Trip Leader: Bill Telfair

This event is free and open to the public, however, in order to follow the best practice local, state and national Covid guidelines, registration is required and limited to 9 participants. Please register below and note the following guidelines:

• Registration is required and limited to 9 participants (if you can no longer attend, please notify adultprograms@potomacaudubon.org so that others may attend)
• Masks must be worn when in a group setting
• Respect the 6 feet+ apart/physical distancing guidelines
• If you are sick or have been sick within the past two weeks (or been around anyone else that is sick), please stay home
• A reminder from eBird to please bird mindfully: https://ebird.org/news/please-bird-mindfully

For over 20 years, birds along the entire 185 miles of the C&O Canal have been counted.  This survey, which had been coordinated by the District of Columbia Audubon Society, is designed to provide a snapshot count of birds present on the C&O Canal.

Join Bill Telfair for this bird survey walk along a 3-mile stretch of the canal towpath.

Participants should gather across the Potomac River from Shepherdstown at the large National Park Service parking area on Canal Road (past the railroad bridge) at 8:30 am SHARP.  For those that are comfortable, carpooling with masks will be arranged down to Antietam Creek (MP 70). However, if you prefer not to carpool, you can team up with a family member or friend and leave one car at the large parking area and drive the other car down to Antietam Creek parking. The group will carpool or drive down to Antietam Creek (MP 70) and walk back toward the Rumsey Bridge (MP 73).

Anyone with an interest is welcome to participate.  This is a good walk for those still working on their bird identification skills, but intermediate/advanced birders are encouraged to help.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Bill Telfair at wbchtelfair@sbcglobal.net or 408-966-8895.

The count will take place regardless of the weather (only a very severe storm will alter scheduled survey) so please dress appropriately and wear comfortable footwear to walk the full three-mile route.

If there is a snowstorm, we have a snow date set for Saturday, 30

Binoculars will be available for those who need them, however please bring binoculars if you have them.