ver the years, with the cooperation ofTalbot County Public Schools and

numerous supporters, we have providedthousands and thousands of school students withopportunities to explore the great outdoors atPickering Creek During that time, we havecrafted, edited and refined our educationprograms, finally to the point of publishing aquality curriculum guide called “Gateways toConservation” for grades 1-5 for nature centersand other “informal” educators to use as a modelfor their programs.

About seven years ago, Pickering Creekembarked on an effort to reach out to highschool students as well with a program calledthe Audubon Watershed Experience (AWE).AWE aims to get high school students excitedabout science and math through outdooractivities such as bird watching and fishingwhich someday could become lifelonghobbies for the students. This program hasmet great success in Talbot County and BaltimoreCity and this year, thanks to one of the biggestgrants we have ever received, Pickering will beable to expand the program into WicomicoCounty.

You ask, what about middle school? We havebeen periodically providing middle schoolprograms over the years, however they have longbeen the hardest sector of students for PickeringCreek to reach due to the often chaotic schoolschedule that ensues for teachers when transition-ing students from the “easy living” of elementaryschool to the “confusing and scary” high schoollife. During these critically formative years, whenstudents are struggling to gain independence andat the same time, find grounding in the familiar,the woods and fields that they have been explor-ing at least two times a year since they were fouryears old vanishes from their learning schedule.They become more “plugged in,” they find newfriends, their interests change and their connec-tion with nature often fades. The Pickering Creekstaff has long viewed this gap as a detriment tothe students’ continuum of learning within the

greatest classroomavailable…the outdoors.

Having elementary school and high schoolfirmly “under our belt,” we felt it was time to takethe opportunity to take a more organizedapproach to reach middle schools. First, weneeded exciting lessons to engage a group that isoften labeled as “hard to reach.” For this weturned to the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Networkwhich graciously provided funding to create anew curriculum entitled, Gateways toConservation II. This curriculum is a continua-tion of our first through fifth grade curriculumand covers science topics such as erosion, paleon-tology, biodiversity and genetics. During thecreation process we consulted some of our mostimportant partners in the world, our local middleschool teachers.

Next we put the grant-writing crew back towork to find funding to teach our new programs.Success! We are very fortunate to have received aConnecting

all generations with nature

VIEWSSPRING 2008

C H E S A P E A K E A U D U B O N S O C I E T Y N E W S • V O L . 2 0 N O . 1Dedicated to Community-Based Conservation of Natural Resources through Environmental Education and Outreach on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay

SAVE THE DATE!

OAnnouncing

Tour, Toast& Taste 2008An Elegant Country Eveningat Historic Ratcliffe Manor

Benefiting

Pickering Creek AudubonCenter and Historical

Society of Talbot County

Saturday, June 14, 20086 p.m. to 9 p.m.

See page 9 for details.

continued on page 11

Teenage InvasionMiddle schoolers descend on Pickering Creek en mass

By Bonna L. Nelson

ittsburgh native, Mandy Smith, joinsPickering fresh from a 3 year stint as an

environmental educator and manager ofLatta Nature Center in North Carolina.Smith brings to the education coordinatorposition seven years of experience in envi-ronmental education and a passion for theoutdoors.

As a youngster Smith’s mother tookher on nature walks and taught her how toselect mushrooms, dandelions, and othersuch delights to eat in the wild. Smith cred-its her mother for encouraging her forestexplorations and also for encouraging her toenroll in the horticulture program at PennState to obtain a degree in a subject that hadbeen a childhood interest. Smith holds a BSin Horticulture and an MS in Park andResource Management/Environmental

Education from Slippery RockUniversity.

At Latta, Smith wasresponsible for the facility,staff supervision, school fieldtrips and public program-ming on the 1300-acrenature preserve. Activitiesincluded lake kayaking andcanoeing, protecting endan-gered wildflowers and coordi-nating the popular environmen-tal Geo Caching program.

Geo Caching is a revenue-produc-ing program that Smith would like to intro-duce at Pickering. It involves establishinghiking courses in wooded areas withmarked coordinates and then using a GPSto navigate the trails which end with a cacheof prizes.

What brought her to Pickering? “Fiveyears ago I lived in Salisbury working for

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410-822-4903 • www.pickeringcreek.org

Meet Our NewEducators!

tudents coming to Pickering Creekduring the spring might not be seek-

ing instruction in the 3 R’s, but they willcertainly learn a great deal about the envi-ronment from the 3 J’s—Jen, Jenna, andJean. These three folks who are PickeringCreek’s new environmental educators bringwith them an amazing variety of skills andteaching experiences.

Jen Nitz, for example, has taught bothtraditional and non-traditional studentsabout such subjects as grizzly bears and theprotection of buffalos in YellowstoneNational Park. While Jenna Rackovan’ssubject matter would not seem so exotic tomost of us on the Eastern Shore, she had todispense with traditional classroom tech-niques and instead try innovative hands-onteaching methods, like catching crabs andexploring marsh trails, to keep her kinder-garten pupils enthusiastic and attentive. JeanRoth, who spent whole days with herstudents in a residential ecology school inMaine, used a variety of subjects as well asguest instructors, like local lobstermen, tostimulate her students.

In addition to teaching experience, ournew educators have first aid and water safetytraining, along with computer skills andknowledge of GIS (GeographicalInformation Systems) and GPS. Jean, who is

conversant in Spanish, has used photographyas a means of immersing children in nature.Jenna has worked as a fundraiser, leading ahighly successful effort for the BinghamtonZoo’s Halloween event, and Jen has experi-ence in growing an organic garden and inbuilding “earth ships,” sustainable housesmade of tires with earth “rammed in.”

Their education and work experiencehave led to extensive travel for all three.While at Gettysburg College, Jenna spent asemester at the Duke University Marine Labparticipating in an intensive study of marinebiology and oceanography at St. George,Bermuda. Jen, on the other hand, left hernative Illinois and went west to Montana,Oregon, and California. Besides teaching,she tried her hand at such activities as train-ing Karelian Bear Dogs and fighting wild-land fires. Like Jenna, Jean traveled while atPenn State, spending a semester abroad inAlicante, Spain. Summer work during andafter college took her to California to moni-tor the threatened flat-tailed horned lizard

and to the Shannon Point Marine Center inWashington where she worked as a NationalScience Foundation Research Intern.

