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Top Places for Finding Spring Wildflowers
For those of us living in the Chesapeake Watershed, the high-pitched, whistling voices of osprey returning and the appearance of delicate wildflowers are familiar harbingers of spring. The wildflowers rush to take center stage before the warmer temperatures produce the wild profusion of summer vegetation that will soon block their moment in the sun. But their appearance is fleeting – hence the term “spring emphemerals” to describe them – and elusive.
From a botanical standpoint…
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Top Ten Places for Spring Migration Birding in the District of Columbia
Spring is an exciting time of year for birding and wildlife. This is especially true in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, part of the Atlantic Flyway, which will experience a huge influx of neotropical migratory birds starting in late February to early March and extending through June, with peak migration occurring in late April through May. A neotropical migratory bird is one that spends winter in the south (frequently Central or…
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Camping in Maryland State Parks
Did you know that Maryland boasts over 53 state parks, 25 natural resource management areas, 7 natural environment areas, 3 rail trails, and 2 state battlefields? Better yet, did you know that over 30 of these preserved areas offer camping? Camping in Maryland State Parks is an excellent way to enjoy all the beauty the Old Line State has to offer. From primitive campsites to cabin ‘glamping’ and everything in between, Maryland…
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Top Places for Trout Fishing in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
If ever we’ve needed the restorative powers of nature it’s during this difficult time of the COVID-19 pandemic. More and more people are finding peace and rejuvenation by getting outside. For those of us who live in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, there’s an abundance of ways to explore the outdoors.
Fishing, of course, ranks right up at the top of that list. It may surprise some people to learn freshwater trout fishing can be…
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Paddleboarding Through Nature in the Baltimore Area
After writing Paddleboarding Through Nature Around Washington, D.C., I felt it would be good to follow up with an article about stand up paddleboard (SUP) trips within 20 miles of Baltimore that afford easy escapes into nature. Like Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Maryland is a densely populated urban area, which in 2020 was home to 585,708 people, making it by far the biggest city in Maryland. With a rich history in manufacturing,…
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A Fantastic “Big Day” of Birding in Baltimore
Earlier this year, I proposed the idea of doing a Baltimore Big Day to Tim Carney. Tim is an Environmental Specialist with the Maryland Environmental Service (MES), and one of the best birders in Baltimore and Maryland. For those not in the birding world, a “Big Day” is where you try to identify as many bird species as you possibly can in a single day in a specific area. Shockingly, not a single…
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