Are you 8 to15 years old and enjoy watching birds? Join our club! A program presented by the Baltimore Birding Club, a chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society. Our leaders:

• Marty Brazeau: (Coordinator) Marty is a school librarian, storyteller, and outdoor educator. He has visited Costa Rica many times to watch and film birds.
• Rose Anderson: (Beginner Birder Coordinator). Rose is a gung-ho birder who wants to make sure that new birders are guided toward success.
• Wendy Olsson: Wendy is an active bird club leader and native plant gardener. She is the leader of the "Lights Out Baltimore Program" that works to reduce the number of birds killed by hitting reflective glass on windows and buildings.

Join other young birders on youth-centered bird hikes and weekend outings. You will locate, identify, and study birds with binoculars, field guides, and iPod apps. As you advance in the program, join a "World Series of Birding" team, or travel to Costa Rica with the club to search for toucans, macaws, manikins, and hummingbirds. You might be lucky and see a manikin moonwalk! We also encourage young birders to attend any regularly scheduled Baltimore Bird Club hikes and lectures.

When & Where?

Bird in the Chesapeake Bay area year-round -- a schedule is below. For information about youth birding programs statewide, go to http://www.ymos.org.

Why?

Birding is fun! Turn off your video games and join us outside on a trail discovering birds. Our club may lead you to a lifelong environmental interest or career.

How?

You will need to attend our programs with a parent or a sanctioned adult. Mom and Dad will benefit by learning ways of enjoying nature at home and on family vacations. If available, bring a pair of binoculars and a bird field guide on our hikes. We may be able to lend you binoculars. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy boots or hiking shoes. Our program is free. However, for a measly $10, you can become a Junior member of the Baltimore Bird Club. We hope you will become a "gung ho birder" and want to attend evening lectures and bird club walks. Visit the club's web page for member information: http://baltimorebirdclub.org.

Become an official member of the program by contacting Marty Brazeau, Phone: 410-583-0275, . You can also receive e-mail reminders about Baltimore Orioles Junior Bird Club events by joining the online meetup group at http://www.meetup.com/baltimorebirdclub/.

Join the online Baltimore Bird Club Meetup Group. Do you miss fun bird hikes and lectures because you misplaced your program booklet or forget to check the online schedule? Wouldn't it be nice to be reminded about exciting bird club happenings? You should join the Baltimore Bird Club Meetup group! You will be reminded via e-mail about birding events and know about other Meetup members who will be attending. The site is free. The club pays all administrative costs. You can easily join the BBC meetup group at http://www.meetup.com/baltimorebirdclub/

SEP 10 (Sat) 8:30 a.m. SOLDIERS DELIGHT STATE PARK: YOUTH BIRDING PROGRAM. (Ages 8-15 with parent) Learn how to use field guides and iPod apps to locate birds. Please register: Marty Brazeau, (410) 583-0275. e-mail:
*Directions to Soldiers Delight. From I-695 Beltway take exit 18 Liberty Road west 4 miles, bear right onto Deer Park Road just before traffic light and water tower, go approximately 2 miles to the historical marker on your left.

SEP 17 (Sat) 8:30 a.m. CROMWELL VALLEY PARK: YOUTH BIRDING PROGRAM. (Ages 8-15 with parent) Learn how to use field guides and iPod apps to locate birds. Please register: Rose Anderson, 443-802-8012, rose.k.
*Directions to Cromwell Valley Park. From Baltimore Beltway I-695 take exit 29A Cromwell Bridge Road. At end of entrance ramp, turn left (north) on Cromwell Bridge Road, continue 1.4 miles beyond the light, turn left at the "Willow Grove Farm Entrance." Follow entrance road, cross a small bridge, and park in lot on left.

SEP 24 (Sat) 8:00 - 9:30 a.m. PATTERSON PARK: YOUTH BIRDING PROGRAM. Join Mike Hudson and other youth birders and catch fall migration at this Baltimore City park. This event is a regularly scheduled bird walk open to the public. Some nice warblers have been known to stop here during migration. Leader: Dave Curson, (410) 675-4963 or
*Directions to Patterson Park. From downtown Baltimore, drive east up Pratt St, go left onto South Patterson Park Ave and park on this street in the first or second block. Meet at the Fountain near the white house. Patterson Park questions? Call 410-558-2473

OCT 1 (Sat) Very early! CAPE MAY NEW JERSEY HAWK WATCHING. Youth Maryland Ornithological Society (YMOS) Join young birders on an early morning, all day, intensive birding experience. More information: http://www.ymos.org. To register for the trip: contact George at .

OCT 8 (Sat) 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. MARSHY POINT NATURE CENTER. Youth Birder Canoe Trip. Learn about aquatic birds at this eastern Baltimore County marsh. Our youth canoe trip will open to all members if we get just a few young birders. $7 fee/person. Pre-registration and payment required two weeks before the trip. Youth and parent registration by September 14, all bird club members will be able to register Sept 15 to Sept 20. Register: Marty Brazeau, (410) 583-0275,

OCT 15 (Sat) 8:30 a.m. CROMWELL VALLEY PARK: YOUTH BIRDING PROGRAM. (Ages 8-15 with parent) Learn how to use field guides and iPod apps to locate birds. Leader: Rose Anderson, 443-802-8012, rose.k.
*Directions to Cromwell Valley Park. From Baltimore Beltway I-695 take exit 29A Cromwell Bridge Road. At end of entrance ramp, turn left (north) on Cromwell Bridge Road, continue 1.4 miles beyond the light, turn left at the "Willow Grove Farm Entrance." Follow entrance road, cross a small bridge, and park in lot on left.

