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December 8, 2023

Chestertown Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Chestertown

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Ecosystem Eco Notes

Pickering Debuts New Trail at New Woods

November 29, 2023 by Pickering Creek Audubon Center Leave a Comment

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At the Center’s annual donor Pig Roast this autumn Pickering debuted the first trail loop in the new woods they acquired in fall of 2022. Thanks to the generosity of many community members the Center was able to purchase 63 acres of woods adjacent to the Center’s main campus in September of 2022. Over the course of the past year staff and stakeholders have enjoyed free form walks in the new woods as they considered potential trails and highlights along those trails. The first result of that effort is the New Woods Loop. The loop begins at the conclusion of one of the Center’s wetlands boardwalks, following a path along the wooded shoreline overlooking the head of Pickering Creek.

After a short walk you enter the new woods, dominated by mature oaks, tulip poplar, beech and hickory. The first stop along the walk is Barred Owl Circle, a delightful set of benches built by the Center’s volunteer crew that are set up in a natural clearing in the woods that provide a wonderful place to rest and contemplate the quiet around you. Aptly named for the regularity that you hear Barred Owls calling Who cooks for you, who cooks for y’all at this location, summer EcoCamp groups enjoyed this location all summer as one of their starting points for exploration of the new woods. Camp groups began exploring the new woods with their group leaders during the second week of our seven-week camp. It quickly became the most popular place that campers wanted to go. They have adopted their own name for it, Echo Woods Circle, because of the interesting echo of voices that occurs as sound bounce across the creek and back. The circle is slightly short of the halfway point of the walk.

The trail continues and casually meanders amongst big trees and runs alongside a wooded wetland. A small bridge crosses a seasonal stream as the trail curls left beneath towering tulip poplars. From here you enter a grove of American Holly before exiting the woods into the Center’s meadow. The trail links up with the center’s next newest trail, the meadow loop. You can turn right and continue on for further adventure through the meadow and onto the meadow viewing platform or turn right and head towards the farm pond and back to the parking lot.

“I’ve seen something new every time I taken this walk,” says Pickering Board President Tom Sanders. This is the first of several trails that will enable community members to explore the woods over the next few years. Debut of the next section of trail is planned for mid 2024.

The trail is three quarters of a mile long from the parking lot, through the woods and back along the meadow trail to the parking lot. Allow 40 minutes for the walk depending on how much time you want to spend enjoy marveling at the big trees or relaxing along the trail at one of the benches. During the winter months Pickering is open daily from 7AM -5PM. Check the website if you would like to sign up for a guided walk in the new woods, www.pickeringcreek.org

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Eco Notes

Thanksgiving Nature Play Trail at Pickering 

November 14, 2023 by Pickering Creek Audubon Center Leave a Comment

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Pickering Creek Audubon Center will debut its Thanksgiving Nature Play Trail on Saturday November 18th.  The trail circles the Pickering Creek pond and features eleven stops that encourage kids and families to explore nature through short fun activities.  The trail is self guided and starts at the Center’s main parking lot. At the stops it asks kids to do interactive activities like: “Hop like a rabbit down the trail, if you see a Hawk or Eagle overhead freeze until it passes.”  Each location asks students to engage a different sense as they explore nature around them.  

“This is a great way to explore the fall season as a family while engaging kids and giving adults a chance to stretch their legs a walk off some of the Thanksgiving Feast,” says Pickering Creek Director Mark Scallion.  The trail will be in place from Saturday November 18th through Sunday December 3rd.  Keep an eye on the weather and remember boots if it has been rainy!

After enjoying the Thanksgiving Nature Play Trail, further explorations lie beyond, with over four miles of trails and several beautiful vistas over Pickering Creek and the Center’s expansive wetlands, Pickering Creek has miles of trails for exploration and enjoyment.

Pickering Creek’s Trails are open daily from 7am to 5pm during the winter months.   

For all our guidelines please check:  https://pickeringcreek.org/visit/planning-a-visit/

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Eco Notes

Chesapeake Bay Oyster Reef Recovery Initiative Makes Oyster Delivery

November 13, 2023 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

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A gathering in Easton, Maryland of 70 Chesapeake Bay Oyster Reef Recovery Initiative volunteers was led by the staff of founding sponsor, Eglseder Wealth Management Group, Inc. on Thursday, October 5 to deliver an estimated 337,000 oyster spat-on-shell to 300-plus volunteer oyster growers.

