Jug Bay Wetlands sanctuary neWs Volume 29, numBer 3 Fall 2015

ith its small staff, the Sanctuary depends on volunteers. And 30

years of dedicated, brave, curious volunteers indicate this is a pretty safe bet. Since the Sanctuary opened in 1985, hundreds of volunteers from diverse backgrounds have donated thousands of hours of research, education, stewardship, and behind-the-scenes work.

The Sanctuary’s first Director, Christine Gault, had no staff. She counted on volunteers to carry out an assortment of tasks, like answering phones, clearing trails, and conducting research. Bird inventory was the first study at the Sanctuary. This project drew Dotty Mumford to the Sanctuary during its first year. She’s been volunteering ever since. Read more about Dotty’s experience as a 30-year volunteer on page 10.

Most volunteer hours are spent on research. The original bird inventory project has been replaced with four other bird-related endeavors, including the Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) program, which began in 1990. Secretive marsh bird monitoring began in 2007 and the meadowlands bird survey started in 2014. Read more about a fourth project, the winter waterbird survey, from volunteer Karen Caruso on page 5.

Birds aren’t the only animals volunteers focus on at the Sanctuary. Today, herps (amphibians and reptiles) are represented in a box turtle study and vernal pool amphibian study. Read more about the box turtle survey on page 2. There are also projects involving fish, like the tidal fish survey. These current research projects evolved from past projects, like the fish inventory and amphibian study. While some projects change over time, others remain constant, like the water quality study, a bi-monthly peek at temperature, dissolved oxygen, and nutrient concentration in Jug Bay since 1987.

Sanctuary volunteers have also surveyed aquatic macroinvertebrates in Two-Run Creek since 1996. A 10-year phenology study began in 2013. Read more about the Butterfly Phenology Project on page 4 from Darcy Herman, who initiated the project. In 2007 the Sanctuary and its volunteers began

collaborating with the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Maryland (CBNERR-MD) to monitor marsh soil elevation change. They’ve also worked with CBNERR-MD to survey marsh plants since 2008, monitor marsh groundwater salinity since 2012, and watch the migration of the marsh-forested wetland boundary since 2014. Some volunteers manage invasive species, contribute to a deer exclosure study, or monitor submerged aquatic vegetation.

Education volunteers are volunteer naturalists and canoe guides. They’ve been Lecture-in-the-Field leaders and summer science camp counselors. They assist with public events and outreach and serve on the Education Advisory Committee. Stewardship volunteers are caretakers of the property, gardening native plants, cleaning up trash, and constructing everything from signs to drift fences. Behind-the-scenes volunteers are Wetlands Center hosts and caretakers for our in-house box turtles and aquarium fish. They analyze research data (sometimes presenting it at conferences), make art, take photos, and write the articles that populate this newsletter’s pages.

It’s a bit like the Sanctuary and its volunteers have a symbiotic relationship. Both parties benefit. Volunteers help the Sanctuary, but they get a lot out of their time here—that’s what keeps them coming back. While projects change and volunteer jobs over 30 years are so numerous and diverse we couldn’t list them all here, one thing is certain: the Sanctuary’s volunteers are dedicated to this unique place. And this issue is dedicated to them.

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Relying on Volunteers for 30 Years

Trash Pick-Up by Canoe volunteers, 2013.

Volunteer Statistics

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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 and environmental education. the sanctuary is a limited-use park. groups are requested to make a reservation by calling the office before plan-ning a visit.

Jug Bay Wetlands sanctuary is a member of the chesapeake Bay - national estuarine research reserve maryland system, which promotes sci-entific research, public education, resource management and stewardship in estuarine reserves across the nation.

SANCTUARY STAFFPatricia delgado, superintendentdebra gage, office managerHeather Baden, naturalistmelinda Fegler, naturalist and Volunteer coordinator liana Vitali, naturalist and education coordinatorrichard chaney, maintenancedonald smith, maintenance

FRieNDS oF JUg BAY oFFiCeRS:al tucker, PresidentVice President vacant Jim Harle, treasurer John norris, secretary

BoARD oF DiReCToRS: Blythe alexanderdarcy Hermansean mcguinn anne muecke dotty mumford

Marsh Notes is produced quarterly by Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary.

Comments and suggestions are welcome.

editor: chris Patrickgraphic design: liz Fisher, ec Fisher design contact: liz@ecfisherdesign.comthis newsletter is printed on recycled paper.

m a r s H n o t e s 2

siobhan Percey colin reesJeff shenotnora terres

continued on page 5

The Sanctuary is well known for its mix of habitats and wide variety of flora

and fauna. Perhaps most often recognized as part of a designated Nationally Important Bird Area, it is also home to an impressive population, in both diversity and numbers, of herpetofauna. This collective title for reptiles and amphibians is often shortened to just “herps.”

