JUG BAY WETLANDS SANCTUARY NEWS VOLUME 32, NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2018

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xploding flocks of waterfowl rising from frozen marshland, the arrival of the Osprey, migrating warblers crowding budding trees, the beguiling song

of the Wood Thrush of an evening and Sora Rails feasting off autumnal wild rice grains—these are but a few events evoking the sights and sounds of passing seasons to be observed over any year at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary.

This being the 100th anniversary of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (the most powerful and important bird-protection law ever passed), readers may wish to ponder these moments and reflect on the exceptional biodiversity of birdlife supported by the Sanctuary. The Sanctuary has been recognized as a Nationally Important Bird Area by the American Bird Conservancy and the National Audubon Society and has recorded 120 bird species in both of Maryland’s Breeding Bird Atlas projects (1983–1987 and 2002–2006)—the highest number for any location in the state.

Intrepid birders make biweekly counts at all times of year as part of the Winter Bird Survey and beyond. Monitoring of secretive marsh birds is conducted in collaboration with CBNERR-MD, and a meadowlands bird survey has been initiated. But perhaps the most impressive effort is the Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship Program (MAPS) undertaken during every breeding season. It is part of a continent-wide research effort started in 1989 by the Institute for Bird Populations (IBP) in California, its goal being to assist the conservation of birds and their habitats by gathering data on age, sex, body condition, and reproductive status for over 150 targeted migrant and resident songbird species. Data collected at Jug Bay (using a standardized constant-

effort protocol with a system of fine mesh nets to capture and band birds during the summer nesting season) are analyzed by the IBP to determine how the survival rates relate to habitat structure, forest composition, and climate change. MAPS differs greatly from bird counts, as the birds are captured, measured, and banded with recapture data, helping determine songbird health—what actually limits the population during the life cycle.

Sanctuary staff and volunteers initiated the Jug Bay program in 1990, making the bird banding station one of the oldest continuously operating sites. Every summer from late May through early August, 14 mist nets in a study area are used to capture songbirds and then determine their age and sex. Standard measurements are made of wing cord and weight for each bird, and a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service band is placed on the leg of each bird to identify it should it be recaptured. By 2015, over 3,103 songbirds and woodpeckers have been banded involving 66 species (54 were neotropical migrants and 12 resident species). Efforts are now underway to update these data.

In 2011, the earliest banded recapture was a Red-eyed Vireo banded at Jug Bay and subsequently recaptured in 2006, 2007, and 2009. The bird was born in 2005 or earlier, making it at least six years old and the greatest longevity of any other banded Red-eyed Vireo at Jug Bay.

In July of 1999, banders found an old friend in the mist net—a Tufted Titmouse, originally banded as an adult on May 1993, making it at least seven years old. Adept at evading predators, it had been caught at Jug Bay eight times! However, with all such captures, the bird has never

E

Left: Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) and right: American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla). Photos by Frode Jacobsen.

Monitoring Birdlife at the Sanctuary By Colin Rees, President, Friends of Jug Bay

Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary 1361 Wrighton Road Lothian, MD 20711 410-741-9330 e-mail: info@jugbay.org

www.jugbay.org

Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary is operated by the Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks. It was established in 1985 with the goals of wetlands research, environmental education, and protection. The Sanctuary is a limited-use park. Groups are requested to make a reservation by calling the office before planning a visit.

Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary is a component of the Maryland Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, which along with 27 other Reserves around the country pro-motes scientific research, public education, resource management and stewardship in estu-aries across the nation.

SANCTUARY STAFFPatricia Delgado, SuperintendentLiana Vitali, Education CoordinatorDebra Gage, Office ManagerMelinda Fegler, Volunteer & Stewardship CoordinatorDiane Benedetti, Naturalist & Outreach Coordinator Shelby Cross, Chesapeake Conservation Corps MemberRichard Chaney, MaintenanceDonald Smith, Maintenance

FRIENDS OF JUG BAY OFFICERS:Colin Rees, PresidentDarcy Herman, Vice PresidentJim Harle, TreasurerMarilyn Baker, Secretary

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Blythe AlexanderTor BjerknesJudy HartmanDan Levin

Marsh Notes is produced quarterly by Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary.

Comments and suggestions are welcome.

Editor: Darcy HermanGraphic Design: Liz Fisher, EC Fisher Design contact: liz@ecfisherdesign.com

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John NorrisSiobhan PerceyJeff ShenotAl Tucker

Birdlife Monitoring, continued from page 1

developed a cloacal protuberance (indicating a breeding male) or a brood pouch (indicating a breeding female). It is possible that the bird never nested and the lack of stress associated with breeding may have accounted for its longevity. The lead bander, Danny Bystrak, speculated that it might have avoided “the parent trap and led an extended healthy life.”

MAPS at Jug Bay and other MAPS stations have provided insights into such questions as: What factors drive avian population declines? Where are problems most acute on breeding or non-breeding grounds? What drives differences in trends between particular regions or habitats? What is the relationship between population change and weather, climate, or habitat loss? What can be done to reverse declines? It is also pertinent to addressing the problems faced in managing natural habitats throughout North America, especially adaptation strategies for climate change.

