Track Dolphins In Chesapeake Bay, Fish For Invasive Snakeheads

MARYLAND — Dolphins are visiting the Chesapeake Bay more often. University of Maryland researchers need help tracking the mammals.

Marylanders can also fish for invasive snakeheads. This will help slim their unwelcomed population.

Patch recently partnered with several local organizations to bring you their latest news. This guest contribution comes from National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways and Chesapeake Conservancy. Here's what Jody Hedeman Couser submitted to help you explore the Chesapeake Bay:

"Dad and Me Canoe

Spend quality time with Dad while paddling through the marsh of Otter Point Creek in Harford County, Maryland. June 19, 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm; Anita C. Leight Estuary Center, Abingdon, Maryland. $12 per person; ages 8+, under 13 with an adult. Registration and more info.

Take a Cruise On a Chesapeake Bay Skipjack

Dee of St. Mary’s is one of the very few skipjacks ever built on the Western Shore, and one of only a handful of surviving skipjacks certified to carry passengers. The Calvert Marine Museum offers two-hour public sails aboard the Dee, a great way to experience the Patuxent River aboard an iconic Chesapeake Bay skipjack. Guests will have an opportunity to help raise and lower the sail. June public sail dates include: June 12, 2:30 to 4:30 pm; June 18, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm (adults only); June 19, 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm; June 27, 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm. More information and tickets.

Snakehead Fishing Derby

No catch and release here, this is catch and REMOVE. Of course, snakeheads are also delicious to eat! Snakes on the Dundee is a Maryland Department of Natural Resources event, taking place at Gunpowder State Park, with the express purpose of raising awareness of invasive snakeheads and removing them. After check-in there will be an introductory discussion of snakeheads, a fishing demonstration, fish printing, weight-in, door prizes and prizes for boat and shore anglers, and a filleting demonstration. Kayaks launch free, $10 launch fee for boats, and grills will be available for cooking fillets. June 26, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm; Gunpowder Falls State Park. Registration and more information.

Anacostia River Tours

As part of the Anacostia River Discovery Series, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about the history of the Anacostia River, observe wildlife in their natural habitats, and get out on the water. The Anacostia Watershed Society will be hosting recreational activities every Thursday evening and some Saturdays of every month from May through October, including canoe tours and motorized boat tours. Register soon, tours are filling up fast! More information and the summer of 2021 river tour schedule.

Bugs 101 Webinar

Join Capital Naturalist Alonso Abugattas and the Audubon Naturalist Society and learn all about the little things that run the world – the insects and arthropods, their importance and natural history. These invertebrates play a crucial role in nature in so many ways. Learn about their roles, conservation, and news of their decline during this eye-opening presentation. June 16, 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Registration and more information.

Citizen Dolphin Spotters!

Dolphins appear to be visiting the Bay with increasing frequency. But these visitors are something of a mystery to scientists who have little data about them in the Bay. Dr. Helen Bailey and her team at the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, are studying how often dolphins actually come into the Chesapeake Bay, how long they spend here, what areas of the Bay they are using and why. She and her team need your help to provide sightings data. Citizens who spot dolphins in the Bay can report sightings on a mobile app available for both iPhone and Android. A website version of the dolphin tracker is available here. Read more about the University of Maryland’s Dolphin Watch Program.

Explore the Current, Weather and Captain John Smith's Historic Voyage with CBIBS!

Head out on the water and learn firsthand the experiences of Captain John Smith's Voyage on NOAA's Chesapeake Bay interpretive Buoy System. CBIBS provides real time weather and environmental information, as well as a glimpse into living Chesapeake Bay History. You can also download the app for your Android or iPhone from the website. Note: some buoys may be offline with no data currently available.

Chesapeake Trail Riverview

Take a virtual tour of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail from your computer or mobile device! To help you plan your trip before you go, the Chesapeake Conservancy partnered with Terrain360 to bring you virtual tours of the trail’s great rivers. Sit back and virtually explore the Elk, James (sponsored by the James River Association), Nanticoke, Northeast, Patapsco, Patuxent, Potomac, Rappahannock, Sassafras, Susquehanna, and York rivers. Check out some of the Chesapeake’s special places like Werowocomoco, Fones Cliffs, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and Mallows Bay. We hope to eventually bring you a virtual tour of the entire Chesapeake Trail! Explore the Chesapeake's great rivers on our website."

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