Youth Birders: Wilmington Christmas Bird Count
2025-12-20 08:30 - 10:30 (America/New_York)
Snow Geese by Carolyn Holland

Join us for the 126th 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 at redknotyouthbirders@gmail.com so we’ll know to expect you.

Meet at the Alapocas Ball Fields

First State National Historical Park Bird Survey
2025-12-26 08:00 - 11:00
Red-headed Woodpecker by Jean-Marie Gauthier

Birders at Hot Triangle L to R: Carol Majors, Jean-Marie Gauthier, Ron Majors, Walt Blackwell, Karen Hochgraf. Photo by Melissa Lafferty

Last day for this survey!

DOS with the cooperation with the National Park Service is embarking on a comprehensive transect survey of the avifauna of the Brandywine Valley (formerly Woodlawn) Tract of First State National Historical Park. The property was preserved for prosperity by William Poole Bancroft with “the vision of open space accessible to the public for their health and well being.” The goal is to determine the park’s avian population and locate prime birding areas. This is the 10th anniversary of an initial survey done by Delaware Nature Society prior to transfer of the property to the National Park Service and will set a baseline as improvements are made to the area.

Young Red-headed Woodpecker by Jean-Marie Gauthier

DOS is looking for leaders and participants to help with the census. We’ll start by meeting at the Ramsey Road parking lot at 7:30 am. If interested, please contact Andy Ednie at 302-463-0113 or email ednieap@verizon.net.

Late Afternoon Bird Walk at the DuPont Environmental Education Center/Russell W. Peterson Refuge with Joe Francis
2025-12-28 15:00 - 17:00
Hermit Thrush by Carolyn Holland

Explore Delaware’s Premier Urban Wildlife Refuge!

There will be a chance to work off those extra holiday calories and bird at a slower, more relaxing pace than the recent CBCs with a walk along the Jack A Markell Trail at the Peterson Refuge near the Wilmington Riverfront. We will begin about 2 hours before sundown and cover about 2 miles, mostly on boardwalk with a bit of woodland trail thrown in. The sights and sounds of a freshwater marsh in evening are a great stress-reliever and will fortify you for the week ahead. Afterwards, we can enjoy the holiday lights on the Riverwalk.

Next walk: January 25, 2026 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Meet by the Russell Peterson statue in the parking area for the DuPont Environmental Education Center. Those interested in more information may contact Joe at jfrancismd@verizon.net.

January Meeting: "Update on the Delaware Shorebird Project" by Kat Christie
2026-01-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Ashland Nature Center, 3511 Barley Mill Road, Hockessin, DE, 19707, United States
Summary: Shorebirds are an important part of the ecology of Delaware’s shorelines. But they are under threat; populations are declining. DNREC’s Delaware Shorebird Project works to mitigate that threat, through research and monitoring, habitat protection, and management planning. The Shorebird Project team has conducted research and monitoring since 1997. They have studied the health and status of several shorebird populations. These include the Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Dunlin, Semipalmated Sandpiper and the federally threatened rufa subspecies of the Red Knot. The professional staff and dedicated volunteers of the Project are part of a team that includes state and federal scientists, local and international researchers, local volunteers and birders who collect high-quality data.

Kat Christie is the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife’s coastal waterbird biologist and project leader for the Delaware Shorebird Project, a long-term study centered on the stopover of tens of thousands of long-distance migrant shorebirds in the Delaware Bay each spring. She has a background in avian conservation and earned a Masters degree from the University of Georgia studying wading bird pathogen dynamics, working in novel urban breeding colonies of white ibis in Florida. She moved to Delaware to join DNREC in July of 2023 and is now preparing for her third full field season here, managing the planning, field work, and data analysis related to migratory shorebirds, colonial waterbirds, and other breeding coastal species of conservation concern such as American Oystercatcher and Piping Plover.

The meeting is held in person at Ashland Nature Center and is streamed online via YouTube Live. The in person meeting is open to everyone, but the YouTube Live presentation is for DOS members only.

