Dear Maryland birders,

Earlier this year I announced 8 new Important Bird Areas in Maryland, including Pocomoke-Nassawango, which is the premier site for forest-interior birds on the Delmarva peninsula and supports significant populations of 12 bird species that are nationally at-risk, including Prothonotary Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Whip-poor-will, and Red-headed Woodpecker.

This Saturday, 11 October, Audubon and TNC are co-hosting a dedication ceremony for this outstanding Important Bird Area, at the Furnacetown visitor center in the heart of TNC's Nassawango Creek Preserve. Please come and enjoy this free event. Directions are below. The ceremony begins at 12:00 noon and will be preceded by a bird walk along the visitor center's swamp boardwalk at 10:30am. A free buffet lunch will be provided at the ceremony, and the historical exhibits at Furnacetown will be open for your perusal. At the ceremony Audubon will recognize the outstanding conservation efforts of several managers of protected lands.

Audubon Maryland-DC is working with several partner organizations, including the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, TNC and the Lower Shore Land Trust, to increase protection of critical wildlife habitat on Maryland's Lower Eastern Shore through the land use planning process.  We have provided county planning departments on the lower shore with maps and documentation of Important Bird Areas for inclusion in County Comprehensive Plans, and are working with partners to repeal Wicomico County's most harmful zoning regulation, the "density bonus", which allows new subdivisions to spring up almost anywhere, even in quality wildlife habitat in remote rural areas - very unsmart growth. You can learn more about the Audubon's Important Bird Areas Program, and find a map and site list,  at our website, <http://www.audubonmddc.org/SciCon_IBAs.html>

I hope to see you at the Nassawango Creek Preserve on Saturday. Please let me know if you are planning on attending.

Dave

Directions to TNC Furnacetown visitor center

From Baltimore/Washington
Take Route 50 east across the Bay Bridge to Salisbury. From Salisbury, go south on Route 12 towards Snow Hill; run right onto Old Furnace road. Travel about a mile and you'll find Furnace Town on the left. Park and check in at the visitor center if it is open. The Paul Leifer Trail begins just beyond the old brick furnace at the south end of the village.



David Curson, PhD
Director of Bird Conservation,
Audubon MD-DC,
2437 Eastern Avenue,
Baltimore  MD  21224
Tel: (410) 558 2473
E-mail: