FALL 1999
Spencer Farm purchased for habitat restoration and protectionCWH recently assisted a public/private effort to preserve a 190-acre waterfront farm in Kent County, MD. (Fall 1999)

DNR awards Clean Water Action plan grant for Bennett Point projectCWH has received a $41,735 grant to reduce non-pont source pollution at the Bennett Point Wildlife Area. (Fall 1999)

Purple Martins: America's most wanted birds! Find out why purple martins are so popular. (Fall 1999)

Sanctuary Program feeds wintering Canada geeseFarmers and landowners leave standing corn to feed wintering and migrating geese. (Fall 1999)

Spencer Farm purchased for habitat restoration and protection (Fall 1999)

Chesapeake Wildlife Heritage recently assisted a public/private effort to preserve a 190-acre waterfront farm in Kent County, Maryland. With the help of CWH and the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET), Spencer Farm Limited Liability Company purchased the Spencer Farm in May.

Located just south of Rock Hall on Herringtown Creek, Spencer Farm will be restored to benefit wildlife. A permanent conservation easement will be placed on the land allowing no more than two homes. The property is currently for sale at cost ($500,000) to a willing buyer interested in enjoying a farm rich in natural resources.

CWH played a crucial role in financing this purchase. We arranged an interest free loan from MET for a little less than half the purchase price. The MET loan will pass through CWH to Spencer Farm, LLC. Managed by CWH's Richard Pritzlaff, Spencer Farm LLC is a private partnership created to purchase, restore and then resell Spencer Farm. The LLC partners funded the remainder of the purchase price and have assumed full responsibility for repaying the MET loan.

Habitat restorations planned for Spencer Farm are extensive. CWH will convert approximately half of the 80 acres of cropped fields back to their original wetland state. Two bermed duck ponds will be removed to restore tidal action and associated wetlands at the headwaters of Herringtown Creek, which bisects the property. A no-cut easement will be placed on the woodlands which will be managed for eventual "old growth".

Trees and shrubs will be restored along the creek's edge through the USDA's Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). The land and habitat restorations will be permanently protected through Maryland's new CREP easement program to preserve both the land and the habitat restorations. The farm will then be resold in no more than two parcels with only one building site per parcel.

A 40-acre wetland restoration will be the largest CREP wetland project built in Kent County to date. Once completed this diverse wetland will provide important habitat for dabbling ducks, warblers, geese, shorebirds, dragonflies, reptiles and amphibians. Wetlands, especially one of this size containing trees, shrubs and emergent plants, help filter farm runoff of nutrients, chemicals and sediment before they can reach the Chesapeake Bay.

Planned removal of existing berms or duck ponds blocking a tidal creek has never been accomplished on the Eastern Shore. Restoring the natural tidal action at the headwaters of Herringtown Creek will provide additional fish spawning areas and allow us to recreate the tidal/nontidal wetlands once found there.

By converting much of the existing agricultural land into wildlife habitat CWH will be significantly increasing the wildlife value of the farm. Cropland in itself provides little or no habitat for many species of wildlife and also increases nutrient, chemical and sediment runoff. CWH believes that significant acreages of farmland needs to be restored to wildlife habitat, using programs like CREP that compensates landowners, if we are to regain our wildlife heritage.

Says Pritzlaff, "This is an exciting opportunity to permanently restore and preserve valuable wildlife habitat on the Eastern Shore. With development pressure here at an all time high, this project is an innovative way to acquire land to create privately owned wildlife sanctuaries."

The Spencer Farm purchase is the first land acquisition of CWH's new Landowner Services program. This program works in partnership with current or, in this case, future landowners to restore and preserve land and wildlife habitat in an affordable manner. From full land acquisition and conservation buyer projects, to partial sales of development and farming rights and estate planning, Landowner Services advises property owners on land disposition strategies to protect and restore wildlife habitat.