Although the three educators share adedication to the environment, their reasonsfor coming to Pickering Creek, as well astheir future plans, all differ. Jean and Jenna,both of whom grew up in neighboringPennsylvania, have been interested in theChesapeake Bay since childhood. Jen, whodid not have the same familiarity with thelocal region, came to Pickering Creek inorder to learn about coastal wetlands, a newecosystem for her. In the immediate future,Jean wants to take on the challenging teach-ing experience of the Teach for Americaprogram, possibly in New Orleans, and laterto use her Spanish to teach in Spain orCentral America. Jenna sees a career inmarine biology in her future, but intends tocontinue sampling different environmentalwork experiences at present. Jen’s goal is towork in a place where she can incorporateher knowledge as a naturalist with sustain-able living skills.

Meeting with these three new educatorsfor just a few minutes, it is hard not tobecome infected with their enthusiasm aboutbeginning their adventure at PickeringCreek. As Jean said during a recent conver-sation as she pointed to Pickering Creekshining in the late afternoon sun, “It is sogreat to get kids to appreciate this!” Studentswho come to Pickering Creek to learn fromthese interns cannot help but do exactly thatonce they have met these three!

the Maryland Americorp Program onconservation projects and environ-

mental education programs onAssateague Island. I came tolove the Eastern Shore area.Also, I wanted to be associatedwith the National AudubonSociety, a well-recognizedenvironmental conservation

organization. And, I like thatPickering is located closer to my

family and friends in Pittsburgh.”Smith, a “plant person,” likes to

work with medicinal plants and herbalremedies and is conducting a workshop inApril on the topic at Pickering. Other inter-ests include kayaking, camping, hiking,gardening, practicing yoga and meditation,dancing, and photography. She is living atthe Shehan Audubon Sanctuary while look-ing for a place to call home near Easton.Welcome Mandy to the Pickering Family!

Welcome Mandy Smith-New Education Coordinator

2

The 3 J’s—Jenna, Jean and Jen

S

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Every year in early March, Wood Ducks migrate intoMaryland from the southern United States. They look for a habitatof fresh water, old trees, and seclusion. The trees along the wood-land trail at Pickering Creek have often been home to some broodsof “Woodies,” although the brackish water of the creek is not idealfor the ducklings.

The staff and volunteers at Pickering Creek have erected anesting box trail of 24 boxes that follow the banks of the creek andextend around the farm pond and the wetland impoundments.Volunteers and staff monitor these boxes during the spring monthsto remove non native tenants, such as European Starlings, and tomeasure the acceptance and success rate of the wood ducks.

In 2007, 71 ducklings hatched from ten of these boxes. We hadan interesting additional family: a pair of Screech Owls raised fourowlets in one of our boxes. There was more exciting news fromour newest impoundments, developed in 2006. On June 22, 2007,

The Bird CallNEWS FOR AND ABOUT PICKERING CREEK VOLUNTEERS

Ducklings andOwlets, Oh My!By Erney Maher, Board Member

The Secret of LIFEBy Nancy Reybold

LIFE is the Legacy Institute for the Environment, a littleknown gem of a program for seniors and eventually-to-be-seniorsconcerned about preserving our environment. It only costs time,interest, and effort, and the reward is a motherlode of knowledgeand understanding about our natural habitat. The goal of LIFE isto increase awareness and move you to become actively involved inthe stewardship of our world and its flora and fauna.

My husband (Bill) and I heard about LIFE from fellow travel-ers at Pickering Creek, Erney and Margaret Maher, and decided togive it a try. There have been over thirty graduates of the Institutein its short four-year history.

From February through mid-April (12 sessions) our Fridaysfrom 9:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. belonged to LIFE. (In 2008, sessionsoccur on Wednesdays from March through mid-April.) Theprograms were held at and featured three local nature centers: theChesapeake Bay Environmental Center or CBEC—formerlyHorsehead—in Grasonville, Adkins Arboretum near Ridgely, andour own Pickering Creek Audubon Center. Even if you are famil-iar with all of these centers, it is particularly gratifying to learn oftheir histories and missions from center staff and directors.

And learn we did—without tests or pressure—about birds,horseshoe crabs, environmental health, fish tagging, submergedaquatic vegetation, shoreline restoration, artificial reefs, theTuckahoe Creek and Upper Choptank Watershed project, conser-vation landscaping, water gardens, native plants, manmadewetlands, and agriculture in Talbot County. Vital professionals ofall ages, who are passionate about their endeavors and committedto spreading the word about protecting our natural world forfuture generations, instructed us in the morning and led afternoonstewardship projects.

If you are interested in learning more about LIFE, pleasecontact Patty Campbell at 410.604.1661 or by emailing her atpcamp@bayrestoration.org. You may also contact Pickering CreekVolunteer Coordinator, Beth Wasden, at 410.822.4903, x26, or byemailing her at dwasden@pickeringcreek.org.

LIFE at Pickering Creek AudubonCenter: Spring SessionsWe invite Pickering Creek volunteers to join us at the twosessions that will be held at Pickering Creek this spring. Thisis a great opportunity to experience LIFE to see if it’s for youand to learn more about these topics!Wednesday, April 2: “Birds and the Working Landscape:Insights into the Ecology of Delmarva” by Dr. Wayne BellWednesday, April 9: Bird Conservation and Habitat and theCitizen Scientist by Les Roslund and Britt Slattery

Photo by Dave Godfreycontinued on page 4

volunteer Les Roslund, while monitoring bluebirdboxes, observed over 100 Wood Ducks, including atleast 80 ducklings, utilizing this new habitat. Wehope each year will build on these successes.

The 2007 volunteer monitors were DaveGodfrey, Dave Reinecke, Jim Thompson, CarolynHelmsley and family, Erney Maher, and BethWasden, volunteer coordinator.

If you missed the February 16 orientation butwould like to volunteer as a Wood Duck box moni-tor in 2008, please contact Beth at 410.822.4903, x26,or by emailing her at dwasden@pickeringcreek.org.

