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Home / Archives for Front Page

Mindfulness in Nature – A Resolution for the New Year

December 29, 2020 By crm

By Alyssa Matanin, Chesapeake Conservation Corp Intern

As a child, I took the natural world around me for granted. On one hand, I gave it more attention than the average adult because of its newness and novelty- I was filled with wonder at the leaves changing color and the snow falling so heavily that I could (dangerously) jump off the roof of my friend’s rancher. On the other hand, however, I never noticed the impermanence of the seasons. I didn’t recognize that an autumn walk up my hometown block flush with hues of orange and red in 2016 might be the last time I saw the street again in that way, as years of strange weather occurrences could lead to many of the trees simply skipping that step altogether, forever forgetting the vibrancy its canopy once offered for all the years of my childhood. But I didn’t know at the time to cherish the season’s small changes – for they would soon slip away and become foreign to me – I only knew to enjoy them as they appeared.

When I visited Iceland in October 2019, my guide, a life-long resident of Iceland, discussed how he has watched as glacial lakes expand and glaciers recede, this pattern culminating in 2014 with the first “death” of an Icelandic glacier, Okjökull, due to climate change. It is predicted that all of Iceland’s glaciers will melt within the next 200 years; a sobering thought for anyone who has admired the splendor of Iceland and its glaciers. My heart aches for those in Iceland who must watch as these familiar bits of their local ecosystem slip away, and I often stopped to reflect on the sites I was seeing, as I knew that when I return, it may not be the same Iceland I came to love last October.

Alyssa Mantanin, CCC Intern
“A letter to the future”, a plaque placed at the location of Okjökull in memorial and as a statement to future generations.

The plaque pictured, placed in April of 2019 at the location of Okjökull, reads in English and Icelandic “Ok is the first Icelandic glacier to lose its status as a glacier. In the next 200 years, all our glaciers are expected to follow the same path. This monument is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and know what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it”. The plaque also lists the CO2 level in the atmosphere at that time, at 415 ppm, which is already over 100 ppm above the average CO2 levels we have on record in the last 800 thousand years before present. Our current yearly global average for 2019 is 411 ppm.

Unfortunately, the effects of this rise in CO2 levels are expected to continue to be seen, even if we were to stop emitting excess CO2 today, for anywhere between 100-300 years into the future depending on the model, due to the nature and speed in which global cycles function.

So, what then, is my point in telling you all of these things? With the onset of climate change becoming ever-the-more noticeable with regular record-setting temperature highs and abnormal and severe cloudbursts, I recognize that I should cherish the little things I enjoy in nature more, as I know now that they will certainly not always be a given. I hope to invite our readers to practice mindfulness in a similar way in order to truly appreciate what our mother has given us today and to track how we are changing her landscapes as we move forward. I think all of us in our postmodern, technology-filled, information- stressed lives deserve to take time to notice nature a little more. And she deserves the recognition. In order to guide our readers into mindfulness of nature, I want to point out a past culture of natural mindfulness, found in Japan.

Japan, as much of the “western” world, currently runs on the western Gregorian calendar; however, that has not always been the case. In fact, one of Japan’s ancient calendars was organized based off of seasons, and more specifically, changes in nature. Influenced heavily by the traditional Chinese Almanac, the year was split into 24 major divisions, called sekki, and then further divided into three parts in each sekki, coming together to create 72 microseasons, called ko. Each microseason has a poetic name to help describe exactly what is going on during these 5-day periods, with names like Silkworms start feasting on mulberry leaves, Rotten grass becomes fireflies, and Light rains sometimes fall. As you are reading this, Japan may be entering the season of Beneath the snow the wheat sprouts (January 1st – 4th), The water dropwort flourishes (January 5th – 9th), The spring water holds warmth (January 10th – 14th), or The pheasant first calls (January 15th – 19th). 

Japanese calendar of microseasons.
Double Oak Barn in the snow.

To catch the changes in your environment every 5 or so days requires a sort of mindfulness that is rarely given unless you spend most days outdoors. Even as someone who works outdoors, I can get bogged down in the task-finishing mode and forget to take some time to appreciate the beauty of my surroundings at ACLT.

There are many ways to learn about and keep track of these microseasons, as there are calendars that follow the ko seasons, and an app that notifies you of the new season every few days (named appropriately, 72 Seasons). These methods offer insight as to what the microseasons in Japan are at the time, which is well worth it for noting the poetic simplicity of each season as it comes, but I think that we all could build our own 72 seasons if we take the time to do it. 