After coffee, doughnuts, and lunches were handed out, volunteers loaded buckets and cages of oyster spat-on-shell in their trucks and trailers and delivered them to the docks of the Initiative’s volunteer oyster growers.

The spat-on-shell are housed in protective cages that are suspended from the grower’s docks throughout the fall and winter. In late spring, volunteers meet again to collect each grower’s oysters and plant them in a protected oyster sanctuary on the Tred Avon River.

The Chesapeake Bay Oyster Reef Recovery Initiative was founded in 2011 by Eglseder Wealth Management Group, Inc., and was established as part of the state’s Marylanders Grow Oysters program to encourage people to become involved in Maryland’s oyster restoration efforts and clean-up of the Chesapeake Bay.

To learn how to become an oyster grower, please visit www.oystersforthebay.com or contact Program Manager Suzanne Anderson at 410-822-9143.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Eco Notes

Trapping Areas Open for Bids at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge  

November 4, 2023 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

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 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge will offer furbearer trapping rights on a sealed bid basis for the 2024 season.

Fifteen trapping units will be available.  An individual may bid on one or more units, but only three units will be awarded to any bidder.  The successful bidder must personally trap the unit; subleasing is prohibited. Bid invitations, maps, and other details are available by calling Matt Whitbeck, Wildlife Biologist, at 410-221-2034. Inspection of the units will be allowed from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., December 4-7 and December 11-14, 2023, with a scouting permit.

Bids must be received at the refuge office by 5:00 pm on December 14, 2023. Successful bidders will be notified by mail. The Refuge must receive full payment on or before December 29, 2023, for successful bidders to receive their permit.

Trapping for muskrat, raccoon, fox, skunk, and opossum will begin on January 1, 2024, and end on March 15, 2024, unless extensions have been made by both the state and the refuge.

Trapping on Blackwater NWR is a management activity designed to control the population levels of furbearers as well as provide an economic benefit to local trappers. Uncontrolled muskrat populations can seriously damage marsh vegetation, which is vital to waterfowl, other migratory birds, and the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

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Filed Under: Eco Notes

ShoreRivers Seeks To Provide Community Partners with Restoration Grant Assistance

October 23, 2023 by ShoreRivers Leave a Comment

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Participants in ShoreRivers Social and Environmental Justice Convenings, including Kent Attainable Housing, Minary’s Dream Alliance, and Men for Change are among the first organizations to partner with the organization to explore technical grant assistance. Here, a group gathers at the third convening held at Minary’s Dream in Chestertown earlier this year.

ShoreRivers is actively seeking community organizations that would like assistance improving stormwater issues like flooding or soggy areas, beautifying properties, or improving the mental health of the people you serve through connection with nature.

ShoreRivers has put scores of projects in the ground that prevent pollution and restore our irreplaceable waterways, and we want to help new organizations with submitting successful resiliency and restoration grants. These projects might look like community gardens, rain gardens, tree plantings, or other ambitious efforts to help clean our waterways and connect more community members to river stewardship.

ShoreRivers is thrilled to serve as both a Connector and a Technical Assistance Provider for grants through the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Community-Based Organization Capacity-Building Initiative. Our staff team has decades of collective grant writing and management experience, and includes an environmental engineer, a landscape architect, environmental educators, and professionals in restoration and engagement. Through this initiative, we can share our staff expertise with community organizations, schools, and congregations to apply to grants from organizations like the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Chesapeake Bay Trust, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and more.

With ShoreRivers’ free technical assistance, organizations will build their knowledge and capacity to submit grants and lead future restoration and engagement efforts. Helping more of our local nonprofits thrive means a more sustainable future for all of us. We cannot have clean water without healthy communities, and we cannot have healthy communities without clean water.

If you are interested in exploring grant assistance for your organization, please contact Darran White Tilghman, Director of Community Engagement, at [email protected] or 410.810.7556, ext. 278.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Eco Notes, Ed Notes

Pickering Creek Annual Birdseed Sale and Third Annual Seed Social 

October 21, 2023 by Pickering Creek Audubon Center Leave a Comment

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With summer behind us, our local birds have finished their breeding season, and the fledglings are striking out on their own. Many species are switching their diets from insects to high fat seeds and suets to help them get ready for wintering here or migrating south.  That means it’s time to get your bird feeders cleaned up and back out in the yard. To prepare feeders for the season, you can run them through the dishwasher, or wash with boiling water and soap to get them ready. Regularly cleaning them this way throughout the season will help your birds stay healthy and avoid your feeder being a source for disease transmission.