CWH plans to purchase additional properties for habitat restoration and permanent protection. Our goal is to preserve and restore as much valuable wildlife habitat in the mid-shore region as possible. Landowners interested in finding an affordable way to create their own private wildlife sanctuaries or anyone interested in purchasing Spencer Farm can contact CWH at 410-822-5100. (Debbie Collison)
 
 

DNR awards Clean Water Action Plan grant for Bennett Point project (Fall 1999)

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has awarded CWH a grant to reduce non-point source pollution. The $41,735 grant will be used to restore wetlands, plant a riparian buffer and practice sustainable agriculture techniques at the Bennett Point Wildlife Area in Queenstown..

DNR received support from the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean Water Action Plan for this state-wide program. The Clean Water Action Plan was announced by President Clinton in February 1998. The plan presents a broad vision of watershed protection, and includes a new, cooperative approach to identifying watersheds not meeting clean water and other natural resource goals and where preventive action is needed to sustain water quality and aquatic resources.

DNR identified the Wye River as a watershed in need of restoration due to poor water quality. The Wye was also recognized as a sensitive watershed in need of extra protection. This designation meant the Wye River shows signs of stress or degradation but it still contains valuable natural resources. Eleven other watersheds in Maryland held both distinctions. Only the Lower Pocomoke River and Upper Elk River watersheds are located on the Eastern Shore. These watersheds are also targeted for project funding.

This grant will enable CWH to complete the habitat restoration work at Bennett Point. We will use the funds to restore 30 acres of wetlands. A 25-acre riparian buffer will be planted on the shoreline along the Wye River. Sustainable agriculture techniques such as band spraying, integrated pest management (IPM) and cover crops will be implemented on all of the agriculture acres.

Non-point source pollution does not enter the environment from a specific spot or point source (such as pipe or smokestack). Many non-point source pollutants come from agriculture fields and residential lawns. Therefore, it is more difficult to prevent than point source pollution. The wetlands and riparian buffer will help filter non-point pollutants from surface and ground water before they have a chance to enter the Wye River. CWH's sustainable agriculture techniques will reduce the amount of pollutants such as pesticides, sediments and nutrients originating from the farm fields thereby limiting the amount of non-point pollutants.

CWH is proud to be selected as a recipient of this competitive program. It shows that our programs improve the plight of wildlife and the Chesapeake Bay. (Chris Pupke)
 
 

Purple martins: America's most wanted bird! (Fall 1999)

Why are purple martins so popular? Most likely the number one reason for people who live on or visit the Eastern Shore is the fact that purple martins consume so many insects that annoy humans. An adult purple martin (Progne subis) can eat 2,000 mosquitoes in one day. Not very discriminating consumers, they feed on many different species of insects, even beneficial ones. Other reasons people like martins include their habit of living in colonies near human dwellings, their bubbling chatter and their graceful flight patterns.

Martins did not always live in colonies so near human beings. Historically they inhabited tree cavities and rocky cliffs. Once native Americans noticed martins using their drinking gourds for nesting they intentionally hung hollow gourds near their dwellings to encourage martin colonies. This developed into the martin's dependence on manmade structures for nesting colonies.

The modern purple martin craze began with J.L. Wade in Griggsville, IL in 1962. Mr. Wade envisioned the whole nation freed from the dangers of widespread chemical pesticide use. He founded the Trio Manufacturing Company and began making purple martins houses and educating America about the benefits of becoming a "purple martin landlord".

The preferred purple martin habitat includes open to semi-open areas near water. Feeding areas are generally over open fields, crops, pastures, open water or marshes. Martins normally arrive in early spring. A few scouts show up first to check out the houses. The males arrive before the females, who begin laying their eggs within two months of returning, April through July.

Normally only one brood is reared but on rare occasions pairs will double brood. Eggs are incubated for about 16 days before hatching. The young are fed in the nest until they are about 28 days old, when they fledge. Parents are unable to recognize their fledglings once they leave the nest. The young may return to roost for a few days after fledging, then congregate with the adults in large pre-migratory roosts along wires or other convenient perches.

The migration of purple martins takes them through Central America as far south as Bolivia and coastal northern Argentina. The species is affected severely by adverse weather. About thirty years ago, the Midwest purple martin population crashed when spring temperatures remained below freezing (Graber et al. 1972). Additional declines have been reported after hurricanes (Turner & Rose 1989).