Once a week, enter the natural world around you with intentionality, note the changes you see as the days pass, and mark them down in a planner, on your phone, or on the calendar. Go a step further and keep a journal, perhaps including photos of where your mindful moments happen. Jellyfish engulf the bay. Mist sits low in the valley. Monarchs migrate overhead. Ginkgo seeds begin their descent.

Find the things in your world that change in 5 days. Slowly, over the year, you will catch yourself noticing the little things in nature, and maybe have a keepsake to look back upon when the year has come and gone. Commit to a new year’s resolution that will improve your mental health and help you keep track of the health of the planet. 

Every day, we experience something unique in nature, and every year, those experiences are bound to change. By noting the small things, we can not only find time to center ourselves and reflect, but also remind ourselves of how the planet ebbs and flows, and of how, if we do not take care, those small things may fall out of our sight.

Dew-drenched pink Mountain Laurel on Laurel Loop
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Filed Under: Front Page, Uncategorized

New ACLT Event: “Passport to Preservation”

July 29, 2020 By crm

Support ACLT & Local Agri-tourism Businesses ... and have some summer fun too!

For the entire month of August through Labor Day, ACLT is partnering with nine breweries and wineries in and nearby Calvert County for a fundraiser that emphasizes the need to support local agriculture-based businesses. All the businesses are locally owned; most, if not all, use local ingredients; and several of the participating wineries are located on permanently preserved agricultural land.

Participating Businesses:

Calvert Brewing Co., Upper Marlboro
Cove Point Winery, Lusby
Fridays Creek Winery, Owings
Greenspring Brewing Co., Delivery & Retail Only
Gypsy Brewing Co., Delivery & Retail Only
Mully’s Brewery, Prince Frederick
Ruddy Duck Brewery & Grill, Solomons
Running Hare Vineyard, Prince Frederick
Scorpion Brewing Co., Sunderland

Helping ACLT Achieve its Mission While Supporting Local Agriculture-Based Businesses

Part of ACLT’s mission is to promote land conservation and preservation throughout Southern Maryland and to “connect people to the land”. This event does just that. Supporting these local agriculture-based businesses is important now more than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating effects on most local businesses, many of whom will not survive. It is important that we show our support and help them get through this crisis.

 

Buy Local!

The “buy local movement” is a trend that is really taking hold and (hopefully) is here to stay. The advantages of buying local food also apply to beer and wine. Buying from local farmers and businesses that use local products is good for the local economy and good for the planet – consumers are getting fresher products that have traveled much shorter distances, while cutting down on the pollution and inefficient use of fossil fuels created by long-distance shipping. In addition, this event encourages participants to buy directly from the breweries and wineries, which gives the businesses a better return on their products.

How to Participate:

The event is simple: Registration is now open. The cost to participate is a $20 donation per person, with special pricing for new members. Upon registration, participants receive a passport and a unique passport #. They will then visit local breweries and wineries where they will enjoy discounts on beer and wine and have their “passport” stamped for the chance to win prizes at the end of the 5-week period. (The more places they visit and/or purchase beer and wine from, the greater their chances are of winning a prize.)

Participate from Home!

Those who are concerned about visiting the venues in person can purchase their beer and wine to-go or from local liquor stores and restaurants. Two of the participating breweries (Greenspring and Gypsy) will deliver directly to you! For at-home participants, they simply need to send us a picture of themselves enjoying the local beer or wine to get credit.

Two Free “Virtual” Concerts for Participants!

As an added bonus for participants, two local artists will perform private concerts in the event’s Facebook Group via Facebook Live and YouTube. 

Longman Joseph Norris

One of the performers, “Longman” Joseph Norris, is a St. Mary’s County native, and well known in Southern Maryland as a musician and singer. His performances include songs and storytelling about the history of Southern Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay region, and the lives of watermen and farmers. Joseph’s concert will be broadcast live from the barn at the north side trailhead and participants will have the option of attending the concert in person (socially distanced) if they choose.

The second performer, Dylan Galvin, performed at ACLT’s Sip & Save event last year. Dylan is a native Calvert Countian who is now building his career as a musician in Los Angeles and recently released a new music video featuring a cover of a popular song.  Along with original music and covers of popular tunes, Dylan’s performance will include his original song “The Chesapeake”; a tribute to his youth spent growing up on the very land ACLT works so hard to protect.

Dylan Galvin

Get Your Passport Now!

Please drink responsibly.

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Filed Under: Email Blast, Event Announcement, Front Page

Bluebird Nesting at ACLT in Pictures

July 1, 2020 By crm

One of ACLT's Bluebird nesting boxes at the Warrior's Rest Sanctuary
Anyone who has come to visit ACLT’s northside trailhead and Double Oak Farm has undoubtedly noticed the birdhouses nestled along the edge of the woods. These nesting boxes  have been built and placed specifically for Eastern bluebirds.

