Share in the joy of birds during the annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) at Pickering Creek Audubon Center and help make your community stronger for you and the birds. Bird and nature lovers everywhere unite in the effort to tally as many of the world’s bird species as possible over these four days.  Visitors are welcomed enjoy bird walks guided by experienced birders at the Center on Friday February 14 from 8-10am. Combined with other bird counts, GBBC results help create a clearer picture of how birds are faring —whether individual species are declining, increasing, or holding steady in the face of habitat loss, climate change, and other threats.

The 28th annual Great Backyard Bird Count is taking place February 14 through 17, 2025.

“The GBBC continues to bring together millions of people every year,” said David Bonter, co-director of the Center for Engagement in Science and Nature at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. More than a half-million people participated during the 2024 GBBC—double the number of participants in the past five years. They reported 7,920 species of birds from 200+ countries and subregions.

“Participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count is an easy and great opportunity to bird with your friends and neighbors,” said Brooke Bateman, senior director of Climate and Community Science at the National Audubon Society. “More and more we see how birds can bring communities closer all across the world. The more we enjoy birds together, the more likely it is that we take steps to protect them and the places they need.

“This free annual event also acts as a stepping stone for people looking to contribute to our understanding of bird populations around the world,” says Jody Allair, director of communications at Birds Canada.

“Joining your community to count birds means that we can track the long-term changes in bird populations,” says Bonter, “and we wouldn’t be able to do that without you. The world is changing fast, and birds often reflect the impact of environmental change first.”

Anyone can participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count. To take part in the 2025 GBBC, each participant or group counts birds for any length of time (but for at least 15 minutes) and enters the birds they can identify at each site they visit. That could be their backyard or neighborhood or locally at Pickering Creek Audubon Center. All are invited to participate in guided bird walks led by experienced birders at the Center on Friday, February 14 from 8-10am. Enjoy watching birds along our trails and contribute to the effort as extra eyes on the sky spotting birds.  Sign up to participate at https://pickeringcreek.org/programs/upcoming-programs .

First-timers should make it a point to read complete instructions on the GBBC website where they will also find helpful birding tips and birding app downloads. The GBBC website also features a new map for marking local GBBC community events like the guided bird walks at Pickering Creek Audubon Center. https://www.birdcount.org/community-map/

You’re also invited to tune in to a special webinar about how to participate in the GBBC. Register for one of two free events happening on Thursday, February 6, at 7:00-8:00 p.m.

Eastern Time or Wednesday, February 12 3:00-4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Register: https://dl.allaboutbirds.org/2025gbbcwebinar.

The Great Backyard Bird Count is a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society, and Birds Canada and is made possible in part by founding sponsor Wild Birds Unlimited.

The Orangery, which predates the Wye House is the most complete surviving structure of its kind in the United States.

Pickering Creek Audubon Center’s Something of the Marvelous spring fundraiser for 2024 is a dollar-for-dollar matching challenge with every dollar being matched up to $50,000.

These funds support Pickering Creek’s science and nature education programs in Talbot, Caroline, Dorchester, and Wicomico counties for students from at least one grade level in each school system, ensuring that every student in the grade level, regardless of background, has great outdoor learning experiences with Pickering’s talented staff of educators and scientists.

In addition to supporting school programming, these matching gifts help connect adults and families with the habitats and wildlife that also call the midshore home, and support summer EcoCamp scholarships.  Finally, generous gifts provided by the community to this matching challenge ensure that Pickering is open to the public for free every day to enjoy the center’s beautiful trails!

Two marvelous donors have stepped forward to collectively offer this year’s dollar-for-dollar match.  Both are long-term supporters of the Center’s work to connect people to nature.  Each supporter who contributes over $100 before June 6 will be eligible to explore several historic buildings at Richard and Beverly Tilghman’s Wye House as well as the magnificent grounds.