The Bird Call

Earth Day WorkdaySunday, April 20 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.Celebrate Earth by spending the day outdoors with Pickering Creekstaff and volunteers! Last year, over 80 of your neighbors helped ustackle the big jobs—including greenhouse demolition and construc-tion projects. Join us this year, as we get things done with your help!You provide the enthusiasm.We’ll provide lunch, goodies, workgloves, and service projects.

National Volunteer WeekTuesday, April 29-Saturday, May 3, 2008 TBDSpring is in the air. So is service.We invite Pickering volunteers, localbusinesses, organizations, and schools to get outside and to cele-brate the spirit of service as we prep the garden for the growingseason and perform other maintenance projects.

National Trails DaySaturday, June 7 Service project from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.Full schedule TBDWhat does a trail opening, a service project, and a paddle downPickering Creek have in common? They’re all part of our secondannual National Trails Day!

Dog Days WorkdaysThursdays beginning June 26 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.Summertime-forget about the cotton-and the weeds are high.Two hours of your time can make a huge difference in the summer.Every week, we’ll perform different maintenance projects.

Keep an eye on the Pickering Creek website formore information about these events and otherupcoming events and volunteer opportunities.Contact Beth Wasden, volunteer coordinator,at 410.822. 4903, x26 or by emailing her at dwasden@pickeringcreek.org to register for theseevents or for more information.

continued from page 3

Getting Wood Duckboxes ready for spring.

4

Upcoming Volunteer Events- Mark your Calendar!

Invasives Eradication Workdays Saturdays, March 22 and May 17 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.The best two-hour workout in town.Trade the gym interior for thebeauty and serenity of the great outdoors.We will be targeting anderadicating English ivy and periwinkle from the waterfront.These workdays are perfect for those needing service learninghours, for family members who want to volunteer together, and foranyone who wants to get hands-on with some of the most infa-mous Bay invaders.

All Dirty Hands on Deck GardenTraining and WorkdaySaturday, March 29 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.Get hands-on with Pickering Creek’s Children’s Imagination Gardenas staff and volunteers lead a working training.We’ll be pruning,digging, plugging, clipping, and pulling on an early spring Saturday.

Volunteer Recognition DinnerSaturday, April 5, 2008 6:00 p.m.An old fashioned PIG ROAST with trimmings for all of the adultswho contributed countless hours to the centers conservation andeducation efforts. For those about to rock, we salute you.

LIFE Sessions at Pickering CreekWednesdays, April 2 and April 9 9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.Curious about Legacy Institute for the Environment (LIFE)? Want tolearn more about the ecology of the Eastern Shore, birds and theirhabitat, and the role of the “citizen scientist?” Join Pickering Creekstaff, LIFE members, and guest speakers. Open to Pickering Creekvolunteers and prospective volunteers.

Hedera helix or English Ivy

Pickering Creek Audubon Center • 410-822-4903 • www.pickeringcreek.org

ouldn’t it be wonderful if you couldhave a greater variety of bird species

right in your own backyard? Aimingto attract and produce more birds is a goalthat everyone can work toward at home,work, school or in the community. PickeringCreek’s birding hot spot is a great example.The wetlands created in partnership withChesapeake Wildlife Heritage that greet visi-tors beside Audubon Lane teem with teal,shovelers, and so much more. Wetlandcreation, forest development, and removal ofinvasive plants are some of the successfulhabitat enhancements at Pickering.Audubon’s “other” Talbot County jewel, theJean Ellen duPont Shehan AudubonSanctuary in Bozman, is following suit with ahost of habitat projects meant to bring inmore kinds and numbers of birds, keep themcoming, and inspire breeding and nesting.

The 950 acre Sanctuary already sports250 grassland acres, 60 wetland acres, and 340acres of mature forest attracting 200 birdspecies while supporting a wide variety ofother wildlife, including some rare species.Recognizing that there is still tremendousopportunity to improve the site’s habitatofferings, Audubon staff are working on anambitious program of restoration, conserva-tion and management measures. In the end,we’ll have more experience to draw from;advice for local landowners seeking assis-tance; and a site with increased value to agreater diversity of wildlife.

Black Ducks, Killdeer, and Bald Eaglesare already landing at the new 18-acres ofshallow water non-tidal wetlands built withinthe peninsula called Wells Point. This firststage of a larger habitat complex wascompleted in November with partners DucksUnlimited, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service(USFWS), the Waterfowl Festival, andMaryland Department of Natural Resources(DNR). Two separate wetland cells straddlethe road for viewing by car. Visitors areencouraged to wander beyond the road todiscover the creative features of this wetlandand the wildlife enjoying it. The smaller poolwill hold six inches of water at its deepestduring the wetter months, tapering to meremoisture on one end. The other section isinviting to birds, turtles, and amphibians as itmeanders between two former agriculturalfields, creating wetter pools and puddles aswell as drier spots. A set of mounds risingabove a foot-deep “moat” is planted with 200

native trees and shrubs. Wood Duck nestboxes, installed by dedicated volunteers, willhelp increase the annual brood. Herbaceousplant life was jump-started by adding 64species through seeding and planting morethan 2,000 plants over a few very wet, muddyvolunteer days. These plants—many ofwhich offer beautiful blooms, nectar andseeds—are growing inside an eight-foot talldeer exclosure, also installed with volunteerhelp. Though wildlife benefit is a main goal,we need to see if keeping the ample deerherd at bay will produce better results. Don’tmiss the “sculpture garden,” very largesegments of downed trees set in the groundto provide bird perches, turtle basking, andshady hiding spots under water.

Though the construction has turned thearea temporarily into a giant mud pit, it isexciting to envision how beautiful the newwetland will be once the plants are fullyestablished, by summer. The presence ofwater is up to Mother Nature, but we can usethe water control structures to stop up thedrain or allow water to run out. Springdrawdown of the water level should bring avariety of shorebirds flocking to exposedmud; summer will highlight wading birds;while fall and winter pools will attract water-fowl.

New buffer areas at Wells Point willhelp stabilize soil, filter runoff, and createmore habitat. Six acres along LeadenhamCreek, recently planted with 4,100 treeseedlings, are helping to keep the creek clean;with an additional four acres of tree buffersplanned. Surrounding all sides of thewetlands will soon be enhanced meadows,with a variety of native grasses and wildflow-ers to attract pollinators (butterflies, moths,bees, and hummingbirds). An adjacent nine-acre tidal marsh is being restored by control-ling Phragmites. Two wildlife food plotsplanted with sorghum will provide extrasinging perches, plus ground level openingsbirds.

