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

APRIL

The Magic of Early Spring Woods CANCELED
Wednesday, April 1 (10 am-12:30 pm)
Leader: Marney Bruce
Members $24; nonmembers $32
No fooling: even if it’s a chilly day our leader is sure to find signs of spring in the woodlands of Blockhouse Point Park (MD) along the Potomac River. 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 as moderately difficult, with some uphill/downhill on natural surface trails. Expect ground conditions that may be rocky and uneven, and possibly muddy/slippery. REGISTER

Introduction to Wildflower ID CANCELED
Thursday, April 2 (7:30-9:30 pm)
Saturday, April 4 (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

Bluebells and Budbreak at Boundary Bridge POSTPONED
Saturday April 4 (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 14th 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

Botanical Gems of Black Hill Regional Park CANCELED
Sunday, April 5 (9 am-12:30 pm)
Leader: Carole Bergmann
Members $26; nonmembers $36
Named one of Montgomery County Park’s Best Natural Areas, Black Hill Regional Park near Boyds, MD offers plant enthusiasts a number of special habitats to explore. Our former forest ecologist leader will take us on a loop hike (between 2-3 miles) to visit some of them, as winter wanes and the great burst of spring change in the natural world becomes visible. We’ll ID plants along the way, focusing on their seasonal aspects and ecological niches. REGISTER

Native Plant Gardening CANCELED
Spring Walk: Tuesday, April 7 (10 am-Noon)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Each walk members $25; nonmembers $35
Explore the Blair Native Plant Garden, located just outside the Naturalist Shop, with our Senior Naturalist. 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; 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 of plants native to the mid-Atlantic. REGISTER

Spring Saunters Along the Canal
Wednesdays (10 am-12:30 pm)
Section B: April 8 – Widewater CANCELED
Section C: April 22 – Swain’s Lock FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Section D: May 6 – Riley’s Lock FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Section E: May 20 – 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

A Year at Theodore Roosevelt Island
A: Budbreak and Spring Wildflower Walk, Wednesday, April 8 (10 am-2 pm) POSTPONED
B: Summer Kayaking Trip, Wednesday, July 29 (10 am-1:30 pm)
C: Autumn Tree Walk, Wednesday, November 4 (10 am-2 pm)
D: Late Autumn Tree Walk, Wednesday, December 2 (10 am-2 pm)
Leader: Melanie Choukas-Bradley
Each walk: members $28; nonmembers $38
Join Melanie Choukas-Bradley, author of the forthcoming Finding Solace at Theodore Roosevelt Island (August 2020), for a year-long exploration of Theodore Roosevelt Island, a 90-acre island in the Potomac that serves as a fitting memorial to our conservationist and naturalist 26th president—and Audubon Naturalist Society member! In the early spring, we’ll witness the miracle of budbreak among the island’s remarkable trees and see the floodplain forest come alive with Virginia bluebells, spring beauties, trout lilies, and trilliums. During summer, we will kayak around the island, launching from Key Bridge Boathouse on the Georgetown waterfront. We’ll paddle under the island’s graceful silver maples and sycamores, get close to the summer wildflowers along the shore, and watch herons, egrets, wood ducks and—hopefully—the noisy kingfisher! As a bonus, we’ll be treated to stunning views of the Lincoln Memorial and the “City of Trees” on the horizon. Our fall tree walks will take us deep into the swamp and tidal inlet along the boardwalk where willows, bald-cypresses and cattails frame views of the city behind it. Melanie will share details of the island’s fascinating history during this year-long exploration and we’ll witness the ebb and flow of the Potomac tides along with the changing seasons. Fee for trip B does not include canoe or kayak rental. REGISTER

Spring Early Birds (7-10 am)
B. Saturday, April 11 – Huntley Meadows, VA (Lisa Shannon & Rob Hilton) CANCELED
C. Sunday, April 19 – Governor’s Bridge Park, MD (Mark England)
D. Saturday, May 2 – Riverbend Park, VA (Mike Bowen)
E. Saturday, May 9 – Lois Green Conservation Park, MD (Len Bisson)
F. Sunday, May 17 – Glover Archbold Park, DC (Cathy Stragar)
G. Sunday, May 24 – Rachel Carson Park, MD (Len Bisson)
Each walk members $26; nonmembers $36
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 and/or boardwalks which may be muddy, uneven, and/or slippery. Trips D, F and G will include some uphill/downhill on narrow and possibly rocky forest trails. REGISTER

