Outdoors Maryland; 1604

Outdoors Maryland is made by NPT to serve all of our diverse communities and is made possible by the generous support of our members. Thank you. See how researchers are fighting an invader that's eating away one of Maryland's most beautiful spawns. Good news for the next journey of the long necks. And. Scouring the sea. From the sky. I'm outdoors Maryland. Outdoors Maryland is produced in cooperation with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. DENR. Inspired by Nature. You know.

To the casual observer this corner of Dorchester County appears serene even picturesque. But in nature as an art looks kinda see. This whole area that you see this in this open water here looks like a beautiful lake in actuality it was once a healthy marsh. Steve can drive is a biologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And we're standing in the black water river which was at one point just a narrow 50 meter wide tidal got essentially that while through this whole Marsh complex or marsh ecosystem and now much of that Marsh has been lost. You can see it's probably close to a quarter mile wide here. What happened to the marsh was destroyed by an animal that's not even native to Maryland. These critters called nutria are an invasive species.

A new aquatic rodent from South America that were brought to the United States back in the early part of the 1900s through the 1930s and 40s in order to try to establish a fur market. Eventually animals either escaped from the farms that they were housed in or were released intentionally. Can drug runs a program designed to save the marsh by getting rid of nutria. It's a monumental task. When I first came on the project back in March of 2002 I started getting familiar with this area and looking at just the magnitude of the problem the expanse of the marsh that we've got to cover it. It was a pretty overwhelming task. And I have to admit when I had my doubts as to whether or not this was this project was even feasible. The root of the problem so to speak is new to use eating habits. The marshes it's essentially a floating mat of vegetation on top of a almost a liquid organic soil. What nature do when they come in feed in the areas they cut through that that of vegetation.

Almost like a saw and you can see that those little chunks become really vulnerable to sinking. And that's exactly what you see happening here. And you know I could stick my foot down there and you know it's a good two to three feet deep there. It's the marshes thinking it's disappearing and being converted to open water disappearing in fact at a catastrophic rate which are introduced in the late 1930s early 1940s. And this aerial photograph was taken in 1038 prior to the introduction of nutrients to this ecosystem. Flash forward two thousand nine hundred eighty nine. You can see that virtually all of that marsh habitat has been destroyed by nutria 1938 in 1909. About 8000 acres have been destroyed at Blackwater refuge alone. And

if we don't do something about the problem now the marsh that remains will be lost as well. And that Marsh is you know vital for so many species of fish and wildlife. I don't think anybody wants to see our great blue herons disappear or blue crabs or striped bass and all those animals that depend on this marsh at one point or another in their life cycle. So if we do nothing about the nutria we lose our marsh and we lose all the species that are associated with it. The solution is straightforward but the task is daunting. Working on a pretty large area in southern Dorchester County approximately 75000 to 100000 acres in size. Kendra uses sophisticated PSN GISS mapping technologies to manage the project. What we do is break it down into 40 acre trapping units so one truck will get assigned to this plot here another trapper to this one here. It will

essentially stack five or six trappers on top of each other so to speak. In a column. And those trappers then when they remove the nature from this column here they'll move into the next series of plots and systematically move across that marsh until we've covered the whole thing day after day week after week. Can drop and 14 full time trappers meticulously cover every square foot of the marsh. But it can be pretty intimidating to look out across these expanse of Martian. You know we've pretty much got to cover every inch of it to ensure that we're getting the last nutria. I guess you can say the reward for our hard work is boredom trying to search for a nutria that are there can be pretty tedious task at times. The better we do our job you know the less enjoyable it is sometimes.

Ed majors is one of the trappers working with Kendra. This is a water path here and it's coming up. You can see the tracks. There's a good front track right here. Claw marks here and you can see on up in here where it's mud it up there's a hind foot track and it's going back through here and it is packed and there's a little bed there where he's been laying down. So I want to go inside a leg hold trap right in here where narrows a little bad but hopefully we'll catch him tomorrow. We come out in the morning. We start by checking the traps we've already have set. Away or nature is working up in our log boat. This is a new section of marsh we have been trapped. It's three square Marsh you can see came through the cord grass. After we've done it or other plots

we check out a new section and look for signs past saving nature activities in this area. There's a path coming out of the cord now falling back into the three square. So if we find a good place to set this trap. Yes my activity here tracks actually running through there narrows down I'm going to that is when I happen here. We cover a little bit every day gradually increase area so we cover it all. We're very encouraged thus far by the success that we've had. We've removed about 5000 nutria off of Black Water National Wildlife Refuge. We believe that that's probably upwards of 95 percent of all the nutria that are are here. It's getting that last 5 percent and the ones that trickle in from outside the area that are really going to be

biggest challenges. For Steve can drive the success of the project promises personal as well as professional rewards. The word Cole's Creek in Dorchester County it's one of the tributaries to the black water river. It's one of my favorite spots in the refuge area just because it's such a pristine area. You could see a new tree eat out over here in that area if we didn't come through and remove the new tree from here that would get bigger and bigger and this marsh would be lost lots of water fall use this creek and deer come out of the woods and feed in the marsh. It's always so quiet you can't hear any road traffic from here. It's just a beautiful spot. When and where.

