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

FEBRUARY

Winter Tree ID for Birders FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Saturday, February 2 (2:30-4 pm)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Free, but registration required.
We’re reprising this popular field trip to help birders learn to recognize the field marks of many common trees through binoculars. The outdoor classroom will be Scott’s Run Nature Preserve near McLean, VA, where we’ll ID trees in their winter aspect, all the while keeping our eyes and ears open for birds moving amongst them. Image credit: Famartin REGISTER ONLINE.

Winter Waterfowl Prowl DATE CHANGED FROM SUNDAY, JANUARY 13
Saturday, February 2 (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 ONLINE.

Winter Birding at Black Hill
Section C: Sunday, February 3 (8:30-11 am)
Section D: Saturday, March 2 (8:30-11 am)
Leader: Mark England
Each walk: members $24; nonmembers $32
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 HERE.

Winter Walks Along the Canal
Wednesdays (10 am-12:30 pm)
Section C: February 6 – Swain’s Lock WAITLIST OPEN
Section D: February 20 – Violettes Lock WAITLIST OPEN
Sestion E: March 13 – Pennyfield Lock (note date change) WAITLIST OPEN
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Each walk: members $25; nonmembers $35
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. Image credit: Mark Harkin REGISTER ONLINE.

Winter Tree Identification
Friday, February 8 (10 am-2 pm)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $28; nonmembers $38
Using the clues of buds, twigs, bark, and fruit, we’ll practice identifying trees in winter in this half day workshop at our Woodend Sanctuary in Chevy Chase, MD. We’ll begin inside with a look at techniques of winter tree identification and then move outside to use our new skills to identify many species of woody plants that grow on the Woodend grounds. REGISTER ONLINE.

Winter Hike Series: River and Rocks
C. Saturday, February 9 (3/4 day hike) C&O Canal, MD
Leaders: Stephanie Mason and Cathy Stragar
Each hike: members $34; nonmembers $48
Take on two of your New Year’s resolutions at once: spend more time outdoors exploring nature AND get more exercise by signing up for one or more of our winter hikes. This season’s series traverses the rocky trails of Catoctin Mountain Park just as the New Year begins. We’ll hike between 3.5-5 miles here, either as one long loop or as a series of shorter hikes. Our next two hikes visit the scenic bottomlands along the Potomac River. On our last outing, we will hike upriver on the flat C&O Canal towpath from Pennyfield Lock near Potomac, MD to Violettes Lock—and back—for a round trip total of 5 miles. On all three of these hikes, we will search for over-wintering birds and other wildlife, while practicing our winter botany skills.  Hikes may be modified depending on weather and ground conditions, which could be muddy or snow-covered.  These hikes are designed to offer a natural history experience for persons who want to move farther and faster than the pace of most ANS field trips. We will stop to observe and admire nature in it winter season, but will keep a pace necessary to cover the distance stated. REGISTER ONLINE.

Winter Birding at Oaks Landfill FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
B: Sunday, February 10 (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. Image credit: Dan Pancamo  REGISTER ONLINE.

Native Plant Gardening
Winter Walk: Monday, February 11 (10 am-Noon) Rescheduled from 1/16
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 ONLINE.

Wonders at Woodend: Forest Bathing through the Seasons
Wednesdays (10 am-Noon)
Section A: February 13
Section B: May 15
Section C: July 10
Section D: October 16
Leader: Melanie Choukas-Bradley
Each walk members $26; nonmembers $36
Entire series members $94; nonmembers $130
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. REGISTER ONLINE.

Walking the Winter Woods and Wetlands 
(10 am-1 pm)
Section B: Friday, February 15:  Riley’s Lock, MD
Section C: Sunday, March 17: Huntley Meadows, VA
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Each walk members $28; nonmembers $38
Winter is often considered 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 (or perhaps a bit more) on these walks in order to counter the cold. REGISTER ONLINE.

