Songbirds of the Swamp: June 14 – 16
Registration will open before May 8! Some field trips listed below may change before registration opens.
The Bald Cypress Swamps of the Pocomoke River that surround the Furnace Town Historic Site near Snow Hill, Maryland are referred to as “The Northernmost of the Southern Swamps.” In June, the swamp is teeming with neotropical migrants that nest and raise young in the cool, dark forest. This ecosystem is so critical for nesting songbirds that it has been identified as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by the National Audubon Society. 96 species were tallied during our 2023 event!
During June 14 – 16, we’ll search for warblers, vireos, flycatchers, tanagers and more as we explore the swamps and upland forests of the Pocomoke River and Nassawango Creek by kayak, canoe and on foot. We’ll also venture into the nearby Chincoteague Bay watershed to search for birds of the coastal marshes.
Before and after your birding adventures, we encourage you to visit beautiful, historic Snow Hill and learn about the rich history of the twenty-five acres of Furnace Town, the 19th century village of the Nassawango Iron Furnace.
Scroll down this page for field trip info!
Friday night, June 14
Night Birds of the Marsh (DRIVING/HIKING)
Time: 6:30 – 9:30 pm (sunset is 8:26 pm)
Guides: TBD
Cost: $30/person
Meeting Location: Taylors Landing boat ramp, located at 6636 Taylor Landing Rd, Girdletree, MD 21829. GPS coordinates: 38.076662, -75.364728
Tour the 2,630-acre E.A. Vaughn Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and Truitt’s Landing east of Snow Hill, Maryland to search for Clapper Rail, Sora, Marsh Wrens, Chuck-will’s-widows, and Eastern Screech Owls. Meet in the parking area for the Taylor Landing boat ramp near Girdletree, Maryland, at 6:30 p.m. prior to caravanning to our first stop at the Taylor Landing Road entrance to E.A. Vaughn. Following a short walk to the wetlands, we will then caravan to Truitt’s Landing, where we will spend some time scanning the marsh for shorebirds before listening for rails and owls. Driving distance between sites is 3.5 to 4 miles.
Please note: Bring a flashlight, bug spray, and boots or shoes that may get wet. Prepare in advance for ticks, which we may encounter when walking through tall grass at the E.A. Vaughn WMA.
Saturday morning, June 15
Songbirds of Furnace Town (HIKING)
Time: 8:00 – 11:00 am
Guides: TBD
Cost: $35/person (Cost includes admission to Furnace Town for the morning birding tour and the evening concert. Scroll down to learn more!)
Meeting Location: meet in the parking area along Millville Road next to Furnace Town, located at 3816 Old Furnace Rd, Snow Hill, MD 21863. GPS coordinates: 38.204032, -75.471253
We’ll hike along the trails of the Furnace Town Historic Site, nestled between the Pocomoke State Forest and The Nature Conservancy’s Nassawango Creek Preserve. These forests are characterized by large areas of Loblolly Pine, mixed pine-hardwood, bottomland hardwood, and Bald Cypress trees. Along the trails, we’ll search for breeding neotropical migrants such as warblers, vireos, flycatchers and tanagers. We’ll begin the tour from 8:00 to 9:00 am exploring the trails and pond outside the Furnace Town fences. At 9:00 am, we’ll enter the grounds of the historic site to bird the property until 11:00 am.
Please note: Prepare in advance for ticks, which we may encounter when walking through the trails at Furnace Town. Total hike should not exceed two miles on flat trails.
Special offer for our DBW Birders! All participants in the morning walk at Furnace Town will be invited back that evening for a Summer Music Concert from 5:00 – 8:00 pm featuring Heinz and the Red Bird! Your morning entry fee covers the cost of admission to the evening concert. Click here or scroll down to learn more!