NOV 4-6 (Friday-Sunday) 8:00 - 9:30 a.m. IRISH GROVE SANCTUARY, (NEAR CRISFIELD MARYLAND). Youth Birding Weekend at We will bird with other young birders from the Eastern Shore. We will bird at Chincoteague Island and the 1,500 acre marsh/pine forest sanctuary property. Optional three-hour canoe trip at Janes Island State Park. Meals and room provided at about $30. Young birders must attend with a parent or sanctioned adult. Pre-registration required: Marty Brazeau: 410-583-0275 or .

DEC 18 (Sun) 6:00 AM - 5:30 P.M. ST. MICHAELS BIRD COUNT. Youth Birding Program. Join other youth birders to count birds on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Overnight accommodations can be provided. You will need to have money for meals. More information: http://www.ymos.org. Pre-registration required: Marty Brazeau: 410-583-0275 or . You can also sign up to count for the Baltimore Bird Count: Leader: Pete Webb, (410) 486-1217, or

FEB 18 (Sat) 6:00 A.m. - 5:30 PM DORCHESTER COUNTY. Youth Birding Program. Join other youth birders from around the state. A group from Baltimore will be carpooling and meeting the group at 8 AM at the Sailwinds Center immediately across the Choptank River Bridge in Cambridge. We'll spend time looking at the large array of ducks, before heading south in the county to Blackwater Refuge and Shorter's Wharf to look for Short-eared Owls and the Rough-legged Hawk. Bring a lunch and money for dinner and plenty of warm clothing. We'll return to Baltimore at about 8:00 PM. More information: http://www.ymos.org. To join the Baltimore carpool contact: Marty Brazeau at 410-583-0275,

MAR 10 (Sat) 8:00 a.m. LOCH RAVEN. Youth Birding Trip (ages 8-15 with parent) Waterbirds and land birds. Possible Bald Eagle, Bluebird, Common Loon. Two-mile level walk. Leader: Marty Brazeau at 410-583-0275,
*Directions to Loch Raven. From Baltimore Beltway I-695, take exit 27 Dulaney Valley Road north, go several miles, cross large bridge over reservoir, and bear right immediately. Continue to first left, Stone Hill Road. Go about 100 yards, turn around, and then park on your right. All cars need to park on the same side of the road.

APR 14 (Sat) 7:00 A.M. LOWER EASTERN SHORE. Youth Birding Program. Looking for early migrants. Meet the group in Cambridge at Sailwinds Park. Return to Sailwinds Park by 5:00 PM. More information: http://www.ymos.org. To register contact George at .

APR 28 (Sat) 8:00 - 9:30 a.m. AM PATTERSON PARK. Youth Birding. Join Mike Hudson and other youth birders and catch Spring migration at this Baltimore City park. This event is a regularly scheduled bird walk open to the public. Some nice warblers have been known to stop here during migration. Leader: Dave Curson, (410) 675-4963 or
*Directions to Patterson Park. From downtown Baltimore, drive east up Pratt St, go left onto South Patterson Park Ave and park on this street in the first or second block. Meet at the Fountain near the white house. Patterson Park questions? Call 410-558-2473

APR 29 (Sun) 5:45 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. CECIL, HARFORD, AND BALTIMORE COUNTIES -ALL DAY YOUTH BIRDING ODYSSEY. Bird all day with experienced young birders from throughout the state. You will be driving throughout the day and at stopping at parks to get target bird species. Meet at Elkton McDonalds (Rt 40/213) at 5:45 AM More information: http://www.ymos.org. To register for the bird count: contact George at .

MAY 5 (Sat) 8:30 a.m. CROMWELL VALLEY PARK: YOUTH BIRDING PROGRAM. (Ages 8-15 with parent) On the best warbler birding day of the year learn about how to bird with other birders ages 8 to 15. Learn how to use field guides and iPod apps to locate birds. Please register for this program: Leaders: Rose Anderson, 443-802-8012 rose.k. Marty Brazeau: 410-583-0275,
*Directions to Cromwell Valley Park. From Baltimore Beltway I-695 take exit 29A Cromwell Bridge Road. At end of entrance ramp, turn left (north) on Cromwell Bridge Road, continue 1.4 miles beyond the light, turn left at the "Willow Grove Farm Entrance." Follow entrance road, cross a small bridge, and park in lot on left.

MAY 9-13 (Wed-Sun) WORLD SERIES OF BIRDING IN CAPE MAY, NJ. Youth birders from anywhere in the state can participate in this event. Maryland youth will be recruited for both middle school and high school teams. Contact George Radcliffe at by March 1 if interested. We will depart Weds, May 9 for 3 days of scouting in Cape May County. We'll participate in the Big Day on Saturday, May 12, trying to find as many species as we can in a 24-hour period. We'll return Sunday after the Awards Brunch. The March 17 - 18 Birdathon fundraiser will hopefully pay for the registration, lodging, and meals for each participant.

MAY 18-20: (Friday night -Sunday noon) CAREY RUN SANCTUARY, FROSTBURG, MARYLAND Youth Birding Weekend. Leaders: Marty Brazeau. Join us for the weekend in the mountains of Western Maryland. We will stay in an old farmhouse at a 162-acre bird sanctuary. We will visit local state parks to bird for mountain nesting warblers. This trip is limited to 10 persons. To register: Marty Brazeau at 410-583-0275,

JUL-AUG, 2012: (Dates not set at press time) YOURTH AND TEACHER COSTA RICA BIRDING SUMMER TOUR. Join young birders, teachers, and bird club members on an incredible eleven-day tour. We will bird on the Tarcoles River and Carara on the Pacific coast, Monteverde Cloud Forest, and the Arenal Volcano area. We will also enjoy the beach, optional zip lining through the rain forest, bathe in the hot springs, and explore local Tico culture. Guide, lodging, transportation, and food included. For complete information contact Marty Brazeau at 410-583-0275, .