Kent County
Kent County is the northernmost of the eight counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The county seat is Chestertown, located near the middle of this long, arc-shaped county. Chestertown is the home of Washington College, which has an active field research program focusing on habitat restoration, and which includes the Foreman’s Branch Bird Observatory, located northeast of Chestertown.
Kent County has 317+ species reported on eBird. For the county eBird checklist, eBird hotspots, and more, click here.
View a comparison of Maryland counties based on total number of species reported on eBird.
Kent County is predominantly rural. Being on the Atlantic Coastal Plain, the topography is mostly flat, and non-tidal wetlands are found throughout the county, with tidal wetlands associated with its major rivers and with the Chesapeake Bay. Some forested areas remain.
The northern border of Kent County is formed by the Sassafras River; the southern border is the Chester River; and the western border fronts the Chesapeake Bay. Adjacent counties are Cecil to the north; Queen Anne’s to the south; and Harford County, Baltimore County, and Anne Arundel County, across the Chesapeake Bay on the Western Shore. The border of Kent County with these Western Shore counties is in the middle of the Bay. The state of Delaware lies to the east of Kent County.
The main corridor through Kent County is US Route 301, which north-south through the eastern portion of the county. Other major roadways include MD Route 313 (north-south); MD Route 213 (mostly northeast-southwest); and MD Route 291 (east-west).
The local chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society is the Kent County Bird Club.
Explore birding sites in Kent County by choosing from the list below.