Smallwood State Park, Charles County, MD Free Birding Trip CANCELED
Saturday, April 11
Red-Headed Woodpeckers & Migrants
Half day. Joint trip with Southern Maryland Audubon. Smallwood State Park (2750 Sweden Point Road, Marbury, MD 20658) has become one of the best locations for Red-headed Woodpeckers in the state. We will also look for early migrants, with Louisiana Waterthrush highly likely. Meet time/place: 8 am at the Pavilion 1 parking area, past the campground entrance. For more info, contact the leader, Lynne Wheeler, at somdaudubon@yahoo.com or text 301-751-8097.  Image credit: Don Faulkner REGISTER

Bluebells in the Bottomland
Wednesday, April 15 (10 am-2 pm)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $28; nonmembers $38
Nothing could be finer than a stroll through the bottomlands along the Potomac River this time of year. Spring beauties, golden ragwort and Virginia bluebells add new color to the forest floor, while overhead, trees such as maples, elms, and cottonwood unspool their flowers and leaves. Our route, which is mostly level but could be muddy, will follow the River Trail from Great Falls, MD. We will move upriver along the floodplain and then return along the C&O Canal towpath for a total hike of around 2.5 miles. REGISTER

Fridays at Carderock
Section D: April 17 (9:30 am-3 pm)
Section E: May 15 (9:30 am-3 pm)
Each walk members $34; nonmembers $48
An elder of a Native American tribe from the Pacific Northwest advised: There is more to be learned by climbing the same mountain a hundred times than by climbing a hundred different mountains. Following this admonition, our Senior Naturalist continues our series of broad-based nature explorations along the Potomac River’s C&O Canal and its varied habitats, from upland rocky woods to rich floodplain forests. Our “searching for spring” hikes will return each month to a stretch of towpath from the Carderock Recreation Area upriver to Widewater. We’ll retrace our steps along the Canal back to Carderock for a total of around 4 miles. We’ll experience the winter world in January and February, and celebrate the first signs of spring in March. In April and May, we’ll enjoy spring’s great burst of new life, both in the plant world and amongst all manner of wildlife, including birds, butterflies, reptiles and amphibians, and mammals. REGISTER

Evening on the Canal
Friday, April 17 (6:30-8:30 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

River Herring Return to Rock Creek FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Saturday, April 18 (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 23rdd (!) 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

Hawks Aloft at Fort Smallwood Park
Saturday, April 18 (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

Spring Early Birds (7-10 am)
C. Sunday, April 19 – Governor’s Bridge Park, MD (Mark England)
D. Saturday, May 2 – Riverbend Park, VA (Mike Bowen)
E. Saturday, May 9 – Lois Green Conservation Park, MD (Len Bisson)
F. Sunday, May 17 – Glover Archbold Park, DC (Cathy Stragar)
G. Sunday, May 24 – Rachel Carson Park, MD (Len Bisson)
Each walk members $26; nonmembers $36
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 and/or boardwalks which may be muddy, uneven, and/or slippery. Trips D, F and G will include some uphill/downhill on narrow and possibly rocky forest trails. REGISTER

Geology of Holmes Run Gorge
Sunday, April 19 (12-4 pm)
Leader: Joe Marx
Members $26; nonmembers $36
Alexandria sits atop a wedding cake of overlapping and intersecting terraces created by the Potomac River and its ancestral streams. Holmes Run, a relatively large upland watercourse in the northwestern quadrant of the city, has sliced through the layers down to the bedrock on which they all rest. We will walk about 3 miles on good trails and mostly level ground through the Holmes Run Gorge, examining outcrops of granite, schist and partially formed sedimentary rock. The discussion will focus on the ancient origins of the various rock types we see and on changes that have happened within the gorge in historic time. An added bonus will be a miniature magnolia bog! Note: The pace set and distance covered on our geology hikes will be faster and farther than our usual naturalist’s shuffle. REGISTER

The Secret Lives of Spring Wildflowers
Sunday, April 19 (2-4:30 pm)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $25; nonmembers $35
They’re lovely to behold. But their beauty belies the scrappy, survival strategies of our region’s short-lived spring wildflowers. Coping with cold temperatures, species such as Trout Lily and Dutchman’s Breeches race to complete their flowering and fruiting cycles before the brief window of spring sunlight gets shut out by the unfolding forest canopy. Our Senior Naturalist will spill some of their secrets in a roughly 1.5-mile round trip walk between Violettes and Riley’s Locks along the C&O Canal. Image credit: Catie Drew  REGISTER

