If anyone is interested in seeing woodcocks this may be the last year to see
them at UMBC.  

There was an article in the Balto Sun on March 14 (thank you Steve S. for
sending it to me) that states a 23,500 sq ft building will house the USGS
water science center, which will track stream flows, groundwater levels, and
water quality throughout MD, DE, and DC.  To view the article, go to
www.sunspot.net and search on "UMBC" and "water".  Article title is "Water
science center is relocating to UMBC".  So, on the plus side hopefully they
will be mindful of the delicate conservation area surrounding their building
since they are already conservation-minded.  The building should be occupied
by spring 2007, groundbreaking begins June this year.  The map from the
paper (not available online) looks like it is where the woodcocks do their
display.  I hope the woodcocks will rear their young in the Environmental
area that is protected (and more wooded).  

More info on the Conservation area can be found at
http://www.umbc.edu/cera/index.html

I don't think I ever would have seen a woodcock display had it not been for
those who fought so hard to preserve these areas (or for Norm and his work
on MDOSPREY)!

Directions from Baltimore City:
Take 95 South to the BWI/195 exit and to RIGHT.  

Take exit #47B-A onto MD-166 NORTH toward CATONSVILLE - go 0.8 mi Take the
UMBC exit toward RESEARCH PARK DR - go 0.4 mi Turn  on RESEARCH PARK DR - go
< 0.1 mi Arrive at 5521 RESEARCH PARK DR, CATONSVILLE, on the left.  
 
The above directions are to RWD technologies-which is right across from
where the woodcocks display.  

Wendy Olsson
Baltimore, MD