| Thank You Maryland Conservation Corps |
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MCBP would like to extend a big thank you to the hard working individuals of the Maryland Conservation Corps who assisted with environmental activities at Lizard Hill and Bishopville Dam. Teams from Assateague, Tuckahoe, and Merkle removed approximately 2,000 of the 6,000 cages from the young Atlantic White Cedar trees, part of the 30-acre wetland restoration project. Many bagworms were removed from the trees as well, interrupting the lifecycle so that new bagworms will not hatch out in the spring. Thank you to MCC and all our volunteers!
Pictured above, MCC crew along with local volunteer (Joe Lieb) and Underwood & Assoc. crew, plant Atlantic White cedars and native flowers at the Bishopville Restoration site. Although construction has been stopped for over a month, workers take the opportunity to fill the area with plants that will add water quality and habitat benefits.
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Thank You Salisbury University
BioEnvirons Club |
Salisbury University's BioEnvirons Club also came out to assist with cage and bagworm removal. Thank you for lending a hand!
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Hard to believe this year marked the 15th annual osprey triathlon. Shy of 300 participants by two, the weather posed a threat in the early morning with winds and predicted thunderstorms. Fortunately, the weather cleared up for another beautiful day for a triathlon. For results click here. For individual photos click here. This year we raised almost $23,000! |
| Thank You Oyster Volunteers |
This years oyster gardeners were successful in growing thousands of oysters that will help clean up our coastal bays. A single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day, removing excess nutrients from the water body they inhabit. Thirty oyster cages, each filled with hundreds of oysters, were harvested and the oysters were released at aquatic restoration sites within Assawoman and Isle of Wight Bay. Some of these cages will be hung off the gazebo at the Ocean Pines Racquet Club for the community to enjoy and learn about this program. If any citizens in Ocean Pines would like to be involved in caring for these oysters email Amanda Poskaitis at [email protected]. This habitat enhancement project would not be possible without the volunteers that grow oysters year after year. Special thanks to all of the participants in this program!
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The rental stand is closed for the season and we have used equipment for sale from kayaks, canoes to bikes. Stop by and check them out or contact Sandi at [email protected]/410-213-2297 ext 106 for more information.
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Aquatic WILD Educator Training
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Professional development workshops are offered several times a year through a partnership with Maryland Coastal Bays Program, Assateague State Park, and the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art. Here, pre-service teachers from Salisbury University and members of the Maryland Conservation Corps, learn about macro invertebrates and water quality.
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Maryland Coastal Bays would like to welcome our new Programs Manager, Jennifer Rafter. Jennifer served for two years as the Executive Director of the Pocomoke Area Chamber of Commerce. Previous to this, she was the Aquarium Curator at the Delmarva Discovery Center. Jennifer has a B.S. in Biology and a M.S. in Environmental Science and Policy from George Mason University. She is pictured here with MCBP Scientist Dr. Roman Jesien.
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| Volunteer Opportunities and Fundraisers | |
We always have lots of great opportunities. If you don't see one below that interests you, contact us.
Volunteers are needed for Lizard Hill removal of cages from young trees and bagworm removal. Please contact [email protected]. |
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OCDC Annual 'Clean Sweep Litter Pick Up' Volunteers Needed
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On Saturday, November 8th, from 9:00 -11:30 am, the Ocean City Development Corporation (OCDC) and its Clean-Up Committee will be holding its 2nd annual "Ocean City Clean Sweep" to pick up litter and debris scattered around downtown Ocean City between the Inlet and 17th Street. The OCDC is requesting volunteers, business groups, and schools to volunteer for this year's Clean Sweep. For more information on this event please click here.
If interested in volunteering please contact the OCDC at (410) 289-7739.
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Seal Steward Training
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MCBP and MARP are gearing up for our annual seal stewardship volunteer program where residents help keep our seals safe by giving them their space. Training will be held on Wednesday, November 12th, 5-6 pm at Mio Fratello's, 38016 Fenwick Shoals Blvd #4, Selbyville, Delaware. Please contact [email protected] if you plan on attending or need more information.
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Stream Restoration Challenge Video
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Click here to see a video of Governor O'Malley's Stream Restoration Challenge at work in Maryland's Coastal Bays.
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West Ocean City Harbor
Receives National Recognition
for Boating Access
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After undergoing major renovations in 2011, the West Ocean City Harbor,
which provides top notch boating access to the Atlantic Ocean and
Maryland's Coastal Bays, recently earned the national Outstanding Large
Project Award. The States Organization for Boating Access presented the
award to project partners --- the US Fish and Wildlife Service, DNR and
Worcester County --- at its annual conference in Little Rock, Arkansas.
The completely renovated facility has a six-lane boat ramp, two ADA-compliant aluminum floating piers and a 73-foot vinyl sheet bulkhead. It also features a repaved 153-space parking lot. The makeover was critical, as the facility was originally constructed in the mid 1970s and last remodeled in 1988. Owned and operated by the county, the site is free to use, open year-round, and serves 100-150 boats per day during the summer.
For more information, click here.
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All About Bagworms
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Bagworms, of the family Psychidae, are not actually worms at all but rather a caterpillar. This common pest of evergreen trees including Atlantic White Cedar has an unusual lifecycle. The female caterpillar never leaves her case, which is made of silk and materials from her environment. The male undergoes metamorphosis to a moth and seeks out the female based on pheromones. The female lays eggs in her case which remains attached to the tree through the winter. In the spring the young caterpillars hatch and reach nearby trees by "ballooning" on bits of silk. Because the female does not fly, removal of the cases containing eggs are an effective means of interceding the lifecyle of this moth. The Lizard Hill site has many of these native pests. Each individual case removed stops hundreds of young bagworms from decimating the cedars in the spring.
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