March 29, 2010

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/anne-arundel/bal-md.ar.greenway29mar29,0,4928198.story

Anne Arundel County’s largest tract of continuous forest, the South River Greenway, has added another 73 acres in a step toward expanding protection of the sensitive wetlands, county officials said.

The state Board of Public [...]]]> Anne Arundel adds 73 acres to South River Greenway

Land acquisition bolsters wetlands protection goal

By Nicole Fuller | nicole.fuller@baltsun.com

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/anne-arundel/bal-md.ar.greenway29mar29,0,4928198.story

Anne Arundel County’s largest tract of continuous forest, the South River Greenway, has added another 73 acres in a step toward expanding protection of the sensitive wetlands, county officials said.

The state Board of Public Works approved the acquisition of the 62-acre Dorothy Boehm property this month, along with an additional 11 acres, using Maryland Program Open Space funds. The expansion adds to the Bacon Ridge Natural Area, located within the nearly 4,000-acre Greenway in Crownsville, which runs on both sides of the South River.

About 10,000 acres have been identified for inclusion in the Greenway, which provides critical habitat for forest birds and rare, threatened and endangered plants, county officials said.

Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold said the recent expansion is part of his administration’s conservation vision “to protect the headwaters of the South River and expand recreational opportunities for our citizens.”

The county’s goal is to acquire 1,100 contiguous acres in the Greenway, which is made up of both county- and privately owned property.

The pending purchase of another 46 acres and conveyance of the 546-acre Crownsville forest planned for later this year will move the county closer to that goal.

“This is a big win for the environment and secures land for the enjoyment of current and future generations,” said Alyssa Domzal, Greenways coordinator for the Scenic Rivers Land Trust.

The South River Greenway includes two of the largest forests in the county, including 100 miles of streams in four watersheds – Bacon Ridge Branch, Broad Creek, North River and Tarnans Branch – that flow through the area into the South River, according to the Scenic Rivers Land Trust.

The cormorants are still here.  Almost as soon as you sight one, [...]]]> A Special Time of Year to Look for Special Sightings

This time of year is special for nature lovers because it’s a period of transition.  Not every migratory bird has traveled south nor has every varmint gone into hibernation.   The winter visitors have begun to arrive.

The cormorants are still here.  Almost as soon as you sight one, they disappear beneath the surface.   In Round Bay, one of the first waterfowl to return for the winter is a little female pie-billed grebe.  She’s returned at the same time each year by herself.  She cruises and dives.

The buffleheads returned a couple of weeks ago.  The striking black and white plumage of the male makes them easy to identify.  The female sports predominantly black, but she has a white cheek patch.  They cluster together bobbing and diving like the plastic ducks in carnival games.

A single coot has been swimming in front of my house.  We used to get coots by the hundreds.  I guess, or rather, I hope they’ve just moved on to another spot.

The scene-stealer though is our national symbol.  Crownsville’s eagles are courting right now.  You might see them perched in a tree or flying over Generals Highway.  If you’re really lucky, you’ll hear their mating song.  It’s not going to win a Grammy, but it’s fascinating to hear and see them singing to one another.   This behavior will continue a little while longer until they settle down, have eggs, and sit on the nest.

Still to come: shovelnose, ruddy ducks, redheads, canvas  backs, hooded mergansers, common mergansers, oldsquaw (I can’t remember the new name.) pintails and more.  Send me a message if you see any of these winter visitors.

Our friends at Scenic Rivers Land Trust have done it again with outdoor activities to showcase our terrific natural features and get us out in the fresh air for some exercise.  On July 25, they’re sponsoring a wetland guided canoe tour of Muddy Creek on the Rhode River. Your guides will include members of the [...]]]>

Contee's Wharf

Our friends at Scenic Rivers Land Trust have done it again with outdoor activities to showcase our terrific natural features and get us out in the fresh air for some exercise.  On July 25, they’re sponsoring a wetland guided canoe tour of Muddy Creek on the Rhode River.
Your guides will include members of the SRLT and scientists from the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.  The two-hour tour (not an ill-fated three hour tour!) will take you through the 550-acre parcel on this Chesapeake Bay wetland now protected by a conservation easement with the SRLT.

