Winter Delmarva Birding Weekend set Jan. 25-27

The 2019 Winter Delmarva Birding Weekend invites hundreds of nature enthusiasts to the shore Friday to Sunday, Jan. 25 to 27, to enjoy memorable winter experiences including a near-shore maritime boat cruise; waterfowl, seal, and eagle-watching trips; and jaunts through some of the most pristine habitats on the East Coast in Delaware and Maryland.

“This event is so popular,” said guide and event co-organizer Jim Rapp. “Folks all over the East Coast are starting to realize just how much nature is still thriving on the Delmarva Peninsula.”

Organizers have again planned an exciting schedule of field trips to showcase Delmarva's incredible diversity of winter wildlife.

Harlequin ducks, eiders, purple sandpipers, falcons and more than 25 species of ducks, geese and swans are on full display in the mid-Atlantic for about four months a year. More than 108 species were tallied in 2018 during the winter weekend, including snowy owls which are again dotting the region in covert locations in 2019.

The best way to see these birds is to shed those winter blues, dust off the binoculars, and get outside. Seals are a huge draw for the Lewes Boat Tour, with harbor and gray seals traversing the ocean and inland waterways regularly. Winter is a true Arctic experience on the peninsula.

Guided by fun-loving local birders with decades-long experience on the shore, the walking tours and boat trips accommodate visitors from the curious nature lover to fowl fanatics. Last year, birdwatchers from more than a dozen states flocked to the winter event.

“We enjoy such a big difference in bird species in winter and spring that it just makes sense to host winter birding trips,” said Worcester County, Md. Tourism Director Lisa Challenger.

“Most folks have no idea how spectacular the winter birding is down here,” said Rapp. “The sheer number of bald eagles and ducks is mind-boggling. We host the event on the weekend between the NFL playoffs and the Super Bowl, so we hope you'll get off the couch, bundle up, and get outdoors!"

The Delmarva Peninsula is one of the country's premier birding areas, thanks to an extensive variety of habitat protected by coastal parks, refuges, and wildlife management areas. More than 400 bird species have been recorded in the region, and some weekend tallies have topped 200 species.

Indeed, participants recount the event in terms of experiences rather than simply observing birds – thousands of snow geese lifting off a farm field, a majestic bald eagle soaring over the marsh, long-tailed ducks bobbing on the waves at the inlets, or the lazy nap of a seal on the Delaware Bay breakers. An outdoor experience is the true draw.

“Delaware is teeming with bird species in winter,” said Southern Delaware Tourism Director Scott Thomas. “And this is a great place to experience them.”

If seeing so many bird species isn't enough, participants should feel even better knowing that they’ve helped Delmarva's birds by promoting birding and habitat conservation. Birders, both novice and experienced, make an important statement about the economic value of birds and their habitats through the money they spend in local hotels, restaurants, and shops.

To sign up for a trip or two, go to www.DelmarvaBirding.com.

The Spring Delmarva Birding Weekend, set for Thursday to Sunday, April 25 to 28, will celebrate the migration of the spring suite of warblers, shorebirds, waterfowl and raptors.