Some of the most important findings include:• Survival of adult and first-year birds is often as or more important in driving population

declines, highlighting the significance of wintering grounds and migration;

• Conditions on wintering grounds and migration routes affect the survival rates and possi-bly the reproductive success of birds the following summer (the “carry-over effect”); and

• Weather, especially the amount and timing of precipitation and the interaction of weather conditions and habitat, has great influence on survival and indicates that conservation efforts must take account of climate change to be effective.

These and other prodigious efforts have been undertaken by dedicated volunteers freely giving their valuable time in promoting to bird conservation at Jug Bay and beyond. What time could be more compelling than the Year of the Bird to commit to protecting birds today and for the next hundred years? With rising sea levels, threats to migrants at winter and summer habitats and along their migratory routes, and ever-present pressures on the Sanctuary, there is much to do. Please contact Sanctuary staff should you wish to help with the bird counts and/or the MAPS program.

Left: Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus), recaptured in 2006, 2007, and 2009. Photographer unknown. Right: Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citria). Photo by Frode Jacobsen.

…perhaps the most impressive effort is the Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship Program (MAPS)

undertaken during every breeding season.

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Dear Friends,Next year in the spring of 2019, the Riggleman farm (currently called Jug Bay Farm) will be integrated into the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary as a whole. The addi-tion of this 303-acre property offers the opportunity to significantly broaden the core activities of the

Sanctuary. This expansion will expand the needs for volunteers, staff, and the support of the Friends of Jug Bay.

A charrette was conducted last fall to determine the best uses of the property. From the discussion, the overarching vision that arose is:

“A world of inspired and empowered students, teachers, researchers, and citi-zens who have become advocates and stewards of the environment from teaching, learning, conducting, and applying science at Riggleman Nature Preserve” (from the summary of the Strategic Plan for the Riggleman Nature Preserve, prepared by Pati Delgado)

To support this goal, the Friends will have to assume a larger role for fund-raising, seeking grants, and developing partnerships with other government and non-government organizations. As an interim step, the Friends have formed a Transition Planning Committee to explore the changes to the orga-nization that will be require to undergird this transition. As the organization changes to a more active management role, new opportunities to increase revenue will be required. On March 1, 2019, the current lease on the build-ings on the property will terminate. Currently, the Friends are exploring entering into a long-term lease with the county to operate the buildings. This will be the first time since inception of the Friends that the organiza-tion will manage physical property. These buildings offer the opportunity to develop revenue streams from environmentally appropriate events that could be held there. Keeping in mind the long-term goal to promote the Sanctuary as an educational research station, the Friends have promoted a partnership with Anne Arundel County Public Schools and the University of Maryland, College of Education, to develop credit courses for teachers that use the current facilities and capabilities of Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary. This summer the first course will be offered, and we hope it will be the beginning of many similar opportunities for educators.

These activities represent the first step of a several-year effort to establish the research and education programs. To sustain these efforts, stable sources of funding will need to be developed. Currently, our greatest asset is the commitment of our members who continue to give generously and to allow us to sustain our current level of programs. However, our vision of the future will necessitate seeking backing from not only government sources, but also private sources like corporations, donors, and other nonprofit organizations. We should also explore the possibility of creating a perpetual endowment fund to underpin the operation. With these efforts the Friends should be able to sustain Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary well into the future.

Note: This is my last missive to you as president. I have enjoyed writing this column and communicating my thoughts and concerns with you. I have handed over the reins to Colin Rees, our next president. Colin is a well-known birder and biodiversity expert and is committed to the conservation of Jug Bay. I am sure the Friends will be in good hands.

Al Tucker, President, Friends of Jug Bay

Barbara BeckerJohn BetzDon BottaroJutta BrettschneiderPei-L ChasBonnie and Jen CookMichael DavidRachel DawsonJessica DoveGeorge E. DrapeanJohn and Mary DriverEarl and Sharon EnglehardAlan FeikinDavid GallatinPeter GavinRon GeredienMike and Anne GillisJeff and Diane GoldmanKrystal JohnsonGlenn KalmowitzChris KelleyNancy KleinSonja KueppersOrie LawnDiana Linnekin

Valerie LovellFred and Marina LowtherWilliam MaxtedSierra MitchellTom and Donna MillerDeni MillerMel ParkerJohn and Stacy PearsonArnold PeterBill PetersKevin RooneyAndrea SchnitzerPete SmithMathew and Michelle SmithCindy M. StachowskiAndrew StrobelWalt TunnessenKatelin WellesRobin WhitehurstJasmine Wilding

We welcome new and returning FOJB members:

Men of the Marsh: Fellas Go FishingSaturday, June 2, 9:00 am - 2:00 pmAges: 21 and olderFee: $35 for FOJB members, $40 for non-membersWhat could be better than spending the morning kayak-fishing in the beautiful channels of the Jug Bay marshes and ending with a gourmet lunch near the water? Join experienced naturalists and enthusiastic fishermen Chuck Hatcher and John Norris for a kayak adventure to capture invasive fish such as snakehead and blue catfish. See p. 6 for more details and for registration information.

Women on the WaterSaturday, June 2, 9:30 am - 3:30 pmAges: 21 and olderFee: $30 for FOJB members, $35 for non-membersTap into the serenity of our wetlands with a leisurely canoe trip on the Patuxent River. We’ll look for wild-life and wetland plants along the Patuxent and Western Branch and enjoy a gourmet lunch. See p. 6 for more details and for registration information.