When the Sanctuary’s second director Chris Swarth arrived in 1989, he quickly realized that there was more to learn and document about the plant and animal species. He established some research projects, relying heavily on volunteers. One of these projects was studying the rich population of herps on the property. From 1988 to 1993, Chris, staff, and volunteers conducted a regular inventory and monitoring program using a combination of live trapping, dedicated searches, and casual observations. During the course of this work it became obvious that one class of animals frequently encountered were turtles. The Sanctuary had at least seven of the twelve known turtle species found in Maryland. Everyone likes turtles, so Chris soon switched his allegiance from birds to their far distant cousins, reptiles.

The primary candidate chosen for detailed study was the Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina). They are terrestrial, active for much of the year, colorful, easily recognized, and found throughout the Sanctuary. Those involved in the study decided to collect morphological and environmental data from every box turtle encounter, using standard scientific protocols. This included marking each turtle in a systematic way to permit positive identification on subsequent encounters. The method chosen was filing shallow notches in the marginal scutes (scales) of each documented turtle. Box turtles normally have 12 marginal scutes on each side of the midline of their carapace (upper shell). Staff and volunteers marked each turtle with a unique combination of notches.

The first turtle marked with a notch

code was a healthy adult female captured along the Upper Railroad Bed Trail south of Two Run Creek on September 14, 1994. She was last seen nearby, in the floodplain of Two Run Creek, on July 16, 1998. A female holds the longevity record. Volunteers and staff estimated her to be at least 20 years old when they first captured her in 1995. She was last seen early this year, marking her 21st year in the project and making her at least 41 years old. We now have 580 marked turtles that have been seen from 1 to 185 times, and well over 6,200 records of individual encounters in the database.

Over the years it has been interesting to see the impact of changing technology on the study. We started out describing the locations where we found turtles by referring to local landmarks and making sketch maps. Dave Linthicum’s production of excellent, detailed maps of the Sanctuary made recording locations easier and more accurate. Then the grid pole system was installed, which provided another means of locating turtle encounters. As the Sanctuary grew, so did the area in which we might find box turtles. The grid system made it possible to clearly define an 80-hectare portion of the sanctuary as the official study area. Personal GPS units became common next. Then the cell phone, with GPS apps, allowing us to record accurate coordinates

Box Turtle Research at the Sanctuaryby Mike Quinlan

PAGE 2 continuEd to PAGE 4 (turtlE ArticlE)

PAGE 2 --> bEGin box turtlE ArticlE

Mike Quinlan (left) and Chris Swarth search for turtles in the snow, 2010. (Susan Blackstone)

M a r s h N o t e s 3

Dear Friends,

As the 30th anniversary of the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary approaches, I thought it important to reflect on how the original ethos of the Sanctuary has evolved and strengthened over time. In essence, this is a story of the volunteers—their leadership and their stewardship over the decades. It is also a story of those who stepped forward at critical points to advance the concept of the Sanctuary we know today. Both of these groups reflect the current definition of leadership as “the process of social influence in which a person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task” and stewardship, “an ethic that embodies the responsible planning and management of resources.” (Definitions from Wikipedia.)

Many have stepped forward to continue and extend the vision of those founders who foresaw the future we enjoy now, and, of course, our future depends on our continuing this tradition of leadership and stewardship. Both come in small steps, with the baton passing among many persons. In the broad sense everyone who volunteers their time at the Sanctuary is leader and a steward. From those of you help out at the office, maintain the trails, build boardwalks, operate the butterfly garden, and support the research and education programs, to those of you who help the organization through strategic planning of our next steps—you are the unsung heroes that see the need and step up without hesitation to make the Sanctuary what it is today.

In an attempt to recount history, one runs the risk of overlooking someone who was key to its success. From the beginning, the Sanctuary’s founders envisioned three overarching principles: research, education, and public awareness.

The articles of incorporation for The Friends of Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Inc. clearly articulate the purpose of the Sanctuary:

… to foster education and research programs which increase public awareness of, interest in, and appreciation of the history and ecology of the natural environment of the Patuxent River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay, and its watershed, especially Jug Bay, its wetlands and the surrounding environs ...

However, the history of the Sanctuary has its roots in the decade before, when these principles ran counter to the prevailing concepts of recreation and active use of land. Then, land was an income-producing commodity, either for development or for commercially oriented recreation activities like boating, fishing, camping, baseball, and tennis. The location of the present day Wetlands Center was considered an ideal spot for a recreational campground.

To many local neighbors this idea was an anathema to their concept of the surrounding land use, which up to that time was primarily agricultural. Then, Jug Bay was fairly inaccessible and you had to know one of the landowners to go there. There were only handful of people who knew about the environmental treasures of Jug Bay and viewed an RV campground as a potential threat. A small group of neighbors engaged the political process in 1974 and started the decade long journey to the establishment of the Sanctuary. They and other like-minded activists made policymakers aware of the impending loss of wetlands. In 1976 the county executive, Robert Pascal, made the decision to acquire the land and, along with efforts of council member Virginia Clagett, purchased the land.