It's late afternoon on a tributary of the Miles river on the Eastern Shore of Maryland the low murmur of Canada geese grows as the birds take flight in search of food in nearby feelings. Hundreds of geese filled the skies with a noisy symphony. Each year in the fall thousands of these migratory birds travel hundreds of miles from their breeding areas in northern Canada. The richness of the Chesapeake Bay is what draws them. They spend the winters feeding in the corn soybean and wheat fields along the water. I am on this afternoon three hunters Crouch wearily behind a blind located near dozens of goose decoys. Danny Callahan lures the geese with a series of calls. Like now look around he's everywhere. Great go back in and hopefully we'll never lose out again. After years of being on the decline the numbers of migratory geese are growing again.

For the second year hunting has been allowed in Maryland after a six year moratorium. And the season has been lengthened from 30 to 45 days. When the hormones go unless you're going to run right on there's been more welcoming the whole flock. In less than an hour the hunters had reached their limit of one bird per person. Here here. Danny Callahan has been hunting since he was 10 years old. Years ago we had a 90 day season in the Free Bird bag limit. I do think that was too much. We were we were shooting the golden goose if you will. Like By some estimates in the late 70s and early 80s. Hunters were taking up to 40 percent of the population. Too many geese were being shot. There were also successive years of poor nesting conditions in Northern Canada. Those two factors together created a crisis for these birds in the 1980s and

90s. Larry Heineman a waterfowl expert with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has studied these birds for years. The numbers decline from about one hundred nineteen thousand payors in 1988 down to 29000 pairs in 1999 and that was a 75 percent reduction to cope with this problem. State environmental officials monitored the birds and their nesting areas in northern Canada to get a more accurate count. And they banned all hunting in 1905 that proved to be an important step to bring the numbers back. By closing the hunting season the course we maintained our goose population we gave a chance for the birds with favorable conditions to produce goslings that got old enough to become breeders. And what has happened is the breeding population has climbed from a low of twenty nine thousand payers. In. 1995 to one hundred forty six thousand payers in the spring of 2002.

So by restricting the harvest to gays you can actually increase their survival. But regulating hunting is only part of the picture and managing this unique resource for the Chesapeake Bay. Let us just play it and paint a little bit late and planted it. But first week in November. State environmental officials also work closely with farmers paying the money to set aside hundreds of acres of crops each winter as food for the geese. He's here on the Eastern Shore med is kind of in a unique way in that they're managed by farmers unlike Canada geese in the Midwest that are read to more international wildlife refuges or state goosed management areas here on the eastern shore east or on private lands. That want to take them. Albert Schober is one of 20 farmers providing winter forage for geese. The farm he manages lands and is home to some 5000 geese each winter.

With the help of state funding he has set aside 20 acres of clover and 10 acres of corn this year. I guess you know almost all I can thank you where'd I go to pay so I can rest without any hunting pressure I guess it'd be a pretty safe. Place party watching. My family just accepting her taking baking. Coming so face painter one of the most important key sanctuaries on the eastern shore is Chesapeake farms a 30 300 acre agricultural and wildlife center near Chestertown. Thousands of geese are drawn here each year because of food and safety. Dr. Mark Connor is a wildlife biologist who heads up the center. My perception is way the birds are definitely on the rebound and growing back to the numbers that they were. At say 20 years ago. The Chesapeake Bay provides all the resources that the gates need during the winter months so they have

water they have shelter for escape areas and they have food provided both in the bay but also in the agricultural fields that surround they. Mary Hindman is optimistic. We see the population expanding. It's composed mostly of adults now. So it's really going to skyrocket in terms of number of views over the next few years with good nesting conditions. All good news. But too many geese can also be a nuisance for both farmers and landowners. You know the geese you know do bother us a little bit so we try to communicate them you know out of this as much as we can. If you have a lot of small grain now you say they can get into small grain fields and browse them down pretty hard. But like you say you get caught you know keep them out of the grain field. That's where hunting will become extremely important to state officials if the numbers of geese continue to grow. Already hunting is a crucial part of the financial side of managing the

geese. Good will but so is. Hunting license fees and federal taxes on the sale of sporting firearms. Pay farmers to grow crops for the geese and pay for the monitoring program in Canada. Hunting does serve an ecological role in that it particularly with geese. It is the one tool that managers have to tried to regulate the number of views that you have. What we try to do is to harvest the annual surplus from the loose population with. Exceeding a safe level state environmental officials have learned a lot about managing Canada geese. They now have better monitoring systems to distinguish migrating geese from geese that are permanent residents. They know what's happening in the nesting season in the summer months in Canada. And they are more aware of the problems that can occur from excessive hunting. Thirty birds all that has helped bring back Canada geese to the Eastern Shore of Maryland in numbers that haven't been seen for years.

