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Masonville Cove is the nation's first Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership, offering environmental restoration and education in the heart of Baltimore. MASONVILLE COVE PARTNERSHIP COVID-19 UPDATES HOURS Monday - Saturday: 9 am - 4 pm Sunday: Closed Extended Hours: 9 am - Sunset (On the first Friday of every month) Holiday Closures: Juneteenth CLOSED June 19, June 26-27 LOCATION 1000 Frankfurst Avenue Baltimore, MD 21226 ADMISSION & PARKING Admission and parking are FREE at Masonville Cove. DISCOVER BALTIMORE'S HIDDEN GEM Located in South Baltimore, Masonville Cove is the nation's first Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership, home to a green building nature center and beautiful waterfront public trails. Come and explore your neighborhood green space! Summer Student Groups Registration Required To register, please take the time to fill out the information below. What date would you like to visit? Email What hours are you hoping to visit Masonville Cove? Phone How many students? How many adults? How do you plan to arrive? Submit PLAN YOUR VISIT PLAN YOUR VISIT EDUCATION PROGRAMS EDUCATION PROGRAMS NEWS NEWS EVENTS EVENTS Upcoming Events at Masonville Cove See more future events on our Events page July First Friday: Family Fishing Evening Fri, Jul 10 Baltimore, Masonville Cove More info Register Community Shoreline Clean-Up Sat, Jul 11 Baltimore, Masonville Cove More info Register Nature for Kids: Bountiful Butterflies Sat, Jul 18 Masonville Cove More info Register Water Quality/Climate Change Science Sat, Jul 25 Baltimore, Masonville Cove More info Register Nature for Kids: Fantastic Fish Sat, Aug 15 Masonville Cove More info Register DID YOU KNOW... Masonville was home to nesting bald eagles during spring 2023! Three eaglets hatched in May and started flying in June. Stay up-to-date with all the events happening at Masonville Cove! SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK

Masonville Cove is home to Baltimore City's first known pair of nesting Bald Eagles! Watch our live stream of their nest to see if you can spot them! The eagles have successfully raised four eaglets at Masonville Cove so far, and are expected to raise their third nest in Spring 2021. BIRD BANDING VISITOR INTERACTION Mist-nets may be observed from the paths, but visitors should not approach nets. When at the banding site, visitors should feel free to approach and closely observe the banding process; staff and volunteers will interpret the banding process to visitors and to field questions. BIRD SAFETY The safety of captured birds is a primary focus. However, birds are generally hardy critters, and are well equipped to handle swings in temperature, precipitation, and many other hazards. Every effort is made to ensure the safety and well-being of captured birds. Mourning Warbler (photo credit: Tim Carney, MPA/MES) BURB Staff and Volunteers remove birds from the mist nets. (Photo Credit: Cal Liddell, MPA/MES) BIRD BANDING AT MASONVILLE COVE Welcome to Bird Banding at Masonville Cove! 2026 is the fourth year of the banding operation at Masonville, and our location seems to be one of a kind. Urban bird banding stations are rare, making this a unique opportunity to study bird behavior, distribution, and physiology in urban habitats. Evidence suggests that birds migrate differently through urban areas, and these habitats are important to the feeding and nesting of common species. We hope that this bird banding operation can provide useful information on how birds move through Baltimore City and live at Masonville Cove! Mike Hudson at the Bird Banding Station and speaking with visitors about birds up close! Photo credit: Cal Liddell, Matias Orrego (MES/MPA) WHAT IS BIRD BANDING? PURPOSE Bird banding is one of the most important methods of studying wild birds, as it provides information about longevity and other local demographics, migration connectivity, habitat use, and more. When birds are banded, a range of data are gathered, including weight, body condition, breeding condition, plumage aspect, age, and sex. It also provides an opportunity to detect species that are difficult to find or identify under normal field conditions. PLACEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF NETS Mist-nets are installed during the field effort and are so named because the material they are composed of is fine and difficult to see clearly in most natural lighting. Culverts, fence-lines, ditches, treefalls, stream crossings, dead/over-browsed trees, vernal pools, and similar landscape features (natural and man-made) often create vegetation gaps large enough for mist nets. The spaces also tend to frequent passageways from birds moving through a habitat. BIRD BANDING PARTNERS Our bird banding is led by Banders-in-Charge from Birds of Urban Baltimore (BUrB). BUrB is an education and outreach organization focused on engaging the local community in bird science and conservation through community events, bird banding demonstrations, internships, and more. Bird banding at Masonville Cove is conducted with the support of Maryland Port Administration (MPA), Maryland Environmental Service (MES), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and Living Classrooms Foundation (LCF). BANDING DATES You are more than welcome to join us and observe our bird banding migration studies at Masonville Cove! Bird banding is scheduled to be conducted at Masonville Cove on the following dates: August: 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 27, 28, 29 September: 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26 October: 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31 November: 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21 December: 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19 Note: This schedule may change due to weather conditions and events could be canceled last minute. Bird banding staff arrive before sunrise, and visitors are welcome to observe the banding activities when the site opens to the general public at 9:00 AM. Please sign in at the kiosk at the front right side of the Education Center when you arrive onsite. You can also inquire within the Education Center building regarding any additional questions on arrival, or if restroom access is needed. Banding end times vary based on weather, staffing, and number of birds captured, but usually ends before 1:00 PM. Visitors are welcome to explore the trails onsite until 4:00 PM when the site closes. June 2026 Today Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 8:00 AM Bird Banding Spring 2026 5 8:00 AM Bird Banding Spring 2026 6 8:00 AM Bird Banding Spring 2026 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

