The Potomac Valley Audubon Society is sponsoring a birding trip at the National Conservation Training Center outside Shepherdstown on Saturday, June 18.

The trip is free and anyone with an interest is welcome to come along.

NCTC’s 538-acre campus is not normally open to the public, so this is a good opportunity to visit.

The campus contains a mix of fields and forestland, and it provides good habitat for a rich variety of bird species. Species likely to be seen include warblers, vireos, orioles and flycatchers, as well as year-round birds.

Participants should plan to meet at 8 a.m. at the visitor’s parking lot in front of the NCTC’S main building.

Please note that because the center is a federal facility, pre-registration will be required. To pre-register, contact trip leader Sandy Sagalkin monsansagalkin@myactv.net or 240-291-6465 no later than June 13.

The trip will involve walking about two miles over mostly level ground.

Everyone should plan to wear comfortable walking or hiking boots; bring along bug spray to ward off ticks, mosquitoes and gnats; and bring water and, as necessary, a hat, sunscreen or rain gear. Binoculars will be available for those who do not own any.

In case of inclement weather, contact Sagalkin to see if the trip is still on.

Various details of the trip could change depending on weather and recent bird sightings.