Pennyfield in the Spring, Tra-la! Free Birding Trip
Tuesday, April 21
An easy 3- to 4-hour walk, looking for lingering winter visitors and early spring migrants and wildflowers. Meet time/place: 8 am at Pennyfield Lock on the C&O Canal. For more info, contact the leader, Lydia Schindler, at lydia13621@gmail.com (preferred) or 202-793-2947 (8-person limit). REGISTER

Spring Saunters Along the Canal
Wednesdays (10 am-12:30 pm)
Section C: April 22 – Swain’s Lock FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Section D: May 6 – Riley’s Lock FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Section E: May 20 – 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

Earth Day Along the River
Wednesday, April 22 (4-7:30 pm)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $28; nonmembers $38
Leave work early and join this Earth Day exploration of the season’s great burst of life in the bottomland woods along the Potomac River just above Great Falls, MD. Our Senior Naturalist leads this search for spring wildflowers, blooming trees, and early spring wildlife activity, including birds, butterflies, and amphibians. The natural surface river trail is mostly level, but could be muddy. Our round-trip walk is roughly 2.5 miles and very uneven. REGISTER

Butterfly Boot Camp: Azures and Elfins
Thursday, April 23 (7:30-9:30 pm)
Saturday, April 25 (full day field trip)
Leader: Rick Borchelt
Members $46; nonmembers $64
Around here, if you see an azure in the spring, must be a Spring Azure, right? And if it’s summer, Summer Azure. Probably not! Naturalists have been hard at work uncovering new species right under our noses, and upending what we thought we knew about these quintessential spring butterflies. One thing that has hasn’t changed: they represent a real challenge for ID. And you can only see most of them in early spring – all but one has only one generation a year. Join us for an evening discussion of what we know about the half-dozen azure butterfly species we can see here in the mid-Atlantic, plus the related five species of elfin butterflies. A Saturday field trip, most likely to Green Ridge State Forest in central Maryland, will help us hone our ID skills in the field. REGISTER

Spring in the Parks
B. Sunday, April 26 – Calvert Cliffs, MD
C. Saturday, May 16 – Shenandoah National Park, VA
Leader: Stephanie Mason (Full day field trips)
Each walk members $36; nonmembers $50
Join our Senior Naturalist for these broad-based hikes in three of our region’s state or federal parks. On each outing, we’ll experience the dramatic seasonal changes in the natural world ignited by spring’s longer hours of daylight and warming temperatures. We’ll search for showy wildflowers, the unfolding leaves of trees and shrubs, and all manner of spring wildlife activity. Our first field trip visits the front edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Frederick, MD, where we’ll hike 3-4 miles through rocky woodlands and wetlands. In April, we’ll visit southern Maryland to explore coastal plain forests, marshland, and stream valley habitats on a 4-mile round trip hike to the Chesapeake Bay–and back. As the pace of spring change slows down here in the DMV, we’ll head to higher elevations to the west and take a hike along the Appalachian Trail. Here spring will still be unfolding. On this moderately-strenuous hike in the northern section of Shenandoah National Park, we’ll cover a total of around 4 miles, with fairly significant uphill/downhill hiking along the way. Participants should be in adequate physical condition for moving faster and farther than our usual naturalists’ shuffle. All hikes include some uphill/downhill (steepest on A & C) on natural surface trails. Expect hikes in the mountains (A & C) to cover terrain that will be rocky, uneven, and maybe muddy. Hike B trails may be muddy and/or slippery. REGISTER

Spring in Your Step
Sunday, April 26 (4:30-6:30 pm)
Leaders: Pam and Chris Oves
Free, but registration required.
The early bird may get the worm, but late afternoon can be a rewarding time to birdwatch as well. Join us on a 2-3 mile stroll on the paved Black Hill Hiker/Biker Trail in Black Hill Regional Park, with views of Lake Seneca. We’ll look and listen for birds such as Belted Kingfisher and Bald Eagle as well as migrants such as Baltimore and Orchard Orioles. Limited to 12 participants. This walk is aimed at beginning birders. REGISTER

Woodbridge/Occoquan Bay NWR, VA Free Birding Trip
Wednesday, April 29
Half day. Songbirds, waterfowl, eagles, and other raptors. Meet time/place: 7:30 am inside the refuge at central parking lot. 6-adult limit. For more info, contact leader Jim Waggener at 703-567-3555.  REGISTER