The struggle was not over, however. The land was now in the hands of Anne Arundel County, who did not have the experience of operating or staffing an environmentally sensitive facility. But the next group of activists soon emerged, the founders of the Friends under the leadership of Marjorie Crain. Through countless excursions on Jug Bay and discussions with Joe McCann, the current concept of the Sanctuary evolved. The path from concept to reality though, was left to the first park naturalist Christine Gault. Under her guidance, the infrastructure for research, education, and public awareness of the value of Jug Bay wetlands to the County was put in place. Under Chris Swarth and Pati Delgado, these programs continued to flourish and expand. Their leadership firmly established citizen science as a form of recreation at the Sanctuary.

Along the way, there were many threats to the Sanctuary’s integrity. Citizen awareness and public advocacy averted each threat, usually by direct land purchases. The original purchase of 240 acres now approaches 1700 acres. This expansion demonstrated a steadfast commitment to the fundamental principles of conservation and, thus, gave the majority of neighboring landowners the confidence to place their land in permanent agricultural or environmental preservation.

For our story to continue, we depend on the next generation of younger folks to be vigilant stewards of our environment. Our tradition of research, education, and public awareness at the Sanctuary will lead us into this future.

Al Tucker, President

Details on page 6 and 7

Taste of the WildSaturday, Sep 12; 6:00 – 9:00 pm

Women On the WaterSaturday, Sep 19; 9:00 am – 2:30 pm

Annual Steiner Canoe TripSunday, Sep 27; 3:00 – 7:00 pm

Save the Dates!

We welcome new and returning FOJB members:

Joseph WiehaganVerna M. BerryJanice Lynch SchusterSue WilliamsBrian & Lynn DelphusJoe & Jennifer Mazur

Ralph ParkinsonNettie HorneChristina WeigleAndrea ReiffThomas Mee

F a l l 2 0 1 53

M a r s h N o t e s 4

by Darcy herman

The Sanctuary’s 3200-square-feet-and-growing butterfly garden on the

Glendening Preserve includes over 90 species of plants. Many of these are significant not only to adult butterflies for nectaring, but also to larval caterpillars that have much more specific requirements for host plants on which to feed. From the garden’s humble birth in 2008 to its current state of thriving activity, volunteers have contributed to its success in the areas of maintenance, phenol-ogy monitoring, and fundraising.

MaintenanceA small but growing and very hardy

core group of volunteers cares for the garden every other week with weeding, planting, and related maintenance tasks. Sanctuary volunteer Dave Perry first broke ground for the garden on the footprint of a former 1500-square-feet house trailer between the two barns, and he has been the main driver behind its expansion. Dave’s commitment to the garden was recognized by Anne Arundel County in 2014 when he was the recipient of the Ron Blake Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Butterfly Garden Volunteers Propagate Knowledge and Abundance

Phenology MonitoringSince 2013, the Sanctuary’s butterfly

garden has been an official Nature’s Notebook phenology observation site. What does this mean? It means that Jug Bay’s volunteers have joined a nationwide citizen science initiative monitoring changes in the timing of seasonal phenomena, such as insect emergences and peak abundances, as our climate changes. Visit https://www.usanpn.org/natures_notebook to learn more. The Sanctuary’s butterfly phenology project started two years ago with one research intern, expanded in 2014 with a few initial volunteers, and expanded again in 2015 to include volunteer monitoring every day of the week—a significant team accomplishment that makes butterfly emergence data more precise at our site!

FundraisingSeedlings from the butterfly garden also

become an important source of native plants to be sold at the Friends of Jug Bay plant sale. Proceeds benefit the Sanctuary.

Volunteers from the Friends have also written proposals and received grants from the Four Rivers Garden Club. These funds were used to buy milkweed plants for the garden and to be given away at public events. All the volunteers who work in the butterfly garden serve as information resources to visitors, and the garden has hosted more visitors each year as word spreads. Its success and growth is a testament not only to the compelling beauty and fascination of plant-insect interactions, but also to the magnitude of what can be accomplished with a passionate community of supporters.

V o lu n t e e r P r o j e c t s

Zebra Swallowtail caterpillar. (Darcy Herman)

Glendening Preserve Butterfly Garden.(Darcy Herman)

M a r s h N o t e s 5

Volunteers have conducted a winter waterbird survey at the Sanctuary since

2003. Every other week a team observes, records, and reports the Sanctuary’s birds. This past year, we expanded the survey: it is now year-round, includes woodland birds, and open to volunteers or members of the Friends of Jug Bay willing to meet at 7:00 a.m. every other Thursday.

The morning starts in the parking lot. The early sun lights up the surrounding trees and the dawn chorus greets us. At this time of the year, we can count on the Indigo Bunting, the Northern Cardinal, and the Chimney Swifts to anchor our list. We move on to the Overlook for excellent views of the Patuxent River and the surrounding wetlands. Right now, the Wild Rice is a bright green against the darker green of the Spatterdock and there are families of Ospreys getting ready to migrate south. Wood Ducks, Tree Swallows, and Great Blue Herons add to the early morning activity. Once we’ve agreed upon approximate numbers for the species of birds in the marsh, we’ll move on down to the Railroad Bed Trail.