Bird feeding helps sustain birds through the harshest winter days as well as provides exciting interactions with birds as you get to see beautiful cardinals, chickadees, nuthatches, goldfinch, titmice, finches and more bouncing around your feeding station every time you peek out your window. You’ll have hours of endless entertainment as you watch your favorite cardinals and goldfinches come to the feeder as well as see surprises like white-breasted nuthatches and fox sparrows.

Pickering Creek Audubon Center’s annual birdseed sale will be held from Oct 16th to the Nov 6th. Friends of the birds can order seed from Pickering during this time period. A large variety of seeds including black oil sunflower and thistle will be available as well as a variety of seed mixes and suet cakes.  Different seeds and feeder types attract different types of birds.  Our carefully selected seed provider provides a high quality seed, typically with less chaff and other debris than what you will find in seed purchased at big box retailers.  This program is primarily designed to help people get interested in bird feeding, have a source for high quality seed and interact with fellow bird lovers at the birdseed social. Purchasers are welcome to make an additional donation to support the Center’s many programs.  This year all payments will be made by credit card online. The largest order wins a free birdfeeder!

Order forms will be available beginning October 16th at https://pickeringcreek.org

Orders must be placed by November 6.

Seed pick up will be at our Third Annual Birdseed Social on Tuesday Nov 14th from 3:30 to 5:30pm at Pickering Creek.   Come have a drink and snack on us, meet fellow bird lovers, and pick up your seed! We will have Pickering Creek staff onsite to answer any bird questions you might have.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Eco Notes

Autumn 2023 Programs at Pickering Creek

October 6, 2023 by Pickering Creek Audubon Center Leave a Comment

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The weather at this time of year is delightful for outdoor activities.   Join the staff at Pickering Creek for enjoyable outdoor explorations this fall. Registration in advance is required and can be made at https://pickeringcreek.org/programs/upcoming-programs/

Monday Paddle on Pickering
Monday, October 16, 2023
5:00-6:30 PM
$10 per person Finish out a Monday with a leisurely canoe paddle along the shores of Pickering Creek. Soak in the sights and sounds of the creek by canoe with a friend or family member as the early evening light dances on the waters of Pickering Creek.  Families welcome! Canoes & Lifejackets provided. 

Nature Walk with the Director at Pickering Creek’s New Forest
Thursday, October 19, 2023
5:00-6:30 PM
$5 per personJoin Director, Mark Scallion, for an exploration of the Center’s newly acquired woods.  We’ll start by walking Pickering’s meadow trail and then duck into the adjacent woods for a ramble across open woodland.  Highlights could include woodpeckers, owls, turkeys, foxes and more.  Walks are a great introduction to the Center’s campus and programs and an opportunity for you to learn more about what the Center has to offer and for us to learn about your interests.

A Little Bird Told Me
Monday, October 30, 2023
8:00-10:00 AM
$5 per person

Join Pickering Creek naturalist to observe and enjoy birds in a whole new way.  Learn how to “listen” to what birds say through their vocalizations and behaviors in this guided field experience. Activity will be light with some time spend sitting or standing quietly.  Participants will sharpen their observations skills and walk away understanding some basic bird behaviors that will offer a peek at what is going on in the landscape around them in real time.

 

Bird Walk with e-Bird Monitoring
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
8:00-10:00AM


Have fun bird watching for science at Pickering Creek. Bird watchers of all skill levels are encouraged to assist volunteer leaders with bird monitoring along the Center’s trails during this monthly bird survey. Help us collect data that allow us to track long-term trends on how birds use the Center. Currently we have spotted and identified over 230 species at Pickering Creek!

 

Nature Walk with the Director at Pickering Creek’s New Forest
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
3:30-5:00 PM
$5 per person

Join Director, Mark Scallion, for an exploration of the Center’s newly acquired woods.  We’ll start by walking Pickering’s meadow trail and then duck into the adjacent woods for a ramble across open woodland.  Highlights could include woodpeckers, owls, turkeys, foxes and more.  Walks are a great introduction to the Center’s campus and programs and an opportunity for you to learn more about what the Center has to offer and for us to learn about your interest.