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

MAY

Spring on Wheels Along the Potomac
Friday, May 1 (8:30 am-3 pm)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $34; nonmembers $48
Spring has sprung and the towpath along the Potomac River is one of the finest places in the DC-metro area to experience the 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 spring wildflowers, butterflies and other insects, and reptiles and amphibians, all the while keeping an eye and ear open for spring migrants and other breeding bird activity. Bring your own bike. REGISTER

Botanical Gems of Montgomery County: Dickerson Conservation Park
Saturday, May 2 (9:30 am-1 pm)
Leader: Carole Bergmann
Members $26; nonmembers $36
The County’s former forest ecologist leads us on an exploration of a new “botanical gem” in this ongoing series. Come prepared to walk from 1.5-2 miles in lush floodplain forest along the Potomac River in Dickerson Conservation Park. While the focus of the hike will be to learn about the range of native trees, shrubs, and spring ephemerals in this rich habitat, the highlight will be the chance to visit some towering, old trees, including the largest known tree in the state of Maryland, a giant sycamore. REGISTER

Spring Early Birds (7-10 am)
D. Saturday, May 2 – Riverbend Park, VA (Mike Bowen)
E. Saturday, May 9 – Lois Green Conservation Park, MD (Len Bisson)
F. Sunday, May 17 – Glover Archbold Park, DC (Cathy Stragar)
G. Sunday, May 24 – Rachel Carson Park, MD (Len Bisson)
Each walk members $26; nonmembers $36
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 and/or boardwalks which may be muddy, uneven, and/or slippery. Trips D, F and G will include some uphill/downhill on narrow and possibly rocky forest trails. REGISTER

Spring Warbler Walk
Sunday, May 3 (7-11 am)
Leaders: Lisa Shannon and Rob Hilton
Members $26; nonmembers $36
More than 30 species of warblers pass through the mid-Atlantic during spring migration—but finding and properly identifying these active songbirds can be a real challenge. Our leaders, both long-time birders in the area, will aim this teaching trip at beginning to mid-level birders. The walk will begin at Pennyfield Lock and then move upriver to Riley’s Lock along the Potomac C&O Canal. REGISTER

Geology of Travilah Barrens
Sunday, May 3 (1-4 pm)
Leader: Joe Marx
Members $26; nonmembers $36
Located in southwestern Montgomery County between Potomac and Darnestown, the Serpentine Barrens Conservation Park preserves a piece of oceanic crust stranded on our continent following a tectonic collision that occurred about 450 million years ago. The park, commonly called Travilah Barrens, encompasses three land units totaling more than 350 acres. The soils are thin, dry and somewhat poisonous, producing interesting outcrops and a distinctive ecology. We will hike a mile or two within the North Unit, the largest and least disturbed part of the preserve. The trails are primitive, with frequent stretches of gravel or mud, often covered in leaves. We will explore the similarities and differences between the serpentine landscape and more normal terrain. Note that our geology field trips typically move faster and farther than our usual naturalists’ shuffle. REGISTER

Blue Mash Nature Trail, Montgomery County, MD Free Birding Trip
Sunday, May 3
Half day. Both nesting and migrant songbirds, waterbirds, and possible raptors. Possible nesting birds include Yellow-breasted Chat and Yellow Warbler. Meet time/place: 7 am at Zion Road parking lot. Waterproof footwear strongly recommended. For more info, contact the leader, Marc Liebermann, at mdlieberm@gmail.com (10-person limit). REGISTER

It’s May—and All is Abloom
Tuesday, May 5 (10 am-1 pm)
Leader. Marney Bruce
Members $26; nonmembers $36
The display of spring wildflowers and shrubs is remarkably rich in the varied habitats of Rachel Carson Park near Olney, Md. From moist bottomlands along the Hawlings River to rocky, forested uplands, the woods here in May beckon with blooms underfoot and spring-green leaves overhead. On this several mile walk, expect some uphill/downhill walking over terrain that may be uneven, rocky and/or muddy. REGISTER

Spring Saunters Along the Canal
Wednesdays (10 am-12:30 pm)
Section D: May 6 – Riley’s Lock FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Section E: May 20 – 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

