Howard County Bird Club
Elkhorn Garden Plots Detailed Information
The Elkhorn Garden Plot is a small area of open space devoted to community gardening in Columbia. Because of Columbia land use regulations, residents are not allowed to have gardens in their yards, thus creating a need for community garden areas, which is provided by the Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks.
Habitat: The garden plots are surrounded by thick brush on three sides; nearby there are woods, open, grassy areas under a powerline to the north, and a small marsh and stream to the south. Because of the variety of habitats and the plentiful food sources, especially in fall, the area is attractive to many birds.
Layout: Access to the garden plots is through a gated gravel lane on the east side of Oakland Mills Road, 0.9 miles north of the intersection with Snowden River Parkway (under the transmission lines). Parking is adjacent to this lane and the garden areas. In spring, summer, and fall the gate is usually open during daylight hours; in winter, the gate may be closed but the birding is not as good then anyway. The network of grassy paths allow you to have good access to the plot areas. Please do not enter any of the individual garden plots (most are fenced).
Best Time to Visit: Allow at least an hour or two at the peak of fall migration for adequate coverage. Although the area is small, it often pays to look at plot areas more than once because birds move around a lot. Morning and late afternoon are usually best in terms of bird activity. Mornings are better on the weekends because the gardeners usually work actively in their plots during the day. Don’t be put off by cloudy or drizzly weather in fall. It was on such a day in October of 2006 when a Merlin flew over, and an Orange-crowned Warbler, three Nashville Warblers, two White-crowned Sparrows, and two Lincoln’s Sparrows showed up, so even unsettled weather can produce good birds.
Birding: The best birding is usually in the fall and early winter because the garden plants have produced seeds and attract insects so that there is plenty of food for both seedeaters and insectivores. Spring birding is usually more rewarding around nearby Lake Elkhorn and Forebay Pond, but a variety of migrants have been seen at the garden plots as well. Winter is normally not very productive; however, if the gate is open, check for some of the less common sparrows like White-crowned, Fox, and American Tree plus wintering Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Towhee, Brown Thrasher, or Gray Catbird. Winter birding is usually better in the brushy areas on the east and west sides than in the garden plots themselves.
Peak fall birding occurs between mid-September and early November. Palm Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and Common Yellowthroats are some of the more common warblers while Eastern Phoebes, Brown Thrashers, House Wrens, Song Sparrows, American Goldfinches, and Indigo Buntings are frequently seen. Less common, but found every year, are Blue-headed Vireos, Nashville Warblers, both eastern and western Palm Warblers, White-crowned, Savannah, Swamp, and Lincoln’s sparrows, and sometimes a Purple Finch. Barred Owls can be heard hooting from the nearby woods. Of course, unexpected species are what put spice in a fall trip to these plots. Late September migration may bring a Marsh Wren or a Connecticut Warbler while October has featured Wilson’s Snipe (flushed out of a garden bed!), Orange-crowned Warbler, Dickcissel, and an occasional Vesper Sparrow. The action starts to wind down in early November, but some late warblers can still be found. This is a good time to spot large flocks of Cedar Waxwings and American Robins feasting on crabapples. Search for a few Purple Finches also feeding on the crabapples or on sycamore seeds. More rarely, a wandering Pine Siskin may put in an appearance feeding on the hanging fruits of sycamore or sweet gum, sometimes in flocks of American Goldfinches.
Another interesting feature of the garden plot is its attraction for late migrants, especially in a mild fall. Common Yellowthroats have been seen into November and Indigo Buntings sometimes remain into late October. A Magnolia Warbler stayed until the first week in November in 2000, and a tardy Wilson’s Warbler hung around past Thanksgiving the same year.
Highlights: Since many of the gardeners grow flowers as well as vegetables, a number of butterflies find the area attractive. The garden plots have been reliable for southern butterflies that range northward, normally in late summer or early fall. Almost every year a few large, lemon-yellow Cloudless Sulphurs can be seen flitting through the plant beds adding a tropical flavor. In 2004 and in 2006, Sleepy Oranges showed up; in 2006 they were seen on several days in September and may have been breeding. Another southern wanderer, the Ocola Skipper, arrives in ones or twos in August or September, usually visiting purple flowers. The bright orange Fiery Skipper is another southern invader seen a little more often than the Ocola Skipper. The attached species lists show the variety of wildlife that can be found in the garden plots and adjacent open space areas.
Handicapped Access: If an individual can navigate slightly uneven mown grass and a gravel parking area, it would be possible to move among the garden plots since distances are short and one’s vehicle would be close.