MEET THE NEW FAMILY

All of us that watch the birds were delighted to see this new family of ducks. Last year we didn’t have even one family. When the grasses are restored I’m sure the duck population will increase.

When it stops raining and Public Works spreads the sand around they’ll find plenty of sand to work with. Haines has been bringing in sand regularly!

Today we met a man raking up the rocks out of the pond and placing them on the bank. He had also trimmed the pine trees and raked the beach. This is the area where Oyster and the park meet and create a bend. He believes, as I do, that the pond will be beautiful when everyone makes a commitment.

Walking on the path on Bahia weeds have grown over the blacktop making walking difficult. How can we encourage all homeowners to trim the weeds in front of their house? Surly when they see their neighbors out trimming they must get the message. What do you suggest?

YOUR CHOICE

What would you rather have; a few foxes strolling by or this guy ringing your doorbell, inviting himself in for dinner……YOU?!

RED FOX GREY FOX ONE FOX TWO FOX

Frank Guillien had his camera ready and was able to prove, once and for all, that we do have resident fox (es). This brazen creature was walking down the middle of Harbour Drive with a mallard in his mouth. Think you can recognize the houses on Bahia that he was strolling toward? We don’t know if they actually live here or travel to Northside Park. Thinking like a fox, where would you live? Everyday when I walk around the pond I see evidence of their hunt. Feathers!! Lots of feathers! Food is plentiful and so is habitat.
One of the biggest problems here is that many of the homes are unoccupied for long periods of time inviting these foxes to move into any open space. That fox can squeeze into very small places….under a shed…perhaps the skirting if off allowing them easy access. You have to be observant not only of your property, but all the houses around you. You don’t want to be surprised by him when you move a bush or garbage can.
The pictures prove that they are not just nocturnal animals, this was broad daylight and there he was walking down the middle of the street. Nights are when they do the real prowling and searching for food. Saying that, be extra careful if you let your cat out.

HELP STOP BLACKWATER DEVELOPMENT
Two articles in this morning’s paper really got my attention; one, the half-page ad asking for signatures to petition the government to STOP the Blackwater development. The picture at the top taken by Heather Lane, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, tells the story. “Disappearing Wetlands”.
This 1,000-acre development should be our worst nightmare because it doesn’t just affect the economy of Cambridge; it affects every stream, tributary and river running through that development. The Choptank is practically dead already. This could finish it off! Where do all these waters finally go…..to our Chesapeake Bay.
I have been showing you aerial photos for the past several weeks of how over development can destroy our wetlands. Once this is gone you can never get it back.
What was the other thing that got my attention? Mary Sue Sweeny Price was speaking about stolen artifacts, she said, ‘ Greed always seems to trump idealism”
Please go to Chesapeake Bay Foundation ----cbf.org read what they have to say and sign the petition. Don’t let greed triumph!

ARRR MATEY THE PIRATES OF THE
ASSAWOMAN
Summer is finally here! The pirate ship is cruising up and down the bay with enchanted kids and their families. They sail down through the Fenwick Ditch to a buoy shaped like another ship. There the fun begins. They shoot off water cannons and look for treasure. If the water gets rough, as it sometimes will when other boats pass, the Captain gives the command…”all hands on deck”. All the little kids get down on all fours with their hands on the deck. Pretty smart; you can’t fall over that way.
Treasure? You’re on a pirate ship…remember that.

CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND

The one photo is the southern end of Chincoteague Island in Chincoteague Bay. Assateague Island is visible in the background. I hope you are able to zoom in on this picture to really get the feel of all the development here on the eastern shore.
I spent a good part of the day looking through all of the pictures from the University of Maryland Center For Environmental Science yesterday; not only do they have aerial photos, but they also have fantastic pictures of the wildlife. There is one of a deer and a newborn fawn that I may just have to show you. The water snakes in Easton are huge! I may never step foot out of the car in Easton again.

NORTHSIDE PARK

I went searching through the files of University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and found more photos that I thought you would enjoy. Looking at Northside Park from the air helps you to understand why so many boaters run aground. Whoever designed this park certainly did an outstanding job. Thank you!
In the past I never paid that much attention to the other communities, they certainly look more interesting from the air than passing through in a car.
Tomorrow I hope I’ll have some photos of sand being pushed around the pond.