FOJB Summer Events

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Coyotes at Jug Bay? Indeed!By Chuck Hatcher, JBWS Volunteer

As some of you may have seen in the Jug Bay April News and Events, I captured a coyote (Canis latrans var.) in a camera trap located in the Glendening Game

Preserve. We have periodically noted callbacks during monthly coyote call monitoring forays over the last year, but this marked the first time we’d had anything as definitive as a brief video and an opposing black and white nocturnal pic. We’d noted that the location of an otter latrine appeared to be a magnet for multiple mammalian visitors, and so it was with the coyote, who appeared to be very interested in the otter deposits. Interestingly, only 30 minutes after the appearance of the coyote, the camera trap also captured a fox taking a curious and/or concerned interest in the path of the coyote. Deer, raccoon, opossum, squirrel, fox, and beaver are also well documented at this location.

As the coyote completes its move east, becoming more common in its last frontier, the mid-Atlantic region, many questions loom. Most wildlife managers suspect that the coyote is filling a niche vacated by the extirpated Gray Wolf (Canis lupus), which was hunted to oblivion east of the Mississippi by the early 20th century. Similarly to the Gray

By Melinda Fegler, JBWS Volunteer

& Stewardship Coordinator

Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary is proud to partner with Nanjemoy Creek Nature

Conservancy/Environmental Education Center in the first annual five-county cele-bration, Monarch Fiesta, on Saturday, September 22, 2018. This family day of fun will engage the community in conservation of all of our butterfly friends and the incredi-ble overarching habitat that results from planning for them. At center stage will be the stunning, world-renowned Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) with wings unfurled and antennae pointed south.

The North American Monarch butterfly is not the only migratory butterfly, but it is one of the farthest traveling, with eastern populations flying in many cases 3,000 miles from eastern North America to central Mexico to spend the winter. This phenomenon replays each year in March, when movement around the Oyamel Fir (Abies religiosa), the Monarchs’ wintering tree, appears increasingly anxious. This “waking” generation of monarchs has now survived blustery southerly fall winds, diapause, and winter on 12 isolated Mexican mountain tops; hence it is often referred to as the “super generation” (fall–spring). The average lifespan of northerly progressing monarchs (spring–fall) is actually several generations living only two to six weeks each. The “super generation” lives upward toward nine months, with the weight of the species survival on the backs of its fire-like wings. After a long and costly winter, the journey north begins, diapause ends, eggs are laid, and the circle of life continues.

Piece of milkweed cake, right? More like (insert any Princess Bride quote about impossible odds here). Having unique or uncommon characteristics also requires unique or uncommon resources, and given that it is becoming more common that resources are uncommon for common species, I feel like the challenges of the uncommon monarch story are unfortunately common. Enough said.

All the more reason to celebrate the remarkable story of the Monarch and the

Monarch Fiesta Coming in September

amazing efforts they inspire that benefit all wildlife that share the Monarch’s habitat. One of my favorite parts of Monarch Fiesta will be showcasing the annual national monitoring efforts community members can easily be a part of. Demonstrations, tables, tagging, and training will highlight the day and encourage visitors to stay involved in the stories of the Monarch butterfly and the wildlife they live among.

Other fun will include food trucks, native plant sales, games, crafts, and tours of Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary’s beautiful

Glendening Nature Preserve and the amazing habitat to which hundreds of volunteer hours are dedicated annually.

To get involved in monarch monitoring and conservation efforts now, check out the Monarch Joint Venture website (https://monarchjointventure.org), specifically their Get Involved: Citizen Science Page. To join Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary’s ongoing butterfly and pollinator monitoring and conservation efforts, contact Mel Fegler, rpfegL00@aacounty.org.

Monarch (Danaus plexippus). Photo by Pollinator Paparazzi.

By Melinda Fegler, JBWS Volunteer

& Stewardship Coordinator

Has the Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma deli-catula) been spotted at Jug Bay

Wetlands Sanctuary? Not as of the publica-tion of this article. Unfortunately, its arrival at Jug Bay is not a question of if but when, so commiting to do what we can to manage the density of its populations on properties we manage and communicating with our neighbors is vital.

Spotted Lanternfly management techniques start with educating our Trail and Adopt-a-Plot monitors, minimizing the insect’s favored host plants, and learning about the progression of infestation in areas with established lanternfly populations. Much has been written about ridding our forests of Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) as a proactive way of managing this dangerous species of insect. The reality is that many native and economic powerhouse plants will be in danger as the lanternfly’s favored host trees become scarce and feeding pressure increases.

“The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is a planthopper which is native to China, India, and Vietnam, but also spread to Korea around

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Wolf, the coyote has been hunted, shot on sight, and vilified; yet the wily coyote has shown a keen adaptability and ability to thrive among and with today’s top dog, the human. In fact the coyote’s range has expanded and its numbers grown—the

only apex predator besides humans to have done so in the last 100 years. So should we in the mid-Atlantic be alarmed? Joyful? Anxious? Should we just

stretch out and give the cuties scratches and tummy rubs? I would council that all of us behave as environmental/ecosystem stewards, learn as much about coyote behavior as we can, and pay it forward so that coyote-human interactions are positive and short. Indications are that they are here to stay, no matter what we do. If you are lucky enough to observe a coyote, briefly enjoy the encounter, but cut it short and scare it away. We want coyotes to have a healthy fear of humans and our furry companions (dogs and cats), thus mitigating the possibility of negative outcomes for us and for the coyote.

