Howard County Bird Club

The Howard County Bird Club, organized in 1972, is one of 15 Maryland Ornithological Society chapters. It is dedicated to the enjoyment, appreciation, protection, and conservation of birds and other natural resources. The club holds monthly meetings from September through May, sponsors three seasonal bird counts as well as dozens of field trips, and provides references and support for birders OF ALL LEVELS.

Visit the HCBC Website

For details, go to the HCBC CALENDAR and the MOS calendar.

Officers

  • President: Gregg Petersen
  • Vice President: Valerie Swan
  • Secretary: Chuck Stirrat
  • Treasurer: Timothy Thompson
  • Past President: Mary Maxey

State Directors

  • Donna Carollo
  • John McKitterick
  • David Sandler
  • Sherry Tomlinson
  • President (ex officio)

Chapter Directors

  • 1st Year Chapter Director: Lauren McDougal
  • 2nd Year Chapter Director: Nancy McAllister
Committees

  • Records: Jo Solem
  • Publicity/outreach: Kelsey Wellons
  • Field Trips: Joe Hanfman
  • Programs: Mary Lou Clark
  • Newsletter: Megan Bolcar
  • Conservation: Robin Todd
  • Habitat: Sue Probst
  • Butterflies: Kevin Heffernan

Working Groups

  • Webmaster/membership: Bob Solem
  • Pot Luck: Sherry Tomlinson
  • BBA3: Sue Muller

Previous Howard County Bird Club officers (PDF)

  • HCBC field trips are an excellent way to improve birding skills whatever your experience level. Trips provide opportunities to explore new sites and meet other birders.
  • Seasonal counts are held the first Saturday of February, the second Saturday of May, and the third Saturday of September. All birders are welcome; beginners can ask to accompany skilled individuals.
  • The Chandler S. Robbins SkyWatch at Mount Pleasant is a birding and meeting place. On weekends, especially during migration, folks who drop by are likely to find experienced birders scanning the sky for raptors and other migrants.

***Please use the online form if possible. To pay by check, please download the Membership Application***

*** Renewing members please login first to pay your dues. ***

*** New members joining online after March 1 will be extended to August of next year after processing. ***

Howard County Bird Club Membership - Household
$40 for membership September 1 - August 31.
Howard County Bird Club Membership - Individual
$25 for membership September 1 - August 31.
Howard County Bird Club Membership - Junior (under age 18)
$5 for membership September 1 - August 31.
Howard County Bird Club Membership - Affiliated
$5 for membership September 1 - August 31. Membership for those who are members of another, primary, MOS chapter.
Howard County Bird Club Membership - Sustaining
$90 for membership September 1 - August 31.

 

This group makes presentations to interested groups on the identification of and information about butterflies, including tips to make gardens more butterfly friendly. Butterfly field trips are also offered.

  • Members have a wide range of nature-related interests. Photos and species lists are available for the following: Birds, Butterflies, Dragonflies, Herps (reptiles and amphibians), Lichens, Mosses, and Fungi.
  • Links on Howard web page
  • Through its Habitat Preservation Fund, the HCBC has, for more than 40 years, used proceeds from its annual seed sale and individual donations, to preserve and maintain bird habitats locally, regionally, and in Latin America.
  • Members support county bioblitzes.
  • HCBC frequently co-sponsors events with the Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks. For 12 years, the two groups sponsored an annual county dragonfly count. During the five-year Maryland Herp Atlas, HCBC members assisted in collecting data, and county maps were posted to the club’s website. The Butterfly Group and several pollinator meadows are cooperative arrangements between  the two groups.
  • HCBC also assists the Howard County Conservancy with projects that provide additional habitat such as the Chimney Swift Tower and planned Pollinator Meadow.

Please consider making a donation to Howard Bird Club. Click “Donate” and then make sure you specify “Howard County Bird Club” in Request Box on the form.

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