’s Lock FULL
Leader: Stephanie Mason 
Each walk members $25; nonmembers $35 
Enjoy one or all of these leisurely autumn walks along portions of the C&O Canal that enjoy less traffic than the towpath stretches close to Washington. The focus of our walks, each beginning from a different location, will be general natural history of the varied habitats along the Potomac River and the C&O Canal. We’ll proceed at a “naturalist’s shuffle” pace, stopping often to observe birds, fall wildflowers and foliage, butterflies, snakes, turtles — and whatever else we might find. Participants interested in carpooling will meet at Woodend. 

Fall on Wheels Along the Canal 
Friday, October 25 (9 am-3 pm) 
Leader: Stephanie Mason 
Members $34; nonmembers $48 
Fall colors are ablaze and the towpath along the Potomac River is one of the finest places in the D.C. Metro area to experience this season’s richness. In order to cover more territory and visit more habitats, we’ll use bikes to explore the stretch from Swain’s Lock to Riley’s Lock, a 12.3 mile round-trip ride. We’ll dismount often to look for fall fruits and admire lingering fall foliage, while keeping an eye and ear open for fall migrants, overwintering birds, and other still-active wildlife. Bring your own bike. REGISTER.

Geology of Soapstone Valley FULL – email pam.oves@anshome.org to register for waitlist.
Saturday, October 26 (1-4 pm) 
Leader: Joe Marx 
Members $26; Nonmembers $36 
Soapstone Valley, in the Van Ness section of the District of Columbia, provides a pleasant, surprisingly quiet hike through deep woods. Extending about a mile from Connecticut Avenue to Broad Branch, the valley cuts across no less than four geological formations, all related to the Taconic Orogeny. We will walk about two miles, out-and-back, from the trailhead on Albemarle St. NW, near UDC. Although the trail, an old, unpaved road, is wide and relatively easy, there are seven crossings of the little stream, none with bridges. Ups and downs are gentle, but the trail drops several hundred vertical feet on its way to Broad Branch and, of course, the altitude must be regained on the return. Our geology hikes typically move at a faster pace than our normal naturalists’ shuffle.

Walk Among the Giants
D. Sunday, October 27 (8 am-Noon)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $28; nonmembers $38
Walk among the giant Sycamores, Oaks, and River Birches on this seasonal series of explorations along the Potomac River just upstream of Great Falls, MD. We’ll keep our eyes and ears open for all manner of wildlife, and watch the winter woods turn green, and then summer sultry before fall colors herald the coming of another winter. Our floodplain trail, connecting with the Towpath, is mostly level, but could be muddy as we walk our loop of roughly 2.5 miles. REGISTER.

Fall Tree ID for Birders FULL – email pam.oves@anshome.org to register for waitlist.
Sunday, October 27 (2:30-4 pm) 
Leader: Stephanie Mason 
Free, but registration required. 
With trees ablaze in fall colors and their fruits hanging high, we’ll learn the identifying characteristics visible through binoculars of the most common species of trees and shrubs along the C&O Canal towpath upstream of Carderock. 

Botanical Gems of Little Bennett Park 
Sunday, October 27 (9 am-12:30 pm) 
Leader: Carole Bergmann 
Members $26; Nonmembers: $36
At 3,700 acres, Little Bennett Regional Park near Clarksburg, MD is a park where you can still get lost.  But don’t worry: our leader knows this park well.  With autumn color nearing peak, she’ll focus on the ID of fall fruits and seeds in the Park’s varied plant communities: mature forest, shrub thicket, riparian wetlands, and open meadows.  Expect some uphill and downhill on this hike of 2-3 miles. REGISTER.

The Natural and Cultural History of the Ag Reserve 
Tuesday, October 29 (9:30 am-4 pm) 
Leaders: Melanie Choukas-Bradley & Stephanie Mason 
Members $36; nonmembers $54 
Thirty-five years ago, with regional farmland rapidly diminishing, Montgomery County had the foresight to set aside more than 90,000 acres of farms and open space in the western and northern third of the county as an “Agricultural Reserve.” Come explore this scenic, biologically diverse area and learn how it contributes to clean air and water, the availability of fresh local produce, and the overall quality of life for residents of the metro area. Our trip will visit a working CSA farm, a fall produce and pumpkin stand, an historical site, and perhaps an artist’s studio, time permitting, to experience the rich diversity of plants and wildlife (and human livelihoods) that thrive in the Reserve’s fields, meadows, wetlands, and rocky woodlands. REGISTER.