Winter Birds of the Coast
Saturday, February 16 (9:30 am-5:30 pm)
Leaders: Cyndie Loeper and Paul Pisano
Members $36; nonmembers $50
Bundle up and enjoy Ocean City, MD, without the crowds while we learn to identify birds that winter in and along the mid-Atlantic coast. Here and at other locations, including Cape Henlopen and Broadkill Marsh, we’ll look for loons, sea ducks, raptors, and winter songbirds. We’ll hope to find, identify, and discuss the natural history of birds such as the Red-throated Loon, Harlequin Duck, Northern Gannet, and Snow Bunting. This field trip is aimed at beginning and mid-level birders, but all are welcome. Our meeting point is about a 3-hour drive from Woodend. Image credit: Peter Massas   REGISTER ONLINE.

New Year’s Moonwalk RESCHEDULED FROM 1/19
Saturday, February 16 (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 ONLINE.

Presidents’ Day Hike on the Canal: Swain’s Lock to Pennyfield Lock
Monday, February 18 (10 am-2:30 pm)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $28; nonmembers $38
Got the day off? Join our half-day hike on the towpath along the C&O Canal from Swain’s Lock to Pennyfield Lock. On this 3.5-mile stretch along the Potomac River, we’ll hike through floodplain forests and wetlands. We’ll keep our eyes and ears open for winter birds and other wildlife, while practicing our winter botany skills. REGISTER ONLINE.

Winter Walks Along the Canal
Wednesdays (10 am-12:30 pm)
Section D: February 20 – Violettes Lock WAITLIST OPEN
Sestion E: March 13 – Pennyfield Lock (note date change) WAITLIST OPEN
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Each walk: members $25; nonmembers $35
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 ONLINE.

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

MARCH

Winter Birding at Black Hill
Section D: Saturday, March 2 (8:30-11 am)
Leader: Mark England
Each walk: members $24; nonmembers $32
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 HERE.

Woodcock Watch
Saturday, March 9 (5:15-7:15 pm)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $25; nonmembers $35
In his Sand County Almanac, Aldo Leopold described the mating display of the American Woodcock as a “sky dance.” Announcing its presence with nasal “peents”, the male woodcock ascends high in the sky at dusk. To the accompaniment of a constant twittering, it circles, then plummets back to earth in a series of zigzag movements, wings whistling. On this field program to a natural area in upper Montgomery County, we’ll hope to be lucky enough to catch a performance of this seasonal drama. REGISTER HERE

Late Winter Birding Trek in Northern Virginia
Sunday, March 10 (8 am-12:30 pm)
Leader Mike Bowen
Members $26; nonmembers $36
With winter winding down, we’ll bundle up for one last foray to wetlands and woodlands near Alexandria, VA in search of lingering winter waterfowl, resident birds, and some of the first returning migrants. We’ll check out Roach’s Run near National Airport, before heading down and along the Potomac River for an exploration of Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve. Our final destination is nearby Huntley Meadows Park, where a large, protected tract of forest and marsh sits amidst residential and commercial neighborhoods. REGISTER HERE

Rockin’ on the Mall
Sunday, March 10 (1-4 pm)
Leader: Joe Marx
Members $26; nonmembers $36
Many structures that border the National Mall in downtown Washington proudly wear the bedrock of other localities. We will meet at the 7th & Maryland SW entrance to the L’Enfant Plaza Metro station and do a two-mile loop–flat and easy–around the eastern end of the Mall. We will discuss the type, manner of formation and place of origin of the rock in various facades, fountains and walls. Limestone, often with fossils visible, is the most common building stone on the Mall, but we will also see good examples of granite, gneiss, marble and sandstone. To prevent geologic overload, the trip leader will bring a supply of amusing historical anecdotes about the sites we visit. Note: Our geology walks move at a faster pace than our usual “naturalists’ shuffle.” REGISTER HERE

Winter Walks Along the Canal
Wednesdays (10 am-12:30 pm)
Sestion E: March 13 – Pennyfield Lock (note date change) WAITLIST OPEN
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Each walk: members $25; nonmembers $35
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 ONLINE.

