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Nestled between the hills of the Piedmont Plateau and the shores of Chesapeake Bay, Aberdeen, MD, is not far from both the bustling urban areas of Baltimore and Washington, D.C. and the sprawling nature reserves of the region. If you are searching for the best birdwatching destinations to explore in your 2022 Jeep Gladiator, check out these three fantastic and nearby spots.
1. Michaux State Forest
Boasting multiple hiking trails and covering an area of over 85,000 acres, Michaux State Forest is a thriving second-growth forest that offers endless opportunities for outdoor lovers, birders, and anyone who wants to spend some time away from the city. This sprawling nature reserve is managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and is open to visitors year-round.
Michaux State Forest is located about 90 miles northwest of the Aberdeen city center and can be reached in a little under two hours by car via route MD-140. Providing habitat to large populations of wood thrush, Canada geese, great blue herons, wood ducks, whip-poor-wills, veeries, and ovenbirds, this place is a true birder’s paradise. This state forest is also a great destination for picnicking, hiking, and recreational hunting.
2. Codorus State Park
Spanning an area of about 3,500 acres, Codorus State Park is another scenic destination that attracts birdwatchers and wildlife photographers from all over the region throughout the year. Established in the late 1960s around the shores of Lake Marburg, this public recreation area is located 50 miles northwest of downtown Aberdeen and can be reached in about one hour and 20 minutes via Middletown Road.
A magnet for shorebirds, migrating waterfowl, and other birds, Codorus State Park is home to different species including ruddy ducks, mergansers, stilt sandpipers, black-crowned night herons, bald eagles, great egrets, pied-billed grebes, tricolored herons, Canada geese, and common pheasants. Open year-round, this public recreation area features both modern and rustic camping facilities for those wanting to stay overnight.
3. Elk Neck State Park
Located a little under 25 miles east of Aberdeen, Elk Neck State Park is another excellent destination for birders and wildlife watchers from the region. Sitting between the Elk River and the Chesapeake Bay, this nature reserve boasts large populations of bald eagles, ospreys, warbling vireos, worm-eating warblers, turkey vultures, Eastern bluebirds, and tree swallows. Getting here takes a little over half an hour by car via routes US-40 and MD-272.
Going on an exciting birding trip is always better in a comfortable, reliable, and stylish vehicle. Before you head to these destinations, visit us at Adams Jeep of Maryland! As the oldest stand-alone Jeep dealer in the entire state of Maryland, we have thousands of satisfied customers and an extensive inventory of used cars, SUVs, and trucks.
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