Conservation School Fall 2020-Pickering Creek

Pickering Creek Sanctuary-
George and Margaret Olds inherited a 400 acre farm in Talbot County, with 4400 feet of waterfront on Pickering Creek, which developers wanted to purchase to turn into building lots. Instead, they decided to donate the land to the Chesapeake Audubon Society to prevent the ecological destruction and to share nature with the community via educational programs that teach harmony with the natural environment. The property will forever be preserved as a wildlife sanctuary.

Conservation School attendees field trip to Pickering Creek was self-guided along trails through the property. Area weather continued to express as a rainy season with periods of alternating sluicing rain or sprinkles with clouds. Luckily, for the duration of our hike, the clouds prevailed but sections of the walk required carefully maneuvering around large puddles of swampy -smelling water extending across the path.

There would be more wildlife activity in early morning or later in the day, so we neither saw nor heard many birds. Visible insect life was similarly rare to see except for a few dragonflies and late butterflies in one area. Still, the plant life found in wetland areas was interesting and views from the raised platforms across the sanctuary were lovely.