And. You're. For Danny Counihan the return of the geese signifies something far more than just a new hunting season. For him. These birds their journey and their songs are one of nature's treasured rituals. Every year about that very time when you heard of birth you know hope all the misbegotten went outside by the same. When you stop and think that you know that would be nice in the distance that they're traveling and just that just know that their ancestors have been coming here for years and years and years and there they just continue that migration of a pattern and throw anything. And. Thank their radar coverage right there.

Mari is widely and elusive slick operators with secret knowledge of the sea. A massive search is staged by air. Land. Thank goes in that's a. Low lying fog. Hugs the water. Nature is vexing conspiracy to hide a silent passage. And then. There they are. Of great. Swirling. Dance. Of dolphins. Pilot has flown in the National Aquarium in Baltimore's annual dolphin count for years. The survey which provides a three hour count of migratory bottlenose dolphins off Maryland's Coast marries the many passions of Mary grouse. Flying public service and exploration of nature's bountiful wonders.

Mary lives a life of unfolding adventure many only dream of. She has a master's degree in microbiology has taught high school science is a mother and grandmother co-captain of a classically restored sailboat philanthropist and has served as an official for the World Cup ski race. Unquenchable curiosity drives Mary. I say so much to do in so little time that. There's two or a step on the bright July morning of the dolphin count here. When you marry briefs Ben Kallo one of the National Aquarium in Baltimore has volunteered dolphin spotters here all year as in years past. Mary is donating the use of her private plane and her piloting skills. Most people don't have the opportunity to see the world as pilots do. Every time I pull the yoke and go. And begin to see the world from up above it it's a wonderful feeling.

I think it's the feeling of freedom. Fascinating you can fly along at. Seven or eight or ten pounds and see how it all converge. You can actually see. The whole. Curvature and the whole view from side to side. And sometimes you can see wildlife. That's exactly the flight plan for the dolphin count. Mary and then most fly as low as permissible at a thousand feet along Maryland's entire coastline. Meanwhile the aquarium's boat and land teams move into position two. With a small army of beach volunteers. David Schofield manager of the National Aquarium in Baltimore is ocean health programs counts from a news helicopter. This is a snapshot in time to catch dolphins swimming along the coast and to look at the health of the

population of dolphins that we commonly see in the summertime. This is a huge coordinated effort and we have nine stations along Ocean City where we're counting on land at three of the last to Garland. We've counted from air using both helicopters and airplanes and we've also counted using several different boats donated by the United States Coast Guard. What the final count will compared time tallies from each side to derive a final total. Why counting dolphins from ehre Beach your boat presents multiple challenges. Early in the morning. A rolling mist diminishes visibility. There are disruptions and false alarms like surfers and sea birds. It's just the birds. Right. The morning grinds on with only a few scattered sightings.

All right. The aquarium often calls on Mary and her husband Harold growl to assist with urgent Marine rescues and releases. Last summer the couple flew stranded endangered sea turtles to warmer waters for release back to the wild. We do operate together and we both love to do it. And when they called up from Animal Rescue we tried to bend over backward to make it happen. The payoff or for me to feed that animal released and healthy because he from time is the victim of. The human. Nobody. Really game each one that we release. I think I remember them all and I can remember putting that hurdle in the water and swam so fast and it is fun to watch.

But I often wonder. Where is that turtle now and how did they win. Yes. I have always loved animals even as a little girl I would rescue the lamb was around my yard. I can remember a nest of dung. We brought home and our our house and yard with like a menagerie. Today Mary's menagerie is the world. Back at the Dolphin count less than 30 minutes remain on the official clock. So far the tally seems unexplainably low. And then. One wall there's a hole. Right. That much I'd say don't worry. That's more. Than a month. When I have those. In the sun on the low. Oh my gosh there's probably about 10 or 15 of them actually. Much more

like 10 or 15. Everyone spots them. And exuberant caravan Serai. Diving and cavorting into mulch she was Oblivion up there awestruck admiring. The MO. Public participation is key. David Schofield. One of the things that we're trying to do is connect the public that vacations in Ocean City to the marine environment. Many people think of this is the beach but it's more than that it's very important habitat to marine mammals sharks sea turtles and a wide variety of fish. So when people come down here they're more or less visiting the homes of animals that rely on this habitat to survive. I find that nature is still in charge. And I

feel like each one of us needs to take responsibility to take care of nature because if you don't have the growth in the animals and things that make up nature we don't really have anything. Success. A job well done. Drop into our website at w w w dot NPT dot o r g

to send us your comments and suggestions. Outdoors Maryland is made by NPT to serve all of our diverse communities and is made possible by the generous support of our members. Thank you.