Members in good standing will receive an email with the link to YouTube Live prior to the meeting. If you are not a member and would like to attend virtually, please consider joining DOS.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Youth Birders: Augustine Wildlife Area - Ashton Tract***Cancelled due to impending snowstorm***
2026-01-25 08:30 - 10:30
Sandhill Cranes by Carolyn Holland

This January, we’re headed to southern New Castle County to explore Delaware’s winter waterfowl! We will start with a stop at the viewing platform overlooking Thousand Acre Marsh, then explore the adjacent forests and fields. Besides ducks, geese, and swans, we’ll also be keeping an eye out for overwintering songbirds, raptors, and maybe even a sandhill crane or two.DE Conservation Access Pass required.

Please RSVP to Jessica at redknotyouthbirders@gmail.com so we’ll know to expect you.

Meet at 507 Thorntown Road, Middletown DE 19709

Late Afternoon Bird Walk at the DuPont Environmental Education Center/Russell W. Peterson Refuge with Joe Francis***Rescheduled to January 31 due to impending snowstorm***
2026-01-25 15:00 - 17:00
Field Sparrow by Carolyn Holland

Explore Delaware’s Premier Urban Wildlife Refuge!

Close the week with an easy walk along the Jack A Markell Trail at the Peterson Refuge near the Wilmington Riverfront. We will begin about 2 hours before sundown and cover about 2 miles, mostly on boardwalk with a bit of woodland trail thrown in. The sights and sounds of a freshwater marsh in evening are a great stress-reliever and will fortify you for the week ahead.

Meet by the Russell Peterson statue in the parking area for the DuPont Environmental Education Center. Those interested in more information may contact Joe at jfrancismd@verizon.net.

Late Afternoon Bird Walk at the DuPont Environmental Education Center/Russell W. Peterson Refuge with Joe Francis***Cancelled***
2026-01-31 15:00 - 17:00
***Cancelled due to sub-freezing temperatures & ice on the boardwalk***

Field Sparrow by Carolyn Holland

Explore Delaware’s Premier Urban Wildlife Refuge!

Close the week with an easy walk along the Jack A Markell Trail at the Peterson Refuge near the Wilmington Riverfront. We will begin about 2 hours before sundown and cover about 2 miles, mostly on boardwalk with a bit of woodland trail thrown in. The sights and sounds of a freshwater marsh in evening are a great stress-reliever and will fortify you for the week ahead.

Meet by the Russell Peterson statue in the parking area for the DuPont Environmental Education Center. Those interested in more information may contact Joe at jfrancismd@verizon.net.

White Clay Creek State Park Bird Survey
2026-02-07 08:00 - 12:00
Photograph by Andy Ednie

Join the survey!

American Robins by Carolyn Holland

Delaware’s piedmont area is only 10% of the land mass, but has the largest, most diverse biodiversity in the state. The White Clay Creek State Park is the 4th highest ranked top birding spot in New Castle County and 49th largest Delaware area bird list by Cornell University’s eBird data base. This list is growing as more hours are spent birding the area. The purpose of this bird survey is to evaluate the avifauna potential in a systematic two-year study and add to the knowledge of the park. The survey takes 3-4 hours and covers about 3 miles. The park was originally surveyed in 1976-1977 with weekly surveys over 24 months. That data was published in the Delmarva Ornithologist.

Plan:Date: January 2, 2026 – December 31, 2027Frequency: Weekly, alternate Thursday/SaturdayCoverage: North and South sections split by Hopkins and Pleasant Hill Roads.Data Entry: Checklists will be recorded by eBird along with weather, observers and effort.Volunteer Hours: recorded on separate volunteer sheet.Goals:Count the total number of birds in the park over a 24-hour period weekly for 2 years.Document status and population of bird species.Locate critical areas for unusual species.Increase usage for birding activitiesMonitor volunteer hours (between 350-750 hrs./yr)

Census Dates: The dates for the weekly bird census may be modified based on the consensus of thegroup. Changes to the schedule can occur in response to weather conditions or other unforeseen factorsthat may affect census activities.