First ever definitive proof of coyote presence at the Sanctuary. Photo by camera trap tended by Chuck Hatcher.

Spotted Lanternfly: Spotted at Jug Bay?

2006. It was detected in Pennsylvania in 2014, and has since been found in Delaware, New York, and Virginia. Its preferred host is tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima), but it is known to feed on a wide range of plants.”—Maryland Department of Agriculture Extension Services

As we have observed with Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis), when ash stands become scarce, remaining individual trees become a precious commodity. The difference between the Emerald Ash Borer

and the Spotted Lanternfly is that, unlike the Emerald Ash Borer, which has not been observed in the United States to use any species other than ashes (Fraxinus sp.) as a larval host, the Spotted Lanternfly is known to feed on numerous other plants, not just trees, which include native and/or economically important species such as alfalfa, almonds, apples, apricots, basil, blueberries, cherries, corn, cucumbers, grapes, hickories, hops, horseradish, maples, nectarines, oaks, peaches, pines, plums, soybeans, sycamores, walnuts, and willows.

I wish I could say that identification, vigilance, and consistent control at the vulnerable stages of the Spotted Lanternfly’s life will mitigate the widespread use of pesticides to suppress this species, but at this time it looks like one more reason to spray harsh and dangerous chemicals on everything in proximity to nature, edibles, and our own clean air, water, and soil. Jug Bay will continue to stay informed and be diligent about this invader, and we can only recommend the same. Please check out the resources and webinars on Spotted Lanternfly available from Maryland Extension Services (extension.umd.edu) and Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements (https://www.treecarescience.com).

Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula). Photo by Lawrence Barringer, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, (Bugwood.org).

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P U B L I C P RO G R A M S AT J U G BAY - S U M M E R 2 0 1 8

Guided Bird WalksFirst Saturday of every month, 8:00 am - 11:00 amAges: 12 and olderFee: $6/vehicle entrance feeLearn the skills of identifying birds by sight and sound. Binoculars and field guides are available to borrow. Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather. Registration required: Call 410-741-9330 or e-mail programs@jugbay.org. If e-mailing, please include program name, partici-pant name(s) and whether adults or children, and contact phone number.

Native Plant Sale (Glendening Nature Preserve)Saturday, June 2, 9:00 am - 3:00 pmAges: Adults and familiesFee: FreeThe Friends of Jug Bay will offer native trees, shrubs, grasses, perennials, and other plants ben-eficial to birds, butterflies, and bees.

Men of the Marsh: Fellas Go FishingSaturday, June 2, 9:00 am - 2:00 pmAges: 21 and olderFee: $35 for FOJB members, $40 for non-membersWhat could be better than spending the morn-ing kayak-fishing in the beautiful channels of the Jug Bay marshes and ending with a gourmet lunch near the water? Join experienced natural-ists and enthusiastic fishermen Chuck Hatcher and John Norris for a kayak adventure to capture invasive fish such as snakehead and blue catfish. The participants with the biggest fish and the

most number of fish captured will get a prize! After fishing, settle by the water and enjoy a delicious catered lunch. Bring fishing gear, water, sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses, closed-toe shoes that can get wet, and an extra set of dry clothes. No experience necessary. The group will meet at the Sanctuary Visitor Center and drive together to River Farm. Registration required. Call 410-741-9330 or email programs@jugbay.org to check availability and for payment options. No refunds after 5/26/18. Registration form can be downloaded at http://www.jugbay.org/education/canoegroup-trips. Registration will be confirmed when payment is received.

Women on the WaterSaturday, June 2, 9:30 am - 3:30 pmAges: 21 and olderFee: $30 for FOJB members, $35 for non-membersTap into the serenity of our wetlands with a lei-surely canoe trip on the Patuxent River. We’ll look for wildlife and wetland plants along the Patuxent and Western Branch. We will enjoy a gourmet lunch. Fee includes naturalist canoe guides, all canoe equipment, gourmet lunch, and park admission. A hike/walk in the woods will be substituted if weather conditions do not allow for canoeing. Bring water, sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses, closed-toe shoes that can get wet, and an extra set of dry clothes. No experi-ence necessary. Prompt program start time; please arrive by 9:15 am. Registration required: Call 410-741-9330 or e-mail programs@jugbay.org to check availability and for payment options. No refunds after 5/26/18.

Open Hours:Sanctuary Wetlands Center: Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and (Mar-Nov) Sundays 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Glendening Nature Preserve: Wrighton Road entrance daily, gate open 9:00 am - 5:00 pm; Plummer House entrance Monday to Saturday, gate open 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (trails, Butterfly Garden, dogs on leash)

Patuxent Wetland Park: daily, dawn to dusk (fishing, hand-carried boat launch)

Wootons Landing Wetland Park: daily, dawn to dusk (fishing, loop trail, hand-carried boat launch)

Sanctuary Wetlands Center admission fee: $6/vehicle

Free for current Friends of Jug Bay members, active volunteers, and active military and their immediate families.

There are no fees to visit our other sites.

Visit www.jugbay.org for directions, information and updates to our schedule.

Registration is required for all programs. Please call 410-741-9330 or e-mail programs@jugbay.org to register, or, in the case of ActiveNet programs, register online at https://apm.activecommunities.com/aarecparks. All programs meet at the Wetlands Center at 1361 Wrighton Road unless otherwise noted. An adult must accompany children under 13.

