The Maryland Ornithological Society (MOS), founded in 1945, is a nonprofit, statewide organization whose members are interested in birds and natural history. The purposes of MOS are to promote the knowledge, appreciation, and conservation of our natural resources, to maintain a system of sanctuaries, to encourage conservation of birds and bird habitat, and to record and publish observations of bird life. Fifteen chapters throughout the state offer programs, field trips, bird counts, surveys, and conservation projects for members and guests. Members of local chapters are automatically members of the state organization and may attend any of the field trips and programs of any other
Membership in MOS provides support for its sanctuary programs, scholarships, research grants, and Society publications. All members receive the bimonthly newsletter The Maryland Yellowthroat and the quarterly journal Maryland Birdlife. For further information, visit the MOS website.
The Howard County Bird Club, a chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society, was founded in 1972. Members receive the chapter newsletter The Goldfinch published five times a year. The Bird Club maintains a full schedule of programs, field trips, and bird-related activities. From September through May, meetings with programs are held on the second Thursday of the month at 8:00 p.m. at the Department of Recreation and Parks Headquarters, 7120 Oakland Mills Road, Columbia, MD 21046. Field trips are planned year-round with the largest number scheduled spring and fall to coincide with migration periods. Program and field trip announcements appear in area newspapers as well as on the Bird Club’s website and are open to the public. The chapter has a Rare Bird Alert for the most active field birders. Members are encouraged to participate in local bird counts (May Count, Fall Count, Midwinter Count, and area Christmas Counts) either with a field party or by watching their own feeders. The Howard County chapter is active in the preservation of native cavity-nesting birds through its Boost Bluebirds project. Cooperators monitor more than 1,000 nest boxes annually fledging a minimum of 1,500 Eastern Bluebirds, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, and other species. The Bird Club also compiles bird checklists for the major county parks. In addition to its commitment to the birdlife of the county, its members have wide-ranging interests in natural history (see the Appendix for county butterfly and odonate checklists). A bird seed sale is held annually. Most of the proceeds fund habitat preservation in Latin America and Maryland. The Howard County Bird Club welcomes birders of all skill levels. You can download a membership application here.
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