Eastern Shore Land Conservancy is excited to announce that we are an official partner for this year’s Waterfowl Festival! Our building, the Eastern Shore Conservation Center, will serve as a venue for a wildlife photography gallery throughout the festival. On Friday November 10th from 4—7 PM we are kicking off the first day of Waterfowl with Goose Music—a courtyard celebration with live music from Sam Pugh, local beer from RAR Brewing, and tacos from Taqueria Floritas.

Local writer Tom Horton describes the autumn “chorus of goose music” as “synonymous with the Eastern Shore as crab feasts and oysters.” We couldn’t agree more. And land conservation is critical when it comes to protecting the habitat of our resident and migratory waterfowl and being able to enjoy that music for centuries to come.

Waterfowl festivalgoers who arrive a little early on Friday will also enjoy a free illustrated talk at 2 PM from local conservationist and former ESLC board member Dr. Wayne Bell. In “Our Eastern Shore Landscape: Past, Present, and Hopeful Future,” Dr. Bell will review the history of land use on the Chesapeake Bay watershed, showing how recent waterfowl conservation initiatives can be used as blueprints for maintaining the cultural integrity, economic productivity, and biological diversity of our beautiful working landscape.

Image: Susan Hale Photography