With spring nearly here, Foreman’s Branch Bird Observatory (FBBO), part of Washington College’s Center for Environment & Society (CES), is sharing data and stats from its 27th year of fall migration banding. The 2024 season saw the Observatory continue its long-term monitoring of migratory bird populations thanks to its location on the College’s River and Field Campus (RAFC), an important stopover habitat for shorebirds and home to thousands of migrating and wintering ducks and geese each year. The Observatory continues to be one of the most active bird-banding stations on the East Coast, handling approximately 14,000 birds a year.

Over 11,400 birds were banded this past season, an above-average total. The species total, 117, was slightly below average, however. Teams of student interns, fellows and researchers, led by FBBO’s Associate Director Maren Gimpel, recorded a capture rate of 44.3 birds per 100 net hours for the season. The rate is considered one of the best in recent years. Data from the spring and fall programs is reported to the North American Bird Banding Program.

This Fall’s Top 10 Species Banded:

White-throated Sparrow (2,613)

Song Sparrow (1,273)

Swamp Sparrow (645)

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (637)

Gray Catbird (611)

Common Yellowthroat (588

Hermit Thrush (462)

Indigo Bunting (358)

Field Sparrow (258)

Savannah Sparrow/Slate-colored Junco (224 each)

A highlight of this year was capturing a Hooded Merganser, a duck that is common on the lake from fall through early spring, but had somehow, never been snagged by the teams’ nets for the last 27 years. View a video of the duck’s capture and release here.

“It’s pretty uncommon for a songbird operation like ours to catch many waterbirds,” said Gimpel. “So every one of us was delighted to see this species up close. None of us had seen a Hooded Merganser in the hand before.”

Gimpel pointed out that this season was a unique one, with species like Sharp-shinned Hawk, Fox Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, Red-eyed Vireo, and Yellow Warbler observed in lower-than-normal numbers. Conversely, White-throated Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, and Hermit Thrush were captured in record-high numbers. Overall, the season was a success and Gimpel is looking forward to getting back out to the fields this spring with student researchers.

Testing for Bird Flu in Bald Eagles

As the spring migration season gets underway, Washington College’s Center for Environment and Society is expanding its bird banding operations to include one of the country’s most recognizable birds of prey – the Bald Eagle. David Kramar, Washington Colleges’ River and Field Campus (RAFC) Director, will be trapping the raptors to collect data on the health of the population within the region. In addition, this work will include opportunistically trapping Golden Eagles. While not as prevalent as Bald Eagles on the Eastern Shore, the Golden Eagle does migrate through the area.

Kramar has recently reprised his long-term work with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources to band and test eagles across the state for avian flu as well as lead and mercury poisoning. By collecting blood and feather samples from each bird, Kramar hopes to help provide a greater understanding of the spread of avian flu in wild birds of prey. The data is reported to the state as well as the federal government. Soon, he hopes to expand the effort to RAFC as well.

Those interested in a day-by-day recap of all the bird banding fun should check out FBBO’s Instagram page.

Washington College’s Kohl Gallery will launch “Drafting Dissent: The Use of Drawings in Cuba’s Recent Activist Scene” with an opening reception on Thursday, February 6, 2025, from 5-6:30 p.m., preceded by a curatorial tour led by scholar Maria de Lourdes Mariño Fernandez from 4-5 p.m. The exhibition, showcasing powerful works by Cuban artists/activists Camila R. Lobón, Raychel Carrión, and Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, explores how drawing has become a vital tool in expressing dissent and driving political discourse within Cuba’s evolving cultural landscape. “Drafting Dissent” will be on view from February 6 through March 8, 2025, at the Kohl Gallery, Gibson Center for the Arts, Washington College, located at 300 Washington Avenue, Chestertown, MD 21620. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 2-5 p.m., with extended hours on Wednesdays until 6 p.m.

Camila R. Lobón was a founder of INSTAR (Institute of Artivism Hanna Arendt), and is a central member of 27N, the activist group that staged the first public manifestation against political persecution led by artists and intellectuals since 1959.

Raychel Carrión, also a member of 27N and who resides in Spain, became an important voice in support of this movement through social media by sharing drawings where he narrates the current conflicts.

Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, currently serving a five-year prison sentence in Cuba for his performative activism and participation in mass demonstrations, is a central figure of the cultural shift that characterizes contemporary Cuban art. Even from prison, Alcántara continues to be a fundamental force of the political and cultural struggle in the country.

Through these artists’ exhibited drawings, Drafting Dissent represents the practice of conceptual meditation on the reality of political persecution, isolation, and overwhelming despair on the island.

About the Artists: 

Camila Ramírez Lobón

Camila Ramírez Lobón

Camila Ramírez Lobón was born in Camagüey, Cuba in 1995. Her practice focuses on the narration and illustration of a social and political imaginary that subverts the Cuban totalitarian narrative through individual memory. Graduated from the Instituto Superior de Arte, La Habana in 2019, she worked as coordinator of the Hannah Arendt Activism Institute (INSTAR), founded by artist Tania Bruguera in 2015. Lobón is a columnist for the independent Cuban magazine Hypermedia where her drawings are regularly published. Her work has been exhibited in Havana, Montreal, Buenos Aires, Berlin and Prague. Lobón has been an active member of many of the initiatives that have starred in recent years in the claim for freedom of expression and civic and political rights in Cuba, such as the 27N group and the San Isidro Movement.

Raychel Carrión

Raychel Carrión is a visual artist born in Havana, Cuba in 1978. Carrión graduated in 2011 from the Institute of Superior Arts (ISA) in Havana, Cuba (ISA). He also studied at Catedra Arte de Conducta from 2006-2008, Tania Bruguera’s workshop on behavioral and political art. Carrión’s work deconstructs cultural perceptions based on stereotyped ideologies. His work questions the normalization of manipulated historiography and the role played by the cult to a leader. The approach focuses on the “politicization of the affective” as a generator of ideological unity. As a result of it, Carrión explores the detriment of personal singularity and the repression of individual freedoms. Raychel Carrión’s drawings have been exhibited in Germany, Spain, France, Austria, and the USA.

Raychel Carrión

Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara:

Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara is a Cuban artist and human rights defender whose performances are critical of the conditions many Cubans face. Alcántara leads the San Isidro Movement – an artists’ collective that promotes freedom of expression and cultural rights. He is a co-founder of the Museum of Dissidence, a website and public art project reclaiming and celebrating dissent. Alcántara uses art and culture to contest the ongoing violations of freedom of expression by the Cuban government. In his early work, he created sculptures of human forms, animals, and characters from comic books using salvaged materials. He has had his work confiscated and has been forcibly detained multiple times. His ongoing detention has drawn protests and statements of solidarity from international artists who support his unwavering fight for the freedom of cultural expression in Cuba. The drawings presented in this exhibition were created during his current imprisonment.

About the Curator

María de Lourdes Mariño Fernandez

María de Lourdes Mariño Fernandez is an independent researcher and curator currently a Ph.D. candidate at Temple University, where she specializes in Modern and Contemporary Art from Latin America and the Caribbean, including its diaspora. Her scholarship relies on theories of postcoloniality and decoloniality as conceptual frameworks to unravel the region’s race, class, gender, political, and economic power relationships as presented through the history of art.

Mariño’s research interest centers on the history of Cuban art from 1980 to the present, focusing on the history of performance and video art. She interrogates the role of politics in the production and promotion of Cuban art and its recent developments into diverse diasporic communities. Her most recent essay,  “Decolonizing La Revolución: Cuban Artistic Practice in a Liminal Space” was published in, The Routledge Companion to Decolonizing Art History, 2024. Mariño is also the Inaugural Audrey Flack Short-Term Pre-Doctoral Fellow at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) and National Portrait Gallery (NPG) 2024-2025.

About Kohl Gallery

Kohl Gallery fosters the study and understanding of art through a diverse range of exhibitions and public programs. Embracing its liberal arts context, Kohl Gallery presents fresh perspectives on historical and contemporary art and promotes interdisciplinary conversations about historical, social, and cultural issues of significance to Washington College, Chestertown, and beyond.