Census dates for 2026 are as follows:

Thursday, February 12Thursday, June 18Thursday, October 22Saturday, February 21Saturday, June 27Saturday, October 31Thursday, February 26Thursday, July 2Thursday, November 5Saturday, March 7Saturday, July 11Saturday, November 14Thursday, March 12Thursday, July 16Thursday, November 19Saturday, March 21Saturday, July 25Saturday, November 28Thursday, March 26Thursday, July 30Thursday, December 3Saturday, April 4Saturday, August 8Saturday, December 12Thursday, April 9Thursday, August 13Thursday, December 17Saturday, April 18Saturday, August 22Saturday, December 26Thursday, April 23Thursday, August 27Thursday, December 31Saturday, May 2Saturday, September 5 Thursday, May 7Thursday, September 10 Saturday, May 16Saturday, September 19 Thursday, May 21Thursday, September 24 Saturday, May 30Saturday, October 3 Thursday, June 4Thursday, October 8 Saturday, June 13Saturday, October 17

White Clay Creek Nature Center by Andy Ednie

Meet at the White Clay Creek Nature Center at 8:00 am

Morning Waterfowl Walk at C&D Wildlife Area Canal Pond with Will Krohn
2026-02-08 09:00 - 10:00
Mute Swan by Will Krohn

Find abundant & diverse waterfowl at Canal Pond!

Canal Pond is arguably one of the best locations in New Castle County for waterfowl abundance and diversity in the winter. This hotspot, located off of Cox Neck Rd. about 1 mile west of Delaware City, regularly hosts large numbers of Mute Swan, Gadwall, American Coot, and many other species of waterfowl. Less frequent species seen there include Redhead, Common Goldeneye, and rare geese. The phragmites and scrubby habitat along the edge of the pond is also typically full of uncommon winter songbirds like Gray Catbird and Swamp Sparrow. We will meet at 9 AM. Over the course of an hour, we will walk approximately 2/3 of a mile over gently sloping trails and grass, and there may be some mud. If you have one, it is recommended to bring a spotting scope, although there will be opportunities to share scopes if you do not have one. There is no restroom available on-site. If participants are interested and conditions allow, we can also visit other nearby “hotspots” such as the Augustine Wildlife Area.

We will meet in front of the gate to Canal Pond. To get there, paste 39.562708, -75.612913 into your smartphone’s mapping application, or, coming from Delaware City, follow Cox Neck Rd. west for 1 mile and turn left onto a gravel road. There are no signs for the pond at the turn-in. If you have any questions about this trip, please contact the leader, Will (wkrohn@udel.edu) for more information. In the unlikely event that the pond is completely frozen over, the event will be rescheduled.

Harry's Pond in Winter with Amy O'Neil
2026-02-13 09:00 - 10:30
Harry’s Pond in Winter by Amy O’Neil

How many species of birds can be found at Harry’s Pond in winter?

Bundle up and come out for the second in the series of seasonal strolls around Harry’s Pond, this time for a little winter walk. In winter, there are geese aplenty, and ducks to see like Hooded Mergansers. We’ll also look for other overwintering birds like Belted Kingfisher, Fox Sparrows, Yellow-rumped Warblers and any raptors that are lurking around the edges or flying over – perhaps the Bald Eagle that has been hanging out on the tower lately. The pace will be leisurely, and most walking will be on paved paths or flat grassy areas. If the pond is iced over, we’ll reschedule.

Contact Carolyn at fieldtrips@dosbirds.org if you have any questions about this trip.

We’ll meet by the entrance to the pond most easily accessible from the parking lot by the security building past Tutor Time. Be careful of toddlers getting dropped off in the morning when driving in!

