Chesapeake Bay News

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have released the results of the 2010 Midwinter Waterfowl Survey. Each winter, pilots and biologists from the two agencies count ducks, geese and swans along Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay shoreline and Atlantic coast. In January 2010, the survey teams observed 787,100 waterfowl, slightly lower than the number of waterfowl observed in January 2009.

“When pooled with results from other states, the Midwinter Waterfowl Survey provides a long-term measure of the distribution and population size of most waterfowl species wintering in the Atlantic Flyway,” said Larry Hindman, DNR Waterfowl Project Leader.

The number of mallards counted in this year’s survey (34,200) was significantly lower than 2009 (58,300). The black duck count (22,500) slightly declined from last winter, when 24,900 were counted.
“Extensive ice coverage of Chesapeake Bay waters, rivers and estuarine marshes led to reduced open water and lower numbers for several duck species this year,” Hindman said.

Overall, fewer diving ducks were counted (102,000) in 2010 than last winter (157,600). Most of this decline can be attributed to the lower numbers of redheads, canvasbacks, scaup and ruddy ducks observed. Extensive ice in the Chester River prevented diving duck use of this major wintering area favored by canvasbacks and scaup. Other environmental factors that influence the number of canvasbacks and other divers in the Chesapeake Bay are the conditions of the staging areas on the upper Mississippi River and Lake St. Claire in southern Ontario. Above average numbers of canvasbacks were recorded on surveys of those areas this year.

There was a slight increase in number of Canada geese counted by the survey crews. Despite a poor nesting season, wintering Canada geese (519,500) remained high and were likely bolstered by migrant geese pushed south by cold temperatures and snow north of Maryland.

The Midwinter Waterfowl Survey has been conducted annually throughout the United States since the early 1950s. The survey provides information on long-term trends in waterfowl populations and is the only source of population estimates for important species such as Atlantic brant and tundra swans.

source: MD DNR press release

The North American Bird Phenology Program (BPP) has announced a online data entry system. Through this new online program, volunteers from around the world can register on the website and begin transcribing historical bird arrival records into an online database which were originally scanned in the BPP office.

The BPP is working to understand the scale of global climate change and how it is affecting birds across North America. This is the oldest and longest running bird monitoring program in the country, currently housing six million records dating back to the early 1880′s. The program, started in 1880 by Wells W. Cooke, collected bird observations by over 3,000 citizen scientists and came to an end in 1970, until we revived the program during the last year. The records document bird migration arrival and departure dates from around North America; an unparalleled and untapped resource, but one in which we need your help to modernize.

The BPP relies solely on volunteers to scan images of the migration cards and transcribe them into its database. BPP accepts participants from all ages and backgrounds. AND you can participate from the comfort of your own home.

Online participants must register online at www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bpp/BecomeAParticipant.cfm. There you can learn more about the transcription process and register to become a transcriber. After you register, you will receive a confirmation email which will then take you through a 15 minute training video and back to the website to begin transcription.

Also, volunteers are needed in the Baltimore-Washington area to help in the BPP office with scanning and working with the historic files.

Individuals, families, and small groups are urged to to help discover how spring and fall arrival times of birds have changed since the 1880′s.

For more information visit www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bpp/  or call (301) 487-5745.

The recent colonial shorebird census compiled by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources found 1,042 nesting brown pelican (Pelicanus occidentalis) pairs in the Chesapeake Bay, the largest number in recorded history.

“Pelicans are relatively new to the bay ecosystem, and not something that Captain John Smith would have seen during his historic explorations,” explained DNR biologist Dave Brinker. “Climate change – warmer weather and milder, shorter winters – may be encouraging pelicans to expand their northernmost Atlantic Coast habitat into the Chesapeake Bay.”

DNR biologist Dave Brinker discovered Maryland’s first-ever recorded nesting pair of brown pelicans 1987. Every summer since then, Brinker has lead teams of biologists and volunteers to band 95 percent (more than 18,000) of the pelican chicks raised in the bay’s isolated islands. From just five known nesting pairs in 1987, the number of brown pelican pairs in Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay grew to 141 in 1999 and 1,042 in 2008.

Weighing just 8 to 10 pounds, a brown pelican’s 6 1/2 foot to 7 1/2 foot wingspan enables it to travel hundreds of miles every year. Brown pelicans from the mid-Atlantic population are believed to be the most migratory of the species, with Maryland as the northernmost state with successful nesting pairs. Brown pelicans arrive in the Chesapeake Bay to nest and breed beginning in mid-March. After spending the summer feeding on menhaden, shad and other fish, the migratory birds leave the Chesapeake for warmer winter weather in Florida and northern Central America.

“If you see pelicans, do not feed them,” urged Brinker. “Feeding pelicans and other migratory birds distracts them from their natural migration behavior, which can be deadly for pelicans.”

Last month, the Maryland Commission on Climate Change appointed by Governor Martin O’Malley released a Climate Action Plan that detailed the effects of global warming facing our state and recommended actions to protect Maryland’s people, land, and investments from rising sea levels and changing weather patterns. Under the O’Malley/Brown Administration, Maryland is reducing global warming pollution through: the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative; the Clean Cars Act; EMPOWER Maryland; increasing Renewable Portfolio Standards; enacting living shorelines requirements; strengthening the Critical Areas Act to protect sensitive shorelines; adopting new green building standards for public buildings and investing in green technology for schools; transitioning the state’s fleet to hybrid buses; fully funding land conservation programs; improving mass transit options; and encouraging smart growth in BRAC development zones. For more information visit http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/dnrnews/infocus/climatechange.html.

source: DNR press release

The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art hosts the free reading program “Nature Tales for Tots” from 10-11 a.m. every first and third Wednesday of the month in the Ward Museum lobby. This program is designed for children of the preschool to first-grade age. Early learners hear lively stories pertaining to the environment. Following the reading, a fun craft activity is conducted. For more information call 410-742-4988, ext. 104 or 110, or visit the museum’s Web site at www.wardmuseum.org.

Upcoming topics and dates include:

May 21: Saltwater Marshes
June 4: Insects
June 18: How the Garden Grows
July 2: Islands
July 16: Ocean Animals
August 6: The Chesapeake Bay

Each winter, pilots and biologists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) count ducks, geese and swans along Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay shoreline and Atlantic coast as part of the Midwinter Waterfowl Survey.

During January of 2008, biologists observed a total of 821,500 waterfowl, which represents a substantial increase from counts during the mild winters of 2006 and 2007.

“When pooled with results from other states, the Midwinter Waterfowl Survey provides a long-term measure of the distribution and population size of waterfowl species wintering in the Atlantic Flyway,” said Paul Peditto, Director of DNR’s Wildlife and Heritage Service. “More typical winter weather lead to higher numbers recorded for several species this year.”

The most notable increase was large numbers of mallards and blackducks. Other increased populations included redheads, scaup and canvasbacks.

The Midwinter Waterfowl Survey is conducted at the same time each winter in every state in the Atlantic Flyway, from Maine to Florida. Most of the Maryland’s tidewater waterfowl habitats were surveyed between January 4 and 10, but Bloodsworth and South Marsh Islands were not completed until January 23.

source: MD-DNR press release