Kohl Gallery organizes diverse programming throughout the academic year. With each exhibit, the gallery hosts a combination of artist talks, public receptions, and scholarly presentations. Kohl Gallery also partners regularly with Washington College classes and groups from the Chestertown community to create unique, interdisciplinary opportunities for engagement with the works on view.

About Washington College here www.washcoll.edu.

Kohl Galley is fully accessible and open to the public Tuesday – Saturday 2pm – 5pm,  Wednesdays 2pm – 6pm and by appointment. Drafting Dissent has been initiated through the invitation of Benjamin Tilghman, Associate Professor of Art History at Washington College to curator Maria de Lourdes Mariño Fernandez. For more information or to contact the gallery please visit www.washcoll.edu/about/campus/kohl-gallery/index.php

Lead image by Raychel Carrión

Washington College bustles with activity this February, offering a diverse calendar of events for the community. Whether you’re interested in art, history, literature, music, or the natural world, there’s something for everyone.

Celebrate the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a Day of Reflection and Action

The Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast Celebration, originally scheduled for January 20, has been rescheduled to Saturday, February 1, out of respect for the memorial service of the late Reverend Mae Etta Moore. This year’s theme, “Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice, and Democracy in the Spirit of Nonviolence365,” will explore how we can continue Dr. King’s legacy of social justice and nonviolent action in our own lives and communities. The day will begin with breakfast at Hodson Dining Hall at 8:30 a.m. (tickets required). Following breakfast, a free program will be held at 10 a.m. in the Decker Theater at the Gibson Center for the Arts. The event is organized by the Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience in collaboration with Minary’s Dream Alliance. More information and breakfast tickets available here.

Emily Markley on Violin

The Music Department is proud to present violinist Emily Markley performing her Senior SCE recital on Sunday, February 2 at 7:30 p.m. in Hotchkiss Recital Hall at the Gibson Arts Center. The recital is open to the public. Her program includes works by Vivaldi, Schubert, Gounod, and Telemann (with guest violinist Madeleine York). Dr. Woobin Park will accompany on piano. More info here.

 Drafting Dissent: The Use of Drawings in Cuba’s Recent Activist Scene

The Kohl Gallery’s newest exhibition, “Drafting Dissent: The Use of Drawings in Cuba’s Recent Activist Scene,” will open on February 6 and run through March 8. This exhibition, curated by scholar Maria de Lourdes Mariño Fernandez, delves into the powerful role of art in the ongoing struggle for freedom in Cuba and spotlights the work of three prominent artists: Camila R. Lobón, Raychel Carrión, and Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara. These artists, many of whom are members of the activist group 27N, utilize drawing as a potent form of protest against the Cuban government. Their works offer a poignant glimpse into the realities of political persecution, isolation, and the unwavering spirit of resistance within the country. A curatorial tour will be held on Thursday, February 6 at 4 p.m., followed by an opening reception at 5 p.m. The public is invited to attend. Check the Kohl Gallery’s website for gallery hours and additional exhibit information.

Concert Series: Heloísa Fernandes

The Music Department is proud to present a concert by Heloísa Fernandes, a Brazilian composer and performer known for her unique blend of classical, jazz, and Brazilian influences. The music of Heloísa Fernandes is the sound of a woman free to study literature, poetry, nature, classical music, jazz, Brazilian music, free to let them shape her identity and flow into her compositions. The concert will take place in Decker Auditorium at the Gibson Center for the Arts on Friday, February 7 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15.00 – $20.00 and are available for purchase online in the event listing.

Frederick Douglass Day of Acknowledgment

Celebrate the legacy of Frederick Douglass and the contributions of African Americans to the Eastern Shore at this event co-organized by Washington College and Bayside H.O.Y.A.S. An exciting celebration of the heritage and culture of the African American community, the free event will include a panel discussion moderated by Chesapeake Heartland Project Director Darius Johnson. The day of acknowledgement takes place on Saturday, February 8 at 1 p.m. in the Decker Auditorium in the Gibson Center for the Arts. More info here.