Registration form can be downloaded at http://www.jugbay.org/education/canoegroup-trips. Registration will be confirmed when payment is received.

The Archaeology of the Patuxent River: Canoeing through HistorySaturday, June 9, 10:00 am - 2:00 pmAges: 7 and older (2 adult paddlers must accompany any child under 14)Fee: $25/individual (ActiveNet Activity #12822)Join three expert archaeologists from the Anne Arundel County Cultural Resources Division, M.A.A. Jane Cox, M.A.A. Stephanie Sperling, and Dr. Zachary Singer in a canoeing expedition to learn about the archaeological and cultural histo-ry along the Patuxent River from early occupa-tions over 10,000 years ago to historic times. Our archaeologists will share how these archaeo-logical sites inform us about past ways of life along the Patuxent River. Please arrive 15 min-utes before the start time. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses, a lunch, and shoes that can get wet. Registration required through ActiveNet.

Preschool Nature SeriesThursday(s), June 14, July 12, and August 9, 10:00 am - 11:30 amAges: 3-5Fee: $6/childChildren enjoy sensory activities and learn about nature through an interactive story, craft, and hike. Explore a new topic the sec-ond Thursday of each month. Extend your visit with free play at our Nature Play Space. Registration required. Call 410-741-9330 or email programs@jugbay.org.

Discovering Jug Bay—Program Offered in Spanish Descubriendo Jug Bay! (Glendening Nature Preserve)Saturday, June 16, 9:30 am - 11:30 amAges: AllFee: FreeLos invitamos a visitar Jug Bay y descubrir la belleza de sus pantanos, bosques, pastizales y su fauna. Acompañe a Patricia Delgado (directora del parque y experta en pantanos) en una cami-nata guiada que te enseñará sobre las maravillas naturales de Jug Bay, la joya del Río Patuxent. Al final de nuestra caminata compartiremos un pedazo de pastel con limonada! Puede traer su propio almuerzo si desea quedarse para un pic-

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nic después de la caminata. El programa es gra-tis. Individuos y familias están invitados. Cupo es limitado, por favor inscríbase llamando al 410-741-9330 o envíenos un correo electrónico a programs@jugbay.org. El grupo se reúne en la Reserva Natural de Glendening (Glendening Nature Preserve) en la siguiente dirección: 5702 Plummer Lane, Lothian, MD 20711

Marsh Ecology by CanoeSaturday, June 16, 10:00 am - 2:00 pmAges: 7 and olderFee: Free (ActiveNet Activity #12842)Join us for a FREE adventure by canoe! We’ll pad-dle up some of the smaller branches of the river to look for beavers, birds, and flowering wetland plants. Please arrive 15 minutes before the start time. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses, a lunch/snack, and closed-toe shoes that can get wet. Registration required through ActiveNet.

Father’s Day CanoeSunday, June 17, 10:00 am - 2:00 pmAges: 7 and olderFee: $20 (ActiveNet Activity #12843)Discover the abundant wildlife in the Patuxent River wetlands with Dad! We’ll paddle up some of the smaller branches of the river to look for beavers, birds, and flowering wetland plants. Please arrive 15 minutes before the start time. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, sun hat, sun-glasses, a lunch, and close-toed shoes that can get wet. Registration required through ActiveNet.

Patuxent River Clean Up by CanoeSaturday, June 23 and July 14, 10:00 am - 2:00 pmAges: 8 and olderFee: FreeHave fun on the water and help clean up the Patuxent River. We will paddle the Patuxent River and Western Branch picking up trash along the way. Prompt start time. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses, a lunch, and close-toed shoes that can get wet. Under 14 must be accompanied by 2 paddling adults. Registration required: Call 410-741-9330 or email programs@jugbay.org.

Great American Campout–FamiliesSaturday, June 23, 6:00 pm through Sunday, June 24, 10:00 amAges: Families with children age 5 and upFee: $40/family, vehicle entrance fee included (ActiveNet Activity #12857)A unique opportunity to spend the night under the stars! We’ll start with a potluck campfire cookout, explore the night with an owl prowl, then share stories and s’mores around the fire. In the morning we’ll serve a light breakfast and go

on a short hike. Please bring your own camping gear and a side dish and drink to share for din-ner. We’ll provide hot dogs, buns, condiments, s’mores, plates, cups, forks, and a light break-fast. Limited tents available to use; if you would like to borrow a tent, please call 410-741-9330. Registration required through ActiveNet.

Great American Campout–IndividualsSaturday, June 23, 6:00 pm through Sunday, June 24, 10:00 amAges: 18 and olderFee: $15/person, vehicle entrance fee included (ActiveNet Activity #12855)A unique opportunity to spend the night under the stars! We’ll start with a potluck campfire cookout, explore the night with an owl prowl, then share stories and s’mores around the fire. In the morning we’ll serve a light breakfast and go on a short hike. Please bring your own camping gear and a side dish and drink to share for dinner. We’ll provide hot dogs, buns, condi-ments, s’mores, plates, cups, forks, and a light breakfast. Limited tents available to use; if you would like to borrow a tent, please call 410-741-9330. Registration required through ActiveNet.

Free Paddle Play Day (Wootons Landing Wetland Park)Saturday, June 30, 10:00 am - 2:00 pmAges: Adults and familiesFee: FreeFamilies are welcome to join us for a fun day on the water at Wootons Landing Wetland Park! You will have the opportunity to try our kayaks and paddle boards, do some fishing, go for a hike, or play games. Water and snacks will be provided. Registration required: Call 410-741-9330 or e-mail programs@jugbay.org.