If you look at a map of the Sanctuary, you can see the Railroad Bed Trail extending straight out into the river. It acts like a trap

to catch vegetation and critters, including birds. With viewing areas at the end and on both sides of the trail, it provides some of the best bird views of the day. Many common (and not so common) species can be found there.

Data from our waterbird surveys goes into a database at the Sanctuary. All of our observations go onto eBird, a real-time,

online birding checklist program. We also post results on the Sanctuary’s website and MDBirding Google group. Currently, with a total of 240 species reported, the Sanctuary is number 17 on the eBird list of hotspots in the state of Maryland. Call the Sanctuary office at 410-741-9330 or email Karen at Karen.Caruso@verizon.net to participate in an early morning survey.

ospreys on the Patuxent River. (Siobhán C. Percey)

in the field. Digital and cell phone cameras also made data gathering and recording more accurate. Other research showed that the pattern of markings on each turtle’s plastron (lower shell) is unique and identifiable. They are useful in confirming the identity of a turtle upon recapture. In the early days of the study we would place a turtle on the copy machine and make a black-and-white image to include on the data sheet. Now color, digital images leave no doubt about identification.

A final boost came with the advances in miniaturization of electronics. It is now possible to affix a small, lightweight, battery-powered radio transmitter to a turtle’s carapace and relocate it frequently and rapidly. We have used this technology on five

different turtle species, most successfully with mud and box turtles. For several years summer research interns were actively involved in turtle research on several species, using radiotelemetry and other techniques. Their work added significantly to our knowledge. Approximately 60 percent of the records in the database are from radiotelemetry. Currently we have four box turtles with transmitters. Two dedicated volunteers, Susan Blackstone and Siobhan Percey, carry on the work of tracking them.

There are many important scientific advantages to long-term studies on individually marked animals. We are able to obtain a much more complete picture of longevity, home range, territory, seasonal activity patterns, habitat use, and population structure (like age and sex). We have learned a great deal about the Sanctuary’s box turtle population. Our study is of such duration and intensity that on occasion we are even able to document mortality, as when we find a dead, marked turtle. Fortunately, we also discover (and mark) a significant number of young turtles each year, indicating that our population is viable. We know the population is dynamic and there are always more questions to answer as we start into the next 30 years.

Over the years it has been interesting

to see the impact of changing technology on the study.

Sanctuary Expands Volunteer Waterbird Surveyby Karen Caruso

Turtles continued from page 2

m a r s H n o t e s 6

a relaxing yoga session lead by a certified yoga instructor. Please bring a yoga mat. Fee includes naturalist canoe guides, all canoe equipment, gentle yoga, 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, shoes that can get wet and an extra set of dry clothes. Bring a bathing suit and towel if you would like to go in the water. no experience necessary. Please arrive at least 20 minutes before the program start time. To register, download and complete form (http://www.jugbay.org/education/canoegroup-trips) and send with check payable to Friends of Jug Bay.

Estuaries Day River Cleanup by CanoeSaturday, Sep 26; 10:00 am – 2:00 pmAges: 7 and upFee: FReecelebrate estuaries day by having fun on the water and helping to keep our river clean! Please arrive promptly at the starting time. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, a lunch, and shoes that can get wet. Registration is required. Call 410-741-9330 to check availability. Registration form can be downloaded at www.jugbay.org under Quick Links.

Annual Steiner Canoe TripSunday, Sep 27; 3:00 – 7:00 pmJug Bay Wetlands SanctuaryJoin us for the annual canoe trip on the Patuxent river. the group will depart from the sanctuary at 3:00 p.m. and paddle to areas along the Patuxent river, returning to the sanctuary at 7:00 p.m. there will be a stop at mt. calvert for an interlude of wine and cheese and a talk about the area. Fee: $25 per person, payable in advance. Please call 410 741-9330 for reservations.

P U B L I C P RO G R A M S AT J U G BAY

Preschool Nature SeriesFriday, oct 2; 10:00 – 11:00 amFriday, Nov 6; 10:00 – 11:00 amFee: $2 per childchildren enjoy sensory activities and learn about nature through an interactive story, craft, and hike. explore a new topic each date. extend your visit with free play at our nature Play space.Registration required: Call 410-741-9330 to register.

BirdwalkSaturday, oct 3; 8:00 – 11:00 amSaturday, Nov 7; 8:00 – 11:00 amAges: 12 and upFee: Free with $3 per 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: Call 410-741-9330 or email pro-grams@jugbay.org

Butterfly and Bug BonanzaSaturday, Sep 12; 10:00 am – 2:00 pmAges: All Fee: FReeIn late summer, butterflies and blooms are in their glory! come to the glendening nature Preserve for butterfly crafts, and fun activities. observe and learn about butterflies and their host plants in the Butterfly garden, and take a hike to spot wildlife in the surrounding mead-ows. Registration is encouraged so enough craft materi-als can be prepared. Call 410-741-9330 to regis-ter. Walk-ins welcomed!