Empowering Girls’ Education in Ghana

The public is invited to join a conversation on Turning Passion to Action with Elizabeth Patterson, founder and executive director of the Girls Education Initiative of Ghana and a leading authority on girls’ education. This event, co-hosted by the Washington Scholars Program, William James Forum, and the Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience, is free and open to the public, and will take place on Tuesday, February 11 at 5 p.m. in the Litrenta Lecture Hall in the Toll Science Building. Patterson will discuss her personal journey as a non-profit leader and offer advice for students and professionals seeking to make social impact. More info here.

Art+Community+History – Creating a Landmark Together

The Washington College Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience is inviting the community to a special visioning session at Sumner Hall (206 S. Queen Street in Chestertown) on Thursday, February 20, at 6 p.m., to explore the intersection of art, community, and history. Facilitated by Doncella Wilson, founder of Minary’s Dream Alliance, this first session will delve into community aspirations for a future landmark that celebrates Chestertown’s rich and diverse past. This event is co-sponsored by Maryland Humanities, Charles Sumner Post #25, Grand Army of the Republic, and the Starr Center, with support from the Maryland State Arts Council, the Town of Chestertown, and Washington College. All community members are encouraged to participate in this exciting opportunity to shape the future of Chestertown. Follow the Starr Center’s events page for more info.

2025 Spring Bird Walk Series Kicks Off

The Washington College Academy of Lifelong Learning (WC-ALL) invites amateur birders to join Dan Small, Associate Director of Natural Land Stewardship at the Center for Environment & Society, and the Washington College Birding Club on Friday, February 21 at 8 a.m. to explore the diverse habitats of Tuckahoe State Park, located on the border of Queen Anne’s and Caroline Counties. The walk is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Participants will search through and learn to identify the numerous sparrow species overwintering in the recently restored meadow and wetland area. The bird walks will continue through May.

Art+Community+History – Reimagining How and Why We Relate

The Washington College Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience is hosting Dr. Erika Doss—Professor of Art History & Edith O’Donnell Distinguished Chair in the Edith O’Donnell Institute of Art History, University of Texas at Dallas for a free community dialogue exploring collective memory and controversy forged through public monuments, public memorials and public art in American culture. This event closes a series of three expert presentations furthering the “Art+Community+History—Creating a Landmark Together” public engagement process underway to celebrate and honor African American history and culture in the Chesapeake tidewater region with an artwork of national significance along the Chestertown waterfront. The discussion will take place in the River Room of the Hodson Boathouse on Monday, February 24 at 6 p.m. More info here.

Community Celebrates African American Literature at Sumner Hall

Join the Kent County community on Monday, February 24, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Sumner Hall (206 S. Queen Street in Chestertown) for a special celebration of African American authors. The National African American Read-In, established in 1990, is the nation’s oldest event dedicated to diversity in literature. This interactive event will feature readings by community members, showcasing the work of acclaimed African American authors. All are welcome to attend and enjoy the readings. Those interested in participating as readers are encouraged to share a piece of writing by an African American author that holds personal meaning for them. Visual literacy will also be celebrated, with opportunities to share interpretations of artwork created by African American artists. The event is co-sponsored by Sumner Hall, Washington College’s Department of Education, Black Studies Program, the Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience, Chesapeake Heartland: An African American Humanities Project, and Kent County Public Library.

Social Enterprise Forum – How to Become a Successful B Corp

The Department of Business Management and the forthcoming Warehime School for of Global Business, Economics, and Social Impact is hosting a special online forum to help local businesses understand how to become a successful B Corp. The event will feature conversations with founders and executives who have successfully navigated the B Corp certification process and offer valuable insights into the benefits of B Corp certification and learn practical steps to incorporate social and environmental responsibility into their business models. The virtual forum will take place on Monday, February 24 at 7 p.m. (EST). Co-sponsored by B Local Mid-Atlantic, this event is free and open to the public. Registration is required.

Reading & Workshop with Author Christopher Tilghman

The Washington College Rose O’Neill Literary House will host acclaimed author Christopher Tilghman for a reading and generative workshop. Though Tilghman was born and raised in Boston, his life has revolved around his family’s farm on the Eastern Shore. Three previous novels, Mason’s Retreat, The Right-Hand Shore, and Thomas and Beal in the Midi tell the multigenerational story of a farm on the Eastern Shore called Mason’s Retreat. His newest novel, On the Tobacco Coast, concludes the quartet in the present day. Both events are free and open to the public and will also be streamed online, making them accessible to a wider audience. The reading will take place at the Lit House on Wednesday, February 26 at 6 p.m. Those who wish to watch online can do so here. The workshop will take place on Thursday, February 27 at 6 p.m. in the Lit House. The workshop will be streamed online here.