Appalachian Spring
Sunday, May 10 (9 am-3 pm)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $32; nonmembers $44
The G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Linden, VA is a 4000-acre area that is well known for its botanical diversity. The floral display is especially rich in early May when the hillsides are covered with many wildflowers including masses of large-flowered trillium, plus yellow-lady’s-slipper, showy orchis, wild geranium, three-lobed violet, and rue-anemone. Spring migrants such as Scarlet Tanager and American Redstart, as well early season butterflies, also abound in these mature woodlands. Our field day will focus on the sites rich plant community, but we won’t turn a blind eye to other spring sightings on our leisurely exploration of 2-3 miles. Expect some uphill/downhill walking on rocky and uneven trails. REGISTER

C&O Canal, MD Areas Free Birding Trip
Sunday, May 10
Half day. Songbirds, waterbirds, raptors. Meet time/place: 7 am in parking lot at Riley’s Lock on the Canal. For more info, contact the leader, Tony Futcher, at 301-422- 3927 or tonyfutcher1@verizon.net (no limit—all are welcome!). REGISTER

Wonders at Woodend: Forest Bathing through the Seasons
Wednesdays (10 am-12:30 pm)
Section B: May 13
Section C: July 15
Section D: October 14
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. REGISTER

Fridays at Carderock
Section E: May 15 (9:30 am-3 pm)
Each walk members $34; nonmembers $48
An elder of a Native American tribe from the Pacific Northwest advised: There is more to be learned by climbing the same mountain a hundred times than by climbing a hundred different mountains. Following this admonition, our Senior Naturalist continues our series of broad-based nature explorations along the Potomac River’s C&O Canal and its varied habitats, from upland rocky woods to rich floodplain forests. Our “searching for spring” hikes will return each month to a stretch of towpath from the Carderock Recreation Area upriver to Widewater. We’ll retrace our steps along the Canal back to Carderock for a total of around 4 miles. We’ll experience the winter world in January and February, and celebrate the first signs of spring in March. In April and May, we’ll enjoy spring’s great burst of new life, both in the plant world and amongst all manner of wildlife, including birds, butterflies, reptiles and amphibians, and mammals. REGISTER

Spring Hike on Sugarloaf
Saturday, May 16 (10 am-3 pm)
Leader: Tina Thieme Brown
Members $30; nonmembers $42
Join the artist of two books about Sugarloaf Mountain for a seasonal outing devoted to the botany, wildlife, geology, and history of our local monadnock in the rural Piedmont northwest of Washington, D.C. The 1.5 mile hike is timed to coincide with High Spring’s greening of the Sugarloaf Mountain woodlands and the blooming of many plants. Bring binoculars to look for Wood Thrushes, Warblers, Ravens, and other bird species. After lunch, Tina will show you how to approach a quick leaf sketch. Our hike includes uphill/downhill walking over rocky trails and a fairly steep ¼ mile hike up to the summit—all at a leisurely pace. REGISTER

Spring in the Parks
C. Saturday, May 16 – Shenandoah National Park, VA
Leader: Stephanie Mason (Full day field trip)
Each walk members $36; nonmembers $50
Join our Senior Naturalist for these broad-based hikes in three of our region’s state or federal parks. On each outing, we’ll experience the dramatic seasonal changes in the natural world ignited by spring’s longer hours of daylight and warming temperatures. We’ll search for showy wildflowers, the unfolding leaves of trees and shrubs, and all manner of spring wildlife activity. As the pace of spring change slows down here in the DMV, we’ll head to higher elevations to the west and take a hike along the Appalachian Trail. Here spring will still be unfolding. On this moderately-strenuous hike in the northern section of Shenandoah National Park, we’ll cover a total of around 4 miles, with fairly significant uphill/downhill hiking along the way. Participants should be in adequate physical condition for moving faster and farther than our usual naturalists’ shuffle. All hikes include some uphill/downhill (steepest on A & C) on natural surface trails. Expect hikes in the mountains (A & C) to cover terrain that will be rocky, uneven, and maybe muddy. Hike B trails may be muddy and/or slippery. REGISTER

Introduction to Bird ID by Voice
Tuesday, May 19 (7:30-9 pm)
Thursday, May 21 (7:30-9 pm)
Saturday, May 23 (7 am-Noon)
Leader: Mark England
Members $49; nonmembers $70
The sounds made by birds can help find and identify many species, yet to beginning birders, the wide variety of sounds can be confusing. If you know many of our area birds by sight but not by sound, this class is for you. Two evening sessions will use recordings and slides to study bird songs and calls. Our field trip to one or more sites in Montgomery County will give us a chance to listen for and try to learn some of the local species. REGISTER