Marsh Ecology by CanoeSaturday, July 7, 10:00 am - 2:00 pmAges: 7 and olderFee: $20 (ActiveNet Activity #12844)Discover the abundant wildlife in the Patuxent River Wetlands. We’ll paddle up some of the smaller branches of the river to look for beavers, birds, and flowering wetland plants. Please arrive 15 minutes before the start time. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses, a lunch/snack, and closed-toe shoes that can get wet. Registration required through ActiveNet.

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Photo of focus Our camera traps at Jug Bay have been capturing exciting images of foxes, otter, raccoons, and most recently, coyotes. Occasionally though, the cameras capture a striking photograph that gives us pause. White-tailed Deer are a ubiquitous and, at times, nuisance species at the Sanctuary. But this camera trap photo-graph captured a softly sunlit moment in time as a doe stepped into focus and appeared to pause just long enough for the camera to capture this serene image.

White-tailed Deer captured in the sunlight. Photo by camera trap tended by Yasmine Hentati.

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P U B L I C P RO G R A M S c o n t i nu e d

The Archaeology of River Farm: A Hike through HistorySaturday, July 21, 9:30 am - 11:30 amAges: 12 and olderFee: $8/person (ActiveNet Activity #12824)Join two expert archaeologists from the Anne Arundel County Cultural Resources Division, M.A.A. Stephanie Sperling and Dr. Zachary Singer, to hike through River Farm and learn about the archaeological and cultural history of this property ranging from early occupations over 10,000 years ago to historic times. Stephanie and Zac will share how these archaeo-logical sites inform us about past ways of life for people occupying the landscape along the Patuxent River. We will meet at the Wetlands Center and drive together to River Farm. Participation is limited to 12 people. Registration required through ActiveNet.

Adult Evening in the Marsh CanoeSaturday, July 21, 4:00 pm - 8:00 pmAges: 18 and olderFee: $20 (ActiveNet Activity #12845)Discover the abundant wildlife in the Patuxent River wetlands. Be on the lookout for secretive birds and marsh mammals. We will paddle up some of the smaller branches of the river to look for beavers, birds, and flowering wetland plants. Prompt start time. Bring plenty of water, sun-screen, sun hat, sunglasses, a dinner, and closed-toe shoes that can get wet. Registration required through ActiveNet.

Big Bad Fishing Tourney (Patuxent Wetland Park)Saturday, July 28, 8:00 am - 5:00 pmAges: 4 and olderFee: $10 entry feeHelp manage invasive fish populations on the Patuxent River. Winner collects the most weight of all invasive fish collected out of the water on this day. We want the big and the bad, size does not matter. $50 goes to the winner. Registration will begin at 7:30 am, and the win-ner will be announced at 5:30 pm. Fish must be chilled and will be collected when weighed for our Taste of the Wild event.

Marsh Ecology by CanoeSaturday, August 4, 10:00 am - 2:00 pmAges: 7 and olderFee: $20 (ActiveNet Activity #12846)Discover the abundant wildlife in the Patuxent River Wetlands. We’ll paddle up some of the smaller branches of the river to look for beavers, birds, and flowering wetland plants. Please arrive 15 minutes before the start time. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses, a lunch/snack, and closed-toe shoes that can get wet. Registration required through ActiveNet.

Big Bad Fishing Tourney By Boat (Patuxent River Park in Prince George’s County)Saturday, August 25, 5:00 pm - 12:00 am; award ceremony Sunday, August 26, 1:00 pmAges: AllFee: $20 pre-registration, $30 on-site registrationJoin us for our first annual snakehead by boat Big Bad Fishing Tourney! This fun day includes multi-ple fishing times and a substantial prize for both the most snakehead (any size) out of the water and the largest snakehead! Bring your own boat; ramp access at Patuxent River Park in Prince George’s County. Boat space is limited, but mul-tiple participants can be on each boat. Registration required: for further details visit: http://www.jugbay.org/education/calendar.

Evening in the Marsh CanoeSaturday, August 25, 4:00 pm - 8:00 pmAges: 7 and olderFee: $20 (ActiveNet Activity #12847)Discover the abundant wildlife in the Patuxent River wetlands. Be on the lookout for secretive birds and marsh mammals. We will paddle up some of the smaller branches of the river to look for beavers, birds, and flowering wetland plants. Prompt start time. Bring plenty of water, sun-screen, sun hat, sunglasses, a dinner, and closed-toe shoes that can get wet. Registration required through ActiveNet.

Beaver/Otter Hike Saturday, August 25, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Ages: All Fee: $6 per vehicle entrance fee Early evening is a good time to look for beavers and otters! Chuck Hatcher, one of our experi-enced Friends of Jug Bay Volunteer Naturalists, will walk you through the woods to the Beaver Pond to look and listen for activity of these amazing creatures while sharing some interest-ing facts! Bring a flashlight. Registration is required, and participation is limit-ed to 12 people: Call 410-741-9330 or e-mail programs@jugbay.org to reserve your spot.