Open Hours:Sanctuary Wetlands Center: Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Glendening Nature Preserve: Wrighton Road entrance daily, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm; Plummer House entrance Monday – Saturday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (trails, butterfly garden, dogs on leash)

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

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

Sanctuary Wetlands Center admission fee: $3.00 per vehicle.

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

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 email programs@ jugbay.org to register. All programs meet at the Wetlands Center at 1361 Wrighton Road unless otherwise noted. Program fees are in addition to vehicle admittance fees. An adult must accompany children under 13.

Taste of the WildSaturday, Sep 12; 6:00 – 9:00 pmJug Bay Wetlands Sanctuarytaste of the Wild will offer you dishes prepared with local and wild foraged plants, vegetables, and game. enjoy a formal dinner served with local wines. menu will be set. no substitutes available for special food needs. limited vegetari-an options.Cost: $60 per person (no FOJB or volunteer discount). Make checks payable to FOJB.Funds will be dedicated to the purchase of an observation scope for the Sanctuary.

Women On the WaterSaturday, Sep 19; 9:00 am – 2:30 pmFee: $30tap into the serenity of our wetlands with a lei-surely canoe trip on the Patuxent river. We'll look for wildlife and wetland plants, then pause for a gourmet lunch. the day will conclude with

Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar. (Darcy Herman)

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Fall Foliage Canoe TripSaturday, oct 10; 2:00 – 6:00 pmAges: 7 and up. Fee: $20 per person. the marsh is getting ready to go dormant for the year, but is not finished yet! We’ll look for late season flowers, migratory birds, and more. Please arrive promptly at the starting time. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, a lunch, and shoes that can get wet. Registration is required. Call 410-741-9330 to check availability. Your reservation will be secured when payment is received. Checks should be made payable to Friends of Jug Bay. Registration form is required and can be downloaded at http://www.jugbay.org/education/canoegroup-trips/public-trips

The Four Blood MoonsSunday, Sep 27; 7:00 – 9:00 pmAges: 10 and upFee: FReeJoin master naturalist mike Quinlan and members of the southern maryland astronomy club to observe a total eclipse of the moon. this is the fourth in a series of lunar eclipses occurring in 2014 and 2015, called "the four blood moons." We'll start off with a short hike around some of the glendening Preserve fields and end at the Plummer House. Binoculars recommended, and a flashlight if you think you’ll need one. the eclipse starts at 8:11 p.m. and reaches its maximum at 10:47 p.m. Participants are welcome to arrive after the hike and to stay as late desired. Registration required. Call 410-741-9330 to register.

Sanctuary Welcomes New Education Coordinator

Connecting people to the natural world through inspiring and meaningful learning experiences is a passion of Liana's that she has pursued throughout her career. After receiving her Bachelors of Science in biology and ecology at Penn State University,

she joined the Environmental Protection Agency Chesapeake Bay Program as a fellow supporting the then Living Resources Subcommittee. She spent hours interpreting the natural history of shad, menhaden, striped bass, blue crab, and oysters to children and adults alike, although children tended to ask more interesting questions!

At the conclusion of her fellowship, Liana sought global conservation nonprofit experience and led education and outreach efforts for Wildscreen and the Arkive project (www.arkive.org). Focused on harnessing the power of wildlife film and photography to connect people to the natural world, Liana worked with filmmakers, photographers, conservationists, and educators to build one of the world's largest free digital repositories of life on Earth. In 2013, she earned her master’s in zoology through the Global Field Program of the Miami University of Ohio, where she learned and applied techniques in field research methods and open-inquiry learning. Her time spent studying energy expenditures in Prezwalski's horse herds in Mongolia and tracking apex predators in a biological preserve in Central America were particularly valuable in shaping her research interests and field skills.

Since completing her master's, Liana recognized a strong desire to apply her research and education experience within a local, rather than global, context. She is extremely excited to join the team of passionate researchers, naturalists, educators, and volunteers at Jug Bay as the new Education Coordinator!

Liana Vitali, the Sanctuary’s new education Coordinator.

8m a r s H n o t e s

Volunteer opportunities

Stream Water Chemistry Friday, Sep 18; 9:30 am – 12:00 pm (galloway Creek)Saturday, Sep 19; 9:30 am – 12:00 pm (Two Run Branch)Saturday, Sep 19; 12:00 – 2:30 pm (Pindell Branch)Friday, oct 16; 9:30 am – 12:00 pm (galloway Creek)Saturday, oct 17; 9:30 am – 12:00 pm (Two Run Branch)Saturday, oct 17; 12:00 – 2:30 pm (Pindell Branch)Volunteers will be conducting field tests on dis-solved oxygen content and other parameters. Water samples are also collected for lab analysis.New volunteers interested in assisting the study should contact the Volunteer Coordinator at 410-741-9330.