The Sanctuary’s vast grasslands, createdyears ago, are undergoing newly focusedmanagement practices, supported by DNR.As with many landowners maintaininggrasslands for conservation, Audubon hasexperienced common challenges in keepingthese fields in prime condition for bird use.Grassland birds need shorter grasses withspaces between the plants at ground level formovement and nesting. Over time, grassesspread and grow thicker, so management isaimed at thinning to provide the neededstructure. Prescribed practices includemowing, burning or turning over fields on athree year rotation. Although burningproduces the most desirable effect, weatherconditions are not always favorable for burnsand some years are missed, leaving thick,rank fields less useful for birds. We are test-ing thinning practices on different parcels ofgrasslands at the Sanctuary, and some fieldswill be replanted with a new mix of nativeplants. Results will be compared, in terms ofgrowth of plants and response of birds. Staffand volunteers are monitoring vegetation,birds and other wildlife, looking for intendedplant structure and increases in birds rarelyseen here, like Grasshopper or VesperSparrows, and even more of those species wesee annually, such as Eastern Bluebirds andEastern Meadowlarks. With results showingthe most successful practices, we will bebetter able to recommend the most feasibleand effective measures to landowners lookingto improve their own conservation actions.

Everyone is invited to come out andenjoy the new habitats. The scope of thework in itself is something to see, and thepromise of improved birding and wildlifeviewing is exciting. Each season will bringnew surprises!

For more information or to volunteeryour time, call the Shehan AudubonSanctuary at (410) 745-9283.

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Bring onthe Birds!

Two months of heavy equipmentwork shaped the fields into thedesired puddles and mounds.

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Totally TurtlesTuesday, April 8 6:30-7:30 p.m.Members: $2 Non-members: $5Location: Main OfficeLearn all about the turtles of Pickering Creek.Come and discover the exciting facts aboutour local land and water turtles and meetsome of our turtle friends. Find out why itsso cool to have a shell.

Geocaching Tuesday, April 15 6-8 p.m.Members: $5 Non-members: $10Location: Main OfficeAges 12 and up Max. 7Geocaching is a growing hobby in ourarea. We will be using GPS (GlobalPositioning System) Units to find hiddencaches throughout the nature preserve. Wewill also learn the basic essentials of mapand compass. All equipment will beprovided.

IMBD: Birding andCanoeingSaturday, May 10 7:30-11:30 a.m.Members: $15/adult, $8/children 12 and upNon-members: $20/adult, $12/children 12 and upLocation: Main OfficeAges 12 and up Max. 12Celebrate International Migratory Bird Daycruisin’ Pickering Creek via canoe.You willlearn some basic paddling and bird watchingskills.Then we will head out to catch aglimpse of the early rising migratory fowl.Registration ends May 7, 2008.

Astronomy on the DockThursday, April 3 7-9 p.m.Members: $10 Non-members: $14 Location: Ecology ClassroomJoin Jerry Truitt from the Delmarva Stargazersfor an introduction to the April night sky.Using telescopes we will take a close-up lookat the Orion Nebula, the Beehive star clusterin Cancer, the Pleiades cluster in Taurus, andM81 & M82 Galaxies as well as the planetsMars and Saturn.This is an excellent opportu-nity to ask all your astronomy questionswhile spending an informative evening onPickering Creek’s new dock.

Nocturnal AnimalAdaptationsWednesday, April 30 7-8:30 p.m.Members: Free Non-members: $5Location: Garden ClassroomBring the family to Pickering Creek to learnabout the many adaptations that characterizenocturnal animals. Catch food like a bat, iden-tify scents like a fox, and listen quietly forowls and the other night sounds of thewoods. Join our naturalists for a safe nighthike and experience Pickering Creek after thesun sets.

Moonlit PaddleWednesday, May 16 7-9 p.m.Members: $15/adult, $8/children 12 and upNon-members: $20/adult, $12/children 12and upLocation: Garden ClassroomAges 12 and up Max. 12Experience the moon reflecting off thewaters of Pickering Creek during this amazingopportunity to canoe at night.We will paddleout together at sunset and enjoy a moonlitevening on the water. Explore the waterwaysin a whole new light and observe bird activityonly characterized during these eveninghours. Registration ends May 14, 2008.

Spring Programs 2008

Please call Pickering Creek at (410) 822-4903 for more information.Registration is suggested but not required.

Family Programs Adult Programs

Pickering Creek Audubon Center • 410-822-4903 • www.pickeringcreek.org

Come out andexplore PCAC!Directions to PCAC From Easton• take Route 50 West• take a left at the stoplight by the airport• take the immediate right on

Longwoods Rd. (Rt. 662 North)• follow Longwoods to Sharp Rd. (this

will be a left hand turn)• take another right onto Sharp Road

(the sign will say to Presquile & SharpRoad)

• follow Sharp Road until you see thePickering Creek sign on your right. Turn right onto Audubon Lane.410.822.4903

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Herbal Remedies 101Thursday, April 17 6-7:30 p.m.Members: $10 Non-members: $15Location: Garden Classroom Max. 15Learn about the medicinal properties ofplants known as “herbs” with a plant walkaround Pickering’s own herb garden.We willview and discuss native herbs as well as themore commonly known culinary herbs.Youwill get to make an herbal remedy or twoand enjoy some herbal tea. *Please bring asmall jar for one of the herbal remedies anda mug to try some teas. Registration endsApril 14, 2008.

Nature at Night Program Series

Wednesdays, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Max. 12

Experience nature through hands-on activities, hikes,crafts, and much more! Tiny Tot programs are for chil-dren ages 3-5 years and accompanying adult. Fee is $5per child and free to Audubon members. All programsmeet at the Garden Classroom

Signs of Spring March 26Come out with your tot to Pickering Creek and enjoy the first weekof spring! We will take a hike through the field, forest, and wetland toinvestigate the many signs of spring. Before leaving we will have achance to pot a plant to bring home and watch grow.

