Denton Becomes 14th Maryland Bird City Community
Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership is pleased to announce that the Town of Denton has been recognized as Caroline County’s first Bird City Maryland community, bringing the total number of Bird City communities in Maryland to 14. These are just a few of the many ways that Denton has shown their love and commitment to bird conservation: The town planted an ornamental and edible native plants garden in place of the lawn at the Caroline Culinary Arts Center; the town now has a Bird City resources page which addresses invasive plants, window collisions and how to address them, and the importance of keeping cats indoors; a gazebo at the Wharves of Choptank J.O.K. Walsh Visitor & Heritage Center displays a permanent set of art panels featuring a variety of native birds.
Pamela Kellett, Bird City Maryland Coordinator, presents the new Bird City sign to the Denton Town Council and Caroline County Bird Club. Mayor Abigail Mcninch (left) and Caroline County Bird Club representative Robin Lahnemann (right) are holding the sign.
A High Flyer
Denton is recognized at the High Flyer level with over 20 action points. Bird Cities are required to complete at least 10 action points across four categories: Habitat, Threats to Birds, Education and Engagement, and Sustainability. The town must also pass a resolution committing to becoming a Bird City. Robin Lahnemann, Debby Bennett, Concetta Gibson, Robin Davitt-Murphy, and Rich Downs from the Caroline County Bird Club worked with the support of Mayor Abigail McNinch and the Town Council of Denton to complete the application.
Denton scored a point in the Habitat category for the Caroline County Bird Club’s support of the Advanced Manufacturing Program at the Caroline County Career and Technology Center at North Caroline High School. As part of the program, the students design, create, and build bird boxes to sell to the community. The students research various species of birds and then design a bird box for their particular species. The class and advisors vote on which bird box the students will promote each year. The students then build the boxes and present and sell them to various groups in the community.
North Caroline High School students proudly display their bird box creations. The boxes were constructed as part of the Advanced Manufacturing Program (AMP) at the Caroline County Career and Technology Center at the high school. This program is supported by the Caroline County Bird Club. Photo by Robin Lahnemann
Celebrate Migratory Birds at Denton summerfest
Bird Cities commit to an annual celebration of World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD). Denton will celebrate at Summerfest, the town’s annual two-day community festival complete with music, family activities, crafts, vendors and information booths. If you want to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day with MBCP, join our webinar, “Invite Backyard Birds to the Front Yard” on April 29.
Mural mosaic of birds and Chesapeake Wildlife at 12 S. 3rd Street Denton. Photo by Robin Lahnemann
World Migratory Bird Day is sponsored by the Environment for the Americas, a Western Hemispheric organization that connects diverse people to birds and nature. This year’s conservation theme is “Every Bird Counts: Your Observation Matters”—a recognition of the value of community scientists. The Caroline County Bird Club participates in several community science bird-monitoring programs each year. The Bird Club promotes and participates in the Great Backyard Bird Count; Spring, Fall, and Christmas bird counts; Audubon Climate Watch twice a year in two separate blocks; the Big Sit in October; and the Maryland breeding bird atlas across Caroline County.
Year-round bird Paradise
Located along the Choptank River in the heart of Denton, the surrounding landscape offers a rich variety of habitats that support an impressive diversity of birdlife throughout the year. Wooded stream corridors, wetlands, open farmland, and neighborhood green spaces all contribute to the area’s appeal for both resident and migratory birds. In spring and fall, Denton lies beneath the Atlantic Flyway, making it an excellent place to observe migrating songbirds, shorebirds, and raptors as they pause to rest and refuel. Summer brings breeding birds such as Eastern Bluebirds, Indigo Buntings, and Common Yellowthroats, while winter months often feature Bald Eagles, waterfowl, and mixed flocks of sparrows. Denton chose the Eastern Bluebird as their Signature Bird.
The Wharves of Choptank J.O.K. Walsh Visitor & Heritage Center contains multiple permanent art panels of native bird species at the outdoor pavilion. Photo by Robin Lahnemann
Some of the best birding opportunities near Denton can be found along the Choptank River and its tributaries, as well as in nearby parks, preserves, and wildlife management areas. These places are valued not only by birders, but also by walkers, paddlers, families, and students who enjoy spending time outdoors. Together, they highlight Denton’s close connection to the natural world and the role local landscapes play in supporting birds across the seasons.