By Jill Mulford
Pickering Creek Audubon Center, located in Easton, is truly a peaceful refuge for anyone seeking some solitude to enjoy the sounds of birds and whispers of the wind. As part of the National and Chesapeake Audubon Society, you will experience trails and viewing areas for watching native birds and those flying by on the Atlantic Flyway. There are four miles of walking trails in this 400-acre wildlife sanctuary located on Pickering Creek, a tributary of the Wye River.
Visiting their website, you will find numerous environmental educational programs for all age groups, toddlers through adults. Click on the Events tab to find one that interests you. Each season of the year has a different focus. When we visited, they were scheduling participants in an early evening walk to tag monarch butterflies migrating their way to Mexico. Winter brings “Beginning Birding Basics” and in Spring, you can experience “Wetland Wandering.” If you’re hoping to just lose yourself in thought, you can walk along the creek and sit on the benches to immerse yourself in nature alone. Over 200 kinds of birds have been sighted. My hope was to spot a bluebird in one of the many bluebird boxes. Maybe another time.
Pickering Creek Audubon Center was established through the donation of Heigh Ho Farm in 1981 as a haven for education about the natural environment. Recently, a neighbor has donated 10 acres and a three-bedroom home to enhance the Audubon Center’s educational opportunities. This will be known as Peterson Woods at Pickering Creek. It is not open yet to the public, but it will house programs starting this coming May.
Visit their website for more information and visit in person to experience a relaxing walk on the quiet side. The physical address, which you can find on your GPS is 11450 Audubon Lane, Easton MD. The office is open Monday through Friday 9 to 5, and trails are open dawn to dusk 7 days a week. Enjoy it on your own!