Go Birding at Patuxent River Park

An egret is one of many birds you might spy within Patuxent River Park.

NPS/ B.Poffenberger

Go Birding

Come to Patuxent River Park, located along Jug Bay, to experience some of the best birding in Maryland! The National Audubon Society designated Jug Bay a “Nationally Important Bird Area” because of its high numbers and diversity of birds. More than 300 species have been identified with over 100 confirmed as nesting. Because of the highly productive marshes here, Jug Bay is known as a stopping point for migratory birds. 

The park has created a checklist of all the bird species known to be in the area. Find the checklist on their website: PRB_BirdChecklist_FNL.pdf (pgparks.com)

Please record all nesting and any new sightings at the visitor center’s bird sightings list! Read on to learn more details and plan your visit. 

About the Park

The Jug Bay area includes the Patuxent River Park and Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary in Prince George’s County, the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary in Anne Arundel County and is a component of the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Maryland.

Patuxent River Park boasts more than 7,000 acres of parkland along the Patuxent River. A short drive from both the Washington D.C. and Baltimore metropolitan areas, visit Patuxent River Park for tidal marshes, swamps, mature forests, and river views all in one.

The park is also rich in history and culture. A replica American Indian village introduces visitors to the architectural, technological, and agricultural traditions of Maryland’s indigenous peoples. Every year the park hosts an American Indian Festival featuring lectures, demonstrations, music, dance, stories, and more.

Visitors can also explore the Patuxent Rural Life Museums, such as the blacksmith shop, tobacco farming museum, and catalog house. On Sundays, drive directly from the woodland village to neighboring Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary, where you can enjoy views of the river entirely untouched by human development.

Available amenities are a boat launch, canoe and kayak rentals, hiking trails, an accessible observation tower, pavilions, birdwatching opportunities, and hunting and fishing.

How to Get There

Address: 16000 Croom Airport Road, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772-8395
Phone: [phone]
Web: Patuxent River Park - Park and Recreation - Prince Georges County MD (pgparks.com)

Details

Activity

Birdwatching

Pets Allowed

Yes

Activity Fee

No

No fee for regular entry. Fee for a car with boat or trailer, and for renting canoes/kayaks, campsites, pavilion reservations, and meeting room. 

Location

Patuxent River Park

16000 Croom Airport Road Upper Marlboro, MD 20772-8395

Reservations

No

Call ahead to reserve a campsite, the pavilion, and canoe/kayak rentals. 

Season

Year Round

Water trail access may be closed in winter months. 

Time of Day

Day

Accessibility Information

Visitor center, museums, as well as some trails are accessible to wheelchair. On Sundays, you can drive directly into the wildlife sanctuary.