Waterfowl Festival: Nov. 11-14
Join us in Easton, Maryland for Waterfowl Festival during November 11-14, 2021!
Delmarva Birding Weekends and Harriet Tubman Tours have teamed up with the Waterfowl Festival in Easton, MD, to go birding along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway in Dorchester County.
This special tour is offered separately from Waterfowl Festival tickets. 50% of the proceeds collected from these tours will benefit the Waterfowl Festival.
Tickets for Waterfowl Festival are $20 each and valid for the full three days of the event, Nov. 12 – 14. Children 10 and under are free. Click here to purchase your Waterfowl Festival tickets.
We hope to see you at Waterfowl Festival!
Thursday, November 11
Birding the Harriet Tubman Byway in Dorchester County, MD (DRIVING/HIKING)
Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Cost: $65/person
Meeting location: small roadside pull-off at the Brodess Farm Site, located near 2881 Greenbrier Road, Bucktown, MD 21613. The GPS Coordinates are: 38.459031,-76.048522
On our guided, self-driven tour on Thursday, Nov. 11, we will course through the surrounding farms and Chesapeake Bay marshes of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, home to migrating winter waterfowl and some of the best birding and Bald Eagle watching on America’s Eastern Seaboard. A good portion of the tour is spent on the Wildlife Drive at Blackwater NWR. This area was integral in the early life and times of the famed freedom seeker and human rights activist known as “The Moses of Her People,” Harriet Tubman. Come along to discover the Shore’s hidden landscapes and Tubman’s deep connection to our region’s land and waters.
These are the stops we will make along the ~20 mile, four hour driving and walking tour:
- Brodess Farm site, Harriet Tubman’s childhood home
- Bucktown Village Store, site of Harriet Tubman’s first act of defiance
- Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Wildlife Drive
- Long Wharf, Portal to Slavery – Gateway to Freedom
- Dorchester County Court House
- “Take My Hand” mural, painted by artist Michael Rosato
We recommend that you visit the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center in Cambridge and the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center near Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge on your own after the tour.
Please note the following:
- We do not provide binoculars, but we will have a spotting scope for shared views of birds. Please bring your own optics. Cameras are welcome!
- We have a permit that covers your vehicle daily entry fee for the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Wildlife Drive.
- Please make sure you have enough fuel in your vehicle for the Dorchester County trip, as we will not stop at gas stations along the route.
- Please click this link to review our COVID-19 safety guidelines and additional tips to ensure that you have a great experience!
Some common sense approaches to make your autumn birding trips more enjoyable:
- Wear appropriate clothing and shoes for autumn weather near the Chesapeake Bay! Boots are preferred on trips that include hiking.
- Carry sunscreen, sunglasses and/or a hat to protect yourself from the sun. You can still get sunburn in the fall.
- Bring rain gear as all events are rain or shine.
- 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.