Jug Bay Facility Rental Opportunities

Let Jug Bay host your next meeting, lecture, workshop, retreat, or other function! We have three spaces from which to choose:

• The McCann Wetlands Center confer-ence room, located at the Sanctuary Proper, a large, rustic, carpeted room with a beautiful stone fireplace;

• The Paw Paw Pavilion, a large, outdoor, open-sided but roofed structure located at the Sanctuary Proper and surrounded by meadows and forests; and

• Plummer House at the Glendening Nature Preserve, a restored farmhouse ideal for smaller meetings, lectures, or workshops.

Opportunities are also available to add a naturalist-led hike, nature program, or paddle to your event. Please see our website at http://jugbay.org/node/11428 for more information or email Debra at rpgage00@aacounty.org.

Paw Paw Pavilion. Photo by Shelby Cross.

Plummer House main room. Photo by Debra Gage.

McCann Wetlands Center conference room. Photo by Kevin Carpenter.

three years and is excited to join Jug Bay this summer writing curriculum for school programs. In her free time, Elisabeth likes hiking with her husband and two dogs, Daisy and Doak, and watching Florida State football.

structure. With this experience, Seth aspires to attend graduate school to earn a master’s degree in forest ecology and pursue a career in research. In his spare time, Seth enjoys rock climbing at New River Gorge, the best outdoor playground east of the Mississippi, and playing with his dog, Chili.

Elisabeth Mesiner is a doctoral student at the University of Maryland, College Park in Teaching, Learning, Policy and Leadership with a specialization in STEM education. She previously taught sixth grade science in Tallahassee, FL, for

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Alec Jacobsen is a junior studying biology at George Mason University. He will be working on characterizing the recovery of forests affected by the Emerald Ash Borer, which is a small green invasive beetle initially from China. Since its introduction, it has become the most destructive forest insect to ever invade America and has dispersed to lands all across the eastern United States, including Jug Bay. He is excited to intern at Jug Bay this summer because it will give him a chance to gain research experience as well as increase knowledge of the effects of the Emerald Ash Borer on the forest. Some of Alec’s other interests are hiking, backpacking, photogra-phy, blacksmithing, and welding.

Seth Ramsay moved to Blacksburg from Roanoke, Virginia, to attend Virginia Tech where he studies Environmental Resource Management. Driven by his passion for the environment, he will graduate with a degree in Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation in the spring of 2019. His research project at Jug Bay will be to sample forest vegetation cover, document its change over time, and consider possible influences from human stressors on the vegetation

Welcome Summer Interns!

Seth Ramsay. Photo by Ezra Lapidus.

FOJB Awards Young Scientists in Two Local FairsBy Siobhan Percey, FOJB Board Member

March was the month of up-and-coming scientists in Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties! The Friends of Jug Bay sent judges to school science fairs in

both counties to award middle and high school budding scientists for their efforts in executing and presenting their environmentally minded projects. The selected projects ranged from a method of cleaning dirty water to make it accessible to people who do not have reliable access to clean water, to best management practices to prevent erosion and sedimentation of our streams. The winners were each awarded a family membership to The Friends of Jug Bay, a certificate, and either a nature guide or a Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary T-shirt. The Friends of Jug Bay supports both of these events every year and is thrilled to welcome these young people and their families to our organization.

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY SCIENCE FAIR: MARCH 3, 2018

SENIOR MERIT AWARD

Diana Hays Old Mill High School Melt the Ice Without Being Salty

Senior Merit Award

Emily Hays Old Mill High School Water You Going to Use to Prevent Mosquito Larvae?

JUNIOR MERIT AWARD

Brienna Blackwood MacArthur Middle School Making the Better Boom

HONORABLE MENTION

Samara Hatley and Autumn Hengen

South River High School Turbidity’s Last Stand

PRINCE GEORGE’S AREA SCIENCE FAIR: MARCH 24, 2018

SENIOR MERIT AWARD

Alyssa Brookhardt Great Mills High School Collection Projection

JUNIOR MERIT AWARD

Kes UranNu Baylor and Matthew Harden

Dora Kennedy French Immersion (6-8 grade)

When the Ice Melts

HONORABLE MENTION

Sumaya Adan and Iman Neja

Al-Huda School Protect Your Hillside: Erosion

Alec Jacobsen. Photo by Kaitlin Winiarski.

Elisabeth Mesiner. Photo by Julie Perry.

M A R S H N O T E S 1010

The crew of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

(CBNERR) is busy this season with an exciting new project. The CBNERR Maryland Reserve is one of eight NERRs across the country to research a new marsh restoration method. The Reserves have been aggressively researching how resilient our marshes may be to climate change and specifically sea level rise. Now we are moving beyond studying marsh resilience to actively testing strategies to enhance it. The participating Reserves across the nation will each conduct restoration experiments inves-tigating thin-layer sediment placement, a potentially beneficial way to reuse sediment dredged from clogged waterways, as a climate adaptation strategy.