Recently I gave some incorrect information to a CWH member and martin landlord who reported very few martins returning to his house this spring. He eventually lost the entire colony for some unknown reason. I suggested that it could have been due to any number of reasons such as competition from house sparrows or starlings or encroachment of vegetation to the martin house. I had also heard that martins were affected by last fall's Hurricane Mitch during their migration.

I felt the need to research the accuracy of this statement and e-mailed the Purple Martin Conservation Association (PMCA) with my question. I received a speedy reply from James Hill, the director and founder of PMCA, advising me that my information was way off base. He informed me that martin migration is very spread out, time-wise. Martins from any given geographic region do not travel at the same time, so that no one hurricane could wipe out the martins from one region. When Mitch hit last year, most of the martin populations were already in their South American wintering grounds, well south of Central America!

According to Hill, most regional declines are due to reproductive failure from the previous summer. This failure is often weather related on the breeding site. Weekly nest checks are very important in monitoring the health of a martin colony. Competition from house sparrows and starlings need to be controlled to protect a colony. Hill suggested that I encourage all martin landlords to participate in the PMCA's Project Martinwatch. The information can be downloaded from their website at www.purplemartin.org.

If interested in having a purple martin house installed on your property, please call CWH's Mike Rajacich at (410)822-5100. (Andi Pupke)
 
 

Sanctuary Program feeds wintering Canada geese (Fall 1999)

The 1999-2000 Canada Goose Sanctuary Program, funded by the Waterfowl Festival and administered by CWH, is launched. Farmers and landowners from 20 different farms in Talbot, Queen Anne's and Kent counties are again signing up to leave standing corn and/or plant a winter cover crop. These sanctuary sites provide safe resting havens and food for wintering and migrating Canada geese.

In return for leaving corn or planting cover crop, farmers and landowners receive a payment from the Waterfowl Festival as compensation. Farmer/operator/landowner cooperation has always been the backbone of the program.

The Waterfowl Festival Sanctuary Program has provided successful winter habitat management of our migratory Canada geese, within the limits of funding resources, for the last 13 years. Good management relies, in no small measure, on strategically situated non-hunted farms with ample grazing (winter wheat) and food (standing corn). Contiguous sanctuaries are particularly valuable to the program.

The sub-population of migratory geese that winters here has suffered from overhunting on their wintering grounds, as well as several years of poor nesting success. The entire Atlantic Flyway population has been in decline since the late 1980's. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources attempted to rectify the situation by canceling the hunting season in 1995.

These measures have not yet solved the goose population dilemma. The Canada goose is a long-lived species and good reproduction may not occur until aged 5, when pairs have gained greater experience in raising their broods. However, this year's breeding season has been successful, though not as good as 1997, giving us high hopes for a productive fall flight.

CWH believes that establishing and maintaining our long term goose sanctuaries to be of paramount importance until and during the time when the goose season reopens. At that time, these birds will be quite naive, not having been hunted for several years here in Maryland, so the goose sanctuaries are doubly important.

The Canada goose is well worth our protection effort. It is not only an important member of our natural community but also generates significant revenue to Eastern Shore businesses, from sporting outlets and guiding services to area motels and restaurants catering to sportsmen. CWH congratulates the Waterfowl Festival for their commitment to one of our most important wildlife resources on the Eastern Shore.

 
SPRING 1999

CWH hosts Bennett Point wildlife area community forumCWH holds meeting to educate local residents about the habitat restoration work at Bennett Point. (Spring 1999)

Preserving the beauty of the Eastern Shore: CWH's Landowner Services ProgramThere are ways for the Eastern Shore to grow yet still preserve its beautiful landscapes and abundant wildlife. (Spring 1999)

Wildlife Profile: Aquatic macroinvertebrates . . . Not just your average bugVolunteers help CWH sample streams in the Chester River watershed. (Spring 1999)

Bird-friendly trees & shrubsBirds are attracted to a yardscape that provides food and cover. (Spring 1999)

Woodie program updateCWH's Mike Rajacich reports tremendous nesting success during the 1998 nesting season. (Spring 1999)

CWH hosts Bennett Point Wildlife Area community forum (Spring 1999)

On February 24 Chesapeake Wildlife Heritage held a community forum to educate local residents about the habitat restoration work at the new Bennett Point Wildlife Management Area near Queenstown. Over 60 area neighbors and other interested folks attended this special meeting at the Shore Up! Headstart facility in Grasonville.