Meadow Workshop
Wednesday, March 13 (10 am-3:30 pm)
Snow Date: April 3
Leader: Alison Pearce 
Members $25; nonmembers $35
Join local experts to learn about methods of creating meadow habitat at every scale, and to help plan the future of Woodend’s meadows. REGISTER HERE

Warbler Warm-up
Thursday, March 14 (7-9:30 pm)
Leader: Mike Bowen
Members $24; nonmembers $34
We think it’s never too early to start brushing up on the voices and field marks of the soon-to-be arriving warblers. Even for the most seasoned birders, finding and properly IDing them as they arrive or pass through between late March-May can be a real challenge. Since we all need an annual refresher, we’ve enlisted the help of a veteran ANS field trip leader to use slides and recorded songs to help prepare us for this rich, long-awaiting period of birding. Image credit: Dominic Sherony  REGISTER HERE

Walking the Winter Woods and Wetlands 
(10 am-1 pm)
Section C: Sunday, March 17: Huntley Meadows, VA
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Each walk members $28; nonmembers $38
Winter is often considered 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 (or perhaps a bit more) on these walks in order to counter the cold. REGISTER ONLINE.

Beginning Birding
Thursday, March 21 (7:30-9:30 pm)
Saturday, March 23 (8 am-1 pm)
Leader: Mark England
Members $46; nonmembers $64
Lecture only members $24; nonmembers $34
If you’re curious about birds and bird watching but don’t know where to begin, this class is for you. No experience is required! At our evening lecture, we’ll focus on the selection of field guides, binoculars, and other resources, and we’ll discuss the basic techniques of birding finding and identification. The goal of our field trip, which visits Black Hill and Little Bennett Regional Parks in upper Montgomery County, is to develop the ability to find, study, and identify birds in their natural environment. REGISTER HERE

Early Spring in Cape May
Friday, March 22 (5 pm) to Sunday, March 24 (4 pm)
Leader: Mark Garland
Members $120; nonmembers $168
Savor the first blush of spring along the Atlantic coast at Cape May, New Jersey. We’ll begin our weekend activities on Friday evening with a search for Short-eared Owls and other marsh birds at a site about 45 minutes north of Cape May. On Saturday we’ll reconvene to visit forest, field, and wetlands in Cape May to search for songbirds, waterfowl, and, if it’s a mild March, frogs, turtles, and butterflies. We will also visit coastal areas where we can scan for scoters, loons, gannets, and other birds on and along the waters of the Atlantic and Delaware Bay. Saturday evening we will watch for displaying woodcocks and listen for owls and frogs. Sunday morning will give us another chance for exploring this rich area. We’ll send you information on overnight options in Cape May, including motels and B&Bs. REGISTER HERE

Spring Saunters Along the Canal
Wednesdays (10 am-12:30 pm)
Section A: March 27 – Carderock FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Section B: April 10 – Widewater FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Section C: April 24 – Swain’s Lock FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Section D: May 8 – Riley’s Lock FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Section E: May 22 – Violettes Lock FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Each walk members $25; nonmembers $35
Entire series $113/$158
Enjoy one or all of these leisurely walks along portions of the C&O Canal. 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 Canal. We’ll proceed at a slow “naturalist’s shuffle” pace as we watch spring unfold. We’ll stop often to observe birds, wildflowers, butterflies, snakes, turtles, and whatever else we might find. Carpool from Woodend with the leader if you desire. REGISTER HERE

Window into the World of Fungi
Thursday, March 28 (7-9:30 pm)
Leader: Tovi Lehmann
Free, but registration required.
Rooted, yet not plants, heterotrophs, but not animals (growing in fairy rings, yet not even fairies), fungi are members of another kingdom. Mostly hidden under the surface, fungi have evolved their own solutions to life’s persistent problems. Gaining the recognition for their pivotal role in shaping the living world, they now reshape fundamental perceptions of biologists. In this lecture at our Woodend Sanctuary, we will explore the natural history and ecology of our local fungal neighbors, rather than focus on the edibility of particular species of mushrooms. REGISTER HERE

Early Spring Wildflower Hike
Saturday, March 30 (10 am-2 pm)
Leader: Sujata Roy
Members $26; nonmembers $36
Beat the winter blues by joining this search for the earliest signs of spring wildflowers in the woods and bottomlands along the Potomac River near Carderock Recreation Area, just outside the Beltway. We’ll look for the greening leaves, swelling buds, and (fingers crossed) unfolding flowers of species such as Harbinger of Spring, Early Saxifrage, Spring Beauty, and Bloodroot. Our field Studies Spring flower ID instructor leads this hike over some uneven, rocky and likely muddy natural surface trails on a roughly 2-mile walk. Image credit: Chris Packard  REGISTER HERE