Wye House is one of Maryland’s most historic homes. It is located along the Wye River on land acquired by Edward Lloyd in 1659.  The current house was constructed between 1784 and 1790 by Edward Lloyd IV and is currently occupied by the 12^th generation of the Lloyd family to live on the property.  The house is in the Palladian style and is often referred to as the finest example of late 18th-century Palladian architecture in the United States.  Many of the original furnishings and other objects remain in the house. The Orangery, a garden structure, predates the house and is the most complete surviving structure of its kind in the United States.  The property contains numerous early 19th-century outbuildings. The Lloyd family cemetery’s earliest grave is dated 1684.

The evening begins with a leisurely drive down a long, beautiful tree-lined drive. Upon arrival, guests tour four first-floor rooms where guests of the house are traditionally greeted and received. The rooms feature significant original woodwork and other detail features as well as artwork that have remained with the house over the course of several generations.  Two generations of the family will be on hand to share the history of the house as well as how it got to its present state of perfection.

After the house tour, guests will stroll through the home’s tree-lined garden alleyway having a chance to experience live birds with ornithology expert Michael Callahan and view the family cemetery.   At the end of the alleyway sits the exquisite Orangery used to maintain citrus fruit trees throughout the winter.  Outside the Orangery guests may enjoy a glass of wine or sparkling water and accompanying nibbles.  Your self-guided outdoor tour then affords views of Lloyd Creek and the impressive living shoreline that is part of the Wye House estate.  The final treat of the tour is a visit inside the Captain’s House.  The Captain’s House is the oldest structure on the property, with a magnificent hearth highlighting the building’s previous use as a kitchen for the estate.

Timed entrances scheduled from 3:30-6 on June 8th will include complimentary beverages, time to explore, and a special thank you gift.

Unlike Pickering Creek’s pre-Covid era Tour Toast and Taste, Something of the Marvelous has no tent, no auction, and no dinners for sale.  It is all outdoors- just soaking in the marvelous blooms and scenery of the amazing Wye House!

For over 30 years, Pickering Creek Audubon Center has provided environmental education opportunities to students of the Eastern Shore, moving them from awareness of their watershed to conservation action in their communities.  Since establishing a well-reputed elementary education program in partnership with Talbot County Public Schools 25 years ago, Pickering has added meaningful watershed experiences for middle and high school students to our continuum of education along with community outreach education about our region’s unique ecosystems. Pickering Creek reaches the people of the Eastern Shore throughout their academic careers and outdoor learning experiences that encourage them to continue interacting with the outdoors frequently.

School groups, families, wildlife enthusiasts, and photographers from far and wide visit Pickering Creek Audubon Center throughout the year to participate in hands-on outdoor learning, and volunteer experiences and immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the Eastern Shore.

This year’s Tour, Toast & Taste is generously sponsored by Richard and Beverly Tilghman,  Bill and Mary Griffin, Ron Ketter and Janet Mackey, Steve and Julie Burleson, Linda and Pete Yungbluth, Robert Roach and Nancy Reid, Anne and Ron Walker, Donald and Margaret Engvall, Catherine Liebl, Bruce Wiltsie and Bill Davenport, the Dock Street Foundation, Richard and Ellen Bodorff, James Olds and Robin Buckley, Rodger and Priscilla Waldman, Kimberly and Glenn Baker, Matthew Miller, and Beth Wehrle.

For more information, please visit www.pickeringcreek.org

At the Center’s annual donor Pig Roast this autumn Pickering debuted the first trail loop in the new woods they acquired in fall of 2022. Thanks to the generosity of many community members the Center was able to purchase 63 acres of woods adjacent to the Center’s main campus in September of 2022. Over the course of the past year staff and stakeholders have enjoyed free form walks in the new woods as they considered potential trails and highlights along those trails. The first result of that effort is the New Woods Loop. The loop begins at the conclusion of one of the Center’s wetlands boardwalks, following a path along the wooded shoreline overlooking the head of Pickering Creek.