Saturday afternoon, June 15
Shorebirds & Songbirds of MD’s Chincoteague Bay (HIKING)
Time: 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Guides: TBD
Cost: $30/person
Meeting Location: the pier at Public Landing, located located next to the Mansion House B&B at 4436 Bayside Rd, Snow Hill, MD 21863. GPS coordinates: 38.148946, -75.286557
We’ll meet at historic Public Landing east of Snow Hill, MD, before departing on a three-stop caravan tour for birding along the landings of Maryland’s Chincoteague Bay and the 2,630-acre E.A. Vaughn Wildlife Management Area (WMA). Our first stop will be Figgs Landing, where we will scan the shallow ponds for shorebirds and wading birds. From Figgs Landing, we will drive a short distance to Truitt’s Landing. Here we will explore the marshes for Seaside Sparrows and shorebirds. Our last stop will be the E.A. Vaughn WMA, which we will access from the entrance on Route 12 south of Girdletree, MD. The forest and fields at E.A. Vaughn should add nice songbird variety to our list. Total driving distance between sites is less than 10 miles.
Please note: Prepare in advance for ticks, which we may encounter when walking through the trails at the E.A. Vaughn WMA.
Saturday evening, June 15
Summer Music at Furnace Town (LIVE MUSIC)
Time: 5:00 – 8:00 pm
Band: Heinz and the Red Bird
Cost: see information below for paying at the gate; DBW Birders who participate in the Saturday morning hike at Furnace Town get in free!
Meeting Location: Furnace Town, located at 3816 Old Furnace Rd, Snow Hill, MD 21863. GPS coordinates: 38.204032, -75.471253
Sunday morning, June 16
Neotropicals on the Nassawango – Red House Road to Nassawango Bridge (KAYAK/CANOE)
Time: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Cost: $65/person sharing a canoe ($120 total), $80/person solo kayak, $50/person with your own boat & portage (please note: cost includes 11% tax added to rentals by Pocomoke River Canoe Co.)
Guides: TBD
Meeting Location: Pocomoke River Canoe Company, located at 2 River St, Snow Hill, MD 21863
Please note: All paddling done by participants; some experience required. Must be 13 years old to participate. If you are reserving a tandem kayak or canoe, please plan to attend with a paddling partner. We can’t always guarantee another solo paddler will join you in a two-person boat. Thank you!
After we meet at the Pocomoke River Canoe Company in Snow Hill, we’ll be driven to the launch at Red House Road, a few miles northwest. From there, we’ll paddle Nassawango Creek deep into this forested wilderness of bald cypress. Prothonotary Warblers, Wood Ducks, Bald Eagles, and beavers are regulars on this 3-hour trip, which will end at the bridge on Nassawango Road.
On a windy day, this paddle can present a moderate challenge as we approach the Nassawango Road bridge. Paddlers may choose canoes, tandem kayaks, or solo kayaks.
Click on the Google Map for specific meeting locations for all field trips and events:
Please note:
- No cancellations are accepted after June 1, 2024. For a further explanation of our refund policy, please click here.
- Trips will go rain or shine, unless torrential rains prevent us from viewing wildlife.
- If the trip is canceled due to dangerous conditions, we will notify you via email. Please note that the email will be sent to all participants BCC, so you may need to check your email spam folder. A full refund will be provided within 15 days.
- Food and drink are not included in the cost for field trips.
- Wear appropriate clothing and shoes for June weather near the coast.
- Bugs are a part of our natural environment. You can expect and prepare for flies, mosquitoes and ticks during some field trips. Be sure to bring insect repellent. For information about preventing tickborne diseases, please click here.
- Carry sunscreen, sunglasses and/or a hat to protect yourself from the sun.
- Bring rain gear as all events are rain or shine. We only cancel trips due to dangerous weather, such as lightning or strong winds.
- Try to arrive a little before the scheduled trip departs.
- Most trips are not appropriate for young children. Please use your discretion when registering.
- Be courteous to your fellow birders. Speak quietly and turn off cell phones during trips.
- Restroom facilities may not be available on some trips.
- All reservations will be confirmed via email.