Urban Watershed Restoration Challenges – the Foundry Branch at Glover Archbold Park
Saturday, March 30 (9 am-1 pm) DATE CHANGED FROM 3/23
Leaders: Neal Fitzpatrick and Bill Yeaman
Free, but registration required.
The Foundry Branch begins near the Tenley Metro Station and flows south into the Potomac River, just west of Georgetown. We will look at the natural features of the stream valley park and discuss long-term stormwater impacts and needed infrastructure rehabilitation, including an old DC Water sewer line. We will walk the watershed from north to south, looking at past problems and imagining the changes needed to restore water quality – a primary objective of the Clean Water Act. Reps of the National Park Service, DC Department of the Environment, and DC Water have been invited to join us. Participants can return to Tenley on a Wisconsin Avenue Metrobus and/or make plans for lunch in Georgetown. REGISTER HERE

Spring Early Birds (7-10 am)
A: Sunday, March 31 – Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, DC (Paul Pisano)
B: Sunday, April 14 – Huntley Meadows, VA (Lisa Shannon and Rob Hilton)
C: Saturday, April 27 – Dyke Marsh, VA (Mike Bowen)
D: Saturday, May 4 – Patuxent Research Refuge, MD (Mike Bowen)
E: Sunday, May 12 – Glover Archbold, DC (Jim Nelson)
F: Saturday, May 18 – Little Bennett, MD (Mark England)
G: Sunday, May 26 – Pennyfield Lock, MD (Lisa Davenport and Len Bisson)
Each walk members $26; nonmembers $36
Entire series $155; nonmembers $215
Immerse yourself in the phenomenon of spring migration with this series of short bird walks at nearby parks. These walks are designed for beginning and intermediate birders for whom the spring pulse of bird activity can sometimes be overwhelming. On each walk, we’ll search for both resident and migrant birds by song and sound. We’ll discuss the arrival sequence the spring travelers, practice spotting them in the field, and attempt to learn the songs of many species. Our trips include walking on natural surface trails, which may be muddy, slippery and uneven. Walk C will include some uphill/downhill walking. Image credit: mdf  REGISTER HERE

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

APRIL

The Magic of Early Spring Woods
Monday, April 1 (10 am-12:30 pm)
Leader: Marney Bruce
Members $24; nonmembers $34
No fooling: even if it’s a chilly day our leader is sure to find signs of spring in the woodlands of the Goldmine Tract at Great Falls Park, MD. With the colors and forms of unfolding leaves and blooms overhead and early spring wildflowers underfoot, the morning is sure to warm the spirits, regardless of the weather. Our leader describes this exploration, most likely on the Tract’s Valley Trail, as relatively easy. REGISTER HERE

Introduction to Wildflower ID
Thursday, April 4 (7:30-9:30 pm)
Saturday, April 6 (9:30 am-3 pm)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $48; nonmembers $68
Lecture only members $25; nonmembers $35
In April, spring wildflowers in the Washington area are dazzling! We’ll spend Thursday evening at Woodend discussing books, equipment, and terminology for beginning wildflower identification. On Saturday we’ll travel to the Carderock area along the C&O Canal and explore several short trails between the Canal and the Potomac River. We’ll practice using keys to identify wildflowers and look for Virginia bluebells, dutchman’s breeches, twinleaf, toad trillium, and many other species. Expect some rocky, uneven terrain on the field trip. REGISTER HERE

Geology Hike at Soldiers Delight
Saturday, April 6 (1-4 pm)
Leader: Joe Marx
Members $26; nonmembers $36
The Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area, near Owings Mill, MD, preserves one of the largest patches of igneous bedrock that was lifted from beneath the sea floor and stranded in patches amidst the continental rock of the Piedmont. Soils here are thin, dry, and nutrient-poor, producing a landscape observably different from most of the mid-Atlantic. We’ll hike around 3 miles on park trails (parts will be steep and possibility muddy), studying the bedrock, soil, and plant communities. Note: Our geology hikes move farther and at a faster pace than our usual naturalists’ shuffle. REGISTER HERE

