Chesapeake Challenge

They’re everywhere, almost: Evergreen plants can be found on every continent except Antarctica, covering nearly one-sixth of the world’s land. Read StoryEvergreen facts to spruce up the whitest wintery days

Nature decks trees and bushes with red for winter. These red berry-producing plants grow throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed and attract w… Read StoryRed: The good, the bad & the bug-ly

Great oaks may grow from small acorns, but only from acorns that have overcome great odds. According to the University of California, only one… Read StoryAll about acorns

The monstrous megalodon shark once swam in Chesapeake waters — 15.9 million to 2.6 million years ago. Sink your teeth into these not-so-tiny tidbits. Read StoryJaw-dropping megalodon morsels

Menhaden can be found along the coast and in estuaries from Nova Scotia to northern Florida, often swimming in large schools close to the wate… Read StoryMenhaden mentionables

At least 12 shark species have been observed in the Chesapeake Bay. Can you match the five most common species with their descriptions? Answer… Read StorySharks in the Chesapeake Bay

"Making an elephant out of a mosquito" — that's a translation of how Germans express the idea of “making a mountain out of a molehill.” The la… Read StoryMaking an elephant out of a mosquito

Feathers are more than just “fur” for birds. Read StoryFeather facts

Who are you calling a rat? Rabbits and hares are not rodents. They are members of their own order, Lagomorpha, which includes pikas — also kno… Read StoryRabbit roundup

Sneezes from breezes: If you suffer from a pollen allergy, it is most likely from a wind-pollinated plant, which releases a profusion of polle… Read StoryPollen particulars

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 83-page guide, Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping: Chesapeake Bay Watershed,… Read StoryAre you frond of ferns?

Many animals drop everything to survive winter’s snow and cold: their body temperature, their heart rate and their breathing rate. In other wo… Read StoryChill out! Test what you know about cold weather

A beast in bigness of a pig and in taste alike ... it hath an head like a swine ... tail like a rat [but] of the bigness of a cat. That is Cap… Read StoryOh, Oh Opossum!

Shocking! Not all fish with “eel” in their names are true eels. There are more than 800 species of true eels (order Anguilliformes). The elect… Read StoryHow much do you 'eely' know about eels?

Cold weather compromises the ability of leaves on deciduous trees to create food through photosynthesis. Their thin cells, which are filled wi… Read StoryLeafy bits: How much do you know?

There are more than 700 species of flatfish, several of which are regularly found in the Chesapeake Bay: hogchokers, blackcheek tonguefish, wi… Read StoryWe’re flat and that’s a fact

Go outside on a March night after temperatures have been in the 50s for a few days. If you are near a wet area, you are likely to hear the “lu… Read StorySpring peepers will trill you to pieces

It is something in the water… Winters are usually milder in the Southern Hemisphere than the Northern Hemisphere. The ocean absorbs and retain… Read StoryThe weather outside is frightful, but these winter facts are delightful

“Every oak tree started out as a couple of nuts who stood their ground.”  — Henry David Thoreau Read StoryOaks: Em-bark on this quiz

Hoot’s Who Here: There are 19 owl species in North America. Four of these — barn, barred, eastern screech and great horned owls — are common a… Read StoryOwl you need to know

Did you know that content weasels can purr like a kitty? Aww… And just look at those cute little critter photos. But don’t let those furry lit… Read StoryWeasels: A boogle of beasties

Puffers. Balloonfish. Blowfish. Blow toads. Bubblefish. Globefish. Swellfish. Sugar toads. Spiny boxfish. Read StoryTwo 'swell' fish from the Chesapeake

Love them, love them not: Sunflowers (genus Helianthus) are part of the daisy (Asteraceae) family. Fear of sunflowers is called helianthophobi… Read StorySunflower smarts

English colonists were quick to take advantage of whales visiting the Chesapeake Bay. Processing the carcass left a ton of whale blood and bit… Read StoryA whopping whale of a quiz

Humpback whales are occasional visitors near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. If you took a time machine back 10 million to 14 million years a… Read StoryHow much do you know about humpback whales? Take our quiz

Over the years, Bay Journal quizzes, columns and articles have often encouraged people to plant species that attract birds, butterflies, bees … Read StoryBye-bye bunny! Deer depart! Move off mosquitos!

Going crazy trying to think of things for you and your family to do while riding out the coronavirus at home? Here are crafts made from everyd… Read StoryFree time? Here are 18 hacks to turn your old junk into new stuff

Striped bass live most of the year in the ocean, but migrate to freshwater to spawn. The word used to describe these fish is anadromous. Other… Read StoryAnadromous!

Striped bass or rockfish? Call ‘em what you want, this fish is delish! Sink your teeth into this quiz. Answers are below. Read StoryEarn your stripes doing this rockfish quiz

Snow was reported on the ground of all 50 states for the first time on Feb. 12, 2010. Here are some snowy questions to ponder while shoveling … Read StorySnow what? Really cool flake facts

Good things come in small packages. This adage certainly applies to what may be one of the Chesapeake’s most overlooked marine creatures: sea slugs.  Read StorySea slugs

Take this quiz to gather pearls of wisdom about oysters. Answers are below. Read StoryOysters!

Many people will be stuffing their stomachs with oyster dressing this Thanksgiving. Here is an oyster quiz to stuff your brain. Answers are below. Read StoryThis grilling oyster quiz is stuffed with bivalve brain teasers

Bat Week is celebrated the last week in October. The last night in October is Halloween. What do these two things have in common? Bats play an… Read StoryBats!

White-nose syndrome has killed millions of bats in North America since it was first documented here in 2006–07. The disease has been particula… Read StoryLet’s go to bat for the little brown bat

Here are the names of some plants and animals that are fun to say out loud. Match them with their description. Answers are below. Read StoryName game

Ever been in such a rush that you said, "After I eat, I have to fly?" These birds have you beat. They capture and eat their prey on the fly. H… Read StoryEating on the fly

The ruby-throated hummingbird, which eats in midflight, is the most widespread of all hummingbird species. How widespread is your knowledge ab… Read StoryThe ruby-throated hummingbird

The mud flats, waters and shores of the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers are home to more than 100 species of benthic or “bottom-dwelling” worms.… Read StoryThe wonderful, weird world of water-dwelling worms

Soil is home to thousands of organisms, ranging in size from microscopic bacteria to larger animals like the ones listed here. Can you match t… Read StoryGrounded!

Oysters, which grow on reefs, play an important role in filtering the Chesapeake Bay's water. But oyster reefs also provide habitat for a larg… Read StoryReef sweet reef

Let’s call it a night. For many, this means the day’s activities are done and it’s time for rest. Yet for many of Earth’s inhabitants, activit… Read StoryNight moves

Did you ever wonder what goes on in an animal’s brain or body while it is sleeping? Take this quiz to learn about a few animals’ sleeping habi… Read StoryBeddy-bye beasties!

If you want to learn more about the North American river otter — or test how much you already know — you otter take this quiz. Answers are below. Read StoryTake this otterly fun quiz!

“Look” at the animal, plant or mineral in each of these lists. Three share a common trait that the fourth does not. Can you figure out which o… Read StoryStanding out!

For some, October is the month to dwell on the odd and unusual. In each list here, three of the items have at least one thing in common. You a… Read StoryOdd-standing in their crowd

Here are 10 scrambled words related to the bald cypress, along with a clue to their identities. Stuck? All of the information you need is in t… Read StoryBald Cypress

The September Bay Naturalist column is about the bald cypress. How much do you know about this tree? Take this quiz to find out. Answers are below. Read StorySharp as a needle? This bald cypress quiz is for you