Compiled by Joe Lewandowski, December, 1995
Cylburn Arboretum is a 176-acre nature preserve in northwest Baltimore. With cultivated plantings of trees, shrubs, wildflowers, gardens, and display flower beds, Cylburn Arboretum offers a nature oasis in the heart of an urban setting. It is one of the best locations in Baltimore for migrants, especially thrushes and warblers. Great Horned Owl is resident year round, and Veery and Scarlet Tanager are resident during spring and summer.
Start in front of the Cylburn Mansion and scan the trees around the circle drive for Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in spring and fall and other woodpeckers year round, among the European Starling and American Robin.
Proceed around the side of the Mansion, following the asphalt to the Shady Garden, Rose Garden, and City Garden, looking for sparrows, wrens, Blue Jay, and Cedar Waxwing. As you pass the All-American Selection Garden Beds, look toward the bird feeder for more sparrows, finches, and Dark-eyed Junco (fall through spring). Follow the hardtop to the right past the Carriage House to see Gray Catbird (spring through fall), Northern Mockingbird, and Carolina Chickadee. The trees behind the Garden of the Senses are a good place for warblers during spring and fall migration, especially when the sun is out.
As you continue your walk, the asphalt path turns to mulch and leads to an intersection of several paths. Here you bear right to take either the Lawn Border Trail or the Circle Trail. The Circle Trail will usually turn up a thrush or two but the Lawn Border Trail has the potential for picking up more warblers in the sunny tree patches. The large snag a third of the way down the trail may hold some more woodpeckers. Whatever path you take, continue it around to the bog to see what birds may be taking a bath or a drink. When you reach the gravel road, the Lawn Border Trail ends. Continue along the single trail, which is the Circle Trail, and you will come across an open meadow. Walking the meadow toward the main entrance road allows one to view the valley ahead and possibly catch a glimpse of a soaring hawk or vulture. Follow the road back to the Mansion.
Once back at the Mansion, you can proceed to the rear of the Mansion and, by the Carriage House, pick up the Woodland Trail or the Azalea Trail. These trails will lead you in a downhill trek that may produce some thrushes and woodpeckers, but remember, your walk back will be uphill. Should you decide to go left from the Carriage House, you can follow the asphalt road past the greenhouses and may pick up sparrows, finches, and Mourning Dove. The road will lead you back to the entrance road that you can follow back to the Mansion.
Cylburn is an Arboretum, and its trees, wildflowers, and cultivated flowers are plentiful and, too numerous to name by species. Mushrooms can be seen along the paths, especially after a rain. Eastern Chipmunk, Gray Squirrel, Eastern Cottontail, and Red Fox are the most common mammals on the Arboretum property. The flowers do bring along their share of visitors in the way of bees, butterflies, and spiders.
Return to Baltimore Bird Club page.