Woodbridge/Occoquan Bay NWR, VA Free Birding Trip
Wednesday, May 27
Half day. Songbirds, waterfowl, eagles, and other raptors. Meet time/place: 7:30 am inside the refuge at central parking lot. 6-adult limit. For more info, contact leader Jim Waggener at 703-567-3555.  REGISTER

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

JUNE

Geology at Flag Ponds
Wednesday, June 3 (1-6 pm)
Leader: Joe Marx
Members $32; nonmembers $44
Maryland’s Flag Ponds Nature Park, next to the Chesapeake near the southern end of Calvert Cliffs, contains landscape features more dynamic than most in our region. Two longshore currents converge there, forming a promontory called a cuspate foreland. The freshwater ponds and marshes that give their name to the park are bits of the bay cut off by a steady southward migration of the foreland. Even the shape of the cliffs is affected by the sandy promontory, with beach-protected slopes only half as steep as those exposed to direct wave action. We will walk two or three miles over relatively flat terrain. The beach is loaded with fossils and collecting is permitted. Image credit: Acroterion  REGISTER

Little Bennett Regional Park, Montgomery Co., MD Free Birding Trip
Saturday, June 6
Half day. Nesting songbirds, possibly including Yellow-breasted Chat, Willow Flycatcher, Prairie Warbler, and Kentucky Warbler. Meet time/place: 7:30 am at Kingsley Trail parking area. Insect repellent highly advised, as is waterproof footwear. Extra water and sunscreen also recommended. For more info, contact the leader, Paul DeAnna, at 202-544-2680 or ppdeanna47@gmail.com (12-person limit). REGISTER

Advanced Odonate Studies: Common Damselflies of the Mid-Atlantic
Thursday, June 11 (7:30-9:30)
Sunday, June 14 (3/4-day field trip)
Leaders: Lisa Shannon and Richard Orr
Members $46; nonmembers $64
Lecture only Members $24; nonmembers $34
Feel like you’re ready to “graduate” from our annual “Introduction to Dragons and Damsels” class? Join us for this advanced workshop focusing on the field ID of the common damselflies of the Mid-Atlantic region. Naturalist Lisa Shannon will deliver our evening’s illustrated lecture. She’ll be joined on the field trip to the North Tract of the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge by dragonfly expert Richard Orr where the group will work on field ID of these small, brightly-colored dragonfly “cousins.” REGISTER

Fern Basics
Saturday, June 13 (9 am-Noon)
Leader: Kit Sheffield
Members $26; nonmembers $36
Walk the moderate trails of Riverbend Park, home to at least fifteen fern species, with a naturalist who knows this area well. We’ll ID what we find, and along the way learn what it is that makes a plant a fern, plus the common characteristics you can use to identify ferns on your own. Note: there will be some uphill/downhill on this hike of several miles. REGISTER

Fort C.F. Smith Park, Arlington, VA Free Birding Trip
Saturday, June 13
One-third day. Nesting songbirds in woods, edge, and meadow habitat. Conditions may be muddy. Meet time/place: 7 am in parking lot. For more info, contact the leader, Karen Fairweather, at twofairs@msn.com or 703-841-1299 (10-person limit). REGISTER

Summer Shuffles Along the Canal
Wednesdays (9-11:30 am)
Section A: June 17 – Pennyfield Lock
Section B: July 1 – Riley’s Lock
Section C: July 15 – Carderock
Section D: July 29 – Swain’s Lock
Each walk members $25; nonmembers $35
Entire series $92/$128
Summer’s here and it may be hot, so we’ll keep our pace to a shuffle as we visit four areas along the Potomac River and the C&O Canal. We’ll stop often to observe birds, wildflowers, butterflies, dragonflies, snakes, and whatever else we may find underfoot or overhead. Carpooling will be available from Woodend. REGISTER

Botany by Nose
Friday, June 19 (9:30 am-1 pm)
Leader Carole Bergmann
Members $26; nonmembers $36
While most of us rely on visual clues to identify the plants that comprise our landscape, our sense of smell can be an important, complementary tool. Anyone who has broken a Spicebush or Black Birch twig can confirm that. Our outdoor classroom will be Little Bennett Regional Park near Clarskburg, MD, as we “scratch and sniff” our way through woodland and wetland habitats. REGISTER