Research: Marsh Sediment MonitoringSep 21 – 25a few hardy volunteers are needed to assist dr. Pati delgado with set (sediment elevation tables) research. the research involves measur-ing the sets at fixed locations in the marshes. this allows us to track sediment erosion and accretion levels over time. meeting times are

based on tide predictions, so vary from day-to-day. Volunteers can join the morning shift, after-noon, or both. the schedule is tide and weather dependent. Please contact Pati directly if you are able to assist at 410-741-9330 or rpdelg88@aacounty.org

Research: Wetland SAV Monitoringoct 5 – 9, 2015a few hardy volunteers are needed to assist dr. Pati delgado with saV (submerged aquatic Vegetation) research. the research involves mea-suring saV along transects throughout the marshes. this allows us to track changes to the aquatic plant community over time. meeting times are based on tide predictions, so vary from day-to-day. Volunteers can join the morn-ing shift, afternoon, or both. the schedule is tide and weather dependent. Please contact Pati directly if you are able to assist at 410-741-9330 or rpdelg88@aacounty.org

Chestnut Tree MonitoringFriday, oct 30; 12:00 – 1:00 pma pair of volunteers are needed to measure trees, enter data, and share results for our american chestnut tree plot in the glendening nature Preserve.

Stewardship: Butterfly Garden Maintenance Tuesdays, Sep 1 – oct 27; 8:00 - 10:00 amAges: open to anyone willing to work.Join fellow gardeners, butterfly watchers, and native plant enthusiasts in our garden mainte-nance group. Volunteers weed, water, prune, and otherwise maintain the Butterfly garden at the glendening Preserve's Plummer House. Bring work gloves, a snack, a refillable water bottle, hat and sunscreen, and clothes and shoes that can get dirty. Walk-ins welcome.

Turtle Caretaker TrainingSundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Sep 1 – oct 14; 10:00 – 11:00 amtrained volunteers will be feeding and maintain-ing our three resident box turtles at our outdoor enclosure at this time. Potential volunteers interested in this project can contact us at 410-741-9330.

Research: Butterfly PhenologySep 1 – oct 31Sundays, 11:00 am – 1:00 pmMondays, 11:00 am – 1pm & 1pm – 3pmTuesdays, 11:00 am – 12:00 pmThursdays, 10:00 am – 2:00 pmtrained volunteers will be conducting a phenol-ogy survey on 12 butterfly species within our butterfly garden. new volunteers interested in assisting the study should contact the Volunteer coordinator at 410-741-9330.

Fall Volunteer RecruitmentWednesday, Sep 16; 9:30 – 11:00 amSaturday, Sep 26; 2:30 – 4:00 pmWednesday, oct 7; 9:30 – 11:00 amSaturday, oct 17; 2:30 – 4:00 pmthis introductory workshop is designed to give potential volunteers an overview of the opportu-nities available here. our volunteer program is divided into four categories to provide some-thing for everyone: ecological research, environ-mental education, stewardship, and behind-the-scenes. We specialize in working with adults and families interested in a long term commitment (one or more years), but can also accommodate students for service learning hours and seasonal projects. all ages welcome, under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. To sign up, email Volunteer Coordinator Melinda Fegler at rpfegl00@aacounty.org, or call 410-741-9330.

• Most of our projects require no experience, come to learn!

• Vehicle admittance fee waived for volunteer events.

• To sign up or for more information, call 410-741-9330, or email Volunteer Coordinator, Melinda Fegler at rpfegl00@aacounty.org

• Groups must call to arrange a separate event, unless otherwise noted.

Stream Wader volunteers, 2015.

M a r s h N o t e s 9

A Message from JBWS Volunteer Coordinator by Melinda Fegler

Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary is a diverse and pristine ecological system

that is ever-changing. Just as this amaz-ing preserve builds resilience on prior conditions, so does the leadership that ensures the habitats’ success. The Sanctuary wants to thank Lindsay Hollister for the incredible infrastruc-ture she selflessly added to and built for 11 wonderful years. Lindsay incorpo-rated not just her endless knowledge but her eternal passion and magnetic personality—making her the Volunteer Coordinator model to be followed. I have been with the Sanctuary since February 2015 as a Naturalist. I’ll now be our Volunteer Coordinator, filling this huge role. I’m excited and anxious to use what I’ve learned from my dear friend and build onto the amazing work Lindsay started. Be on the lookout for opportunities to join and continue the remarkable Jug Bay Volunteer Team!