The 285-acre property was purchased by CWH and the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy in 1997 through a North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant. NAWCA is a federal program designed to conserve wetland ecosystems and the wildlife that depend on them, particularly migratory birds.

Andi Pupke, CWH's Education and Outreach Coordinator, described the wildlife habitat restoration work completed and in progress on the Bennett Point property. A slide presentation featured the new shallow emergent wetlands, warm season grass meadows and the various species of wildlife that live in these habitats. Andi explained each habitat project in detail:

-- In the new shallow 40-acre wetland area water levels are managed through the use of water control structures. This allows natural vegetation to emerge, creating a wetland habitat in which shore birds and dabbling ducks thrive, as well as amphibians and reptiles. Another 55 acres will be converted to wetlands this spring.

-- Sustainable farming practices are being used on the tillable upland.

-- Last fall 15 acres of corn was left standing in the field as food for wintering Canada geese and other wildlife. A cover crop of winter wheat was flown onto the area as well to take up excess nitrogen and for erosion control.

-- A 300-foot wooded buffer strip has been established along the Wye River using 20 species of native trees and shrubs. Since the new trees are saplings, the area will be mowed to free them from being choked out by the surrounding vegetation.

-- Approximately 100 acres of woodland provides habitat for a variety of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. A no-cut easement has been placed on the woodland.

-- 30 bluebird boxes have been installed throughout the property to provide artificial nesting cavities for bluebirds. Neighbor Frank Dukette has been monitoring the bluebird trail and reported that 32 bluebirds, 26 tree swallows, 18 chickadees and 6 wrens fledged this past year in our bluebird boxes.

-- Kestrel boxes and osprey platforms have also been installed and are being monitored.

-- Phragmites control began last fall. This invasive non-native plant can spread rapidly to eventually choke out all the beneficial wetland plants. It offers virtually no habitat benefit to wildlife.

-- Existing noxious weeds such as Canada thistle and Johnson grass (inherited with the property) are being controlled, as required by state law.

-- Approximately 45 acres of open land will be planted in warm season grasses to create a prairie-type environment for ground nesting birds.

Wildlife Biologist and Director Ned Gerber further explained that a mature wooded wetland can take hundreds of years to become fully established. A shallow emergent wetland starts to exhibit wetland functions in only 3 years. Shore birds and dabbling ducks will use the shallow wetland within the first year. Portions of the bermed areas will be disced every few years to prevent it from becoming a wooded wetland. We will let some areas grow up in shrubs to provide food and cover for wildlife. Because our objective is to maintain habitats for shore and migrating birds, we are not allowing the entire area to become a wooded wetland.

Andi noted that insectivore birds like bluebirds and swallows will frequent the area to feed. Ground nesting birds like meadowlarks and quail will take advantage of the wet meadow area during nesting season. Reptiles, amphibians, dragonflies, mayflies and butterflies will also thrive in the wetland habitat. Once completed, this project will be one of the largest wetland restorations in the region. (Sandy Parker & Andi Pupke)
 
 

Preserving the beauty of the Eastern Shore: CWH'S Landowner Services Program (Spring 1999)

Eastern Shore landowners understand perhaps better than most the value of farm and water landscapes that embody Shore life. Much of this beautiful scenery and wildlife habitat already exists or could exist on the many farms in this region. But as development pressures build and as farmers and other landowners sell off their lands, these distinctive views and fragile wildlife areas become more vulnerable.

There are ways for the Eastern Shore to grow yet still preserve these landscapes and the wildlife that lives here. An innovative approach is the Landowner Services Program of CWH.

