The University of Maryland campus is filled with all types of birds, from more familiar ones to some that may go unnoticed to the non-birders and all of them have a place in making the campus more enjoyable.
Birds have been around for longer than humankind. Evolving from small carnivorous dinosaurs of the Late Jurassic period, birds are the closest humans get to dinosaurs, according to the UC Museum of Paleontology.
History suggests that birds aid in pest control, scavenging of dead animals, pollinating plants, spreading seeds, transforming landscapes, and as a living lens into historical and scientific discoveries, according to BirdLife International and Audubon.
Without birds, habitats may not have the balance they do today. Forests, marshes, and grasslands can store carbon, produce oxygen, and transform pollutants into nutrients that help keep animals alive – including humans. Birds are able to help maintain this balance, according to BirdLife International.
For example, many birds’ primary food source is insects, making them nature’s biggest pest controller. If birds go extinct there would be an infestation. Farmer’s crops would be ruined and be forced to use much stronger pesticides which would degrade their crop supply and the world’s food supply. Economically this would harm both the farmers and their surrounding communities, causing low-income communities to suffer, according to One Green Planet and BirdLife International.
Dave Mozurkewich, a Patuxent Bird Club member, explained that while birds add some “spice” to neighborhoods he emphasized that they are also “very good indicators of environmental problems.”
“When the deer moved into Greenbelt Park, as they did in the last 25 years or so,” Mozurkewich said, as an example. “They eat the underscoring and the habitat for a lot of species disappeared.”
Greenbelt Park used to be full of different species of warblers. Now they no longer nest in that park, Mozurkewich explained. Though you may get to catch one every so often when they’re in migration.
Similarly, when humans start to mess with environments many bird species are lost in the process.
Specifically, the loss of habitats in wetlands, which are ecologically important for a variety of bird species, had led to a strong decline in birds, Derek Richardson, the professor of a birdwatching course at the University of Maryland said.
Richardson explained that while eBird is a citizen science database it has one of the largest databases of day-to-day migrations of birds all over the planet.
“As a result, they can start to see trends,” Richardson said. “They can see trends that correlate with, you know, climate change or sudden weather patterns, fish failures in the oceans.”
Certain species of birds tend to migrate depending on the seasons. As the climate changes, there continues to be a trend of birds that should no longer be spotted in certain months. When they are spotted and tracked on databases like eBird it helps keep track of the abnormal migration patterns. If a bird that is out of season is spotted and posted about on eBird, the app will send it out for review to verify that the bird was correctly identified.
Jim Rapp, an avid birder, and Co-organizer of Baltimore Birding Weekends said it is necessary to be smart about what land is preserved and what land is industrialized.
“Birds truly are canaries in coal mines,” Rapp said. “As the birds go, there go we.”
Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring is a great example of what Rapp mentioned. Carson’s book brought attention to the dangers of chemicals in pesticides that not only were harmful to large birds, but also harms human beings.
Carson’s book exposed that the pesticide DDT caused cancer and genetic damage. She noticed a pattern of the bird populations across the country suffering due to this pesticide and created this book as a call to action. This enacted the Endangered Species Act and created a wide shift in agricultural practices.
Protecting land for birds and other species creates a multitude of ecological benefits for humans and for the Earth, Rapp said.
“I think we’re all together in this,” Rapp said. “Anything good you do for birds, is good for us.”
For novice birders:
Tips to optimize your experience as a novice birder:
- Bring binoculars (or a good camera with a large enough lens)
- Be patient and quiet
- All motion needs to be slower to not startle the birds
Key to finding birds:
Find an area with multiple habitats or learn the different habitats around your area.
Some good areas around UMD and College Park is Lake Artemisia (the lake, marshes, tall grass, and surrounding forests).
“Knowing in advance what habitats you’re going to visit, you can prepare for the birds that you expect to see” Richardson said.
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List of birds
around College Park
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
The Northern Cardinal is commonly seen all year round in Maryland. The male is easy to spot for a novice bird watcher, it is entirely red with a black face. The female is harder to spot with an overall light brown color with accents of light red on its wings, tail and top of its head but has the same crest, large red bill, and long tail. Usually seen in pairs or small groups near dense cover, especially thickets near forest edges. Frequently visits bird feeders. Listen for high-pitched metallic chips and series of loud, sweet whistles.
