Bay Naturalist

Diversity is the spice of life. Nowhere is this more apparent than where land and water meet. The blending of terrestrial and aquatic environm… Read Story

Warmer, longer days, spring flowers and the chorus of frogs and songbirds lure me outside to get moving. And for fish it is no different. Earl… Read Story

Along the Atlantic Coast, a quiet sparrow blends in with the grasses of the salt marsh. Often hard to spot as it gathers food to bring back to… Read Story

You may not live on the Chesapeake Bay or any other waterfront, but chances are there is a stream, creek or river close to where you live. Read Story

During November there is a tradition that links almost all Americans. And I am not talking about the U.S. holiday, Thanksgiving. Read Story

With Halloween quickly approaching, images of bats are appearing everywhere. October also happens to be Bat Appreciation Month. Read Story

Although the month of September can still hold some sultry days, wildlife throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed is already receiving signals… Read Story

Every summer, as the Earth enters a region of space containing high concentrations of solar debris, nighttime skywatchers are rewarded with a … Read Story

Plants, like animals, must create offspring for the next generation. Read Story

A few weeks ago, I took advantage of the lovely spring weather to begin sprucing up my yard, neglected during months of cold and rain. Not man… Read Story

Arbor Day and Earth Day. Both of these celebrations encourage tree planting. Whether you are working on a community greening project or just w… Read Story

The first day of spring is March 21, but March can be a fickle month with weather bringing everything from icy winds or snow to downright balmy days. Read Story

With the holiday season upon us, our attention turns to giving gifts to friends and family or ways to contribute to charities. Thoughts also t… Read Story

Many people do not realize that native bees have been pollinating the continent’s flowering plants long before honey bees were brought from Europe. Read Story

Halloween. It’s probably your children’s (and maybe your) favorite day of the year with candy, costumes, pumpkins, scary movies and ominous images. Read Story

Towering over coffee-colored waters, a majestic tree, the bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), dominates isolated swamps of the Chesapeake Bay w… Read Story

Summer nights in my backyard include the usual wildlife visitors: crickets, toads, bats and the occasional deer. But one particularly steamy A… Read Story

It’s incredible the variety of fish that can be caught around the Chesapeake Bay. Freshwater creeks, brackish rivers and the Bay proper all su… Read Story

Except for perhaps insects, birds are usually the first wild animals we encounter in our lives. Before ever going to a zoo or aquarium, or on … Read Story

In the shallows of the Chesapeake Bay, underwater Bay grasses sway in the aquatic breeze of the tides and currents. Also known as submerged aq… Read Story

Although the vernal equinox — the official first day of spring — occurs on March 20, changes in our natural world are already heralding the en… Read Story

Loons are the submarines of the bird world. Webbed feet gracefully propel this bird underwater, giving the impression of submerged flight, as … Read Story

Even as our society continues to depend more on technology for everyday activities and recreation, our love of nature and connection with the … Read Story

This spring, a pair of ospreys returned to a webcam nesting platform in Baltimore’s Masonville Cove. Read Story

With Halloween quickly approaching, images of bats are appearing everywhere. It’s a good time to take a look at one of the most incredible ani… Read Story

With warm days still hanging on, it’s hard to remember that summer is waning. Though it may not be that obvious, September is a month of chang… Read Story

Chesapeake summers. They’re hot and humid. We are drawn to the Chesapeake Bay and its many rivers for a cooling dip. Read Story

June is packed with opportunities to interact with wildlife and the outdoors. But can you imagine what the outdoors would be like without poll… Read Story

Timing is everything. Each spring, shorebirds migrate from wintering grounds in South America to breeding grounds in the Arctic. These birds h… Read Story

For many Chesapeake Bay watershed residents, mallards and resident Canada geese are the most common waterfowl encountered. These two species a… Read Story

April showers may bring May flowers, but begin looking for early blooming flowers now. Read Story

Few Americans have seen the shy and elusive bobcat (Lynx rufus). And yours truly is no exception. Read Story

Mistletoe has been part of many European cultures and used for medicinal purposes for hundreds of years. When these peoples migrated to the Ne… Read Story

“A wild trout in its native habitat is a compact example of the Earth working well.” — Christopher Camuto Read Story

The National Wildlife Refuge system is a network of public lands set aside specifically for the conservation of fish, wildlife and plants. Nat… Read Story

When you hear the words Chesapeake Bay, one creature quickly comes to mind: the famous blue crab. Read Story

There is a light at the end of the tunnel as the fight to eradicate nutria from the Delmarva Peninsula nears the final phases. Nutria, South A… Read Story

Pollination occurs when pollen grains from a flower’s male parts (anthers) are moved to the female part (stigma) of the same species. Once on … Read Story

May is an explosive month. As the landscape greens up and trees and flowers blossom, there is an explosion of worms, spiders and insects. And … Read Story

It’s finally spring and your attention may be turning to sprucing up or creating green spaces around your home, school or business. Read Story

Yellow perch ( Perca flavescens) make their spawning run from late February to mid-March and offer some of the earliest opportunities for spor… Read Story

Some Americans dread winter and, if they have the time and the means, will travel to warmer parts of the country to wait it out. Others enjoy … Read Story

The Delmarva Peninsula fox squirrel (Sciurus niger cinereus) is found only on the Delmarva Peninsula, the land between the Chesapeake Bay and … Read Story

Every fall, a great migration begins as thousands of swans, geese and ducks leave northern breeding grounds and begin flying south. Read Story

More than 17 million people live and work in the Chesapeake watershed, encompassing 64,000 square miles and parts of Delaware, Maryland, Penns… Read Story

The Chesapeake Bay watershed encompasses 64,000 square miles where more than 17 million people live and work. That translates into roads, park… Read Story

One of the easiest ways that anyone can support bird habitat conservation is to buy Federal Duck Stamps — one of the most successful conservat… Read Story

The monarch butterfly is one of the most recognizable species of wildlife in all of North America. Easily identified by dark orange wings with… Read Story

The rufa red knot ( Calidris canutus rufa) is one of the longest distance migrants in the animal kingdom. On a wingspan of 20 inches, the bird… Read Story

I was in North Carolina the first time I saw a brown pelican ( Pelecanus occidentalis) and was immediately taken by this odd bird. Brown pelic… Read Story