Audrey Carroll Audubon Sanctuary

Audrey Carroll Audubon Sanctuary

13030 Old Annapolis Road, Mt. Airy, MD 21771
centralmdaudubon@gmail.com

Audrey Carroll Audubon Sanctuary is a 129-acre farm that was donated to the Audubon Society of Central Maryland (ASCM) in the early 1990s. Located in Frederick County within the Piedmont physiographic province, the sanctuary is surrounded by farms and vineyards, with low ridges oriented north/south, providing good raptor migration viewing opportunities in the fall.

ASCM actively manages the habitats on the property, resulting in great diversity within a relatively small parcel. Habitats include: managed fields of warm season grasses; early successional habitat; upland deciduous and pine forests; forested wetlands; and a small farm pond. Maintained trails cover more than half the property (see Trail Map at link at left).

Birdlife:

Over 155 species have been reported on eBird for Audrey Carroll Audubon Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is excellent for sparrows including Song, Chipping, White-throated, White-crowned, Swamp, and Field. Lincoln’s and Fox Sparrows are regular visitors. Breeding birds include Eastern Bluebird, Tree Swallow, Purple Martin, American Woodcock, Yellow-breasted Chat, Willow Flycatcher, and Cooper’s Hawk. Raptor migration includes all common migrants and the occasional Golden Eagle and Mississippi Kite. Almost 30 species of warbler have been documented during spring and fall migration. Black-billed Cuckoo is regular during spring migration.

Parking:

A small gravel lot just off Old Annapolis Road can accommodate 6-10 vehicles.

Special Features:

A number of butterfly species are abundant in the open fields and marshes at Audrey Carroll. The floodplain marsh supports Spotted Turtles. ◾ The Audubon Society of Central Maryland offers guided walks at Audrey Carroll and other locations; see their events schedule for details. ◾ The local chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society is the Frederick Bird Club, which hosts fields trips and meetings with informative presentations, all free and open to the public.

Directions:

From I-70, travel north on MD Route 75/Green Valley Road for 3.5 miles to Old Annapolis Road. Turn right (east) onto Old Annapolis Road and continue approximately 3 miles to the Sanctuary entrance and gravel parking lot on the left. Note: the entrance is marked with a sign, but easy to miss. If you reach Charles Drive on the left, you’ve gone too far.

Nearby Sites:

Frederick County: C&O Canal – Mouth of Monocacy to Brunswick ◾ Catoctin Mountain Park ◾ Cunningham Falls State Park ◾ Fred J. Archibald Audubon Sanctuary ◾ Gambrill State Park ◾ Lilypons Water Gardens ◾ Seymour B. Cooper MOS Sanctuary ◾ Sugarloaf Mountain

Habitats:

Bottomland DeciduousConifersHedgerowsUpland Deciduous Hay Meadows, Pasture, Grass FieldOld Fields, Shrubby Meadows Freshwater Marsh or FloodplainFreshwater Pond, Lake, or ReservoirRivers & Streams

Features:

BeginnersFree - No Entry Fee at Any TimeHiking/Walking TrailsNative Plant Garden or Meadow/Pollinator PlantsParkingWater ViewYoung People / Families

Type:

Private Sanctuaries and Preserves