Documenting the plants, animals, habitats, and ecology of the Sligo Creek watershed (past and present); pursuing habitat improvements; and providing educational experiences through nature talks and outings.

Natural History Committee Projects

FOSC’s Natural History Committee helps us humans near Sligo Creek Park appreciate the variety and abundance of plants and animals with whom we share the watershed. We do this by promoting citizen sightings of Sligo wildlife, documenting the flora and fauna of Sligo, advocating for new natural areas, helping to conserve existing ones, and organizing talks and outings about our diverse habitats and the many living things that inhabit them.

Spotlight on:

Natural History Chair Michael Wilpers will be
the featured speaker on Tues, Feb 28

You’re invited to Creating Wildlife Habitat Under In Our Powerline Corridors at the Tues, Feb 28 meeting of the Maryland Native Plant Society Monthly Program. This virtual meeting starts at 6:45pm. Registration required at http://www.mdflora.org/event-5180444

Bark Talks and Walks: Identifying Sligo’s Trees Through Their Bark

Ever wonder how to identify the trees that surround us in Sligo Creek park and our neighborhoods? From the smooth gray bark of beech and ironwood to the deeply furrowed bark of walnut and chestnut oak, we looked at easy ways to know what’s towering over us in woodlands throughout the park.

A photo of two towering trees in the woods against a clear blue sunny sky.

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White Oak (l) and American Beech (r) in the woods

Video of the Bark Talk by Michael Wilpers

The slides used for the Bark Talk, identifying Sligo's trees by bark, on Feb 22, 2023.

Bark Talk Slides

Sligo Creek Park Kiosk Posters

The poster on swallowtail butterflies that was displayed in the park kiosks last summer.
Plentiful Pokeweed For Wildlife Only Kiosk Poster
Fun facts about squirrels such as their swiveling ankle joints, acorn hiding strategies, and vision.

Italian Arum-Emerging Invasive  (Dig don’t pull)

Electrofishing in Sligo

Green Herons of Sligo

Takoma Park Tree Study

Great Egrets of Sligo

TSS: New Partnerships

Common Snapping Turtles

Eastern Box Turtles

Bald Eagle in Sligo

A bald eagle perched on a high branch in Hillwood Neighborhood Park, in December 2021

A bald eagle seen in Hillwood Neighborhood Park by Ellen Maidman-Turner, Dec 2021.