Construction has been continuing throughout the summer on the Atlantic white cedar restoration at Lizard Hill in Bishopville. This MCBP project is being funded by the State Highway Administration, the site is employing innovative techniques to construct a sand seepage wetland out of the abandoned gravel mine. This project will add 30 acres of this once common but now almost gone ecosystem. Planting of the cedar trees will begin in fall.
MCBP Night at Seacrets
Every year Seacrets Nightclub very generously invites MCBP to come one night and have volunteers collect cover charge and in return, donates the money to our program. This year thanks to volunteers Helen Rasmus, Mary Smith, Wayne and Paula Faircloth and some of MCBP employees, we collected over $4,600! Seacrets has always been very generous to the MCBP. Not only do they give us a volunteer night, they are also one of our largest sponsors for our Osprey Triathlon! Thank you Seacrets!
Macky's 3rd Annual WHITE CLAM OPEN!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Despite some difficulties with the weather, The 3rd Annual "White Clam Open" was another outstanding success. Thanks to owners Pam and Macky Stansell's very generous support and commitment to both MCBP and our community, they were able to raise over $500 and contributed a total donation of $1500 to the Maryland Coastal Bays Program.
A huge thank you goes out to everyone who came out to participate and support this great family friendly event. They plan on holding the 4th annual next year so we hope to see you all out there!
National Night Out in Berlin
MCBP Science Coordinator, Roman Jesien (blue shirt), speaks with area residents of the restoration plans for Hudson Branch, the stream that runs by Henry Park and ultimately flows into the Newport Bay.
For more information on the extensive restoration plans check out www.mdcoastalbays.org, in a few weeks, the update is currently under construction.
Coastal Stewards also led a variety of activities for children during the event.
MCBP and Local Teachers
Worcester County teachers spent two full days learning more about water quality, land use, terrestrial monitoring, and wildlife in the coastal bays watershed in August. Teachers, across the county, plan to incorporate coastal bays-related lessons in classrooms this year.
Coastal Bays' Education Coordinator Carrie Samis is helping Worcester County Board of Education officials and local environmental education providers develop an integrated, transdisciplinary Environmental Literacy Plan for local students. MCBP offers a variety of teacher professional development opportunites throughout the year.
Volunteer Needs
Coast Day - Assateague State Park - Saturday, September 17th
We need help setting up and manning a table to sell t-shirts and hand out information. Hours of the event are 11 - 4.
Osprey Triathlon - Public Landing, Snow Hill - Friday, September 30 and Saturday, October 1
Friday
Event set up (assembling bike racks and laying down carpet) Hours: Noon to ?
Registration at Francis Scott Key Hotel Hours: 5-9pm
Saturday
Event assistants for staging area, turn markers, water tables, registration. Hours: ?
August 2011
Upcoming
Events
Spokes Dog Contest
MCBP is looking for a coastal bays "Spokes Dog" and is holding a contest to find one. This is a new outreach initiative on the impact dog feces have on our waterways.
The initial initiative includes a contest to elect a spokes dog to aid MCBP in getting the word out. The winner will receive a prize from Paws and Claws and will be asked to attend a few functions with MCBP to give out information on the scoop on poop!
Registration will include a picture which will be posted on the website. After registration closes on September 30th, voting opens allowing residents to champion their favorite contestant to win the title of spokes dog. Voting closes October 15th and the winners will be announced on Monday, October 17th.
We are still seeking volunteers for the 12th Annual Osprey Triathlon, Saturday, October 1 at Public Landing. This is our largest fundraiser.
We need kayakers, people to be at the turnmarks of the course, and help with set up the day before and after the race.
If you'd like to volunteer for this event please contact Sandi at sandis@mdcoastalbays.org or 410-213-2297 ext. 107.
Annual Coast Day
This year's annual Coastal clean-up will be Saturday, September 17. There are two clean-ups in which the MCBP program will be participating in. One will be held at the Assateague Island National Seashore and the other will be in Ocean City, meeting at 3rd street. Both begin at 9 am.
Coast Day celebrations at the Assateague State park will begin at 11 am after the clean ups.
DNR and the MCBP hosted a tour of the bay for the Lt. Governor and his family spotlighting recent projects including the Skimmer Island replenishment and the horseshoe crab spawning ground at the Oceanic Hotel. The highlight of the tour was when the DNR boat pulled alongside with many of our bay treasures including flounder, hermit crabs, horseshoe crabs, and sea robins.
Coastal Stewards
A crew of 10, including Coastal Steward Josh Moore (pictured above), banded 147 brown pelican chicks that hatched out on a small, marshy island in Chincoteague Bay this summer. This year saw the largest number of brown pelicans ever recorded in the coastal bays. Another crew of staff and Coastal Stewards banded royal terns, a state endangered species which nests on Reedy Island in Isle of Wight Bay.
Coastal Stewards also assisted with banding songbirds at the banding station on The Nature Conservancy's Nassawango Creek Preserve, located in Snow Hill. Joriee Dorman (above) got a good look at the first capture of the day, a beautiful American goldfinch. Bird banding helps scientists track populations, migration routes, threats, and more. It is an important component of bird conservation efforts.
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