Questions? Call Pam at 301-652-9188 x16 or email pam.oves@anshome.org.

Questions? Call Pam at 301-652-9188 x16 or email pam.oves@anshome.org.

NOVEMBER

Fall Birding Series 
F. Saturday, November 2: Dyke Marsh, VA  (Paul Pisano) (8-11 am) FULL  
G. Sunday, November 10: Hughes Hollow, MD  (Lisa Shannon & Rob Hilton) (8-11 am) FULL
H. Saturday, November 23: Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, DC (Lisa Shannon & Rob Hilton) (8-11 am)
Each walk members $26; nonmembers $36
Our fall birding series visits eight protected areas, all under an hour’s drive from D.C., where a variety of habitats — including field, forest, and wetland — provide good opportunities for the observation and identification of birds in autumn. On the earliest walks, we’ll hope to catch some southbound migrants. As the season progresses, we’ll watch for sparrows, raptors, waterfowl, and other birds. These teaching walks are aimed at beginning to mid-level birders, but all are welcome. Most of our explorations will be on natural surface trails that may be uneven or muddy, but some destinations include mild uphill and downhill. REGISTER

Fall Hike in Rock Creek Park
Saturday, November 2 (9:30 am-3:30 pm)
Members $34; nonmembers $42
Leader: Melanie Choukas-Bradley
Our leader, author of the award-winning book, A Year in Rock Creek Park, and the critically acclaimed The Joy of Forest Bathing and City of Trees, offers another of her popular nature walks for ANS in the country’s oldest urban national park, created in 1890. Autumn will find us hiking the Western Ridge and Valley Trails during peak fall foliage and fruiting season, stopping to study and admire oaks, maples, hickories and many other trees along the route. This hike will traverse 4-6 miles, with uphill and downhill on natural surface trails which may be rocky and uneven. REGISTER

Raptors on the Move at Waggoner’s Gap
Sunday, November 3 (3/4 day field trip)
Leaders: Liam and Laura McGranaghan
Members $32; nonmembers $44
Fall brings thousands of migrating raptors—hawks, falcons, eagles, and their allies—to the Appalachian ridges and Atlantic coast. Our field trip goes to one of the premier hawk-watching sites in the area: Pennsylvania’s Waggoner’s Gap, about a 2.5-hour drive from DC. Our experienced leaders, known for their raptor expertise, will help you develop your own ID skills for these birds-on-the-move. Getting to the hawk watch lookout requires walking up a short, but rocky, trail to an outcropping of perched boulders. REGISTER

Tall Ships and Dinosaurs Geology Hike
Sunday, November 3 (12-5 pm)
Leader: Joe Marx
Members $26; nonmembers $36
Due to a paucity of rocks, we tend to avoid the Coastal Plain for our Geology forays. Nevertheless, many interesting, non-rocky sites lie close at hand. We’ll visit three of them on a 40-mile auto circuit through northwestern Prince Georges County. Our starting point: Bladensburg Waterfront Park, where we will consider how a deep-water port prominent in the War of 1812 has so completely faded from commerce. Next we’ll travel to Watkins Regional Park to examine the Atlantic’s sandy floor of 60 million years ago. If we’re lucky, we may find a trail-side shark’s tooth or oyster shell. Our last stop visits Dinosaur Park, near Laurel, where paleontologists have unearthed the 110-million-year old bones of several kinds of dinosaurs and mammals, as well as fossils of trees and early flowering plants. We’ll return to Bladensburg to complete the loop. Our walking over paved or gravelly paths will be in generally flat terrain. REGISTER

Fall Birding Series 
G. Sunday, November 10: Hughes Hollow, MD  (Lisa Shannon & Rob Hilton) (8-11 am) FULL
H. Saturday, November 23: Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, DC (Lisa Shannon & Rob Hilton) (8-11 am)
Each walk members $26; nonmembers $36
Our fall birding series visits eight protected areas, all under an hour’s drive from D.C., where a variety of habitats — including field, forest, and wetland — provide good opportunities for the observation and identification of birds in autumn. On the earliest walks, we’ll hope to catch some southbound migrants. As the season progresses, we’ll watch for sparrows, raptors, waterfowl, and other birds. These teaching walks are aimed at beginning to mid-level birders, but all are welcome. Most of our explorations will be on natural surface trails that may be uneven or muddy, but some destinations include mild uphill and downhill. REGISTER

