Clever, with the reward of flight, showy stunning feathers, melodic songs and quirky behaviors, birds are simple to like. For many people, chook watching grew to become a enjoyable and straightforward technique to join with nature and get outdoors through the pandemic. In reality, birding is now thought of the second hottest outside exercise after gardening.
However the advantages of birds go deeper than giving us a second of free leisure out our window.
Birds remodel and shield landscapes around the globe, maintaining marshes, grasslands, coral reefs and forests wholesome. They’re additionally essential seed spreaders, pollinators and environment friendly exterminators. A latest examine discovered they’ll devour as much as 500 million tons of illness and crop destroying bugs every year. (1)
The conservation of birds is significant for the well being of the planet. However they’re good for our well being too. Research present that being round birds and listening to their songs can decrease stress, scale back anxiousness and enhance psychological well being.(2)
However have you ever ever considered mixing your love of birds into your travels?
Now the brand new boutique Merriweather Lakehouse Hotel on Lake Kittamaqundi in Columbia, Maryland is making it simpler than ever with their Birdsong Society room bundle designed particularly for chook lovers.
Rapidly turning into a hotspot for birders and nature lovers, this immersive birding bundle permits friends to be surrounded by chook songs in and across the lodge via a partnership with The Birdsong Society.
For The Birds: The Birdsong Mission
For The Birds: The Birdsong Project from The Chook Track Society is a considered one of a form inventive collaborative mission of musicians, artists, poets, actors and environmentalists who’ve come collectively to help the conservation and training of birds.
This stunning and distinctive document assortment is out there to take heed to and revel in within the consolation of your lakeside suite.
‘For the Birds’ The Birdsong Mission 20 LP vinyl document boxed set. | Picture: Higher Dwelling
Guide a Birdsong Society Suite at Merriweather Lakehouse Resort, and through your keep you’ll have entry to:
- The ‘For the Birds’ The Birdsong Mission Boxed Set: A 20 LP vinyl document assortment with 172 items of recent music, 73 works of bird-inspired poetry and a 60-page art-filled companion piece produced by Grammy Award-winning music supervisor Randall Poster impressed by the fantastic thing about birdsong. See the full list of creative contributors and artists here.
- A Crosley Document Participant to take heed to ‘For the Birds’.
- Warby Parker binoculars to borrow on your birdwatching keep.
- Complimentary snacks together with Boxed Water is Higher and Shār path combine to maintain you fueled on your bird-watching adventures.
- A Copy of The Maryland Chook Information to take house. This lovable youngsters’s e-book by native 11-year-old chook lover Xaviana Leis will present you birds you’ll be able to anticipate to see in your go to and profit the Owl Moon Raptor Center, an area Maryland wildlife rescue.
The foyer at Merriweather Lakehouse Resort – Columbia, MD | Picture: Higher Dwelling
All proceeds from the purchases of The Birdsong Mission ‘For the Birds’ by the lodge profit the Audubon society’s mission to guard birds and their habitat.
In regards to the Merriweather Lakehouse Resort
A part of Marriott’s Autograph Assortment (a bunch of over 180 distinctive impartial motels, upscale and luxurious motels), Merriweather Lakehouse Resort is a contemporary lakeside retreat tucked into seven wooded acres overlooking the 27-acre Lake Kittamaqundi. A well-liked native spot for health lovers and nature lovers, it’s the proper place to calm down and chook watch.
Birdwatching from the balcony of a Birdsong Society Suite at Merriweather Lakehouse Resort | Picture: Higher Dwelling
The lodge provides 212 serene luxury guest rooms, beautiful eating, a shocking foyer and bar, a comfortable café, and a fully-equipped health middle. Plus, the breathtaking floor-to-ceiling views will make you by no means need to go away this tranquil haven.
Visitor room comforts and facilities embody:
- Luxurious Linens
- C.O. Bigelow Lavender-Peppermint Bathtub Necessities
- 55′ Flat Display Good TV
- A Mini Fridge
- A Keurig Espresso maker
The lodge can also be solely a 15-minute stroll from the Merriweather Put up Pavilion which Billboard Journal and Rolling Stone have acknowledged as among the finest outside amphitheaters within the U.S. For the final 40 years, it’s drawn a few of the greatest acts in music, together with Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Santana, and Taylor Swift.
That’s why celebrating and having fun with nature, music and birds with the Birdsong Project is a pure match right here.
For extra intensive rest, yoga and holistic therapies, go to the 27,000 sq. foot The Pearl Spa a brief stroll down the lake from the lodge.
Geese flying by at dawn over Lake Kittamaqundi at Merriweather Lakehouse Resort | Picture: Higher Dwelling
The place to See Birds on the Merriweather Lakehouse Resort
Chook lovers will likely be blissful to be taught that Lake Kittamaqundi and its surrounding space at the moment are house to a wide range of chook species, together with water birds like belted kingfishers and nice blue herons.