Next Steps After 2015 Patuxent River Conference by siobhan C. Percey

The Sanctuary, the FOJB, CBNERR-MD, and several other organizations supported the 2015 Patuxent River Conference this June. Eighty participants from 36 organizations

came together to explore research, monitoring, restoration, and management in the Patuxent River watershed. Small-group discussions enabled participants to brainstorm and prioritize gaps and questions of concern about the future of the Patuxent River. Visit www.friend-sofjugbay.org/eventsMeetings/PaxRiverConf/ConferenceResults for more information. Goals for the next six to twelve months include creating a relationship with the Patuxent River Commission, summarizing information generated at the conference into a white paper, assessing the capacity to create an inventory of work currently being done on the Patuxent, and pursuing the publication of a dedicated edition of a scientific journal focusing on the Patuxent. Email paxcon.listserv@gmail.com to join our listserv and stay up to date on current happenings! Call CBNERR-MD with questions: 410.260.8801

Summer Volunteers:Joe ActonBlythe Alexander CeCe Arrington Charity Arrington Courtney ArringtonLawrence AshKatherine Baer Tere BarananoMarty BarronSusan BlackstoneDick Blass Allison BohacCynthia BravoMary BurtonDanny BystrakJeff CampbellKaren CarusoAlan ChristianRegan ChristianRebecca ChristopherEd ConawayDavid DavisCathryn DippoBen DoodyChad DennisJennifer DennisKim ElliottKirsten EnzingerJack FiligenziJean FiligenziLee FisherMaritza FreelandRichard FreelandLynette FullertonJoyce GillespieDavid GillumDiane GoebesKathy GrowJim HarleBen HollisterViviana JacksonDave LarrabeeCliff LoudermilkDavid LinthicumRob McEachernPat MelvilleDave MozurkewichAnne Muecke

Manfred MueckeHannah MulvaneyJoJo MulaneyDotty MumfordJennifer MuroJohn NorrisSusan NugentJim OlandVerne OlandKaryn OwensJan OwingsSiobhan PerceyDave PerryTom PetskaAshleigh PiccoliCarol QuinlanMichael QuinlanAllison RedingtonCyndi ReynoldsGordon ReynoldsDoris SchmitzAnna SchollenbergerBirgit SharpJoan SlevettBob SmithDave SmithChris TaylorNora TerresDenny TownsendPeter UimonenWendy Van NordenBob Williams IIISue Williams

Volunteer Groups:University Of MarylandChristopher Newport

UniversityYouth Service MinistriesBaltimore Aquarium

During the summer, 230 volunteers logged 1748.25 hours.A contribution worth over $44,458.

Thank You!

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Volunteer news

Former Volunteer Coordinator Lindsay Hollister and Stream Wader volunteers, 2015

Vernal Pool Survey volunteers, 2015

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“Thirty years ago Christine Gault came to the Anne Arundel Bird Club and asked for volunteers to come to the new park called Jug Bay Wetlands

Sanctuary to see what birds were there. I volunteered along with Chris Beaton and Sue Ricciardi. For four years we went to Jug Bay once a week, and twice a week during spring and fall migration, to record what birds we could find. We noted species and the number of individuals of each species.

At that time I had no idea what Jug Bay would come to mean to me. I continued to help with the bird studies and, for many years, I headed the Winter Waterbird Survey, which runs from November to April each year. I joined the Friends of Jug Bay and later became a member of the Board of Directors, serving two years as President. In 1998 I became Membership Chair for FOJB, an office I still hold. I also now help with manning the Visitor’s Center office on weekends. Over the years it has been a delight to see how the Sanctuary has grown in size and it continually amazes me to see the amount of research that has been carried on at Jug Bay. Most of the data for these studies have been done by volunteers who have been given training by the staff. I think that this makes Jug Bay a very unique place.” —Dotty Mumford, 30-year volunteer

“For my wife and me, our discovery of Jug Bay has been an adventure of fun and learning over the years. Whether we are taking part in one of the many volunteer opportunities, public activities, or simply hiking or paddling in or around the Sanctuary, each outing provides us with an opportunity to learn from, appreciate, and give back to this unique and beautiful ecosystem. We've accumulated a lifetime of memories in the years since our discovery and are forever grateful to live near such a wonderful natural area as Jug Bay.”

—Clint Cosner

Volunteer Snapshots

“Jug Bay became a very special place for me some 30 years ago when I began volunteering to help assess the birdlife at the newly forming park. The river, marsh, and wetlands provided an exhilarating environment where birdlife flourished, and there was a lot of activity then to get the park on its feet. Being interested in research aspects as well, I was happy to be involved. In recent years I have become interested in butterflies and have helped a bit with the butterfly garden. Although I haven't volunteered as frequently now as I did initially, Jug Bay still is one of my favorite places. I have always been warmly treated and have felt appreciated for my efforts. I applaud the staff for the wonderful work

they have done with volunteers for all these years."

—Sue Ricciardi, 30-year volunteer

“For 30 years Jug Bay has been the place to study, enjoy and share the natural history of our earth. There is always something to learn and discover. Jug Bay offers this opportunity for all volunteers and visitors. The Jug Bay staff have always been helpful and supportive. It has always been a pleasure to come to Jug Bay to help with the many studies including the Butterfly Garden. Hopefully Jug Bay will continue to protect its environment for wildlife and mankind.”

