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In the early morning chill on Saturday, Hal Pazourek and Bob Schaefer led a small group of people through the frozen path of the Audrey Carroll Audubon Sanctuary for a nature walk, a program the Audubon Society of Central Maryland started a few months ago.
"It's usually between 10 and 20 people," said Pazourek, who said he wasn't surprised at the smaller group on the bitter January morning.
Group members were slowly meandering down a path, chatting amongst themselves when Schaefer suddenly froze. The group followed suit.
"A pileated woodpecker," he said, identifying one of the four woodpeckers that people can spot on the property.
Group members followed the small form with their eyes, some raising binoculars to their faces. After the momentary searching silence, the cluster moved on to the next sighting.
The nature walks are just another way of reaching out for the group that wants to share knowledge and create experiences for those in their community. Bill Becraft, vice president of the society and the sanctuary manager, said the group's mission is to educate people to respect the environment, and in turn, take care of it.
He said the group addresses everything from plants to birds. "A lot of people think we're just birds, but that's a bit of a misnomer," he said. "We're much more than that. If you were into birds strictly, you would join the Frederick Bird Club."
The society, which is active in nature education with the community and schools, also maintains sanctuaries in New Market and Mount Airy, with almost 270 acres of land dedicated to encouraging a natural habitat and wildlife.
One property, the Fred Archibald Audubon Sanctuary in New Market, holds about 140 acres of fields, forest and stream. Mount Airy's Audrey Carroll Audubon Sanctuary has about 129 acres of fields, marshes and trails.
During the walk, Pazourek pointed out certain things on the property: benches constructed as Boy Scout projects; a seedling of the state's famous "Wye Oak," which is a large white oak that had existed on the Eastern Shore; the old farm dump site; a glittering icy beaver damn; and the remains of the Carroll's Christmas tree farm, which included tall pines in neat rows. The land has the original farmhouse on it, though Pazourek said it is boarded up and has been vandalized. Despite the bother, the house has been somewhat useful.
"Two black vultures have been nesting there for years," Pazourek said, indicating broken windows and gaps in the brick near the attic. He said the group wishes it could tear down the building, but it would cost too much.
E-mail Angie Cochrun at acochrun@gazette.net.
nResidents can order birdseed — including black oil sunflower, white millet or suet — at discounted prices through the Audubon while supporting the organization's sanctuaries and other club activities through Feb. 3.
nSeed pick up will be 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 7 or 14 in Clarksville or Mount Airy.
nOrder forms are available at www.centralmdaudubon.org or by calling Carolyn Moroney at 301-831-5060 or Bill Becraft at 410-795-6546.
nThe club's next sale will kick off in October.