Migration Adventures April 9Turn your eyes to the sky and witness the amazing bird migration atPickering Creek with your tot.All birds are adapted to live in differenthabitats and often travel south when the temperatures get too cold.We will make binoculars and then head out on a birding adventure tolearn about where birds migrate and the importance of our localwetlands.

Earth Day Explorations April 23Celebrate Earth Day with your tot through an exploratory naturehike designed to reveal the wonders of nature.As we hike we willdiscuss some unusual facts about plants and animals while picking upany trash we find along the way. Later we will talk about recycling,reducing, and reusing as we create innovative art from discardedmaterials.

Busy Busy Bees May 7Brush up on your buzzing skills as you and your totlearn about life in the hive through interactive games.Learn about different types of bees and the variousroles they play in the cooperative world of bees.Wewill investigate how bees use flowers to make honeyand even make our own tasty honey treat!

Farm Fresh Food May 21Food takes an extensive journey from the farm before itreaches out plates. Many of us don’t even know what celerylooks like before we see it in the grocery store. Bring your tot and beprepared to get a little dirty in our vegetable and herb gardens as wewitness (and sample!) food growing right out of the ground.Veggiesnever tasted better!

Magical Metamorphosis: Caterpillars toButterflies June 4Bring your tot to the blooming gardens of Pickering Creek to learnabout the life cycle of a butterfly.Wiggle like a caterpillar, hatch from acocoon, and fly like a butterfly with your own colorful, homemadewings. Learn and understand that all things go through significantchanges as they grow from babies to adults.

Tiny Tot Programs

Pickering Creek Audubon Center • 410-822-4903 • www.pickeringcreek.org

Great Tastesfor GreatCauses!Upcoming Festival toBenefit Pickering CreekThe 6th annual St. Michaels Foodand Wine Festival, which is being held April 25-27 is an excit-ing celebration of food and wine. The festivals beneficiariesare Pickering Creek, the St. Michaels Food Bank, andChesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, as well as several foodindustry scholarships. The Festival has contributed $36,000 tothe Pickering Creek’s education programs over the past threeyears. Please attend to show your support and enjoy somegreat wines!

Food Fight 2012:A Talk about the Food &Farm Bill with author Dan ImhoffMay 20, Noon-1:30 pm Oxford Community Center

AND 4:00 pm-5:30 pmSt. Michaels Library

oin us in Oxford or St. Michaels for a informative discussionabout the Farm Bill. The Farm Bill is perhaps the single most

significant land use legislation enacted in the United States, yet manycitizens remain unaware of its power and scope. With subsidiesballooning toward $25 billion dollars per year, the Farm Bill largelydictates who grows what crops, on what acreage, and under whatconditions—all with major impacts on the country’s rural economies,health and nutrition, national security, and biodiversity. As debate andwrangling over the 2007 Farm Bill rolls on and we prepare for the2012 Farm Bill, Food Fight offers a highly informative and visuallyengaging overview of legislation that literally shapes our food system,our bodies, and our future.

Dan Imhoff is a researcher, author, independent publisher, andhomestead farmer who has concentrated for nearly 20 years on issuesrelated to farming, the environment, and design. He is the author ofnumerous articles, essays and books including Food Fight: TheCitizen’s Guide to a Food and Farm Bill, Paper or Plastic: Searching forSolutions to an Overpackaged World; Farming with the Wild: EnhancingBiodiversity on Farms and Ranches; and Building with Vision: Optimizingand Finding Alternatives to Wood.

Dan is the president and co-founder of Watershed Media, a non-profit publishing house based in Healdsburg, California. He is thepresident and a co-founder of the Wild Farm Alliance, a seven year-old national organization that works to promote agriculture systemsthat support and accommodate wild nature. For ten years, he has beenthe co-host of a monthly Farm and Garden radio show on MendocinoCounty Public Broadcasting with his long-time friend, biodynamicapple farmer Tim Bates.

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8 www.pickeringcreek.org

“SpringOptimism”

Can virtue be gone?When apple blossoms blow

Like snow

Across the lawn

Can much be wrong?

When catbirds bravely swing.

And sing

Their sweetest song.

Can dreams be dead?

When tender seedlings rise,

Surprise

The sleepy head.

Can love be o’er?

When mating robins rest

On nest

Above my door.

With nature’s blossoming,

Such things come every spring.

from Delaware Poems (1943)

by Gilbert Byron

Jacque Baker talks withstudents about Byron.

Back to Byronharing a July 12 birthday with naturalist Henry David Thoreau, Gilbert Byron was born in1903 in Chestertown, Maryland. Mr. Byron has left a legacy as a poet, essayist, novelist, and

teacher, and his house, located at Pickering Creek, serves as a potential means of sharing that legacywith all generations.

Mr. Byron essentially lived his entire life on the Delmarva Peninsula. From the late 1930s until afew weeks before his death in 1991, he chronicled, documented, and celebrated the people and life in,on, and around the Chesapeake Bay region.

He was among the first to recognize and lament the adverse ecological impact “progress”effected on the Bay, as evidenced in his 1942 poem “Chesapeake Change.” His 1962 letter to aBaltimore newspaper initiated activity that resulted in the establishment of the Chesapeake BayMaritime Museum.

Mr. Byron lived alone for nearly 45 years in the small house he built along the banks of OldHouse Cove near St. Michaels. It was here that he did most of his writing. His unique lifestyle and hisdedication to the craft of writing are almost as much a part of the Chesapeake Bay and Delmarvaculture and heritage as is his subject matter.

Following Mr. Byron’s death, through the generosity of the St. Michaels—Bay HundredFoundation and the Talbot County Board of Education, his house was removed from its original site.It was then stored in sections until it was relocated to the Pickering Creek Audubon Center. Thehouse is undergoing restoration and preservation and is intended to serve as a tangible link betweenconservation efforts and the literature of nature and conservation—the subject of much of Mr.Byron’s writing.

The majority of exterior renovations are now complete thanks to a great group of volunteers.The major steps remaining to complete the restoration of the house are:• Installation of insulation• Applying wall, ceiling and floor covering• Permanent installation and trimming of windows and doors• Restoration of the front porch and side entrance• Construction of a deck to access the housePickering Creek needs volunteers with the specialized knowledge required to accomplish these

steps, as well as unskilled laborers to help complete the restoration project. If you would like to assist,please contact Pickering Creek’s Volunteer Coordinator, Beth Wasden, at 410.822.4903, x26.