From estate planning to partial or full acquisition and conservation buyer programs, the Landowner Services Program matches innovative land preservation techniques with landowners and their special needs. CWH wants to make landowners aware of the variety of options which would allow wildlife habitat to be permanently restored or created on their properties. Some of these options include:

1) utilizing government conservation programs to purchase development and farming rights;

2) fee simple acquisition, followed by permanent habitat restoration and then limited "conservation development" or sale to "conservation buyers";

3) estate strategies, including charitable remainder trusts and life insurance, which allows either the purchase of whole or parts of a property in fee, or the purchase of the remainder interest.

Whether you are interested in retaining full ownership, selling development or farming rights, or creating a charitable legacy while preserving and enhancing your farm's natural qualities, CWH can help find a tax-advantaged and affordable way to determine what happens to your property; instead of some developer or worse, the IRS.

The economic and development pressures that could change the Eastern Shore forever are too great to ignore. The Landowner Services Program is one simple way for landowners to play an important role in preserving and enhancing the Eastern Shore's beautiful places and wildlife habitats for generations to come. Please call CWH's Richard Pritzlaff at 410-822-5100 to discuss your options. (Richard Pritzlaff)
 
 

Wildlife profile: Aquatic macroinvertebrates . . . Not just your average bug (Spring 1999)

Recently, the staff at CWH has been looking for a few good bugs. Aquatic macroinvertebrates to be precise. With the help of volunteers, we have been sampling streams in the Chester River watershed to determine their relative health. It is our hope and expectation that these bioassessments will document water quality improvements in streams in those watersheds where we have restored wetlands, forests and grassland.

Aquatic macroinvertebrates are organisms that lack backbones. They live at least part of their life cycle in or on the bottom of a body of water. These bugs are used as biological indicators of water quality because they are sensitive to both physical and chemical changes that may occur within their habitat.

Various groups of stream macroinvertebrates have different tolerances to pollution, which means they can serve as useful indicators of water quality. Macroinvertebrate communities are good indicators of localized conditions also, because many have limited migration patterns or a "sessile" mode of life. For example Midge Fly larva (Nematocera) can survive in a polluted stream, but Mayfly larva (Ephemeropta) cannot. Sampling is relatively easy, requires few people and inexpensive gear, and has no detrimental effect on the resident biota.

Macroinvertebrate communities integrate the effects of short-term environmental variations because most species have a complex life cycle of approximately one year or more, while others may live several weeks. Sensitive life stages will respond quickly to stress, whereas the overall community will respond more slowly. This gives a good overall representation of both short and long term water quality.

Macroinvertebrates are a critical part of the food chain. They consume algae, detritus and each other. They also serve as primary food source for many recreational and commercially important fish. Many small streams which naturally support a diverse macro-invertebrate fauna may only support a limited fish fauna.

Chemical testing for nitrate and phosphorus levels can also be very important for understanding stream quality, but it often supplies limited information and may be unreliable. After a big rain event chemicals can be flushed from the system being tested or drought conditions can cause higher concentrations than normal. But macroinvertebrates show the whole story. Regular sampling of these long-lived bugs can indicate problems that may not be easily detected by chemical testing and can detect problems that may no longer be evident in water samples.

The Chester River watershed has 290 miles of freshwater streams leading to the river and Bay. These streams are the ports-of-entry for pollutants such as sediments and chemicals entering the river. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has monitored macroinvertebrates in the Chester River watershed and found only 3% of the streams to have "good" water quality; 32% had "fair"; 32% had "poor" and 33% were determined to have "very poor" water quality.

CWH' s core programs are working to improve these statistics to benefit wildlife and those of us who enjoy them. (Andi Pupke)
 
 

Bird-friendly trees & shrubs (Spring 1999)

All wildlife need protective cover and an adequate food source. Backyard birds in particular are attracted to a yardscape that incorporates these features. Certain species of trees, shrubs and other vegetation are more likely to provide a desirable habitat for birds. Here are some suggestions:

Trees:

• Dogwood (Cornus florida) Flowers in the spring attract pollinators; red fruits from August to November are a favorite of bluebirds.

Hawthorns (Crataegus spp.) Provides excellent nesting habitat and produces a fruit that is preferred by waxwings and thrushes. Blossoms will attract insects that can be consumed by birds.

American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) Produces nuts which are consumed by blue jays and other birds and small mammals. Provides nesting cavities.