—Marty Barron, 30-year volunteer

Volunteers and staff recently stained the observation Deck.

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Visit the CBNERR-MD web page www.dnr.state.md.us/bay/cbnerr

STAFF

Jenn Raulin, Reserve Manager

410.260.8745 jraulin@dnr.state.md.us

Sasha Land, Coastal Training

Program Coordinator 410-260-8718

sland@dnr.state.md.us

Chris Snow, Stewardship Coordinator,

410-260-8731 csnow@dnr.state.md.us

Coreen Weilminster, Education Coordinator

410-260-8744 cweilminster@dnr.state.md.us

Trystan Sill, Education Assistant 410-260-8827

tsill@dnr.state.md.us

by Jennifer raulin, Reserve Manager

2015 marks the 30th anniversary of the National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) program in Maryland, so I thought it would be timely to take a minute to reflect on how the Reserve came to be and why our three components are so special to us. The NERR program is a Federal/State partnership that was established by the Coastal Zone Management Act in 1972, Section 315 to be exact. Reserve regulations task the programs “to provide opportunities for long-term research, education, and interpretation.” Originally, NERRs were called Estuarine Sanctuaries, but the program later changed its name to Research Reserves to emphasize the importance of research in these protected areas.

In 1974, two years after the national program started, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources began the designation process to bring a Reserve program to Maryland. At that time 260 sites were under consideration! After a hiatus of six years, the State resurrected the designation process in 1980 after negotiating with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to approve a Reserve structure that had several sites, more reflective of the unique characteristics that each region of the Chesapeake Bay displays. In 1985, Monie Bay was the first site to be designated and represents the Lower Middle Bay. Concurrently, the State conducted a second round of site assessments and evaluated 22 locations, which included both Jug Bay and Otter Point Creek. Locations were evaluated on 39 criteria. Both Jug Bay and Otter Point Creek rose to the top for many reasons, including their networks of extensive wetlands, existing uses in line with the Reserve mission, and proximity to urban centers. These two locations, which were

selected to represent a tributary system and the Upper Bay respectively, were designated in 1990 and complete the picture of Maryland’s Chesapeake National Estuarine Research Reserve (CBNERR-MD) as we know it.

So what does this all mean to you? It means that there’s some really cool stuff going on that you might not know about. All three components have continuous monitoring equipment representing a handful of such stations around the state that collect water quality data every 15 minutes. This data contributes to Maryland’s Eyes on the Bay, as well as the NERR’s System Wide Monitoring Program. On any given day you might find folks measuring the elevation of the marsh, surveying submerged aquatic vegetation, identifying and counting fish, and if you’re an early bird, listening for secretive marsh birds at dawn. It means that we are working with park staff to enhance your visitor experience. The construction of the

Celebrating 30 Years of Connecting People to Science

Anita C. Leight Estuary Center at Otter Point Creek, and the renovation of the Plummer House, installation of solar panels and the Chris Swarth boardwalk were made possible because you are affiliated with the Reserve. Most importantly, it means that the special places you value are also valued by Maryland and the entire United States. You are connected to two other sites in Maryland as well as 27 other sites across the nation. Although Jug Bay may be your favorite, we encourage you to get out and explore!

Locations of the three CBNeRR-MD sites.

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FaLL2015

dePartment oF recreatIon and Parks

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

Donations:Lynne Cherry: a copy of her book, Flute's Journey: The Life of a Wood ThrushMargaret Barker: a copy of Feeding Wild Birds in America by Paul J. Baichich, Margaret A. Barker, and Carrol L. HendersonLee Sepulvado: an anchor for our jon boat

30th anniversary Celebration & Concert!Saturday, Oct 3; noon - 5:00 pm

Join us in celebrating 30 years! enjoy a family friendly festival

with performances, crafts, hayrides, food, and vendors.

end the evening with an outdoor concert.

Save the Date!

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CBNERR-MD Receives 2015 Jug Bay Awardby siobhan C. Percey

True to the spirit of this award, CBNERR-MD, recipient of the 19th annual Jug Bay Award, focuses its efforts on the Sanctuary, as well as

the greater Jug Bay region. CBNERR-MD’s wild rice restoration program exemplifies the interplay of stewardship, research, and education that are characteristic of this organization. 25,000 wintering waterfowl call Jug Bay home, and wild rice is one of their food staples. Wild rice in the Patuxent River plummeted in the 1990s, but has been rebounding due to efforts of CBNERR-MD and others. CBNERR contributed nearly $100,000 to the restoration program, collecting and planting wild rice seed with volunteers and staff. Restoration of this valuable asset is just one of the ways CBNERR-MD supports Jug Bay’s biodiverse habitat. We have an invaluable champion in CBNERR-MD. The honor of the 2015 Jug Bay Award demonstrates our appreciation for their accomplishments.