Message:

[

Previous   Next

]

By Topic:

[

Previous   Next

]

Subject:

Re: Wheelchair Birding

From:

William Randolph

Reply-To:

Date:

Mon, 5 Jun 2006 16:04:36 -0400

A bit further away, but there is the Western Maryland Rail Trail.  It runs
from Big Pool, MD to Hancock, MD, is paved and near level (negligible
grade). It runs parallel to the C&O Canal, but opposite side of the canal
from the towpath. Has accessible portapot in the Big Pool parking lot.
I think this is all in Washington County, MD. All sorts of birds to be
found along the path and it tends to be lightly travelled, with several
road access points.

> I am posting this to the list as I think there may be others who can use
> the
> information.  My husband put together a list of places he has taken me.
> Although I can walk some on flat trails and use non handicapped assessable
> toilet facilities we think that:
>
> Possible wheelchair-accessible sites for birding, in addition
> to the obvious C & O Canal towpath, Dyke Marsh, Hughes Hollow
> and Huntley Meadow. My personal experience with these comes
> from pushing a non-standard wheelchair (rigid frame, bicycle
> tires and brakes), but I believe that all of the sites would
> be accessible to motorized wheelchairs, and to standard
> wheelchairs depending on the distances involved. I would
> appreciate comments, corrections and additions, directed to
>    Thanks, Jim Pugsley
>
> 1. Lake Artemesia, College Park, MD.  Paved paths, connecting with
> the Paint Branch Stream Valley Park and the University of Maryland.
> Lake Artemesia and its immediate surroundings, plus the sections of
> trail that run from Calvert Road to the U. of Md. and on into the
> Beltsville Agricultural Reasearch Center, ending on Cherry Hill Rd.
> Facilities available in Lake Artemesia Park. Warblers, waterfowl,
> Indigo Buntings, etc. (www.pgparks.com/places/nature/artemesia.html)
>
> 2. Little Bennett Regional Park, Clarksburg, MD. Park in lot off
> Clarksburg Rd. at Kingsley Rd. Kingsley Rd. is graveled and not too
> steep from there to the Kingsley (Froggy Hollow) Schoolhouse. This
> road is gated and has no traffic unless the Boy Scouts have a campout
> farther up Kingsley Rd. No facilities. Warblers, thrushes, woodpeckers,
> general woodland (I have found no really useful web site for this one.)
>
> 3. Monticello Park, Alexandria, VA. 3-block square wooded urban park
> that is a trap for migrating warblers, thrushes and tanagers. The first
> 100 yards or so is level enough (bark surface) for any type of
> wheelchair, and provides the opportunity to look DOWN at warblers as
> they bathe in the small stream. No facilities, but a convenient
> McDonalds 3 or 4 blocks away. Somewhat hard to find the first time,
> see http://homepage.mac.com/pmkane/MonticelloPark.html. For some
> photos taken there see www.pbase.com/paulasullivan/monticello
>
> 4. Quiet Waters Park, Annapolis, MD. (Fee or lifetime permit) Outlook
> over South River, and a network of paved paths through woods near and
> to some creeks. Waterfowl, warblers, orioles, flycatchers.
>
> 5. Patuxent River Park, Croom, MD. (Permit required, yearly fee for
> seniors or disabled is $2.50) (a) Blackwalnut Creek Nature Study Area,
> accessible from the parking area at the fishing pier near the
> headquarters building. Loop of trail and boardwalk in wooded marshy
> area, plus a segment along the Patuxent River. Warblers (nesting Hooded),
> waterfowl, nesting Osprey. Portable toilets (handicapped accessible)
> near headquarters building, better facilites under construction in
> summer 2006. (b)Road (paved) from Croom Airport vicinity into Merkle
> Wildlife Sanctuary. Has field, edge, wooded, and marsh habitats.
> Nesting Bluebirds, Acadian Flycatchers, Towhees, Chipping Sparrows,
> etc. Good warbler walk at migration time. Both of these are in the
> Jug Bay Natural Area. See www.pgparks.com/places/parks/patuxent.html
>
> 6. Terrapin Nature Park, Stevensville, MD (east end of the Bay Bridge)
> Smooth surfaced trail loop through woods to Chesapeake Bay, with a
> couple of ponds (observation blinds). Not sure about facilities. For
> directions see the "Terrapin Nature Park" listing in
> www.kentisland.cc/fun.html
>
> 7. Horsehead Wetlands Center, Grasonville, MD (just east of the Bay
> Bridge). Research center, captive wildfowl, but also wood, marsh and
> Bay habitats. Nesting Brown-headed Nuthatch, Wood Duck, etc. For
> more info see the "Horsehead Wetlands Center" listing in
> www.kentisland.cc/fun.html
>
> 8. North Central Railroad Trail (from just N. of Baltimore to the PA
> line) becomes the York County Heritage Trail in PA.) Smooth surfaced
> hiker-biker trail, total length about 45 miles. Much of the MD portion
> is in Gunpowder Falls State Park. Stream and woodland habitat. For
> parking areas and facilities see www.waba.org/new/paths/northcentral.php
> or contact Gunpowder Falls State Park (410 592-2897).
>
> 9. Washington & Old Dominion Trail, Northern VA. Old railroad grade,
> paved trail, running through mixed rural habitat. See
> www.nvrpa.org/wod.html for information on access and facilities.
>
> 10. Gwynna Falls Trail, Baltimore. Wooded streamside trail, paved and
> crushed gravel. A separate section close to the Baltimore Beltway
> usually has nesting Yellow-crowned Night Herons. For access and
> facilities see www.gwynnsfallstrail.org/
>
> 11. Wheaton Regional Park, Wheaton, Md. Particularly good for birding
> are the areas in and near Brookside Gardens. Parking and facilities at
> either the Nature Center or the Garden building, near Randolph Road in
> Wheaton. See www.mc-mncppc.org/parks/brookside
>
> We hope you can enjoy some of these places we have traveled.
>
>  Emily Pugsley
> Silver Spring, MD
> 
>
>


-- 

William Randolph
Keedysville, MD