 

Bluebird perched on outside of nesting box
You may have even seen a bluebird or two flying about and a feathered head poking out, but just what goes on inside?
Bluebird Box Monitoring Volunteer Sandy Foley with her beloved dog Daisy
To one of the volunteers, this time is especially meaningful. Sandy Foley, Master Naturalist and avid hiker, faithfully watches the bluebird boxes around Double Oak and elsewhere in the Parker’s Creek Preserve. She speaks as if these little birds were family, and anyone who knows her would agree. Watching the birds move into their box of choice and lay eggs and then following the babies as they hatch and fledge is really heartwarming to see. Photo credit: Bob Field

 

Bluebird Box Interior with nest
A picture is worth a thousand words and thanks to Sandy, we have a number of pictures from this spring to show you exactly what goes on inside of bluebird nesting boxes. Inside of this box, you can see a completed nest carefully woven from dried grass and thin twigs. It is actually the male bluebird that picks a nesting site with the hope that a female will come to join him in completing the nest.

 

Unhatched Bluebird Eggs
After the nest is built, the female bluebird lays 4 to 5 little blue eggs. She will sit on these for about 12 days while the chicks inside develop and prepare to hatch.
Hatchlings inside box
In the days following their hatching, bluebird chicks will continue to grow in the nest while being fed insects and berries by both parents. These hatchlings in Box X at Warrior’s Rest have not yet opened their eyes or developed flight feathers, leaving them totally dependent on their parents for survival.
Fully feathered hatchlings
After another week, the chicks are fully feathered and closer to leaving the nest. It takes about 20 days after hatching for bluebirds to fledge. Earlier in the season, there were 4 hatchlings in Box 9 at Double Oak, 4 hatchlings in Box W at Warrior’s Rest, and 10 hatchlings in Boxes A and C at the South Side, along with two new nests in additional boxes. Currently, there are 4 eggs in one of the boxes at Double Oak, another 5 eggs in a box at the South Side, and 5 hatchlings in a box at Warrior’s Rest. Bluebird nesting and fledging will continue throughout the early summer and into July.
You can still see the bluebirds flying around and visiting their nests in boxes around ACLT. Stop by Double Oak Farm and the Griffin Meadow Trail on the North Side to view them during your hike from easily accessible areas. We only ask that you leave the nesting boxes with mothers and babies for our trained volunteers to check. These nesting boxes provide important habitat for the local bluebird population. Thank you for your support from all of us at ACLT! You can find out more about Eastern bluebirds and how to build your own nesting box at MDNR’s Eastern Bluebird – Maryland’s Wild Acres information page.

Listen to the song of the Eastern bluebird here.

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Front Page, Uncategorized

The Mountain Laurels are in Bloom!

May 29, 2020 By crm

If you’re planning to hike this weekend, try to hit the Laurel Loop on the southside – many of the Mountain Laurels, Holly Trees and Tulip Poplars, are in bloom!

The Laurel Loop is a mixed blessing – the Mountain Laurels, evergreen shrubs that can grow to heights of 15’- 20’ or more in the wild, provide excellent shade. The problem is that the portion of the plant that is in the shade usually doesn’t bloom. So while hiking the loop, you may have to look up to see some of the most spectacular flowers.

Here’s an interesting tidbit about the beautiful flowers of the Mountain Laurel: “The bell-like flowers have a very unusual way of dispensing pollen. Their stamens are arched, with the tips held under the rim of the bell. When a bee or other pollinator lands on the flower, the weight of the insect releases the stamen, which flings up the pollen like a catapult.” – https://www.bbg.org/gardening/article/mountain_laurel

Keep an eye out for flowering Holly trees and Tulip Poplar flowers as well. 

Mountain Laurel flowers on the Laurel Loop range in color from white to light pink
Mountain Laurels growing in the wild can reach heights of 15'-20' or more.
Mountain Laurels along Laurel Loop Trail
Dew-drenched pink Mountain Laurel on Laurel Loop
Mountain Laurels bloom in intricate clusters of cup-shaped flowers
Light Pink Mountain Laurel Flower
Mountain Laurel with buds not quite in bloom
Tulip Poplar Flower
Tiny white flowers on Holly tree
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The Laurel Loop is 1.07 miles in total length and is moderately challenging, with at least one very steep incline. And of course, what goes up must come down, and the low-lying areas tend to be muddy. For a slightly longer hike, you can take the connection to Karen’s Trail off the Laurel Loop, where you’ll see more Mountain Laurels. This trail is 0.6 miles and named for former Executive Director Karen Edgecombe. At the end of Karen’s Trail, you can back-track to the Laurel Loop or you can cross Scientists Cliffs Road to pick up the East Loop, which includes a “shortcut” back to another entrance to the Laurel Loop. Total distance of the extended hike is 2.15 miles from the parking lot. 