Crabapple (Malus spp.) Many birds eat the flower buds, flowers, fruit, and seeds. Provides cover and nesting sites.

Service berries or June berries (Amelanchier spp.) Masses of white or pinkish flowers grow in spring; fruits appear in summer. Favorite food of flying squirrels.

Oaks (Quercus spp.) Produces acorns, which are consumed by a variety of wildlife. Oaks are popular nesting trees for many birds.

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) Large shade tree producing gumballs that release seed in the fall.

Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) Develops seedhead that is consumed by a variety of birds.

Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) Fruits develop from the tulip-shaped flowers. Provides nectar source, seeds and cavities for nesting.

Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) Evergreen offering cover, nesting sites, and winter food for birds. Small cones that resemble berries are favorite food of waxwings.

American Holly (Ilex opaca) Evergreen providing late fruit and cover for winter.

Shrubs :
• Northern Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) Semi-evergreen shrub grows fragrant berries, which stay on the plant year round and are a preferred food of tree swallows, catbirds, bluebirds, and other species.

Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera) Evergreen shrub with blue-white berries provides food for many birds plus protects against the elements.

Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) Brilliant red foliage and clusters of hairy red fruit that persist throughout winter and are eaten by many birds, such as bluebirds and cardinals.

Viburnums (Viburnum spp.) Easy-to-grow shrubs with white flowers in spring, followed by red, yellow, blue, or black berries. Birds eat the berries and find cover in the branches.

Blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) & Blackberries (Rubus spp.) Are devoured by over 100 species of birds and other small creatures. Small birds such as the common yellowthroat nest in brambles.

Native Rose (Rosa spp.) Not only provides flowers and nesting sites they produce large fruits called hips that are rich in vitamin C.

Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea) Produces white fruits, that are consumed by a variety of birds. The flowers attract pollinators.

Vines:
• Wild Grapes (Vitis spp.) These climbing vines provide superb fruit, eaten by more than 50 bird species. Provides excellent cover.

Native Honey Suckle (Lonicera sempervirens) Provides nectar from orange blossoms, berries and cover.


Native grasses not only look attractive as part of the landscape but also provide seed that is consumed by many birds:
• Bromesedge (Andropogon virginicus); Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum); Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans); Little Blue Stem (Andropogon scoparius); Big Blue Stem (Andropogon gerardi)
  
  
  
Woodie program update (Spring 1999)

Mike Rajacich, CWH's leader of the Wood Duck Box program, reports tremendous success of the program during the 1998 nesting season. To date, CWH has installed over 7,700 wood duck nesting boxes on creeks and rivers throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This puts us even closer to our goal of 10,000 boxes in ten years.

Mike and crew observed a record number of occupied woodie boxes this year. Their most recent data shows that an average of 60% of the boxes are used by wood ducks and many others serve as a home for screech owls, tree swallows, flying squirrels, pileated woodpeckers, crested flycatchers, flickers and prothonotary warblers. We estimate that our wood duck boxes enabled 25,000 ducklings to fledge during the 1998 season.

According to Mike, "the CWH Wood Duck Nesting Box program demonstrates that we can successfully produce wild wood ducks on wetlands that provide good brood habitat by erecting and monitoring predator-resistant, quality nesting structures."

Last year CWH installed 220 new wood duck nesting boxes on the following creeks and rivers:

Transquaking, Chicamacomico, Hunting, Tuckahoe, Marshy, Morgan, Chester, Miles (Creek)

Maintenance of existing boxes is an important part of a successful wood duck nesting box program. Regular maintenance involves cleaning out old nesting materials, removing unwanted wasp and starling nests, repairing weather damage and adding fresh nesting materials. More than 2,500 existing woodie boxes were repaired and maintained this year.

Wood duck nesting boxes must be protected from snake and raccoon predation. Installing a metal cone predator guard on existing woodie boxes has been a priority of the program. We are close to reaching our goal of retrofitting all existing wood duck boxes that were not originally installed with the metal shield.

CWH thanks the Waterfowl Festival, the Fair Play Foundation, and the Nathan Foundation for their continued support of this important program. (Debbie Collison)
 

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