From Majestic Eagles, America's Symbolic Bird, to Long-legged Herons, Maryland is All Atwitter

Baltimore, MD (April 7, 2016) – Spread your wings and soar to Maryland to celebrate the beauty of birding this spring. Head to the Yard to see your favorite birds play ball or grab a pair of binoculars and find your own nest in the varied habitats that harbor a vast array of stunning birds that inhabit Maryland.

"Set your sights high as you migrate through the state with a guidebook, binoculars and camera in-hand," said Liz Fitzsimmons, managing director, Division of Tourism, Film and the Arts. "Hundreds of bird species can be found all over the state, and with the National Park Service celebrating its Centennial this year, it's a wonderful opportunity to take advantage of the vibrant outdoor playground Maryland has to offer."

Everyone is spreading their wings at Blackwater Wildlife Refuge, home to the largest breeding population of American bald eagles on the East Coast, north of Florida. For the serious bird watchers, the rare scarlet tanager can be found high up in the tree line at Patuxent Wildlife Refuge. Established by Franklin D. Roosevelt, the refuge attracts many rare, native birds of all shapes and sizes. Visit McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area and sing along with songbirds or meander through the forests to see wild turkeys and white-tailed deer.

Batter up! The Baltimore Orioles season has begun and what better way to celebrate Maryland's official state bird than attending a game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards? Head to the Adkins Arboretum and whistle while you look for the Baltimore Oriole, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird and many other colorful feathered birds flying in the sky.

Fowl, frogs and fauna, oh my! Dig up the past as an archaeologist or watch birds as an ornithologist at Flag Ponds Nature Center where fossils and fowl are plentiful. At the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, waterfowl can be seen up close and personal, and frogs are begging to be photographed. Scan the sky with your binoculars to see the vibrant colored wings of more than 120 species of birds at Point Lookout State Park.

Stroll down the boardwalk at Cranesville Subarctic Swamp or nature walk along Deep Creek Lake to watch gaggles of geese. Grab a kayak or canoe and listen to the songbirds from the Savage River Reservoir, or lace up a pair of hiking boots in search of nests in the trees. See flocks of ravens and black and white warblers from atop Dan's Rock, while overlooking the gorgeous vistas of the Potomac River.

Rainy day? No problem! At the Havre De Grace Decoy Museum, ducks and geese remain timeless, as they were hand-painted and made from wood to lure waterfowl within the range of a hunter. The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art showcases creative representations of birds in their natural habitats through various forms of art. View 1200 different waterfowl carvings representing more than 150 species from around the world at the Ward World Championship Waterfowl Carving Competition and Art Festival held April 22-24 in Ocean City.

For more information about birding in Maryland, visit www.visitmaryland.org or call 1-800-719-5900.

About Maryland Tourism
The Maryland Office of Tourism is an agency of the Division of Tourism, Film and the Arts within the Maryland Department of Commerce. Visitors to the state spent $16.4 billion on travel-related expenses in 2014. The Maryland tourism industry also generated $2.2 billion in state and local taxes, and provided Marylanders with 140,288 jobs with a payroll of $5.4 million.