My Items I'm a title. Click here to edit me. Water Quality/Climate Change Science Join us in becoming a water scientist for a day! Learn what it takes to be a water scientist and help with climate change impact data collection! Registration required. More Community Shoreline Clean-Up Make Captain Trash Wheel proud and help clean up the shoreline at Masonville Cove! Student service learning hours opportunity. Registration required. More Water Quality/Climate Change Science Join us in becoming a water scientist for a day! Learn what it takes to be a water scientist and help with climate change impact data collection! Registration required. More First Friday - Captain Trash Wheel's Birthday Boom! Join Captain as we celebrate their 8th birthday in style! Head over to Masonville Cove for an evening packed with family fun, starting at 5pm. We've got an array of exciting games, face painting, creative crafts, and some birthday gifts for Captain! Registration is required for this free event. More City Nature Challenge at Masonville Cove 2026 City Nature Challenge is an annual community science competition for cities to find and document plants and wildlife found in urban areas. We are calling on everyone to join us in exploring, identifying and documenting the wildlife around you! More Water Quality/Climate Change Science Join us in becoming a water scientist for a day! Learn what it takes to be a water scientist and help with climate change impact data collection! Registration required. More Nature for Kids: Camouflaged Critters Join us for an in-person craft inspired by nature! We will share stories and learn about the camouflage that protects animals at Masonville while making our own camouflaged critters. Enjoy a walk with us for field observations and take a moment to appreciate the outdoors! Registration required. More Community Shoreline Clean-Up Make Captain Trash Wheel proud and help clean up the shoreline at Masonville Cove! Student service learning hours opportunity. Registration required. More Guided Nature Walk Join us for a guided walk around campus! There is always something new to see and learn about as seasons change. Registration required. More Self Led - First Friday Nature Exploration Come out and take a walk around the campus until sunset! Stop by and take a picture with Captain Trash Wheel or come and see the ongoing spring bird migration. Be sure to share any pictures on social media @CaptTrashWheel on Instagram! More Filbert Street Garden Bat Walk Did you know bats can act as pest control, pollinators, or even be gardeners? Join us at Filbert Street Garden for a sunset walk to listen to bats and learn how they help us! Registration is encouraged to secure your spot. More Water Quality/Climate Change Science Join us in becoming a water scientist for a day! Learn what it takes to be a water scientist and help with climate change impact data collection! Registration required. More

Hands on Environmental Education programs ideal for homeschool families and all students on days off of school! $20 per participant. Registration required. Drop In Field Trip: Birding Bonanza Hands on Environmental Education programs ideal for homeschool families and all students on days off of school! $20 per participant. Registration required.

Join Captain Trash Wheel as a "sole mate" for a guided sunset walk through the Masonville campus to celebrate Maryland Walk Day as part of Walktober! Our walking group name for the walk is Masonville Cove. Walktober at Masonville Cove 2023 Join Captain Trash Wheel as a "sole mate" for a guided sunset walk through the Masonville campus to celebrate Maryland Walk Day as part of Walktober! Our walking group name for the walk is Masonville Cove.

Explore, Discover, and Engage at the Nation's First Urban Wildlife refuge Partnership! Participants will engage in hands on learning on our 52 acre waterfront campus, discover in our science labs, and explore the natural world around them. Summer Science and Nature Program: Nature's Superheroes Explore, Discover, and Engage at the Nation's First Urban Wildlife refuge Partnership! Participants will engage in hands on learning on our 52 acre waterfront campus, discover in our science labs, and explore the natural world around them.

Learn how you can grow native plants, even in urban spaces! Join us and Baltimore Green Space in building a container pollinator garden to promote pollinator conservation. Registration is encouraged for this free event, walk ins are welcome. Container Pollinator Garden Workshop with Baltimore Green Space Learn how you can grow native plants, even in urban spaces! Join us and Baltimore Green Space in building a container pollinator garden to promote pollinator conservation. Registration is encouraged for this free event, walk ins are welcome.

Hands on Environmental Education programs ideal for homeschool families and all students on days off of school! $20 per participant. Registration required. Drop In Field Trip: Budding Botanists Hands on Environmental Education programs ideal for homeschool families and all students on days off of school! $20 per participant. Registration required.

Join us for an in-person craft inspired by nature! We will share stories and learn about the coyotes of Masonville while making and decorating cute coyote masks. Enjoy the great outdoors on a walk with us to look for signs of these elusive creatures! Nature For Kids: Courageous Coyotes Join us for an in-person craft inspired by nature! We will share stories and learn about the coyotes of Masonville while making and decorating cute coyote masks. Enjoy the great outdoors on a walk with us to look for signs of these elusive creatures!

Registered students will receive a supply kit full of craft materials, step-by-step directions, and a zoom link to participate in a live video session with staff and other participants. Contact events@masonvillecove.org to register and get the zoom link. See you there! FREE Virtual Nature for Kids Registered students will receive a supply kit full of craft materials, step-by-step directions, and a zoom link to participate in a live video session with staff and other participants. Contact events@masonvillecove.org to register and get the zoom link. See you there!