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Birding Tour at Hart-Miller Island
June 18 @ 9:00 am - 1:00 pm EDT
Feast your eyes on some of the most extraordinary birds that Maryland has to offer.
The Maryland Port Administration is pleased to welcome the general public to participate in an upcoming birding tour. This birding experience is free to the public.
Due to the popularity and interest in these tours, we are implementing a registration lottery. Each lottery entrant may enter for up to four (4) spots by filling out the form below. The lottery is a process of selecting people from a list of entries to participate in the birding tour. Selected entries are registered for the event and provided with further details such as event logistics, confirmation, and additional information. Those not selected will be put on a waitlist for the event if spots become available due to cancellations. The lottery system ensures an accessible, fair, and unbiased selection of participants for popular events with limited spots.
Please note the Birding Tour Details and Safety Information below before registering and be sure to check your spam/junk folder in addition to your primary inbox to ensure you receive communications associated with this event. Questions can be directed to the birding tour leader at Maryland Ports Birding at birdingtours@menv.com.
Lottery Entrance Deadline: June 10, 2024 at 11:59 pm
Lottery Selections Announced: June 11, 2024
Event Date: June 18, 2024
Event Location: Weaver’s Marine, 730 Riverside Drive, Essex, MD 21221
Special Event Features
How To Find Us at Weaver’s Marine: Upon your arrival at the gravel lot to the right of the marina, please stay with your vehicle until the tour guide meets you. Please do not walk the piers or yard before and after the tour. See additional parking directions here.
We will be birding by bus to eliminate extensive walking between stops.
Please note that this tour leaves from a different location than previous tours due to pier construction at the HMI land base. We will leave from Weaver’s Marine, 730 Riverside Drive, Essex, MD 21221. Due to this change, the boat ride will be longer, which means a slightly shorter tour of the island. Thank you for your cooperation while we make improvements to the HMI land base, and we hope to be leaving from there again soon!
Tour Details & Safety Information for Confirmed Registrants
Birding tours are typically held on unpaved roads with rock, gravel, or mud with the potential of crossing shallow water. Participants must be prepared to board a bus or boat and traverse several miles of uneven terrain. We recommend bringing telescopes, binoculars, water, and adequate sun protection. For your safety, please wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes. Open-toe shoes, sandals, or thin-soled sneakers are not permitted.
The birding tour may be canceled in the event of high winds or inclement weather. Please check your email 24 hours before the event to be sure there has been no unforeseen cancellation. This walk may be canceled on the morning of the event due to unforeseen circumstances. Click here for the full list of safety guidelines and site rules.
Our birding tours are popular and often have a waitlist. If you need to cancel, please notify us immediately by emailing Maryland Ports Birding at birdingtours@menv.com, so your spot can be allocated to someone on the waitlist.