Winter Trip to Brigantine & Barnegat with Andy Ednie
2026-02-15 07:00 - 18:00
Harlequin Duck by David Lewis

Winter birding in New Jersey!

Merlin by Andy Ednie

Join Andy for an all day trip to Brigantine and Barnegat. We’ll leave from the Claymont Train Station at 7 am to drive to Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. Will arrive at Forsythe around 8 am and drive the auto tour (National Wildlife Refuge pass required per car) looking for waterfowl and winter raptors. We”ll then drive an hour north to Barnegat Light on Long Beach Island to catch the afternoon sun to see Harlequin Ducks, Eiders and Alcids. Return home by 6 pm.

If you plan to attend contact Andy Ednie at ednieap@verizon.net.

Carpooling will be from the Claymont Train Station.

Youth Birders: Little Creek Wildlife Area - Port Mahon Impoundment
2026-02-15 08:30 - 10:30
Northern Shoveler by Carolyn Holland

This man-made coastal wetland serves as an important overwintering spot for waterfowl, shorebirds, and other species. For this trip, our goal is to see as many different winter raptors, diving ducks, and dabbling ducks as possible, including harriers, kestrels, mergansers, and gadwall.DE Conservation Access Pass required.

Please RSVP to Jessica at redknotyouthbirders@gmail.com so we’ll know to expect you.

Meet at Port Mahon Road, Little Creek 19901- look for the turnoff to the parking area on the right justbefore the tank farm driveway; if you reach the bay you’ve gone too far!

DOS February Meeting: Annual Christmas Count Recap
2026-02-18 19:00 - 21:00
Join host Jim White and other Christmas Count compilers for a recap of all the exciting discoveries during the 2024-2025 Christmas Counts. Each compiler will summarize the highlights of their count and discuss recent trends in bird populations.

This event will be held on line via Zoom. A zoom link will be sent to all DOS members via email. If you are not a member, you can request a zoom link by clicking the button below.

Non-members click here to request Zoom link

For DOS members only, there will be a link to a recording of the talk after the meeting. If you are not a member and want to attend virtually, please consider joining.

Raptors in Winter with Jim White
2026-02-22 08:00 - 16:00
Merlin by Carolyn Holland

A quest for Raptors in Winter!

Barred Owl by Shannon Modla

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 snacks, lunch etc. There is typically a stop around lunchtime at Wawa/Royal Farms/etc. to refuel. Be sure to dress appropriately for extended periods of time in the mid-winter elements!

Red-shouldered Hawk by Carolyn Holland

DOS members only -This trip is limited to 14 participants. Contact Jim at hylajwhite@aol.com to register or if you have any questions about this trip.

Meet at the Wilmington Airport, also known as the New Castle County Airport.

Sea Watch II with Chris Bennett & Anthony Gonzon
2026-03-14 08:00 - 12:00
Bufflehead by Carolyn Holland

Another chance to join Anthony and Chris for a brisk birding adventure at the Indian River Inlet!

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 seashore wind and bring your scope if you have one.

State Park entrance fees will be in effect. Participants should monitor the DOS website and social media for last minute changes due to weather or other conditions.

Contact Carolyn at fieldtrips@dosbirds.org if you have any questions about this trip.

DOS March Meeting: "Flycatcher Problems!" by Matthew Halley
2026-03-18 19:00 - 21:00 | Delaware Museum of Nature and Science, 4840 Kennet Pike, Greenville, Delaware, 19807, United States
Summary: This talk will be held in person only at the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science and will be held in the bird collection. There will be an opportunity to examine actual museum specimens of the different flycatchers to see first hand the issues described in the talk.

Few groups of American birds are more difficult to identify than Empidonax and Contopus flycatchers. In this talk, Matthew will review the species that occur in the Delaware valley region—with specimens on display—and discuss his recent efforts to resolve lingering problems related to scientific nomenclature.