Spring in the Parks
(8:30 am-1 pm)
A: Sunday, April 7 – Watkins Regional Park, MD
B; Sunday, April 28 – Rock Creek Park, DC
C: Saturday, May 11 – Mason Neck NWR, VA
Members $28; Nonmembers $38
Full Series $84; nonmembers $114
Join our Senior Naturalist for these broad-based nature explorations of close-by parks rich in natural history. We’ll walk between 2-3 miles in a search for spring wildflowers and seasonal wildlife activity, including birds, butterflies, and amphibians. Our first destination visits rich woodland and wetland habitats near Largo, MD. On our next expedition, we’ll explore the surprisingly wild urban forest and streamside trails of Rock Creek Park in the District. As the pulse of spring change slows down and the woods stand green, we’ll walk the bottomlands adjacent to Belmont Bay near Occoquan, VA. All of our trips include some uphill/downhill (steepest on walks A and B) on natural surface trails, which are likely to be muddy and possibly slippery this time of year. REGISTER HERE

Spring Saunters Along the Canal
Wednesdays (10 am-12:30 pm)
Section B: April 10 – Widewater FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Section C: April 24 – Swain’s Lock FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Section D: May 8 – Riley’s Lock FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Section E: May 22 – Violettes Lock FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Each walk members $25; nonmembers $35
Enjoy one or all of these leisurely walks along portions of the C&O Canal. 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 Canal. We’ll proceed at a slow “naturalist’s shuffle” pace as we watch spring unfold. We’ll stop often to observe birds, wildflowers, butterflies, snakes, turtles, and whatever else we might find. Carpool from Woodend with the leader if you desire. REGISTER HERE

Budbreak and Spring Wildflower Walk on Theodore Roosevelt Island
Wednesday, April 10 (10 am-2pm)
Leader: Melanie Choukas-Bradley
Members $28; nonmembers $38
Join the author of A Year in Rock Creek Park, City of Trees and a forthcoming book about Theodore Roosevelt Island for an early spring exploration of this 88-acre island in the Potomac. The island park serves as a fitting memorial to our 26th President, who was a naturalist, an early conservationist – and a member of the Audubon Naturalist Society! We’ll witness the miracle of budbreak amongst the island’s remarkable trees and enjoy the floodplain forest’s lovely Virginia bluebells, spring beauties, trout lilies, and other spring ephemerals. Our walk will take us around the island on woodland trails and through the swamp and tidal inlet on an elevated boardwalk trail. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy under the towering sycamores as we look for great blue herons, wood ducks, belted kingfishers and returning osprey. REGISTER HERE

Walk Among the Giants
B. Saturday, April 13 (8 am-Noon)
C. Sunday, July 21 (8 am-Noon)
D. Sunday, October 27 (8 am-Noon)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Each walk 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. Image credit: Googoo85  REGISTER ONLINE.

Hawks Aloft at Fort Smallwood Park
Saturday, April 13 (9 am-3 pm)
Leaders: Hal Wierenga and Lynn Davidson
Members $32; nonmembers $44
Fort Smallwood, situated at the mouth of the Patapsco River where it empties into the Chesapeake Bay, provides one of the region’s premier hawkwatching sites for spring raptor migration. If weather conditions are favorable, we can hope to see good numbers of hawks passing over the park at this season. Though the focus of the day will be watching hawks, there may also be time to look for the earliest songbird migrants, butterflies, and even wildflowers, depending on the day’s weather, the number of hawks aloft, and the interest of the group. REGISTER HERE