Head to the lake’s pier to identify one of many many species of geese like ring-necked geese, geese, northern shovelers, pied-billed grebes, and hooded mergansers that go to the lake.
Then discover the 1.4-mile wooded and paved path across the lake accessible in the back of the lodge. If you’d like extra time in nature, take the connecting path (a 20-minute stroll) over to close by Wilde Lake, one other beautiful native spot for herons and different water birds like cormorants.
Finishing the loop round each lakes is 4.6 miles lengthy.
A fantastic blue heron flies by a Birdsong Mission Suite at Merriweather Lakehouse Resort | Picture: Higher Dwelling
Guide a room with a balcony the place you’ll be able to see and listen to water birds like cardinals, wrens, chickadees, warblers, blue jays, geese, geese from the consolation of your personal balcony. We had been even fortunate sufficient to see a blue heron gliding by at nightfall.
💡 Tip: Verify right here for daily bird sightings at Lake Kittamaqundi!
Finest Time to See Birds at Lake Kittamaqundi
You’ll have the perfect probability of seeing essentially the most number of birds early within the morning, beginning at daybreak and within the late afternoon via nightfall. However we had chook sightings strolling the paths all through the afternoon throughout our keep.
Birds are least lively at midday. Complete Meals is a brief stroll from the south finish of Lake Kittamaqundi (2 minutes) so this can be a nice time to seize lunch and take a espresso to go to benefit from the lakeside.
The place to Eat on the Merriweather Lakehouse Resort
When starvation units in after a full day of birding, the lodge has some incredible eating choices. 
The Osprey Cafe: Seize Recent Gourmand Espresso + Pastries
When you don’t need a sit-down breakfast, however want slightly one thing within the morning, the stylish lobby-side Osprey Cafe serves up connoisseur Lavazza espresso drinks, like latte’s, breakfast sandwiches and snacks 7am to 2pm.
The espresso is scrumptious, however the rotating choice of recent baked pastries, together with croissants and muffins, baked by in-house pastry Chef Brian Holland are a scrumptious deal with.
Take your order to go or seize a seat in entrance of the hearth and benefit from the lake views.
➡ See The Osprey Cafe menu.
The Rookery Bar: Craft Cocktails + Scrumptious Bites
After a enjoyable day of birding, head over to the lodge’s Rookery Bar & Lounge for a seasonally impressed craft cocktail and a chew when you take pleasure in a mesmerizing sundown over the lake.
Attempt a few of their latest refreshing fall impressed additions to the drink menu, just like the Autumn Lak Sangria made with white wine and fall fruit, or the Pearadise cocktail made with bourbon, pear liqueur, bubbly ginger ale, and tangy lime juice.
For one thing with a contact of candy, the pumpkin spice espresso martini made with vanilla vodka, Kahlua and garnished with cinnamon is the proper after dinner drink.
When you’re hungry and might’t pull your self away from the lake views and pleasant vibe, order up some dishes from their inventive bar menu that features apps, salads, burgers and sandwiches.
You’ll be able to’t go incorrect with the Bavarian Pretzel with beer, cheese and stout mustard. However in the event you’re a crab lover, the Corn and Crab chowder is a should. Creamy candy corn and a beneficiant quantity of lump crab are in a wealthy creamy wealthy broth and “garnished” with three mini crab desserts. It’s the crab chowder of all chowders and it’s unimaginable.
The Rookery Bar opens at 4 pm every night time and, together with craft cocktails, additionally has an awesome craft beer and wine choice. See the latest menu.
Lāk: A Stellar Eating Expertise for Breakfast or Lunch
For a particular eating expertise, Lāk (pronounced “lake”) is the Merriweather’s Lake Home Resort’s cool and fashionable, American high-quality eating restaurant that serves breakfast and dinner day by day, and brunch on the weekends.
Now Chef Kristina Brown, previously of the 4 Seasons Baltimore, is working to make it a premier Columbia eating vacation spot.
Brown’s philosophy within the kitchen: “I imagine meals must be stored easy and attractive. Along with the Merriweather culinary crew, we’re creating dishes that talk for themselves with out added distractions or over-the-top components.”
Produced from-scratch, with regionally sourced and grown Howard County components when attainable, at Lāk you’ll be able to style the emphasis on taste and freshness in each chew.
Attempt the plump and scrumptious Outdated Bay brined colossal black tiger Shrimp Cocktail for a tremendous begin. Or get your greens with the Chopped Kale Salad topped with apples, pecans and goat cheese after which tossed with a tangy, candy and spicy cranberry chipotle French dressing.
