Host:
Harford Bird Club
Contact Elaine Scribner-Wagner (517-622-1211 or authorelainescribner@gmail.com) for questions.
Description:
Join Bird and wildlife naturalist John Canoles, and enthusiasts Elaine & Steve Scribner-Wagner for an evening on the water to witness an amazing congregation of purple martins. By mid-August thousands of purple martins flock to the marsh along the Maurice River just outside of Mauricetown to roost each evening. Their numbers build as the daylight dwindles with peak activity occurring just after sunset in the last light of day. Large flocks of martins, along with barn and tree swallows, swirl over the marsh before settling in for the evening. Other species to be seen include eastern kingbirds, osprey, bald eagles, double crested cormorants, fish crows, and red-winged blackbirds. River otter sightings are a possibility and fiddler crabs can be seen along the edges of the marsh. Bring your own kayak/canoe if you have one, contact us otherwise to reserve one. including a night light (will be starting to get dark as we come in…better to be prepared). Meet at 4:30 pm at the Havre de Grace Park-N-Ride at Rt. I-95 and Rt. 155. Bring dinner & bug spray. We will kayak to the roosting area at dusk. The normal roosting locations are about a mile from the launch point.The Maurice River is tidal and the effort would be rated easy to moderate difficulty depending on the exact location of the roost, the tide direction, and the wind. You should be prepared to get a little wet as there are no formal kayak launch facilities. We will plan to be on the river by 7 pm with sunset occurring at 8 pm. We will return to shore in low light around 8:30 pm.