Bluebells and Budbreak at Boundary Bridge
Saturday April 13 (9:30 am-2 pm)
Leader: Melanie Choukas-Bradley
Members $28; nonmembers $38
We’re delighted that the author of the award-winning book, A Year in Rock Creek Park and the critically acclaimed, City of Trees, will offer her 13^th year of nature walks for ANS in the country’s oldest urban national park. On our walk, we will witness the annual floral miracle of Virginia bluebells, spring beauties, and trout lilies in the floodplain forest, as we admire the leaves of tulip tree and American beech begin to spill from their buds. We’ll hope to catch bloodroot, wild ginger, cut-leafed toothwort and other spring ephemerals in bloom as we explore both floodplain and upland woods at a leisurely pace. Our lunch stop, high above the creek on a dramatic rock outcrop offering, will offer spectacular views. Here, we’ll do a bit of “forest bathing,” time permitting. Throughout, we’ll keep our eyes and ears open for belted kingfishers, wood ducks, migrating songbirds, and tiny spring peepers. REGISTER HERE

Native Plant Gardening
Spring Walk: Wednesday, April 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 ONLINE.

Smitten by Frogs
Thursday, April 18 (7:30-9:30 pm)
Saturday, April 20 (7-9 pm field trip)
Leader: Richard Schubert
Members $42; nonmembers $58
Lecture only members $24; nonmembers $34
Unlike the ideal Victorian child, frogs are mostly heard and not seen. We have 20 species of these anurans in Maryland, including the recently-discovered Kauffeld’s (Atlantic Coast) Leopard Frog, the first new frog discovered on the east coast in over 130 years! We will discuss visual and auditory identification of local frogs, and review their varying habits, adaptations, and preferred habitat/location, with special emphasis on Montgomery County. To complement the evening lecture at Woodend Sanctuary, there will be an early evening field trip to McKee-Beshers Wildlife management Area near Poolesville. Our leader, an ANS member who is smitten by frogs, aims for hearing or seeing at least 6 (or hopefully 7) species. REGISTER HERE

Evening on the Canal
Friday, April 19 (6:45-8:45 pm)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $25; nonmembers $35
Early spring evenings can be alive with wildlife as you’ll discover on this stroll from Swain’s Lock up the C&O Canal towpath. We’ll watch for wildlife as the sun sets, and as twilight gives way to the darkness of night, we’ll listen for calling frogs and hooting Barred Owls while discussing the adaptations of these and other nocturnal animals. REGISTER HERE

River Herring Return to Rock Creek
Saturday, April 20 (9 am-1 pm)
Leaders: Neal Fitzpatrick and Bill Yeaman
Free, but registration required.
Tom Horton describes the annual Rock Creek migration of river herring in Bay Country: “No finer parade, or one more unappreciated, ever swung through this capital than the quicksilver legions of Alosa pseudoharengus, the common river herring.” On our 22nd (!) annual herring walk, we hope to view the spawning run and discuss opportunities for restoring fish migration to Rock Creek. We will visit the fish ladder at Peirce Mill, then walk south on the hiker/biker path to the National Zoo. Meet at the Cleveland Park Metro Station. The walk will end at the Woodley Park/National Zoo/Adams Morgan Station.  REGISTER HERE

Spring Saunters Along the Canal
Wednesdays (10 am-12:30 pm)
Section C: April 24 – Swain’s Lock FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Section D: May 8 – Riley’s Lock FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Section E: May 22 – Violettes Lock FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Each walk members $25; nonmembers $35
Enjoy one or all of these leisurely walks along portions of the C&O Canal. 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 Canal. We’ll proceed at a slow “naturalist’s shuffle” pace as we watch spring unfold. We’ll stop often to observe birds, wildflowers, butterflies, snakes, turtles, and whatever else we might find. Carpool from Woodend with the leader if you desire. REGISTER HERE

Spring Butterflies of Hoyle’s Mill Conservation Park
Saturday, April 27 (10 am-2:30 pm)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $28; nonmembers $38
Hoyle’s Mill Conservation Park in upper Montgomery County, preserves the largest diabase bedrock habitat in Maryland, making it a rich area of both common and uncommon plants. These plants are caterpillar hosts and nectar resources for spring butterflies, such as the pipevine swallowtail and its more common cousins: falcate orangetip; olive hairstreak; Eastern comma; and several species of duskywing skippers. We’ll look for these species and their associated plant communities along a mostly flat dirt/gravel road in the Park on a walk of 2-3 miles. Image credit: Ryan Kaldari  REGISTER HERE