Category: Environment

Gorgeous Sunrises Abound for Chesapeake Boaters

6/10/2012 - Southern Maryland is renowned for being off the beaten path and far away from the hustle and bustle. This image helps to explain the draw for boaters of all types -- lots of big sky just waiting to be appreciated in serene surroundings. SEE MORE

Coastal Delights: June Evenings in Southern Maryland

6/10/2012 - Evenings here in Southern Maryland are almost always worth a stroll in the twilight hours. The watermen are coming in from a long day at work, the breeze slows to a glide, and the colors come out to play. SEE MORE

VA Aquaculture a Bright Spot in Weak Economy

6/8/2012 - Virginia’s oyster aquaculture industry is growing steadily despite the struggling economy and some setbacks in hatchery production, according to a report from Virginia Institute of Marine Science and Virginia Sea Grant. In 2011, oyster growers sold over 23 million oysters worth more than $6.7 million — up 38% from 2010.… SEE MORE

Our little seal pup, formally dubbed Quinton.

An Unexpected Guest on the Brothers Islands

Environment

6/6/2012 - Hello again from the Brothers. Since our last post we have had a very special visitor, an adorable young harbor seal pup. This young pup we found one morning stranded in the cove that connects Eastern to Western Brother’s Island. It is not unusual to see harbor seals from Western… SEE MORE

Looking straight up western Penobscot Bay toward Blue Hill.

Watching the Weather Break from Atop the Camden Hills

6/6/2012 - To watch a week-long, rain-soaked, and downright dreary weather pattern break is one thing. To watch it break from the top of Mount Battie in Camden, with the vast and island-studded expanse of Penobscot Bay below you, is quite another. Giant and puffy clouds, white as the driven snow, race… SEE MORE

A look through the night vision binoculars on a cold island night.

Technology and Vigilance Help Protect Wildlife on Metinic

Environment

6/3/2012 - Sometimes it’s a hard life being a tern: there’s bad weather, trying to find food, and trying to avoid becoming food. Our research is not always done when the sun sets. Some predators will use the cover of night to their advantage. Because of this we use night vision binoculars… SEE MORE

Home sweet home on Eastern and Western Brother's Islands, the northernmost islands in the refuges.

Preparing Maine’s Seabird Islands for Summer

Environment

5/31/2012 - Now that our summer intern program has begun, crews are busy preparing the islands of the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuges for the seabirds that call them home each summer. Here are two reports, from Metinic and from Eastern and Western Brother's Islands. From Metinic, the crew of Chelsea… SEE MORE

View looking south on Outer Green Island from the northern bird blind

For the Birds: A Weekend on Outer Green Island

5/31/2012 - We arrived on Outer Green Island by small boat out of Falmouth, and then even smaller boat onto the protected seabird nesting island in Casco Bay. It was quickly apparent that the best method of landing ashore was via wing power; perhaps second choice might have been via boogie board… SEE MORE

Inside the blind on Metinic Island, using a scope to read bands.

Signs of Spring: First Seabird Eggs on Maine Islands

Environment

5/27/2012 - Good news! The first tern eggs of the season have arrived on Metinic Island. Soon all of the eggs will be laid and the incubation period will start. Terns usually lay from 2-4 eggs one at a time until they are all laid. Because the terns are colonial breeders it… SEE MORE

A beautiful Magnolia Warbler sitting on top of a washed-up lobster trap.

Migrant Birds Spotted on Petit Manan Island

Environment

5/24/2012 - Starting the day we arrived on the island, we have been keeping track of all the bird species that we’ve seen. In just over two weeks, our list has exceeded fifty different bird species! The majority of them are migrants — birds that are passing through on their way to… SEE MORE