Dr. Matthew Halley is a local ornithologist and historian who is widely known for his detailed and revelatory studies of American birds. He is the Research Director and Curator of Birds at the Delaware Museum of Nature & Science (Wilmington), Research Associate at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University (Philadelphia), where he earned his doctorate in 2021, and a Life Member of DOS and a member of the DOS Council.

The meeting is held IN PERSON ONLY at Delaware Museum of Nature and Science. The in person meeting is open to everyone and admission is free. The presentation will involve looking at actual museum specimens of the birds discussed, so cannot be live streamed. Please come out and enjoy this unique hands on experience.

DOS April Meeting: "How Birding Changes the Brain" by Erik Wing.
2026-04-15 19:00 - 21:00
Erik Wing is a research associate at York University in Toronto, where he studies how prior knowledge and expertise influence human perception and cognition. Erik completed his doctoral work at Duke University, focusing on brain representations during visual experience and later memory retrieval. In his current work, he is particularly interested in how information is learned and organized within natural domains of knowledge. Working with birders across North America and beyond, he has explored how learning bird identification shapes attention, memory and new learning using a variety of behavioral and brain imaging measures. In his free time, he spends as much time as possible walking in the woods, ostensibly for research purposes.

This event will be held on line via Zoom. A zoom link will be sent to all DOS members via email. If you are not a member, you can request a zoom link by clicking the button below.

Non-members click here to request Zoom link

For DOS members only, there will be a link to a recording of the talk after the meeting. If you are not a member and want to attend virtually, please consider joining.

Prothonotary Warbler

Fair Hill Bobolinks with Ian Stewart
2026-05-30 08:00 - 11:00
Bobolink by Ian Stewart

See Bobolinks up close!

We will explore the rolling grasslands of Fair Hill NRMA just over the Maryland border in search of breeding Bobolinks and Meadowlarks, then head into the woods in search of other breeding birds. Fair Hill is an excellent place to see these declining grassland birds thanks to local conservation efforts. We will then drive 5 minutes to the nature center to look for warblers and other songbirds along Big Elk Creek.

Bobolinks by Ian Stewart

NRMA Daily Pass in effect ($5 for non-residents) so bring cash. We will meet at Parking lot #3 at the intersection of Appleton Road and Black Bridge Rd (aka North Appleton Parking lot).

Contact Carolyn at fieldtrips@dosbirds.org if you have any questions about this trip.

48th Annual Beginner's Shorebird Field Trip!
2026-07-25 08:00 - 12:00
Shorebirds for Beginners at Bombay Hook!

Delaware Ornithological Society (DOS) is sponsoring a Beginner’s Shorebird Field Trip on Saturday, July 25th, at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Smyrna, Delaware. This will be a Half Day trip – tailored for beginners, and is the 48th consecutive outing for this popular field trip. “Par” is 15 species of shorebirds, usually a challenging goal, because arrival dates, water levels and weather conditions all change year to year.

Spotted Sandpiper at Bear Swamp by Carolyn Holland

Emphasis is on basics of shorebird identification for beginners, although there are always several experienced birders to assist. Pace is slow – everyone should see each shorebird species satisfactorily. While this is not a photography workshop, our slow pace allows for photographic experimentation and networking. There will be some “prizes” awarded for categories not yet determined! Drinks and snacks advised, as well as sunscreen, bug spray and a hat. An optional, informal tally luncheon is usually held following the trip at a local eatery.

Refuge fees are in effect – $4 per car, or free entry with a 2024-2025 season duck stamp (or other special passes). This would be a fine opportunity to recycle your lightly used, expired prior season duck stamp(s) – Donate it/them to support the DOS Bird-a-Thon!

Trip leader is Bob Rufe – rrufe1@aol.com – please email Bob to let him know you’re planning to participate, or if you have any questions. A few “loaner” binoculars will be available, please contact leader to request if needed.More information on Bombay Hook NWR is available at https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Bombay_Hook/

We will meet in the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge Visitor’s Center parking lot in Smyrna, DE at 8 a.m. and wrap up by noon.
