All Upcoming Events and Trips

Youth Birders: Wilmington Christmas Bird Count

White-throated Sparrow by Carolyn Holland Join us for the 124th annual Christmas Bird Count!  We will be counting all of the birds we can see and hear to help track continent-wide trends in bird diversity and abundance.  The data collected is used by scientists working to protect bird habitats and populations. Please RSVP to Jessica ... Read more

DOS December Meeting: “A trip to Darwin’s Isles” by Joe Sebastiani

Ashland Nature Center 3511 Barley Mill Road, Hockessin, DE, United States

Joe will take us on a tour of the Galapagos Islands and all its magical and unique creatures. The next best thing to going there. Joe Sebastiani is well known to DOS members as a DOS Fellow and Past President. He is also the lead eBird reviewer for Delaware. Joe grew up in Kennett Square, ... Read more

Midwinter Bird Walk at Alapocas with Sally O’Byrne

Golden-crowned Kinglet by Carolyn Holland Explore Alapocas Woods for wintering birds Come out and get to know some of the birds that are at home in the woods and fields during winter! Contact Carolyn at [email protected] if you have any questions about this trip. Meet at the Blue Ball Barn near the traffic circle on ... Read more

DOS January Meeting: Annual Christmas Count Recap

Join host Jim White and other Christmas Count compilers for a recap of all the exciting discoveries during the 2022-2023 Christmas Counts. Each compiler will summarize the highlights of their count and discuss recent trends in bird populations. This event will be held at Ashland Nature Center.

Sea Watch II with Chris Bennett & Anthony Gonzon

Long-tailed Duck by Michael Moore Two more opportunities remain to join Anthony Gonzon and Chris Bennett for brisk birding adventures at the Indian River Inlet this winter! January 21, 2024 – 8am until 12pm March 17, 2024 – 8am until 12pm To be enjoyed at the Southside Day Use Area (parking lot on the south ... Read more

Raptors in Winter with Jim White (DOS Members Only)

Red-shouldered Hawk by Carolyn Holland A quest for Raptors in Winter! A full day quest for raptors that may be found in our area during the winter months. We will visit several areas in Delaware and while we will include owls in our search, no tape recordings will be used to call them in.  Bring ... Read more

Sea Watch III with Chris Bennett & Anthony Gonzon

Long-tailed Duck by Michael Moore Last chance to join Anthony Gonzon and Chris Bennett for a brisk birding adventure at the Indian River Inlet this winter! To be enjoyed at the Southside Day Use Area (parking lot on the south side of Indian River Inlet along the ocean). Come prepared for cold conditions and the ... Read more

DOS March Meeting: “Bird Banding at Rushton Woods: Reading Feathers to Advance Bird Conservation” by Blake Goll

To an ornithologist, monitoring the populations of birds is — quite literally —  taking the pulse of the environment.  The primary way to study bird populations today is through a traditional mark-release-recapture technique known as bird banding. The Willistown Conservation Trust began a federally licensed banding station in 2009 at Rushton Woods Preserve and Farm ... Read more

Alapocas Woods with Joe Francis

Louisiana Waterthrush by Mary Braun Explore Alapocas Woods Visit an oasis within the city of Wilmington with good successional field habitat, mature woodlands and the Brandywine River. Target birds include migrating warblers and thrushes as well as the many summer and year-round residents. Helpfully offered during the week of the Delaware Bird-A-Thon for folks out ... Read more

46th Annual Beginner’s Shorebird Field Trip!

Shorebirds for Beginners at Bombay Hook! Delaware Ornithological Society (DOS) is sponsoring a Beginner’s Shorebird Field Trip on Saturday, July 20th, at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Smyrna, Delaware. This will be a Half Day trip - tailored for beginners, and is the 46th consecutive outing for this popular field trip. "Par" is 15 species of shorebirds, ... Read more