According to Merlin and eBird
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
The adult American Robin has a grey cape with a warm orange underbelly that fades into a white near the tail, a black head and yellow beak. This species has a large round body, long legs and tail. Both male anad females look the same, however, the male has much brighter colors while the female (or an immature American Robin) typically has a whiter underbelly and throat. American Robins can be found hopping around on the ground with rapid short steps. Common across North America in gardens, parks, yards, golf courses, fields, pastures, and many other wooded habitats. It can be seen all year, but especially during the March through July.
According to Merlin and eBird
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
The adult Mourning Dove is light brown with black spotted wings and has a long pointed tail. The juvenile Mourning Dove is covered with a pale scaly pattern, but is much larger and longer-tailed than grown doves. There is no major difference between male and female doves. Mourning Doves can be found all year round on edges of forests, suburbs, telephone wires, and bird feeders. Typically avoding dense forests. They can be seen in small groups or pairs, particularly through the winter. The Mourning Dove has a distinct cooing song and a particular wing sound as well that can help distingish it from other birds when hard to spot.
According to Merlin and eBird
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
The Blue Jay is found year-round. It is bright blue with a light grey underbelly, a black necklace, black and white markings on its wings and tail and a fluffy, sleeked back crest. Seen in pairs or small groups the Blue Jay can be found through wooded areas and bird feeders. Its call is described as loud and harsh and the Blue Jay is typically aggressive toward other birds.
According to Merlin and eBird
Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
While spotting a Wood Duck in the University of Maryland would be less likely, if you go to visit the surrounding lakes, such as Lake Artemesia you're sure to spot some ducks. The male Wood Duck is adorned with bright colors when seen close up. It has a sleeked, pointed crest that starts off as a warm dark green and turns into a black with white stripes following the line the beak creates. It has a bright red-orange beak and eyes and a white collar. The underbelly is a light/pale brown color. The rest of its body is a dark brown and black with accents of blue and white throughout its wings. The female Wood Duck is a light brown color overall with white around the eyes, black at the end of the tail and underneath the brown top of the wings is a deep blue with some white accents. Typically, Wood Ducks are spotted in wetlands and flooded woods. Due to its long tail it can fly through trees easily. The Wood Duck call is a loud, screeching whistle.
According to Merlin and eBird
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
The male Mallard has a iridescent green head, yellow bill, brown chest that fades into a cream/white underbelly. Its wings are brown with accents of black and white. When the wings are opened they show beautiful blue/purple wings closer to the Mallard's body. It has bright orange legs. The female Mallard is light brown with orange and black sploches throughout. "In North America, females can be tricky to distinguish from American Black Duck, Mottled Duck, and Mexican Duck where ranges overlap." Getting a good look at the wingspan would help indicate if it is a Mallard. Both male and female Mallards have bright white tail feathers and typically any duck with that distinguishable feature has some Mallard gene in it. It can be found year-round.
According to Merlin and eBird
Tree Swallow
Tachycineta bicolor
The male Tree Swallow have a bright iridescent blue/green cape with a bright white underbelly and a greyish brown tail. Females and juvenile Tree Swallow look the same but with much duller colors, sometimes with no iridescence at all. It has a very small beak and broad wings. The Tree Swallow can be found in open areas such as fields, lakes and marshes. Nests in hollows or cavities including human-made nest boxes. In Prince George's county, the Tree Swallow can be spotted in the months of March through July and sometimes early August before leaving for the winter.
According to Merlin and eBird
Tufted Titmouse
Baeolophus bicolor
This bird is a common bird among public areas, found in backyards, fields and frequent feeders often (especially in the winter). Seeing them on campus would not be unusual. They are a small grey bird with large black eyes, a small, round bill and fluffy, pointed crest. The Tufted Titmouse can be found year round.
According to Merlin and eBird
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
The Song Sparrow is one of the most widespread Sparrows in North America. They may be spotted anywhere on campus and outside of campus. The Song Sparrow is a grey and brown patterned bird with more redish-brown tones on the wings and tail. The tail is faily large and rounded. This sparrow has a small, short bill and rounded head.