Summer Walks on the Wild Side
(8-11:30 am)
A: Saturday, June 20 – Blue Mash Nature Trail, MD
B: Sunday, July 5 – Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens (DC)
C: Saturday, August 1 – Huntley Meadows Park (VA)
Each Walk: Members $26; nonmembers $36
Entire Series: Members $78; nonmembers $108
Join a naturalist to explore the summer richness of parks in the DC-Metro area. As summer arrives and brings with it long, hot, muggy days and nights, wetlands and meadows soak up the sunlight and come alive with plant and wildlife activity. We’ll explore these open habitats with walks of up to 2-3 miles at a slow summer pace. We’ll search for birds, butterflies, dragonflies, reptiles, amphibians, and summer plant life on natural surface paths and boardwalk. REGISTER

Woodbridge/Occoquan Bay NWR, VA Free Birding Trip
Wednesday, June 24
Half day. Songbirds, waterfowl, eagles, and other raptors. Meet time/place: 7:30 am inside the refuge at central parking lot. 6-adult limit. For more info, contact leader Jim Waggener at 703-567-3555. REGISTER

Firefly Fling
Thursday, June 25 (8-9:30 pm)
Free, but registration required.
As dusk descends, come and enjoy nature’s fireworks—the courting of fireflies over our Woodend fields and forests. The evening begins with a short discussion of the life history and behavior of these luminescent beetles. We’ll then move outdoors to observe the various flash and light patterns of different species and try to “communicate” with these insects ourselves. REGISTER

Western Montgomery County Butterfly Count
Saturday, June 27
Join us for the 31st annual Western Montgomery County Butterfly Count. Participants in this citizen science project will be sent into the field in teams to count butterfly species in a given area. No experience is necessary. This mid-summer count, modeled after the Christmas Bird Counts, is organized by ANS and sponsored by the North American Butterfly Association and Xerces Society. Email Stephanie Mason at stephanie.mason@ anshome.org for a participant’s information letter.

Butterflies of Early Summer
Sunday, June 28 (10 am-2 pm)
Leader: Tom Stock
Members $26; nonmembers $36
The varied habitats of the vast Little Bennett Regional Park near Clarksburg, MD are the setting for our search for early summer butterflies, their host plants, and their nectar resources. Species such as American Copper, Great Spangled Fritillary, Little Wood Satyr, Summer Azure, and Little Glassywing are possible, just to name a few. Field conditions will include open areas with possibly tall vegetation, and some bushwhacking necessary for access. Bring along your closefocusing binoculars to benefit most from this outing. REGISTER

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

JULY

Six-legged Songsters of Summer
Wednesday, July 8 (7:30-9:30 pm)
Leader: Cathy Stragar
Free, but registration is required.
Sticky summer has arrived, and the songs of insects such as cicadas, crickets, and katydids begin to swell into a noisy and riotous chorus. Join naturalist Cathy Stragar at our Woodend Sanctuary for a slide introduction to the most common of these songsters: who they are, why they sing, and how they make their amazing sounds. She’ll also describe how to get involved with the eighth annual Cricket Crawl citizen science activity in late August. REGISTER

Art and Nature Journaling
Saturday, July 11 (10 am-1:30 pm)
Leader: Tina Thieme Brown
Members $26; nonmembers $36
Create an art journal page under the guidance of the artist of the Sugarloaf Mountain books and the illustrated Agricultural Reserve Map. Following a short stroll looking closely at nature, participants will share observations of native trees along the trail. Tina will show you how to create an art journal page using sketches and handwritten notes that reflect your walk in the woods. The only experience required is a love for our native woodland trees. Site for this outdoor drawing workshop will be Black Hill Regional Park. A list of art supplies will be provided with the confirmation letter. REGISTER

On the Wing at Lilypons
Saturday, July 11 (8 am-Noon)
Rain date: July 12 (8 am-Noon)
Leader: Tom Stock
Members $26; nonmembers $36
Because of its on-site manmade ponds combined with adjacent open fields and riparian woodlands along the Monocacy River and Bennett Creek, Lilypons Water Gardens in Frederick County attracts an abundance of bird species in all seasons. Its varied habitats can also be a productive spot for summer butterfly watching, according to our leader. Join him for a morning walk in search of both birds and butterflies—wings feathered and scaled, respectively—as he shares tips for field ID of the species we encounter. Don’t forget your binoculars! REGISTER