Bird Walk with e-Bird Monitoring
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
8:00-10:00AM

Have fun bird watching for science at Pickering Creek. Bird watchers of all skill levels are encouraged to assist volunteer leaders with bird monitoring along the Center’s trails during this monthly bird survey. Help us collect data that allow us to track long-term trends on how birds use the Center. Currently we have spotted and identified over 230 species at Pickering Creek! 

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Eco Notes

New Tree Stewards Trained in Native Plantings, Tree Care

October 4, 2023 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

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ShoreRivers is proud to announce that 30 brand-new Tree Stewards are being added to its roster of volunteers who are trained and ready to help plant and care for native trees across the Eastern Shore.

Tree Stewards are volunteers who help identify potential planting locations, develop community partnerships, coordinate site visits and assessments, create planting plans, and assist with maintenance of trees. Tree Stewards are essential to ShoreRivers small-scale restoration efforts and are crucial for continuing to build community connections.

This volunteer program began in 2021 as a training opportunity offered by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, for which ShoreRivers was the only host organization on the Eastern Shore. The training covers topics including tree biology and proper tree planting techniques, and concludes with an in-person tree planting. Thanks to these new Tree Stewards, 12 new natives are standing tall at Easton Point Park and more are on the way.

“Planting native trees improves water quality and reduces nutrient and stormwater runoff, shades impervious surface to better regulate water temperatures, and sequesters carbon in our atmosphere—and their benefits don’t stop there,” says Chester Riverkeeper Annie Richards. “These trees, especially when planted in urban and developed areas, fill habitat gaps for birds and insects, keep our neighborhoods cooler, increase home values, filter our air quality, and lower our energy bills!”

With funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Chesapeake Bay Trust, and an outstanding showing from this dedicated volunteer base, ShoreRivers has already worked alongside its Tree Stewards to plant a total of 300 native trees across our watershed. The 12 planted as part of the recently completed Tree Stewards training were the first of 1,000 that ShoreRivers has committed to planting in five urban centers in our watershed—Chestertown, Easton, Cambridge, Federalsburg, and Denton—thanks to additional funding from the Chesapeake Bay Trust. If you know of a location that might be suitable for a native tree planting, please email [email protected].

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Eco Notes

Rachel Carson Comes to Life on October 14

October 4, 2023 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

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The Talbot County Bird Club, Caroline County Bird Club, and Pickering Creek Audubon Center are hosting a special program about pathfinding environmentalist Rachel Carson on Saturday, October 14 2023.

Colleen Webster, Professor of English, Harford Community College, will give a Living History performance about Ms. Carson and her enduring legacy.  The event is free and open to the public.  It will take place at 10:00 AM at the Wharves at Choptank Visitors and Heritage Center, 3 Crouse Park Lane, Denton, MD.

Rachel Carson is best known for her 1962 book, Silent Spring, which raised public awareness about the pesticide DDT and its effect on birds, wildlife in general, and ourselves.  The book was the catalyst for the creation of our most influential environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act, led to the creation of the US Environmental Protection Agency and, in 1970, to the first Earth Day.

But Ms. Carson’s writings were much broader, including her best-seller, The Sea Around Us (1951) and her subsequent ramblings in nature with her grand nephew Roger, The Sense of Wonder (1965).  Professor Webster will allow us to eavesdrop as she walks the woods of her property at Southport Island, Maine, where she and 8-year-old Roger are joined by Stanley Freeman and his wife, Dorothy, as she looks for birds and reminisces about her career, writing, and life.  The performance will bring Rachel Carson back to life, if even for just an hour, introducing her to a new generation of young people and re-connecting her with those not so young who have inherited her legacy and still care deeply about our natural world.

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Filed Under: Eco Notes

Adkins Mystery Monday: Do You Know Your Fruit?

October 2, 2023 by Adkins Arboretum Leave a Comment

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Happy Mystery Monday!   Can you guess what is pictured in photo #1?
The answer to last week’s mystery is the leopard slug, Limax maximus, pictured in photo #2.
Leopard slugs are usually spotted and grow 4-5 inches long. They are an invasive species that is native to Europe but are now found in all continents except Antarctica.
These slugs are hermaphroditic, having male and female characteristics; however, they cannot self-fertilize.

Leopard Slugs are not harmful to the garden as they feed on rotting vegetation, which helps recycle garden waste for the soil. They thrive in damp areas, like under mulch or garden debris.

Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Eco Notes

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