We invite current Pickering Creek volunteers, members, and visitors to attend the first annualGilbert Byron Day on July 12. We will celebrate Mr. Byron’s works and life as we explore the inspira-tion of the natural world on writing. Pickering Creek and the Gilbert Byron Society will providemore information about this very special event as the date approaches.

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ickering Creek Audubon Center andthe Historical Society of Talbot County

will host their second joint fundraisingevent, Tour, Toast & Taste, at RatcliffeManor, Easton, MD, on Saturday, June 14,2008, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Strolling thegrounds, guests will enjoy delectable wines,taste delicious hors d’oeuvres (Ken’sCreative Kitchens of Annapolis), enjoy lightentertainment, view vintage automobilesand participate in the main event of theevening - purchasing a variety of intriguingdinners/events that will be offered by Boardmembers and friends of both organizationsand will take place over the coming year. Onboard this year to host dinners are BillCorace, Steve Hershey, Norma Redelé,Richard Tilghman and Carolyn Thornton,just to name a few. Exciting items will alsobe available at the live auction.

Cost of the evening at Ratcliffe Manoris $125 per person. Dinners for purchase willbe priced individually and sold the eveningof the event.

Volunteers from both nonprofits intendto recapture the excitement of the era ofrumrunners, flappers and Great Gatsby at aplace that from the beginning epitomizedclass and elegant country living.

Ratcliffe Manor (c1757) stands amongTalbot County’s great mid-eighteenth-century houses. In a history of colonialmansions, John Martin Hammond observedthat Ratcliffe Manor spoke “simply ofgentility and good living.” By the 1920s,prominent residents on the Eastern Shoreembraced the “Country Life Movement”epitomized by the elegant forms of hospital-ity that defined the social swirl enjoyed atthe great country estates. One architecturalhistorian considers Ratcliffe to be moredistinguished that the majority of buildingsbuilt at the time. It is a superb example ofcolonial Georgian architecture.

The term “Georgian” refers to anEnglish monarch of the period, but it hasbecome part of the American architecturalvocabulary. It is used to describe buildingswith facades that are symmetrical and wellordered, have double-hung sash windows,

and gable or hipped roofs. Ratcliffe Manorstands among the higher-style Georgianresidences on the Eastern Shore. LikeMyrtle Grove, Plimhimmon andWickersham, Ratcliffe represented the greathouses constructed by great men who builttheir fortunes during the era of the rise ofthe merchant-planter class.

According to Glen Uminowicz,Director of The Historical Society of TalbotCounty, the grounds at Ratcliffe with thegreat house serving as a backdrop, providesthe ideal setting for an evening event bene-fiting the Historical Society of TalbotCounty and the Pickering Creek AudubonCenter.

Tickets for Tour, Toast & Taste are$125 per person in advance. To purchasetickets or for more information about theevent, call (410-822-0773), or visit eitherwww.hstc.org or www.pickeringcreek.org.

We thank our Lucy & John JamesAudubon Society members for theirsupport!

ucy & John James AudubonSociety members support

Audubon and Pickering Creek’sgoal of Connecting People withNature through superb outdooreducational experiences, citizenscience, and bird conservation.Society members have given a mini-mum gift of $1,000. Gifts support avariety of community based educa-tion and research programs focusedon improving the environment forthe benefit of humanity. Each levelof membership has different bene-fits, all Society members receiveinvitations to unique stewardshipevents.

L Raptor $10,000-$25,000Mr. Paul Tudor JonesMrs. Dorothy MetcalfMr. and Mrs. Ira RinglerMr. and Mrs. Antoine

van AgtmaelMr. Bruce Wiltsie

Waterbird $5000-$9,999Mr. and Mrs. Paul ElickerMr. and Mrs. Thomas SeipDr. Peter StifelDr. Stuart StrahlMs. Mary TilghmanMr. and Mrs. Timothy Wyman

Songbird $2,500-$4,999Mr. and Mrs. John AkridgeDr. and Mrs. Howard HughesMr. and Mrs. Thomas LaneMrs. Norma RedeléMr. and Mrs. Richard Tilghman

Hummingbird $1,000-$2,499Mr. and Mrs. John BaylissMr. and Mrs. Franz BurdaMr. and Ms. Tucker DaltonMrs. Debbie Geisenkotter & Mr.Richard WorshamMr. and Mrs. Bryson GossMr. and Mrs. Richard GranvilleMr. and Mrs. William GriffinMr. and Mrs. Steve HersheyMr. Richard Leader

Mrs. Catherine LieblMr. Michael LinardiMr. and Mrs. John NelsonMr. and Mrs. Alfred OsgoodMr. Joe Peters and Mrs. MaryLou ArmstrongMr. and Mrs. William ReyboldMr. Les RoslundMr. and Mrs. Mark ScallionMr. and Mrs. Ron SiegmannMr. Hugh Simmons & Mrs.Kathy WoodsDr. Eva SmorzaniukMs. Lucy SpiegelMrs. William StoreyMr. and Mrs. Charles ThorntonMr. and Mrs. Richard Welch

Pickering Creek Audubon Center • 410-822-4903 9

Tour, Toast & Taste 2008P

Pickering Creek Audubon Center • 410-822-4903 • www.pickeringcreek.org10

n December, 2006, Pickering Creek Audubon Center receiveda $50,000 challenge grant from Tom and Alexa Seip of Easton

to renovate the outdoor environmental classroom and pier which werein need of repair. Through the generous outpouring of strong andloyal community support the match plus additional funds to maintainthe new pier was raised within 48 hours.

Marine contractors, Dissen & Juhn, Corp. of Stevensville,Maryland, began the renovation in mid-October 2007. The renovationwas completed in mid-December 2007. This spring, adults andstudents will be back on the dock fishing, learning about crabbing,oysters, waterbirds and the science and beauty of the Chesapeake Bay,our magnificent watershed.

The Outdoor Environmental Classroom and dock are criticalelements in giving children at Pickering Creek an up close and hands-on experience with nature. Nothing compares to the excitement onchildren’s faces as they catch their first fish from the dock, as they seeand touch the small creatures who inhabit our waters, or when theyobserve the waterfowl and birds that soar over the creek.