Wonders at Woodend: Forest Bathing through the Seasons
Wednesdays (10 am-12:30 pm)
Section C: July 15
Section D: October 14
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. REGISTER

Dragons of the Air
Saturday, July 18 (9-11:30 am)
Raindate: Sunday, July 19
Leader: Lisa Shannon
Members $24; nonmembers $34
The wetlands around Pine Lake in Wheaton Regional Park, MD, are an ideal spot to start learning how to ID the most common dragonflies in our area. Naturalist Lisa Shannon will help beginning dragonfly enthusiasts focus on identifying characteristics, as well as the life histories, of these aerial insects. Close-focusing binoculars are recommended for optimal dragon-watching.  Image credit:  Frankenplant REGISTER

Summer Morning in the Hollow
Sunday, July 26 (8-11:30 am)
Leader: Cathy Stragar
Members $26; nonmembers $36
The McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area near Poolesville, MD—affectionately known as Hughes Hollow by its enthusiasts—is alive with wildlife sights and sounds during the long, hot, muggy days of July. Enjoy a slow stroll through and around the field, forest, and wetland habitats here in search of summer insect life and all manner of seasonal animal activity and plant life. REGISTER

A Year at Theodore Roosevelt Island
B: Summer Kayaking Trip, Wednesday, July 29 (10 am-1:30 pm)
C: Autumn Tree Walk, Wednesday, November 4 (10 am-2 pm)
D: Late Autumn Tree Walk, Wednesday, December 2 (10 am-2 pm)
Leader: Melanie Choukas-Bradley
Each walk: members $28; nonmembers $38
Join Melanie Choukas-Bradley, author of the forthcoming Finding Solace at Theodore Roosevelt Island (August 2020), for a year-long exploration of Theodore Roosevelt Island, a 90-acre island in the Potomac that serves as a fitting memorial to our conservationist and naturalist 26th president—and Audubon Naturalist Society member! In the early spring, we’ll witness the miracle of budbreak among the island’s remarkable trees and see the floodplain forest come alive with Virginia bluebells, spring beauties, trout lilies, and trilliums. During summer, we will kayak around the island, launching from Key Bridge Boathouse on the Georgetown waterfront. We’ll paddle under the island’s graceful silver maples and sycamores, get close to the summer wildflowers along the shore, and watch herons, egrets, wood ducks and—hopefully—the noisy kingfisher! As a bonus, we’ll be treated to stunning views of the Lincoln Memorial and the “City of Trees” on the horizon. Our fall tree walks will take us deep into the swamp and tidal inlet along the boardwalk where willows, bald-cypresses and cattails frame views of the city behind it. Melanie will share details of the island’s fascinating history during this year-long exploration and we’ll witness the ebb and flow of the Potomac tides along with the changing seasons. Fee for trip B does not include canoe or kayak rental. 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.

AUGUST

How Does Her Garden Grow?
Wednesday, August 5 (10-11:30 am)
Leader: Marney Bruce
Members $24; nonmembers $34
Here’s your chance to visit the home garden of an ANS member who has worked to reduce lawn coverage, increase food and shelter for wildlife, and incorporate native plants whenever possible. Marney will share her successes and failures on a stroll through her yard, which includes sun-loving plants in the front, shade-loving species in the back, and a water feature. Our destination garden is located in the Bethesda, MD vicinity. Participants will meet at our Woodend Sanctuary at 9:45 to carpool over to Marney’s home, where parking is limited. Limited 10 participants. REGISTER

Introduction to Dragonflies and Damselflies
Thursday, August 6 (7:30-9:30 pm)
Sunday, August 9 (3/4 day field trip)
Leaders: Lisa Shannon and Richard Orr
Members $46; nonmembers $64
Lecture only $24/$34
Grab your binoculars and prepare to set your sights not on birds—although “mosquito hawk” is a common moniker—but on those six-legged, aerial acrobats of wetland habitats: the dragonflies and damselflies. At our evening lecture, Lisa Shannon will discuss ID, biology, and behavior of the more common species of Odonates in our area. Dragonfly expert Richard Orr will join her on our field trip to the Patuxent Research Refuge (North Tract) near Bowie, MD, where everyone will have a chance to test their identification skills. REGISTER

Summer Fungus Walk
Saturday, August 8 (9-11 am)
Leader: Serenella Linares
Members $24; nonmembers $34
Summer 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. We’ll visit a variety of habitats at our Woodend Sanctuary using natural surface trails. 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

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