Mid-Shore Life

The skipjack Nathan of Dorchester is accepting new volunteers for crew, maintenance and administrative positions as she gets ready for her 2010 sailing season.

Owned, operated and maintained by the nonprofit Dorchester Skipjack Committee, the Nathan sails late April through early November from Long Wharf in Cambridge. She offers charters for all occasions, educational sails and special event trips throughout the Chesapeake Bay, along with a regular public sailing schedule.

A volunteer orientation session will be held on Thursday, March 25, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Dorchester County Airport. Registration for the session is requested by March 20. Light refreshments will be provided.

Special help is needed this year in handling reservations. The organization can use one or several individuals who have computer access and time to answer phone and email requests, along with someone to help at the dock during public sails. Except for the times at the dock, most of the work can be done from home.

The TK Sporting Clays Tournament will be held at the Hopkins Game Farm in Kennedyville, Maryland on Saturday, March 27th. The management team at the Hopkins Game Farm is extremely excited to be hosting the tournament again this year. The facility will be open all week for you to brush up on your skills in preparation for the 1:00pm “shotgun” start. Registration will begin at 12:00pm. If you have any further questions, please contact the Hopkins Game Farm at (410) 348-5287.

Following the tournament, everyone is welcome to participate in the post-event party to be held at O’Conner’s in Chestertown, Maryland. Beer and wings will be provided free of charge to all tournament participants. A $10 donation is required at the door of O’Conner’s for individuals that do not participate in the shoot. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information, please contact the Tim Kern Memorial Scholarship Fund at (410) 778-4060 or by e-mail at chestertown3@gmail.com.

Each entry into the tournament requires a fee of $35.00 with all proceeds benefiting the Tim Kern Memorial Scholarship Fund. The entry-fee includes a 50-target sporting clay round and the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful spring day on the Eastern Shore. This fee does not include shells or the commemorative event t-shirts (available for $20); however, shells may be purchased in the clubhouse for $8-$10 per box. Trophies will be given out for the top male and female shooters.

Eagle Festival: On March 13, Blackwater hosts their biggest event of the year with the 10th annual Eagle Festival, featuring eagle prowls, live birds of prey, crafts for the kids, and more. All free! Find out more.

Bird ! Walks and Nature Walks: Learn about eagles, other birds, and the wonders of nature during walks led by experts through Blackwater on March 13, March 27, and March 28. Great for all ages. Free! Find out more.

EagleCam: Get an exciting, close-up view of one of Blackwater's eagle pairs taking care of two eaglets in their nest with a special camera system set up for online viewing. See it here.

Wildlife Drive: Catch great views driving or cycling along the four-mile Wildlife Drive through Blackwater. And if you haven't been to the Visitor Center lately, don't miss the second-floor wildlife observation area, cool exhibits, and the native plant garden. Find out more.

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge is holding it's 10th Annual Eagle Festival to celebrate Blackwater NWR's 77th birthday and the 107th anniversary of the National Wildlife Refuge System on Saturday, March 13, 2010 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. The public is invited to participate in the many great activities planned for the day. All activities are free, and the entrance fee to the Wildlife Drive is also free for the day.

The day will begin with the 4th annual Wild Birds Unlimited bird walk at 8:00am with our experienced birder Terry Allen. Programs will include: a live peregrine falcon training demonstration with falconer Andrew Bullen and his peregrine falcon; a live bald eagle program with Mike Callahan from Nanjemoy Creek Environmental Education Center; “The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly@ live birds-of-prey program with a MD Scales and Tales Naturalist; Masters of the Sky raptor program with Naturalist and Raptor Educator Liz Owens and her live birds; a lecture and discussion “Chesapeake Bay: Past, Present, and the Future” with author Ned Tillman; a nature photography workshop with photography instructor Bob Boner; Native American Flute Music with Native American Ron Warren; the George Fox Middle School Ukulele Ensemble; and three of our famous “Eagle Prowls” with Volunteer Zeeger de Wilde and refuge staff. The Eagle Prowls are free, but you must pick up a ticket on the day of the event before each scheduled prowl.

There will be plenty of activities for young people at the Eagle Festival. A blue bird nest box construction program will provide materials for youths to build their own box to take home. No preregistration is required. Other youth programs will include: an owl pellet investigation, endangered species puppet show, eagle finger puppet construction, an opportunity for kids to build their own “flapping eagle”, and make your own wildlife magnet program. All participants at the puppet show will receive a free “Albert the Delmarva Fox Squirrel” coloring book. Blackwater’s mascot ATom Eagle@ will be greeting all the kids and promoting getting your kids out in nature.

 LEARN THE SECRETS OF CATCHING STRIPED BASS WITH CAPT. RICHIE GAINES

WYE MILLS – Join Capt. Richie Gaines on Saturday, March 13 at Chesapeake College for a one-day seminar on how to find and catch striped bass (rockfish) throughout the different seasons of the Chesapeake Bay.  All levels of anglers are welcome! 

Fishing techniques such as trolling, chumming, live lining, and light tackle will be covered along with rigging, knots, and equipment selection.  Gaines will also share his knowledge on how to find and fish productive locations in the mid Bay.

Captain Richie Gaines has been guiding anglers in the Chesapeake region for over twenty years and has earned the reputation as one of the top light tackle guides on the Bay.  He fishes the Bay from the Susquehanna Flats to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, moving with the fish to follow the best bite.  Gaines serves as President of the Chesapeake Guides Association, is past Chairman of the Maryland Sport Fishing Advisory Commission, and has been featured in several national fishing magazines and television shows.

Staff and volunteers at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge successfully completed the refuge’s 31st annual mid-winter eagle survey on January 7, 2010.  This collaborative effort involved a total of 8 refuge staff and 16 volunteers.  Survey participants were scattered across the refuge at stationary observation sites as part of this two-part survey.  The morning count produced a total of 173 eagles consisting of 100 adult bald eagles, 60 immature bald eagles, 2 adult golden eagles, and 11 eagles that could not be identified to species.  The evening, or roost, count produced 124 eagles consisting of 64 adult bald eagles, 41 immature bald eagles, 1 adult golden eagle and 18 eagles that could not be identified to species. 

The morning total of 173 eagles was a record for the survey, which has been conducted since 1979.  Though conditions for viewing eagles were nearly perfect for this year’s survey, the results are consistent with the increasing population trend of the past 20 years.  Refuge biologist Matt Whitbeck was pleased with the survey:  “This year's count truly documents the success of the bald eagle recovery effort and highlights the importance of refuge habitats to this species.  It is great to see so many volunteers contributing to such an important survey.”

From Life on the Edges photoblog (http://lifeontheedges.com) reprinted with permission. 

Awesome pics - thanks for sharing!

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