Fall Leaf Drawing Workshop
Monday, November 11 (10 am-3 pm)
Leader: Tina Thieme Brown
Members $32; nonmembers $44
There is a long tradition of naturalists keeping field notes. Often their written notes are accompanied by drawings. If you want to learn how to add sketches to your field observations, we invite you to join an artist/illustrator, whose sketchbooks are filled with drawings of plant life, for a workshop at our Woodend Sanctuary. Tina will lead you on a walk in the woods, where you will carry along your sketchbook and reflect on the changing season. Returning to an indoor classroom, she will guide you through the steps to create a colored drawing of fall leaves and fruits, such as acorns. The only experience required is a love of nature, and a desire to look closely at the seasonal changes in our native trees. A suggested art supply list will be provided with confirmation letter. REGISTER

Bird ID Series: Sparrows and Finches
Thursday, November 14 (7:30-9:30 pm)
Saturday, November 16 (half-day field trip)
Leader: Mike Bowen
Members $42; nonmembers $58
Lecture only: members $20; nonmembers $28
Sparrows and finches offer beginning and intermediate birders some of their most difficult ID challenges. On Thursday evening, our leader will use an illustrated lecture to provide identification help on these often confusing species. Our field trip will take us to one or more nearby natural areas where a variety of these birds can be studied. REGISTER

Fall in the Parks 
Sundays (8:30 am-1 pm) 
C. November 17 – US National Arboretum, DC 
Leaders: Stephanie Mason & Cathy Stragar
Each walk: members $28; nonmembers $38 
Sign up for one or all of these seasonal, broad-based nature explorations of nearby parks rich in natural history. We’ll walk between 3-4 miles, on natural surface and possibly muddy trails, as we enjoy the development of fall color, late season blooms and butterflies, resident and migrating birds, and all manner of wildlife. Our explorations in the National Arboretum in Southeast DC will visit the Fern Valley area and adjacent woodlands and prairie habitat plantings. Image credit: Megan McCarty REGISTER

Midweek Meanders Along the Canal 
Wednesdays (10 am-12:30 pm) 
E: November 20 – Widewater FULL 
F: December 4 – Swain’s Lock FULL
Leader: Stephanie Mason 
Each walk members $25; nonmembers $35 
Enjoy one or all of these leisurely autumn walks along portions of the C&O Canal that enjoy less traffic than the towpath stretches close to Washington. The focus of our walks, each beginning from a different location, will be general natural history of the varied habitats along the Potomac River and the C&O Canal. We’ll proceed at a “naturalist’s shuffle” pace, stopping often to observe birds, fall wildflowers and foliage, butterflies, snakes, turtles — and whatever else we might find. Participants interested in carpooling will meet at Woodend.

Fall Birding Series 
H. Saturday, November 23: Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, DC (Lisa Shannon & Rob Hilton) (8-11 am)
Members $26; nonmembers $36
Our fall birding series visits eight protected areas, all under an hour’s drive from D.C., where a variety of habitats — including field, forest, and wetland — provide good opportunities for the observation and identification of birds in autumn. On the earliest walks, we’ll hope to catch some southbound migrants. As the season progresses, we’ll watch for sparrows, raptors, waterfowl, and other birds. These teaching walks are aimed at beginning to mid-level birders, but all are welcome. Most of our explorations will be on natural surface trails that may be uneven or muddy, but some destinations include mild uphill and downhill. REGISTER

Knock, Knock FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Saturday, November 23 (9 am-12 pm)
Leaders: Pam and Chris Oves
Free, but registration required.
On this approximately 4-mile roundtrip bird walk along the Canal’s towpath at Riley’s Lock, we’ll work to see or at least hear all 7 species of woodpeckers (a grand-slam!) that frequent our woods this time of year. Our walk is aimed at beginning birders. This walk will go faster and farther than our usual “naturalist’s shuffle.” Limited to 12 participants. REGISTER

Botanical Gems of Montgomery County: Blockhouse Point Conservation Park
Sunday, November 24 (9:30 am-1 pm)
Leader: Carole Bergmann
Members: $24; nonmembers $34
We continue our series of field trips to some of the botanically rich, but often underappreciated, Montgomery County Parks.  On this late fall hike, we’ll visit Blockhouse Point, along the Potomac River, where we’ll explore the preserve’s high-quality forest of both typical and uncommon Piedmont plant species. We’ll search for and ID lingering leaves and fruits, as well as remnant weeds/wildflowers/and seed pods on our trek of 2-4 miles. Expect some uphill and downhill, including a hike out to a bluff over the River, where views should be ideal this time of year. Our leader, the former forest ecologist for the County, will focus on the area’s natural history, but she won’t overlook the cultural history. REGISTER