“Demystifying the Industry” with Playwright Phaedra Michelle Scott

Award winning playwright and screenwriter Phaedra Michelle Scott will talk about the journey from page to stage, and from stage to screen in a conversation about writing for commercial audiences on Thursday, February 27 in the Tawes Theatre at Gibson Center for the Arts at 6 p.m. Scott is a 2010 graduate of Washington. Her new play, Stompin’ At The Savoy, will open at the Delaware Theatre Company in April. The event is free, but registration is requested.

This is just a glimpse of the exciting events happening at Washington College this February. For more information and a complete calendar of on-campus events, please visit the College’s events page. Directions to Washington College and a map of campus are available online.

Learn more at www.washcoll.edu.

Earlier this month, Washington College welcomed over 450 enthusiastic, service-minded Marylanders from across the state for the first All Corps event for the current class of Maryland Corps, Service Year Option, and AmeriCorps Members. Led by Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation (DSCI) Secretary Paul Monteiro, Jr., staff of Washington College and DSCI staff created a unique day of events encompassing workforce development, leadership, and educational opportunity. The event showcased Washington’s ongoing commitment to civic engagement and provided a unique opportunity for young, up and coming leaders to connect with the College and the Eastern Shore community.

The day unfolded with a series of inspiring addresses from Secretary Monterio of DSCI, Washington College President Mike Sosulski, Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience Deputy Director Jaelon Moaney, and esteemed community leader and former Maryland Delegate Heather Mizeur, all of whom provided valuable insights into civic leadership and the importance of public service. Participants then delved into how to navigate a politically polarizing community crisis through a workshop led by representatives from the Divided Community Project at Ohio State University.

A civic leadership workshop facilitated by Thomas V. Miller Director of Civic Engagement and the Holstein Program in Ethics Pat Nugent offered valuable skills and strategies for ethical leadership to all attendees, equipping the Corps members with tools to excel in their service endeavors. “The service members were full of energy, reflective thinking, and an overwhelming determination to make positive change,” Nugent said after the event. “Maryland has so much to take pride in, so much to be hopeful for.”

Adam Goodheart, Hodson Trust-Griswold Director of the Starr Center, captivated the audience with a “History Mystery: Eastern Shore Edition,” bringing the region’s rich past to life and fostering a deeper understanding of the historical context within which they serve.

Both Goodheart and Nugent noted that the day was inspiring for all involved and lauded the service members for demonstrating incredible attention, curiosity, and excitement. By day’s end both were approached by Members who were interested in attending Washington at some point in the future.

Secretary Monterio, who has held events at Washington College previously, expressed his gratitude to President Sosulski and the Washington College community for their warm hospitality. “This event provided a valuable opportunity for our Members to experience the unique academic environment of Washington College, an institution that embodies how Maryland’s history is deeply intertwined with American history and relevant to understanding the world they inherit,” Secretary Monterio stated.

President Sosulski echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that “Washington College was proud to play host to the Maryland Corps and the Service Year Option conference. Being an engaged citizen and member of our community is fundamental to our mission as a liberal arts college. We were thrilled to showcase how our commitment to preparing students for lives of civic mindedness aligns perfectly with the goals of the Maryland Corps.”

Maryland Corps/Service Year Option offers Maryland residents over 18 years old a unique opportunity to spend a year immersed in professional growth and career exploration by giving participants the chance to work with businesses and organizations throughout the state. Members earn a living wage, gain new skills, and identify where their talents and purpose intersect, all while serving their local community with fellow Marylanders. Job training, an on-site mentor, and personal money management training are also part of the program. Upon successful completion, members earn $6,000 to use toward continuing education tuition costs or as a cash stipend.

The successful collaboration between Washington College and the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation stands as a testament to the power of partnerships in fostering civic engagement and inspiring the next generation of leaders.

Learn more at www.washcoll.edu.