Half Rack of New Zealand Lamb at Lāk – Columbia, MD | Picture: Higher Dwelling
For a hearty and satisfying entrée excellent for the cooler months, we adored the superbly seared Half Rack of New Zealand Lamb served over decadent creamy polenta and completed with a pink wine demi-glace. When you’re fortunate to go to on an evening with the Quick Rib particular, order it. Chef Kristina’s quick rib is braised till fork tender after which served over ultra-creamy potatoes, recent sauteed spinach and topped with hearty mushrooms and delicate micro greens. It’s excellent.
Seasonal pumpkin brownie at Lāk – Columbia, MD | Picture: Higher Dwelling
For a candy end, go for the scrumptious seasonal pumpkin brownie served in a skillet and topped with whipped cream. It’s virtually too fairly to eat. Virtually.
Different Native Spots in Columbia, Maryland For Birdwatching
Wilde Lake: After you’ve explored Lake Kittamaqundi, take the path on the north finish of the lake (to the left if leaving from the again of the lodge) to close by 22-acre Wilde Lake that flows downstream into Lake Kittamaqundi. This can be a good spot for seeing water fowl like double-crested cormorants, herons and turtles sunning themselves. The trail round Wilde Lake is gorgeous and 1.46 miles lengthy.
It’s a couple of 20-minute stroll from Merriweather Lakehouse lodge or you can even take a 2 minute drive over. See the trail map. Birding information.
Centennial Park: An 8 minute drive north of the Merriweather Lake Resort this award-winning 337-acre park is house to a wide range of wildlife corresponding to white-tailed deer, beavers, foxes, turtles, 37 species of waterfowl (herons included) and a wide range of songbird species. See the trail map. Birding information.
Lake Elkhorn Park: Solely 3.4 miles from the Merriweather Lakehouse Resort, this park encompasses a 37-acre lake the place you’ll be able to hike the two.5-mile paved path and seven.3 miles of interconnecting paved paths excellent for birdwatching and seeing different wildlife like foxes and deer. The park is open from dawn to sundown and has ample parking and restrooms. See the trail map. Birding information.
The Robinson Nature Center: Lower than 10 minutes south of the lodge, on 18 acres, this Nature middle with two-stories of hands-on displays has a 1.1 mile nature path with river views and entry to historic mill ruins. See the trail map.
What to Deliver With You
The binoculars within the room are a candy gesture, however in the event you’re severe about birding, carry alongside a extra highly effective pair. They begin at about $20 on Amazon.
And in order for you birding photos, carry alongside a digital camera with a zoom lens. Even the most costly cell telephones don’t have sufficient zoom energy to get birds which can be too far-off.
Put together to decorate in layers if visiting throughout colder climate. Don’t overlook to carry your complimentary water and path combine with you on the lake path.
About Columbia, Maryland
Named the “most secure metropolis” by Forbes Journal, Columbia, Maryland is an ideal vacation spot for individuals who need to join with nature, however nonetheless be minutes from a wide range of eating, purchasing and leisure choices. Its rising downtown space, often called City Heart, is house to the Mall of Columbia. A five-minute stroll from the lodge, the mall has over 200 locations to buy and eat.
One of many distinctive traits of Columbia is that it maintains 3600 acres of open area, 114 miles of trails, and 5 lakes for anybody eager to chook or just benefit from the outdoor.
Columbia’s Lakefront District, the place the Merriwether Lake Resort is, is a well-liked spot for festivals and different outside occasions all year long. A couple of minutes from the lodge is Columbia’s well-known Merriweather Post Pavilion. This outside live performance venue inside 40-acres of preserved land referred to as Symphony Woods, was named the second greatest amphitheater within the U.S. by Billboard journal.
Remaining Ideas
For a calming lakeside luxurious getaway that mixes birding journey and conservation with luxurious lodging, incredible eating on Lake Kittamaqundi in Columbia Maryland, e-book The Birdsong Society at Merriweather Package via February 29, 2024.
Merriweather Lakehouse Resort Location and Parking
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- Resort: Merriweather Lakehouse, Autograph Assortment
- Resort Tackle: 10209 Wincopin Circle, Columbia, MD 21044
- Web site: https://merriweatherlakehouse.com/
- Tel: +1 410-730-3900
- Parking: Parking on the lodge is free and straightforward. Self-park within the storage immediately throughout from the lodge.
- Proximity to Main Cities: Solely half-hour south of Baltimore and 1 hour from D.C.
Close by Birding + Nature Sights
Different Close by Sights
* Nationwide Audubon Society will obtain 100% of the royalties from For the Birds: The Birdsong Mission field set gross sales and 100% of royalties generated by the digital streaming of audio tracks, topic to the assorted phrases of operation and charges related to every particular person digital streaming platform.