After a short walk you enter the new woods, dominated by mature oaks, tulip poplar, beech and hickory. The first stop along the walk is Barred Owl Circle, a delightful set of benches built by the Center’s volunteer crew that are set up in a natural clearing in the woods that provide a wonderful place to rest and contemplate the quiet around you. Aptly named for the regularity that you hear Barred Owls calling Who cooks for you, who cooks for y’all at this location, summer EcoCamp groups enjoyed this location all summer as one of their starting points for exploration of the new woods. Camp groups began exploring the new woods with their group leaders during the second week of our seven-week camp. It quickly became the most popular place that campers wanted to go. They have adopted their own name for it, Echo Woods Circle, because of the interesting echo of voices that occurs as sound bounce across the creek and back. The circle is slightly short of the halfway point of the walk.

The trail continues and casually meanders amongst big trees and runs alongside a wooded wetland. A small bridge crosses a seasonal stream as the trail curls left beneath towering tulip poplars. From here you enter a grove of American Holly before exiting the woods into the Center’s meadow. The trail links up with the center’s next newest trail, the meadow loop. You can turn right and continue on for further adventure through the meadow and onto the meadow viewing platform or turn right and head towards the farm pond and back to the parking lot.

“I’ve seen something new every time I taken this walk,” says Pickering Board President Tom Sanders. This is the first of several trails that will enable community members to explore the woods over the next few years. Debut of the next section of trail is planned for mid 2024.

The trail is three quarters of a mile long from the parking lot, through the woods and back along the meadow trail to the parking lot. Allow 40 minutes for the walk depending on how much time you want to spend enjoy marveling at the big trees or relaxing along the trail at one of the benches. During the winter months Pickering is open daily from 7AM -5PM. Check the website if you would like to sign up for a guided walk in the new woods, www.pickeringcreek.org

Pickering Creek Audubon Center will debut its Thanksgiving Nature Play Trail on Saturday November 18th.  The trail circles the Pickering Creek pond and features eleven stops that encourage kids and families to explore nature through short fun activities.  The trail is self guided and starts at the Center’s main parking lot. At the stops it asks kids to do interactive activities like: “Hop like a rabbit down the trail, if you see a Hawk or Eagle overhead freeze until it passes.”  Each location asks students to engage a different sense as they explore nature around them.  

“This is a great way to explore the fall season as a family while engaging kids and giving adults a chance to stretch their legs a walk off some of the Thanksgiving Feast,” says Pickering Creek Director Mark Scallion.  The trail will be in place from Saturday November 18th through Sunday December 3rd.  Keep an eye on the weather and remember boots if it has been rainy!

After enjoying the Thanksgiving Nature Play Trail, further explorations lie beyond, with over four miles of trails and several beautiful vistas over Pickering Creek and the Center’s expansive wetlands, Pickering Creek has miles of trails for exploration and enjoyment.

Pickering Creek’s Trails are open daily from 7am to 5pm during the winter months.   

For all our guidelines please check:  https://pickeringcreek.org/visit/planning-a-visit/

With summer behind us, our local birds have finished their breeding season, and the fledglings are striking out on their own. Many species are switching their diets from insects to high fat seeds and suets to help them get ready for wintering here or migrating south.  That means it’s time to get your bird feeders cleaned up and back out in the yard. To prepare feeders for the season, you can run them through the dishwasher, or wash with boiling water and soap to get them ready. Regularly cleaning them this way throughout the season will help your birds stay healthy and avoid your feeder being a source for disease transmission.

Bird feeding helps sustain birds through the harshest winter days as well as provides exciting interactions with birds as you get to see beautiful cardinals, chickadees, nuthatches, goldfinch, titmice, finches and more bouncing around your feeding station every time you peek out your window. You’ll have hours of endless entertainment as you watch your favorite cardinals and goldfinches come to the feeder as well as see surprises like white-breasted nuthatches and fox sparrows.