RAINBOW

You have to look close, but it’s there a rainbow right over our pond. I think God is sending us a message. It rained all week and the sand didn’t get pushed around. If we didn’t have rain, we wouldn’t have rainbows. God loves us!

HERE’S THE GRASS
STEPHEN DECATAUR Middle School students planted the grass from the National aquarium at the Isle of Wight Park today. This would have been the grass on the shoreline of our pond. If you’re truly interested in seeing what Spartina grass looks like go visit this site and watch it grow. If you have never been to this park take Rt.#90 bridge out of Ocean City, then take the left onto the park at the traffic light. (First light as you get to the bridge). This is really worth the trip, beautiful, just beautiful. They are actually growing oysters there. The one photo showing two men standing on rocks marks where the oyster beds are located. (Jay Charland, Coastkeepers and Dr. Roman Jesien, Maryland Coastal Bays )We really live in a spectacular spot on this planet earth.
We asked the science teacher, Doug Romano, if his class would plant our grass for us next year. His answer was YES!
Many thanks to Tammy Roberson, National Aquarium (third picture) for coordinating this grass planting.
I met a fantastic group of people today!

OUR OCEAN CITY

Do you remember the first time you came to Ocean City? I do…I also remember all the good times after that first time. There was something about that view from the Route #50 Bridge that was timeless. The view of the inlet with the fishing boats, the Ferris wheel looming over everything. In the early years we didn’t have air-conditioning in the car so the windows were already open waiting for that first whiff of the ocean, with the advent of air-conditioning the windows opened to bring in that wonderful freshness.
Then children blessed our home and at least once a year we packed the car and came to Ocean City to renew. We would get to the Route #50 Bridge and the children would say in unison….there it is…there’s the ocean. It was still there unchanged, waiting for them.
I now had children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren all waiting to visit. Going across that bridge the view was still timeless. I was young again if only briefly.
Two years ago we became permanent residents, voting cards and all. We started taking a shorter route to our home in Montego Bay, over the Route #90 Bridge. Repairs had to be made to the bridge so we decided to use my beloved Route #50. Horrors! My beautiful view, the one that made me feel young, was gone….replaced by rows on condos. I was in shock! My youth was gone, this time forever.
When I saw this picture it took my breath away because here is my view, captured for as long as I wish to see it. With the help of my computer I can soar like a bird over all the interesting places all the way to Assateague Island.
This is the last in the Jane Thomas photos. I hope you enjoyed seeing them as much as I enjoyed sending them to you. Thank you, Jane!

Vera

WHAT YOU DON’T SEE DRIVING TO REHOBETH FROM OCEAN
CITY

Make sure you click on this picture and fill the screen to see just how these homes are built in the marsh. Some of them have long piers to get them to the water. There was a time when everyone thought that nothing would ever be built along these marshes. We were wrong!
Do you see something that appears to be a hill in the road? Could this be a place that has been reinforced so that the island can’t be breeched? How incredibly fragile all this appears from the sky!
All of us that live on this barrier island should be very grateful to the researcher and scientist that are trying to preserve this place for the future. Check their website and see if there is some way you can help. Cut and paste: http://www.ian.umces.edu
And click on Maryland Coastal Bays
Tomorrow will be the last picture from Jane Thomas. This one took my breath away.

WHAT YOU DON’T SEE DRIVING TO REHOBETH FROM OCEAN
CITY

Make sure you click on this picture and fill the screen to see just how these homes are built in the marsh. Some of them have long piers to get them to the water. There was a time when everyone thought that nothing would ever be built along these marshes. We were wrong!
Do you see something that appears to be a hill in the road? Could this be a place that has been reinforced so that the island can’t be breeched? How incredibly fragile all this appears from the sky!
All of us that live on this barrier island should be very grateful to the researcher and scientist that are trying to preserve this place for the future. Check their website and see if there is some way you can help. Cut and paste: http://www.ian.umces.edu
And click on Maryland Coastal Bays
Tomorrow will be the last picture from Jane Thomas. This one took my breath away.