Don’t worry if your planned route didn’t include the Laurel Loop – there are Mountain Laurels scattered on several other trails (North-South and Flint are a couple), but the most concentrated growth is definitely the Laurel Loop.

Whenever you visit ACLT’s trails, your outing will be much more pleasant if you are prepared for and aware of these hiking hazards. 

 

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Filed Under: Front Page, Uncategorized

Putting the Spotlight on Bats at ACLT

May 26, 2020 By crm

By Rachel Delbo, CCC Intern at ACLT

Around the marshes and woods at ACLT, there are several game cameras routinely monitored by volunteers. These provide a snapshot into the behaviors and habits of wildlife in the area. Regulars seen include raccoons, foxes, and great blue herons, but this time something a little different was spotted on camera. One of our volunteers, Ian Messent, recently captured a video of a bat catching insects just above the water in the Horse Swamp Creek. You can watch this nighttime video below:

At this time of year and especially in the summer, bats are a common sight just about everywhere in the state. On most nights at dusk, they will leave their roost and take flight in search of insects.  However, during the winter months, bats go into hibernation. They are only seen during this time if it is exceptionally warm, although this is rare. In those cases, the bats you are most likely to see are known as Big Brown bats, the only species in Maryland able to survive exposure to sub-freezing temperatures.

There are actually 10 species of bats in Maryland and they are divided into two groups based on their preference of shelter.

Tree bat species include:

  • Eastern Red bat (Lasiurus borealis),
  • Hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus),
  • Silver-haired bat (Lasionycterus noctivagans), and
  • Evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis).

Cave-dwelling species include:

  • Eastern small-footed bat (Myotis leibii),
  • Little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus),
  • Northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis),
  • Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis),
  • Tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus), and
  • Big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus).

All of these bats belong to the order Chiroptera, a name meaning “hand-wing”. The bones in the wings of bats are evolutionarily comparable to the bones in our own hands, with a layer of webbed skin that allows them to generate lift and glide through the air.

Despite their spooky reputation, bats are highly beneficial to both humans and other species in their natural communities. Bats can consume up to one third of their body weight in insects in only half an hour and provide an estimated 3 billion dollars in pest control services for the US agricultural industry. As an added note, I’m sure we can all appreciate a few less mosquitoes flying around. 

Unfortunately, all of Maryland’s bat species are listed as Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the state. Their decline in numbers is largely due to the spread of White-Nose Syndrome (WNS), a disease affecting cave bats first discovered in Maryland in 2010. You can read more about WNS on Maryland DNR’s resource website here: https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/plants_wildlife/bats/nhpbatdisease.aspx

Maryland’s bats have also been impacted by habitat loss, as have bats in many other states across the country. They are protected under state and federal law, but unfortunately many bats are still killed when they venture into people’s homes looking for shelter. The Maryland Wildlife and Heritage Service offers safe wildlife control options and DNR’s Nuisance Wildlife Hotline (1-877-463-6497) can be consulted for questions about bat exclusion. 

At ACLT, one of our Master Naturalists installed two bat houses in the Parkers Creek Preserve, one at Warriors Rest and another on the Goldstein Bay farm property. Although no bats have been spotted using the boxes yet, they are available for our little winged friends if needed. You can see what these boxes look like in the photos below.

Master Naturalist Kevin Donahue with one of the bat boxes he built just before installation. The exterior of the box has been painted black to help keep inhabitants warm in cold weather. Photo courtesy of Autumn Phillips-Lewis.
Bats enter at the bottom opening of the box shown here. There are multiple sleeping compartments which can host several individuals, protecting them from the elements. Photo courtesy of Autumn Phillips-Lewis.
Kevin Donahue and Jeff Klapper working to install one of the bat boxes in 2016. Photo courtesy of Autumn Phillips-Lewis.
One of the bat boxes as it stands today. A pulley system is used so that the box can be accessed by ACLT volunteers. Photo courtesy of Autumn Phillips-Lewis.

Much of the information in this article has been shared from Maryland DNR’s wildlife pages and the University of Maryland Extension Home and Garden Information Center. Check out these great resources to learn even more about bats in our state. As always, thank you to all of ACLT’s members and supporters for your help in preserving wildlife habitat in Calvert County. 

 

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Filed Under: Ecological Features, Front Page, Uncategorized

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