Further Reading

Birding Activities in Maryland and DC

Bird Checklists and Bird Distribution

Where to Go Birding – Print Resources

Some of these books are long out of print but available for purchase through Amazon and other online outlets. Some of the material in print publications may be outdated in terms of birds found at particular sites or driving directions.  See the next section below for online bird-finding resources, which tend to be more up-to-date.

  • A Birder’s Guide to Baltimore and Baltimore County, Maryland, Elliot A. Kirschbaum, Editor; published by the Baltimore Bird Club, Baltimore, a chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society, 1998. The booklet is out of print; a downloadable scanned version in PDF format is made available here by courtesy of the Baltimore Bird Club.
  • A Birder’s Guide to Montgomery County, Maryland, Linda Friedland, Editor-in-Chief; published by the Montgomery Bird Club, a chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society, 2008. The book is now out of print but is available as a free downloadable PDF, courtesy of the Montgomery Bird Club.
  • Birding Howard County, Maryland, by Joanne K. Solem; published by the Howard County Chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society, 1995. The book is now out of print but is available in an online version as part of the Howard County Bird Club website.
  • Bird Finding in Frederick County, Maryland, by Stauffer Miller; published by the Frederick Chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society, 1993.
  • Finding Birds in the National Capital Area, by Claudia Wilds; Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press, Washington, DC, 1992.

Where to Go Birding – Online Resources

State Parks and Other Public Lands

Tip: Even if you don’t boat, paddle, or fish, boat launches and fishing spots can provide birders with valuable access to view water habitats for waterfowl, waders, shorebirds and more.

County and Municipal Parks

Western Region

Central Region

Southern Region

Eastern Shore

Other Park and Preserve Systems

Online Hiking and Biking Resources for Maryland and DC

Hiking and biking resources generally cover a broader spectrum of places than those ordinarily visited by birders, so you might discover some new places to bird.

Printed Books on Hiking, Biking, and Paddling in Maryland and DC

Some of the material in older print publications may be outdated in terms of driving directions or amenities, but  these books offer detailed insights into a wide variety of parks, trails, and waterways. 

  • 50 Hikes in Maryland: Walks, Hikes, and Backpacks from the Allegheny Plateau to the Atlantic Ocean, by Leonard M. Atkins; Backcountry Guides, Woodstock, VT, 2000.
  • 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Baltimore, Including Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, and Howard Counties, Third Edition, by Allison Sturm; prior edition by Evan Balkan; Menasha Ridge Press, Birmingham, AL, 2019.
  • 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Washington, D.C., Including Suburban and Outlying Areas of Maryland and Virginia, Second Edition, by Renee Sklarew and Rachel Cooper; prior edition by Paul Elliott; Menasha Ridge Press, Birmingham, AL, 2017.
  • A Year across Maryland: A Week by Week Guide to Discovering Nature in the Chesapeake Region, by Bryan MacKay; The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2013.
  • Baltimore Trails: A Guide for Hikers and Mountain Bikers, Second Edition, by Bryan MacKay; The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2008.
  • Country Walks near Washington, Second Edition, by Alan Fisher; Rambler Books, Baltimore, 1996.
  • Cycle Maryland: A Guide to Bike Paths and Rail Trails, by Bryan MacKay; The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2018.
  • Day Trips in Delmarva: A Guide to Southern Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia, by Alan Fisher; Rambler Books, Baltimore, 1992.
  • Hike Maryland: A Guide to the Scenic Trails of the Free State, by Bryan MacKay; The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2018.
  • Hiking Maryland and Delaware: A Guide to the States’ Greatest Day Hiking Adventures, Third Edition, by David Lillard and revised by Terry Cummings; Falcon Press, Guilford, CT, 2014.
  • Maryland and Delaware Canoe Trails: A Paddler’s Guide to Rivers of the Old Line and First States, Third Edition, by Edward Gertler; Seneca Press, Silver Spring, MD, 1989.
  • Nature’s Calendar: A Year in the Life of a Wildlife Sanctuary, by Colin Rees; The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2019. (Note: The sanctuary covered in this book is Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary in Anne Arundel County.)
  • Paddle Maryland: A Guide to Rivers, Creeks, and Water Trails, by Bryan MacKay; The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2018.
  • Paddling Maryland and Washington, DC: A Guide to the Area’s Greatest Paddling Adventures, by Jeff Lowman; Falcon Press, Guilford, CT, 2015.
  • Quiet Water Mid-Atlantic: AMC’s Canoe and Kayak Guide to the Best Ponds, Lakes, and Easy Rivers, from Pennsylvania to Virginia, by Rachel Cooper; published by the Appalachian Mountain Club, Boston, 2018.
  • Rail-Trails Mid-Atlantic: The Definitive Guide to Multiuse Trails in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia, Second Edition, by The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy; Wilderness Press, Birmingham, AL, 2015.
  • The Baltimore Trail Book, by Suzanne Meyer Mittenthal, Revised Edition edited by James W. Poultney; The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 1983.
  • Walks and Rambles on the Delmarva Peninsula: A Guide for Hikers and Naturalists, by Jay Abercrombie; Backcountry Publications, Woodstock, VT, 1993.

Road Maps and Mileage