Chesapeake Wetlands
Sunday, November 24 (9:30 am-5:30 pm)
Leaders: Hal Wierenga and Lynn Davidson
Members $36; nonmembers $50
Discover the richness of autumn birding in the wetlands that line the Chesapeake Bay’s Eastern Shore with birders who know the area well. We’ll meet at the Blackwater Natural Wildlife Refuge, south of Cambridge, MD, about a 2-hour drive from Washington. After a leisurely visit to Blackwater, we’ll visit other wetlands in Dorchester County searching for migrant waterfowl, raptors, sparrows, and other seasonal birds. REGISTER

Questions? Call Pam at 301-652-9188 x16 or email pam.oves@anshome.org.

Questions? Call Pam at 301-652-9188 x16 or email pam.oves@anshome.org.

DECEMBER

Winter Birding at Black Hill
Section A: Sunday, December 1 (8:30-11 am)
Section B: Saturday, January 4 (8:30-11 am)
Section C: Saturday, February 1 (8:30-11 am)
Section D: Sunday, March 1 (8:30-11 am)
Leader: Mark England
Each walk: members $24; nonmembers $34
Entire series $87/$123
The winter months can be an ideal time to learn more about birds and birding, and Black Hill Regional Park, in upper Montgomery County, is an ideal outdoor classroom for this study. Each walk in our series, intended for beginning to mid-level birders, will visit one or more sites in the Park in a search for waterfowl, sparrows, raptors, and other both resident and overwintering species. The Park’s habitats are varied and include wetlands and Little Seneca Lake, as well as forest and field. Join us for the entire series and observe the seasonal changes in numbers and species, or just sign up for individual walks. REGISTER

Georgetown Geology Loop
Saturday, December 7 (1-5 pm)
Leader: Joe Marx
Members: $26; nonmembers $36
The Georgetown section of Washington, DC sits squarely on a mass of ancient granite, surro8nded by various other types and ages of rock. Our hike will be around 5 miles long, through wooded parkland and along city streets. The terrain varies from easy to moderate, with hills being the biggest challenge. During our hike, we will visit the Coastal Plain, three canyons, the Piedmont upland, and a major fault zone. Not bad for an afternoon walk around town. The pace set and distance covered on our geology field trips is faster and farther than our usual “naturalists’ shuffle.” REGISTER

Winter in the Parks
(9 am-1 pm)
A: Saturday, December 7: Jug Bay Natural Area, MD
B: Sunday, January 5: Huntley Meadows, VA
C: Sunday, February 2, Rock Creek Park, DC
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Each walk: members $28; nonmembers $38
Entire Series: $78/$108
Sign up for one or more of these seasonal, broad-based nature explorations of nearby parks rich in natural history. Winter is often called the quiet season, but there is still lots to look and listen for in the natural world despite the cold temperatures. Our Senior Naturalist will lead this series of walks to observe winter wildlife and plants, all the while discussing their strategies for winter survival. We’ll work to cover between 2-3 miles, with some uphill and downhill on walks A and C, in order to counter the likely chilly weather. REGISTER

Winter Waterfowl Prowl
Sunday, December 8 (8 am-12:30 pm)
Leader: Mike Bowen
Members $26; nonmembers $36
Early in the year is the best time to search for and learn to ID overwintering waterfowl in our area. Basing our search at wetlands and waterways relatively close-in to the metro area, we’ll visit sites in or near the District, Northern Virginia, or Montgomery County.  Our exact locations will be determined closer to the date of the field trip, based on our leader’s scouting expeditions. While our focus will be waterfowl, we’ll keep an eye open for all birdlife. All levels of birders welcome. REGISTER

Winter Weeds
Friday, December 13 (10 am-2:30 pm)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $28; nonmembers $38
Not all herbaceous plants disappear in the winter. Many persist as dried stalks and seed clusters, with a beauty to match the season. Join ANS Senior Naturalist Stephanie Mason for an indoor/outdoor introduction to winter weed and wildflower identification at our Woodend Sanctuary. We’ll also investigate seed dispersal strategies and examine plant skeletons for signs of summer insect activity, such as insect galls, chrysalids, cocoons, and egg cases. REGISTER

Questions? Call Pam at 301-652-9188 x16 or email pam.oves@anshome.org.