Pickering Creek Audubon Center’s annual birdseed sale will be held from Oct 16th to the Nov 6th. Friends of the birds can order seed from Pickering during this time period. A large variety of seeds including black oil sunflower and thistle will be available as well as a variety of seed mixes and suet cakes.  Different seeds and feeder types attract different types of birds.  Our carefully selected seed provider provides a high quality seed, typically with less chaff and other debris than what you will find in seed purchased at big box retailers.  This program is primarily designed to help people get interested in bird feeding, have a source for high quality seed and interact with fellow bird lovers at the birdseed social. Purchasers are welcome to make an additional donation to support the Center’s many programs.  This year all payments will be made by credit card online. The largest order wins a free birdfeeder!

Order forms will be available beginning October 16^th at https://pickeringcreek.org

Orders must be placed by November 6.

Seed pick up will be at our Third Annual Birdseed Social on Tuesday Nov 14th from 3:30 to 5:30pm at Pickering Creek.   Come have a drink and snack on us, meet fellow bird lovers, and pick up your seed! We will have Pickering Creek staff onsite to answer any bird questions you might have.

The weather at this time of year is delightful for outdoor activities.   Join the staff at Pickering Creek for enjoyable outdoor explorations this fall. Registration in advance is required and can be made at https://pickeringcreek.org/programs/upcoming-programs/

Monday Paddle on Pickering
Monday, October 16, 2023
5:00-6:30 PM
$10 per person Finish out a Monday with a leisurely canoe paddle along the shores of Pickering Creek. Soak in the sights and sounds of the creek by canoe with a friend or family member as the early evening light dances on the waters of Pickering Creek.  Families welcome! Canoes & Lifejackets provided. 

Nature Walk with the Director at Pickering Creek’s New Forest
Thursday, October 19, 2023
5:00-6:30 PM
$5 per personJoin Director, Mark Scallion, for an exploration of the Center’s newly acquired woods.  We’ll start by walking Pickering’s meadow trail and then duck into the adjacent woods for a ramble across open woodland.  Highlights could include woodpeckers, owls, turkeys, foxes and more.  Walks are a great introduction to the Center’s campus and programs and an opportunity for you to learn more about what the Center has to offer and for us to learn about your interests.

A Little Bird Told Me
Monday, October 30, 2023
8:00-10:00 AM
$5 per person

Join Pickering Creek naturalist to observe and enjoy birds in a whole new way.  Learn how to “listen” to what birds say through their vocalizations and behaviors in this guided field experience. Activity will be light with some time spend sitting or standing quietly.  Participants will sharpen their observations skills and walk away understanding some basic bird behaviors that will offer a peek at what is going on in the landscape around them in real time.

Bird Walk with e-Bird Monitoring
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
8:00-10:00AM

Have fun bird watching for science at Pickering Creek. Bird watchers of all skill levels are encouraged to assist volunteer leaders with bird monitoring along the Center’s trails during this monthly bird survey. Help us collect data that allow us to track long-term trends on how birds use the Center. Currently we have spotted and identified over 230 species at Pickering Creek!

Nature Walk with the Director at Pickering Creek’s New Forest
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
3:30-5:00 PM
$5 per person

Join Director, Mark Scallion, for an exploration of the Center’s newly acquired woods.  We’ll start by walking Pickering’s meadow trail and then duck into the adjacent woods for a ramble across open woodland.  Highlights could include woodpeckers, owls, turkeys, foxes and more.  Walks are a great introduction to the Center’s campus and programs and an opportunity for you to learn more about what the Center has to offer and for us to learn about your interest.

Bird Walk with e-Bird Monitoring
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
8:00-10:00AM

Have fun bird watching for science at Pickering Creek. Bird watchers of all skill levels are encouraged to assist volunteer leaders with bird monitoring along the Center’s trails during this monthly bird survey. Help us collect data that allow us to track long-term trends on how birds use the Center. Currently we have spotted and identified over 230 species at Pickering Creek!