If you would like to receive additional information regardingcharitable giving opportunities at Pickering Creek Audubon Centerplease call Rita Osgood, Development Officer at 410-822-4903.

hat is that horrendous smell?” I askedthe night before my husband left for his

week-long ski trip in March of 2007. Great—a skunk.

In the following weeks, strange noisescame from under the house, but we stillcouldn’t tell what was living under the house.It made noises like a puppy, was invisible as amouse, and smelled. We took comfort in thefact that it didn’t smell all the time. When weheard little coughs we smiled. Growls madeus worry—there must be a mate.

While my husband sat on the porcheating lunch one day, a Red Fox emergedfrom under our porch, about 5 feet fromwhere he was sitting. The fox looked atMark, and Mark looked at him. It was thenand there they both knew they were happy toshare space—safety for one, entertainmentfor the other.

After a month of smells, yelps, gruntsand growls, the father fox continued to enterand exit the den (our crawl space) to feed hisfamily. He became comfortable with ourhouse and our presence. He sat guard at thefront of his den (and ours) throughout theday. It was like having a watch dog.

Finally on April 15th, we had babies, orso we felt like it… the babies were about amonth old when they emerged for the firsttime from the den. Six small, dark brown,and somewhat mole like kits. What a sight tosee while eating dinner.

Four days later they were fuzzy, tiny

foxes. They stuck close to mama while papahunted, until mama was ready to take abreak and share hunting duties. Luckily forthe new family bunny, muskrat, and snakepopulations at Pickering were plentiful, andeveryone got something to eat. Though adefinite ‘pecking order,’ meals were alwaysbig enough and frequent enough, that all sixkits were healthy.

Every day until June, the kits frolickedin the yard and the hay bales surroundingour house. They began their day with 5 AMchases across our front porch, and spent theday practicing pouncing, batting each otherand jumping all over mama or papa. Theday ended with a few dusk-lit meals andmama fox screeching to get them back intothe den.

When July came, the five kits (quietlydown from six) got bolder and moved acrossthe driveway to a culvert. They became loyal

subjects for photographers and visitors.Humans became a bigger threat than otherwildlife. Many times, humans didn’t seem tounderstand that these cute animals couldvery well sink their sharp teeth into humanappendages, so we joined the parents in their‘scoldings’ to remind people and the kits tokeep the ‘wild’ in wild.

They made it tough to get anythingdone, much less enter and exit my home ordo yard work. My evenings were spent look-ing out the windows; I was awakened bythumping paws running across my porch;and there were droppings and body parts ofprey scattered on my porch. Goodness knowshow much excavating was done underneaththe house, or what damage was done to thefoxes eardrums when we vacuumed. What Ido know is living with them for a season wasfantastic.

Beyond learning about the life cycle of afox, I got a snapshot of parenthood—worry-ing about their safety and health, beingthrilled when they discover something new,being second fiddle to them, looking forwardto seeing them after work and being relievedwhen they’re safe and sound in the den eachnight. The side lessons included: Foxes muskfrequently; a four foot black rat snakeprovides an entertaining meal for six youngfox; and raccoons cannot safely sneak past afox guarding its den. They grew up and nowwe miss them—is that another snapshot ofparenthood?

Living with Wildlife by Susanna Scallion

“W

The 48 Hour Match

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Pickering Creek Audubon Center • 410-822-4903 • www.pickeringcreek.org

he crops and the crabs may not haveenjoyed the drought in 2007, but the

bluebirds certainly did. Les Roslund, volun-teer and Bluebird Monitoring Chief, recapsthe wild and wonderful 2007 bluebirdseason at Pickering Creek.

This was an all-time record year forbluebird fledging. There were 51 nestingattempts by bluebirds (meaning a nest wasbuilt and at least one egg was deposited.)From these, a total of 166 baby bluebirdsfledged. The previous record was in 2006when 122 baby bluebirds fledged. Weathermust have suited them well. Perhaps wetweather gives them problems since it waspretty dry throughout the nesting seasonthis year.

Tree Swallows also did quite well, with27 nesting attempts and a total of 131 babiesfledged. The record stands at 139 fledged in2006. Nearly all of the boxes got some usethis year, even the ones along the remotesides of the field north of the small stream-fed pond. One box on one of the loops evenfledged three clutches of bluebirds.

For the first time, the “pairing” ofboxes seemed to work. We introduced thepairing amongst the new boxes in hopes ofletting tree swallows and bluebirds both nestat the same site. At the paired site, eachspecies is supposed to defend the site againstmore of its own species but allow the nestingof the other species. We have three such sitesin the vicinity of the wetland ponds. Atsome point during the season, all three setshad both boxes simultaneously in use, just asplanned.

Monitors Don Mahon and BarbaraLundkvist both provided great help throughthe first nesting cycle of the spring. I greatlyappreciated their assistance. That was theperiod when things were most active. Donhad mostly bluebirds. Barbara had bothbluebirds and tree swallows.

Predators were not bad this year.Monitors had to clear out a few house spar-row nests, and I believe house wrensdestroyed some of the eggs of some of thebluebird nests. Additional species using theboxes included Carolina Chickadee (onenest, 6 fledglings) and House Wren (onenest, 6 fledglings.)

There was one quite unusual incident. Ibelieve the bluebirds at one nest site threwout an active tree swallow nest, includingthrowing away the eggs and driving off the

adults, in order to make way for a nest oftheir own. In my ten years of monitoring, Ihave never previously seen that behavior.

Finally, I attribute some of the successof the bluebirds to a diminished level ofagriculture going on throughout the prop-erty. In prior years, a few of the nests closestto the agriculture fields would have allbabies die shortly after the herbicide applica-tion just prior to planting time. This yearthat did not happen. Perhaps the drynesshelped or the timing of the herbicide appli-cation did not catch the baby birds in avulnerable stage.

I really do not know the cause of thedeaths of the babies in the previous years. Itcould have been directly from the herbicideitself, or it could have been a secondaryeffect—of the parents dying or of thesudden death of the grasses leading to loss oftheir insect food—or it could be that theherbicide gets onto the insects, and whenthose insects are eaten by the young or theparents, the result is the death. Anyhow,such losses did not seem to occur on ourloops this year.

