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DIPP Newsletter  April 2016, Volume 6

 

Do you live on or near the water and experience periodic flooding from storms or high tides? If so, this informational meeting is for you! Participants will learn about plants that are suitable for “wet landscapes,” and how to do an assessment and planting plan for your property. Anyone interested in and outside of the Network is welcome.

Upcoming Event:
Come Learn about Conservation Landcaping!

ICRA Phase 2 Updates

Photo courtesy of Ben Fertig, Integration & Application Network, UMCES

Details and maps of the Phase 2 Focus Areas are now available on the website. These focus areas will be the sites of the upcoming Collaborative Field Assessments (CFAs), which will be used to determine the suite of social and environmental vulnerabilities, and how to enhance their resiliency. More details on how to get involved in the CFAs will be available soon!

Jo Johnson Defends her PhD!

At 9am on May 9th, Jo will be presenting her dissertation research at the University of Maryland - College Park. Her research focuses on vulnerability and resilience of the Deal Island Peninsula area. Information from interviews as well as experience working on the project have helped to inform Jo's conclusions about the way that local Deal Island Peninsula area residents, as well as Deal Island Project stakeholders think about resilience to climate change and vulnerability to other changes. All project stakeholders are welcome to attend. Please email Jo at kjohns11@umd.edu for more details!

Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Updates 
April-May 2016 

Eagle Scout Project - Construction and Installation of Barn Owl Boxes in the Deal Island WMA.  An Eagle Scout candidate from troop 165 in Denton MD will construct 8 boxes and install 7 of those boxes in the marsh at predetermined location in the Deal Island WMA. The Reserve already monitors 6 boxes on the south shore of Monie Bay.  This project will double the number of boxes in our barn owl box program. 

 

May-July 2016

Secretive Marsh Bird Survey sampling will begin in early May along Little Monie Creek.  This Survey monitors certain rail and heron species that nest in the marshes of the lower eastern shore.  Changes in marsh health are potentially seen in changes in marsh bird distribution and abundance and are one of the tools we use to monitor the health of these systems.

 

May-November 2016

Barn Owl Box Monitoring - The Reserve picked up the monitoring of Barn Owl boxes along the southern edge of Monie Bay from DNR's wildlife and Heritage division in 2010.  We began banding owls in 2013 and have moved to spring and fall monitoring as of 2016.   

 

June-November 2016

Site Plan Development - The Reserve will compile information and develop a site/infrastructure plan for the Drawbridge Farm Property off of Drawbridge Road.  This site currently serves as a base of operations for research and monitoring at our Monie Bay Site.  Currently we would like to see the property developed as a field station to start and potentially a site with a larger presence based on feedback we receive.          

 

Volunteer Opportunity 
 
May-July 2016 Secretive Marsh Bird Survey:

This will be the seventh year of a secretive marsh-bird survey conducted along Monie Creek on the eastern side of Monie Bay. 1-2 Volunteers will assist DNR biologist with sampling by listening for calling Marsh Birds.  Survey starts 1/2 before sunrise.  For more information contact Chris Snow 410-260-8731 or chris.snow@maryland.gov 
 

 
Monie Bay BioBlitz: 

On May 12th and May 13th from noon to noon, the first ever BioBlitz will be held at the Monie Bay Component of the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. A BioBlitz is a twenty four hour survey to identify as many species possible at a predetermined location. This site is the hub of the Reserve’s monitoring programs, is the location of the continuous monitoring water quality station, and is in the southeastern portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed in Somerset County, MD. The site consists of tidal marshes, fallow fields, and transitional and upland forests. 

 

The goals of the BioBlitz are to:

  • Generate a species list to serve as a baseline for biodiversity at Drawbridge   Farm

  • Identify key areas for restoration, supported by presence or absence of keystone species


For more information or to volunteer: 

Contact Drew Pizalla, 410-260-8801 or andrew.pizalla@maryland.gov

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