According to Merlin and eBird
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
The male Red-winged Blackbird are all black with red patches on its shoulder that fades to a white. This patch is sometimes conceled by the wings. The females are brown with streaks of black, often confused with sparrows. To diferenciate between a sparrow and a female Red-winged Blackbird look for the pointed bill, that is the Red-winged Blackbird. Typically seen year round and in groups, especially in the winter. Can be seen in marshes and wet fields.
According to Merlin and eBird
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
The Canada Goose is a bird that is definitely seen on campus often, it is a large brown goose with a black neck and white chinstrap. Typically seen in any wetland habitat, city parks and even golf courses. The Canada Goose is often seen in groups and can be seen as families with their young ones not far away.
According to Merlin and eBird
House Wren
Troglodytes aedon
The House Wren is light brown throughout with a patch of white/lighter brown on the underbelly. It is common throughout backyards, parks, suburbs, and other open areas. The wings and tail have some lines throughout.
According to Merlin and eBird
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus
The Red-bellied Woodpecker has a black-and-white striped back with red on its head and back of the neck and has a pointy, thin black beak.. The belly of the Red-bellied Woodpecker is actually very light red, if seen as red at all. The most red on this woodpecker is seen on its head.
According to Merlin and eBird
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
The Bald Eagle is a very familar bird to many through photos but can actually be seen in person when looking close enough. The adult Bald Eagle has blackish-brown body with white head and tail. Their plumage change from white molting patches as a juvenile to the brown as an adult. The juvenile before molting its plumage will look like the same color through out brownish-black and slight grey pieces on its wings.
According to Merlin and eBird
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
The European Starling is dark overall with a short tail and pointed yellow bill. During breeding season, the European Starling will have an iridescent purple/green look on the plumage while in the winter it has white spots covering the body. The bird is actually native to Eurasia and was introduced to North America. Starlings were first seen in Baltimore in 1906 and then in Washington D.C. in 1916, becoming an invasive species. They were originally released intentionally in New York City's central park in the 1890s so that Americans would be able to experience the type of bird that Shakespeare had written about.
According to Merlin and eBird
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
This is the most common crow throughout the U.S. and is famously identified through the "caw" that is often heard. Typically seen in flocks, this bird is fully black with a wide tail. The crow is very aggressive, has been spotted chasing hawks and owls. Can be found in open fields and woodlands as well as marshes and cities.
According to Merlin and eBird
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
The adult Northern Mockingbird is light grey with a white underbelly. When it opens its wings it shows white patches on its black wings and tail. This bird can be found in habitats near bushes and trees, meaning that it could be easily spotted on campus. The Northern Mockingbird typically mimics other birds, car alarms, doors, or other sounds it hears nearby. It will mimic this sound around 5-7 times before switching to another set of notes.
According to Merlin and eBird
Black Vulture
Coragyps atratus
The Black Vulture is a black raptor with silver on the tip of its wings. It has a short tail and small black head. When in flight the tips of its wings resemble rounded fingers. Typically, the Black Vulture can be found around highway close to road kill and nearby dumpsters because they are scavengers and take care of the remains of animals.
According to Merlin and eBird
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
This sparrow is seen throughout cities, neighborhoods and farms, mainly avoiding dense wooded area and prefers dense bushes. Male House Sparrows have a black bib on its necks coming down from its beak. Males also have patterned brown/orange and black wings, brown that goes from their eyes to the back of the neck, and a grey underbelly. Female House Sparrows are plain brown with similar features that are dulled out and a yellow beak. The House Sparrow is native to Eurasia and was later introduced to the rest of the world.
According to Merlin and eBird
American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
This finch is a year-round resident of Maryland and can be easily spotted for its yellow plumage with accents of black and white on the top of the head and lower half of its wings. The American Goldfinch females are seen with the same markings and colors but in a duller state.
According to Merlin and eBird
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Resources
eBird at Lake Artemesia
Click here to see the eBird list of birds at Lake Artemesia. You can switch the location too!.
Merlin Bird ID app
Click here to identify birds and see which ones you are most likely to stop on a day-to-day basis.
This CornellLab app can be downloaded on your phone to help identify birds depending on your location.
Derek Richardson's birding spots
Click here for a local birding map created by Professor Derek Richardson.
This map has pinned different birding locartions on and around campus.