It was a very interesting and productiveyear for the birds at Pickering Creek in2007.

If you are interested in becoming abluebird monitor during the 2008 season,please contact Beth Wasden, volunteer coor-dinator at 410.822.4903, x26, or by emailingher at dwasden@pickeringcreek.org.

Blue Skies, Buckoo BluebirdsBy Les Roslund

generous three-year grant from theChesapeake Bay Trust to reach all of themiddle school classes in Talbot County.

With such great financial partners wewere almost ready for the teenage invasion.The only step left was to get the teachers onboard, so we quickly set up meetings with themiddle school teachers from Easton MiddleSchool, St. Michaels Middle School, SaintsPeter and Paul and The Country School.During these meetings we introduced thecurriculum, demonstrated some of the activi-

ties and answered questions the teachers hadabout fitting our programs into their lessonplans. Since the teachers were involved in theoriginal writing process of the curriculum, wecould easily ensure that our lessons fitsmoothly into what they are already requiredto cover. Teachers then received their choice ofthe book or CD version of the curriculum.

At the Maryland Association for Outdoorand Environmental Education Conferenceheld in February in Rocky Gap Maryland, theGateways to Conservation II curriculum waspresented to a group of more than 20 class-room teachers and environmental educatorsfrom across Maryland. The focus was on howto utilize the lessons in a variety of classroomand outdoor settings. Educators at the confer-ence were eager to explore how they could useour lessons to teach key concepts related to theorganisms and ecosystems of Chesapeake Bay.

So, with all of our homework complete,we are hoping that our wetlands and forestsand fields will soon be buzzing with thesounds of learning and laughter from anolder, wiser, more mature crowd - the MiddleSchoolers! And we eagerly await three yearsfrom now, to see the benefits of programmingfor grades 6 through 8 when we see them inthe high school.

Teenage Invasion continued from page 1

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So, with all of our homeworkcomplete, we are hoping thatour wetlands and forests andfields will soon be buzzing withthe sounds of learning andlaughter from an older, wiser,more mature crowd—theMiddle Schoolers!

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s spring’s chill is still upon us who canhelp but to start daydreaming of

summer? And around Pickering Creeksummer means EcoCamp! It’s time to regis-ter your camper for another great year ofEcoCamp fun! We have six themed action-packed weeks lined up for the summer. Andfor our veteran campers, EcoCamp All Starswill be a camping adventure unlike anywe’ve ever tried. With every new adventurewe add to camp, we have to also rememberthe old traditions like Watermelon Hunt,Gold Rush and Dodgeball. Not sure whatthese are? Just ask any of the hundreds ofhappy, dirty, tired kids that leave camp eachyear and they will be thrilled to explain. Adda few field trips, guest artists, musicians anda hay wagon to the mix of hands-on learningand games and you have the perfect mix ofEcoCamp excitement.

EcoCamp is for students who will beentering 2nd - 6th grade in the fall of 2008.We also have a junior counselor program forolder students that allows them to earnvolunteer hours in exchange for their help atcamp. And of course with all of these ener-getic young people we need several energeticcollege aged counselors to facilitate the fun.

Camp registration forms can be down-

Non-Profit OrganizationU. S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 27Easton, MD11450 Audubon Lane • Easton, MD 21601

410-822-4903

Board of Trustees Michael Linardi, PresidentJohn Bayliss, Vice President

Dick Welch, TreasurerMark Jules, Secretary

Gail BoundsWilliam CoraceSteve HersheyBud HughesRick Leader

Thomas LaneErney MaherBonna Nelson

EmeritusPeter Stifel Stuart Strahl

StaffMark Scallion, Center Director

Rita Osgood, Development OfficerMandy L. Smith, Education Coordinator

Kate Rogers, Teacher Naturalist/ Summer Camp Director

Beth Wasden, Volunteer CoordinatorMartin Vito, Agriculture Program Assistant

Dave Reinecke, EducatorJen Nitz, Seasonal Educator

Jenna Rackovan, Seasonal EducatorJean Roth, Seasonal Educator

Richard Leader, Executive Director,Audubon Maryland-DC

Views Layout: Liz Fisher/Grafix Galore

Norma RedeléWilliam Reybold

Michael RorkHugh SimmonsEva Smorzaniuk

Carolyn ThorntonRichard Tilghman

EcoC

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A loaded from our website or mailed directly toyou. Please contact Kate Rogers for informa-tion about becoming a camper, junior coun-selor or counselor at krogers@audubon.orgor 410-822-4902 ext 22.

Wild Water 1 June 30 - July 3 (4 day)Become a wetland warrior as you decorateyour face and hands with oozy, goozy wetlandmud. Cool down while exploring PickeringCreek by canoe and then by helping us sink acanoe!?! And of course get ready for a wetand wild relay race!

Earth Art July 7 - 11 Discover how touse natural materials to make paints, paperand even beautiful music! Collect a variety ofnatural objects to use in making muddy,mossy masterpieces.And let the Clay Bakersshow you how to make and decorate yourvery own clay sculptures!

All Creatures Great and Small July 14 - 18 Join us for a week of animaladventure. Learn all about Pickering’s residentcreatures and how to care for them. Explorethe creek, wetlands, and forest in search ofwild critters of all shapes and sizes.Visit alocal farm to meet and greet lots of furry andfeathered friends.

Wild Water 2 July 21-25 So good wehave to do it twice. Don’t worry, it won’t bethe same, but everyone will get lots of timeto play in the creek, sprinkler, wetlands, andeven a bit on dry land.Those who attendboth water weeks will advance their canoeskills and take an all day adventure.

Going Green is Great July 28 - Aug. 1 Come learn some fun and easy things youcan do to care for your backyard, yourcommunity and even your planet.Wackyexperiments, cool games, a fun field trip andall the usual camp craziness will make this anunforgettable week!

EcoCamp All Stars Aug. 4 - 6 (3 day)Join us for three days and two nights of wild,wacky fun with a mix-up of all of yourfavorite games and activities.To register youmust have attended another camp thissummer or in the past and you must be will-ing to stay for the overnights.