You’ll be able to learn about the wetland’s ecology, fin out why fish and crabs depend on wetlands, and learn how Smithsonian Environmental scientists are studying them. The tour starts at Contee’s Wharf Road off Muddy Creek Road in Edgewater.  You have a choice of 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 – 3:30 p.m.  If you want to go it alone, pick up a complimentary trail map and brochure to help you explore the 14 miles of wilderness shoreline.

You may either use Smithsonian canoes or bring your own.  If you use the Smithsonian’s, you’ll pay $25/person.  Smithsonian canoe rental is $12, and the remaining is a charitable contribution toward SRLT.  Your gift has a triple payback.  You’ll be learning about a true “Gem” of the Chesapeake Bay.  You’ll be making a charitable contribution, and your contribution will be matched 2:1 by the Biophilia Foundation to help fund future educational and conservation efforts of the SRLT.

Please let the SRLT know in advance if you plan to bring your own canoe or kayak, so that they can register you for a launch permit.   You need to pull your boat from the water by 4PM. Of course, PFDs are required for everyone while on the water.  The minimum age is six years old, and children under 15 yrs must be accompanied by adult.

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS EVENT

Register by calling 410- 424-4000 to register for either the morning or afternoon tour or register on line at  http://www.srlt.org/woods/signup.php.

Directions to the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center:
From Washington DC:
Take US Route 50 east towards Annapolis
Exit south at MD Route 424 Davidsonville Rd
Turn left at stoplight onto MD 214 Central Ave east

From Maryland Eastern Shore:
Take MD Route 50 west across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge
Immediately after the I-97 exit, Exit right onto MD Route 665 Aris T. Allen Blvd east
Exit south onto MD Route 2 across the South River bridge through Edgewater
Turn left at stoplight onto MD 214 Central Ave east

From Baltimore MD:
Take I-97 south towards Annapolis
Exit east onto MD Route 665 Aris T. Allen Blvd
Exit south onto MD Route 2 across the South River bridge through Edgewater
Turn left at stoplight onto MD 214 Central Ave east

From Southern Maryland:
Take MD Route 2/4 north to Sunderland
Continue on MD Route r north to Wayson’s Corner
Exit onto MD Route 408 east, which becomes MD Route 2 north
Turn right at stoplight onto MD 214 Central Ave east

From Central Avenue, Edgewater MD:
Follow MD 214 Central Ave east to stoplight at MD 468 Muddy Creek Rd
Turn right and proceed south about 1 mile
Turn left at the SERC sign at Contee’s Wharf Rd
Proceed east 0.8 miles on gravel road to SERC sign, then turn right onto paved road

After passing the gate, take an immediate left and proceed 1/3 mile down Dock Rd
The Philip D Reed Education Center and parking will be on the right.

Here, we have so much variety– plants and animals.  I enjoy trying to grow some of that variety in my yard.   [...]]]> Crownsville’s biodiversity is rich by my standards — growing up in an industrial city, I saw a few squirrels and the occasional rabbit. We had robins, sparrows, starlings, blue jays and rare cardinal now and then.

Here, we have so much variety– plants and animals.  I enjoy trying to grow some of that variety in my yard.   I have hostas and all manner of day lilies.  I wait for them to grow and bloom all through the winter and spring.  With the first warm days, I start checking the foliage for developing buds.

In the last few years, my anticipation has been tempered.  I’ve gone from raising beautiful daylilies to raising lucious, or shall I say, deliious day lilies.

The local deer are a persistent if lazy lot.  I see their hoof prints almost daily as the lily blossoms develop.  They don’t munch the leaves.  They don’t even go after the immature buds.  They just check each night.   They wait until the stems are tall and the buds are ready to burst open.  They don’t have to even bend over.  They just chomp — daylily salad.

I know that garden centers have commercial preparations for dissuade the deer, but does anyone out there know of a home brew that will make a nasty salad dressing for the lilies?  If you do, send me your remedies with a comment on this article. I’ll share your wisdom in a future post.  Looking forward to hearing from someone out there with just the cure!