Tidal marshes provide key ecosystem services—and they are increasingly threatened by sea level rise. Marshes naturally grow in height through the gradual accumulation of organic plant material and sand washed up into the marsh by the tides. This process is slow, however, while sea level rise is predicted to be

increasingly fast. The goal of thin layer placement is to mimic this natural accumulation, or “accretion,” to help a marsh increase its elevation more quickly to compete with sea level rise. Sediment reclaimed from clogged waterways through dredging can be sprayed as a liquid over the surface of a sinking marsh as a “thin layer,” giving the marsh a boost. Reuse of dredge material to enhance coastal resilience using

methods like this is very appealing to many coastal states and is already being applied in some places, like Louisiana and Delaware. This method has great potential to both help enhance valuable marsh habitat and solve an expensive dredge material transport and

Check out the CBNERR-MD web page at

www.dnr.state.md.us/bay/cbnerr

Jug Bay is one of the three components in the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Maryland. The purpose of CB-NERR is to manage protected estuarine areas as natural field laboratories and to develop a coor-dinated program of research and educa-tion as part of a national program administered by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

STAFF

Jennifer Raulin, Reserve Manager 410-260-8745

jennifer.raulin@maryland.gov

Sasha Land, Coastal Training Program Coordinator

410-260-8718 sasha.land@maryland.gov

Kyle Derby, Research Coordinator 410-260-8724

kyle.derby@maryland.gov

Chris Snow, Stewardship Coordinator 410-260-8731

chris.snow@maryland.gov

Coreen Weilminster, Education Coordinator

410-260-8744 coreen.weilminster@maryland.gov

Trystan Sill, Education Assistant 410-260-8827

trystan.sill@maryland.gov

Becky Swerida, Research and Stewardship Assistant

410-260-8762 rebecca.swerida@maryland.gov

Website: http://dnr2.maryland.gov/waters/cbnerr

The Reserves Look Into a New Way to Help Make Marshes More Resilient By Becky Swerida, CBNERR-MD Research and Stewardship Assistant

An example of spraying dredge material mixed with water for a thin layer placement project. Photo credit: David Harp, Chesapeake Photos.

A unique benefit of this project is that the same experiment

will be conducted across so many different marshes in different areas

of the country.

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storage problem. However, as it is a fairly new practice, more research is needed to fully understand the effects of thin layer placement. For instance, just how thin should this thin layer be? How will the marsh vegetation and wildlife be impacted? The goal of this study is to answer some of these questions to and make sure that this type of beneficial dredge reuse really is beneficial.

Right now, replicated restoration experiments are being conducted at eight Reserves across the nation to examine the effectiveness of thin-layer sediment placement as a marsh adaptation strategy. Five experimental blocks of thin layer plots will be established in the high marsh and five in the low marsh. Each block will contain five plots less than one meter squared that will be closely monitored over three years. Two of these plots will be controls to provide an example of marsh conditions without any thin layer sediment addition. The three remaining plots will represent different strategies of thin layer placement:

• A thinner 7-cm layer of mixed sand and silt

• A 14-cm layer of mixed sand and silt

• A 14-cm layer of local marsh sediment

Reserve staff will record changes in vegetation, elevation, and sediment characteristics in each of these plots.

The project results will address the needs a wide variety of end users in these areas, and we will share what we know. We hope to determine if the thickness of the sediment layer and characteristics of the dredge material itself are important factors influencing how well the method will work. Project partners at Drexel University will also conduct a greenhouse study to look more closely at the impact of sediment composition on marsh vegetation to complement this experiment. We are very excited to see the results of this experiment both in Maryland marshes and those across the country. We hope to use these results to better inform land managers and others in the field to use thin layer placement in the best way and the best places possible to help beautiful marshes as much as possible.

Thin layer placement attempts to increase marsh elevation to compete with sea level rise. Figure credit: Kerstin Wasson, Elkhorn Slough NERR Research Coordinator.

Volunteers Spring 2018:

Susan BlackstoneDick BlassJessie BradleyPete BradleyCynthia BravoAlan ChristianRegan ChristianSylas CoxPatricia CrandellCynthia BravoDave DavisMichelle DeTollaVictoria DeTollaSean DoyleKim ElliotErin EngstromLee FisherElaine FriebeleLynette FullertonJoyce GillespieDiane GoebesJudithAnn HartmanChuck HatcherNathan HeppDarcy HermanRose JacobiusJeanette KazmierczakJack KrusbergDave LarrabeeDave LinthicumJoe MankowskiMadeleine MankowskiChuck McClainRob McEachernPat MelvilleKaren MoeDavid MozurkewichAnne MueckeManfred MueckeDotty MumfordJen Muro

John NorrisJames OlandJan OwingsMatthew PayneSiobhan PerceyDave PerryMichael QuinlanGordon ReynoldsDoris SchmidtLeigh SellariMary Kay SistikBob SmithDeb SouleyretteChris TaylorPete UimonenDavid WattsRobert WilliamsSea Williams Groups:7th Intelligence Squadron, U.S. Air ForceU.S. ArmyBoy ScoutsMen’s Ministry of Grace Baptist Church of Bowie, MDEnvironmental Quality Resources (EQR) of Millersville, MD

During the spring, 223 volunteers logged 1,184 hours.A contribution worth over $30,784!

Thank You!

Explore our volunteer opportunities online at http://www.jugbay.org/volunteer. For more information, call 410-741-9330 or e-mail Volunteer & Stewardship Coordinator Melinda Fegler at rpfegL00@aacounty.org.

Recent donations: Environmental Quality Resources (EQR) of Millersville: 30-yard dumpster; Eric Lind: waders; Erin Engstrom: children’s books and Plummer House bathroom mural

DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND PARKS

Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary1361 Wrighton RoadLothian, MD 20711410-741-9330

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SUMMER2018

Save the Dates!

TasTe of The Wild

Monarch

Fiesta

Saturday, September 15, 2018; 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Saturday, September 22, 2018; 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

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