JANUARY

Winter Walks Along the Canal
Wednesdays (10 am-12:30 pm)
Section A: January 8 – Carderock
Section B: January 22 – Widewater
Section C: February 5 – Swain’s Lock
Section D: February 26 – Violettes Lock
Sestion E: March 11 – Pennyfield Lock
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Each walk members $25; nonmembers $35
Entire series $113/$159
Join our Senior Naturalist for one or all of these walks along the C&O Canal as we look for over-wintering birds and other wildlife, practice winter botany skills, and enjoy the expansive views along the Potomac River that this season provides. Carpooling will be available from Woodend. REGISTER

Introduction to the Natural History of Lichens
Thursday, January 9 (7:30-9:30 pm)
Saturday, January 11 (10 am-2 pm)
Leader: Dr. Paula DePriest
Members $42; nonmembers $58
Lecture only: members $20; nonmembers $28
Winter is the perfect season to search for the varied hues and forms of lichens, the fascinating and mysterious inhabitants of unpolluted ecosystems. On Thursday night, Dr. Paula DePriest of the Smithsonian’s Museum Conservation Institute, will introduce us to the natural history of lichens through an illustrated lecture. Saturday’s field trip to the Widewater area along the C&O Canal will give participants a chance to study and identify lichens in their natural environment. REGISTER

New Year’s Moonwalk
Friday, January 10 (6:30-8:30 pm)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $25; nonmembers $35
Cross your fingers for clear skies as we celebrate the New Year with a brisk walk under the light of the year’s first full moon. We’ll head upriver on the C&O Canal towpath from Swain’s Lock, enjoying the shadows of arching sycamore trees and listening for the calls of owls and winter-active mammals. Distance covered will depend on the weather and conditions underfoot. REGISTER

Natural History of Galls
Sunday, January 12 (1:30-3:30 pm)
Leader: Cliff Fairweather
Members $24; nonmembers $34
Naturalist Edwin Way Teale called galls edible homes and that’s not a bad two-word definition for these hijacked bits of plant tissue. Discover the fascinating, often complex, and occasionally bizarre world of galls, gall-makers, and their associates. Through an indoor/outdoor exploration at our Woodend Sanctuary, we’ll learn about their natural history and develop our gall search-image. REGISTER

Native Plant Gardening
Winter Walk: Wednesday, January 15 (10 am-Noon)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $20; nonmembers $28
Explore the Blair Native Plant Garden, located just outside the Sanctuary Shop, with our Senior Naturalist who helped develop the garden and its educational focus. Find out more about the values of gardening with native plant species, including: lower maintenance; more value to native birds, butterflies and other insects, including pollinators; reduced negative impact on local ecosystems, and more. We’ll discuss native alternatives to popular non-native species such as English ivy, as well as resources for broadening one’s knowledge and understanding of plants natives to the mid-Atlantic. You’re welcome to bring along a bag lunch to eat with the leader after the walks, which are scheduled to highlight seasonal aspects of the garden. REGISTER.

Winter Birding at Oaks Landfill
A: Sunday, January 19 (3-5:30 pm)
B: Sunday, February 9 (3:30-6 pm)
Leader: Mark England
Each walk members $24; nonmembers $32
You’ll want to bundle up for these birding treks to the now-closed landfill adjacent to the Blue Mash Nature Trail, a familiar birding spot in upper Montgomery County. As afternoon fades to dusk in the open terrain here, we’ll search for resident and overwintering species, including Northern Harriers and Short-eared Owls. Our leader will bring along a scope for distant bird viewing. Our visit to this area which is “closed to the public” is by special permission. Please register for one session only to allow for greater participation. REGISTER

Morning on a Monadnock
Sunday, January 19 (9 am-1 pm)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members: $28; nonmembers $38
Start the New Year off with a nature hike on Sugarloaf Mountain, our local monadnock.  We’ll make stops to practice our winter plant ID skills, while keeping our eyes and ears open for activity of still-active wildlife, including birds and mammals. Our hike will include some uphill and downhill as we cover 2-3 miles, including a fairly steep ¼ mile hike up to the summit (and down). Note: the mountain’s trails will be rocky, uneven, and possibly muddy/slippery given the time of year. The choice of trails and actual distance covered will depend upon the weather/ground conditions of the day. REGISTER