This year Pickering Creek has added three new trustees to its Board, while wishing its one departing Trustee well wishes.

Anne Walker served two terms on the Pickering Board of Trustees and has been the head of the annual Birdseed Sale and colead of the Mayapple Social for the last two years.  Anne’s enthusiasm for connecting people with nature was a great benefit during her tenure on the board.  She will continue to participate in Pickering activities as the chair of the birdseed sale for fall of 2025.  

Jim Van Ness joined the Pickering board in late Spring.  Jim served as Senior Associate General Counsel at the Office of the Deputy General Counsel for the Department of Defense from 1994 to 2019. Jim was admitted to the Iowa Bar in 1974, the U. S. Supreme Court Bar in 1978 and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Services Bar in 1974. When asked about why he joined the Pickering Board, Jim mentions three things: “First, the Pickering Creek Audubon Center is protecting, preserving, and, where necessary, improving some 400 acres of native habitats and wildlife as the rest of Talbot County gets carved up by development.  Second, these lands are generously managed as public property, available to anyone who wishes access the restorative powers of nature.  Thirdly, Pickering Creek is responsible for introducing hundreds of school-age children—who might not otherwise get the opportunity—to the wonders of nature and the importance of caring for the planet we live on.”

Kathi Bangert joined the Pickering Board this August.  Prior to retiring, Kathi served as Assistant Regional Director for External Affairs, US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Northeast Region and was responsible for overseeing USFWS communications from to Maine to Virginia with news media, Members of Congress, regional Native American Tribes, and federal/state partners. Early in her career Kathi spent significant time with the USFWS in the Chesapeake Bay office, making her initial connection with the Bay. Kathi serves the local community in a variety of capacities with the League of Women Voters, Building African American Minds, Master Gardeners and For All Seasons.

When asked why she was interest in Pickering Kathi shared, “I am inspired by Pickering Creek’s quest to connect community and nature for the well-being of both. The Center’s environmental education partnership with local schools is a central part of its mission. Yet, beyond nature camps and classroom learning, Pickering is as much for adults and families as it is for children. Whether one wishes to take a solitary meditative walk or join with others in a bird walk or night hike, there is something for everyone. I appreciate Pickering’s innovative and inclusive approach to outreach—one that does not simply invite people to the Center, but also actively tries to reach them where they live, work, and play.  This outward-looking spirit helps to inspire and empower a diverse community to become stewards of nature in their own backyards and neighborhoods, thereby promoting greater access to the natural world for everyone.”

Erin Riggin joins the Pickering Board this August as well. Erin is a graduate of Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and University of Maryland, College Park, MD with a BS in Kinesiology. She currently works at Midshore Veterinary Service in Easton. Erin, an Eastern Shore native, says, “Growing up with what would now be called a “free range” childhood on Langford Creek in Kent County, I spent my days observing the wonders of the outdoors.”

She also shares, “Outdoor education programs were always a favorite of mine growing up. I looked forward to every field trip that was centered around being outside. Pickering Creek’s programs offer a unique window into the world of great outdoors for all ages. As a mother of two small children, I continue to be impressed with the inspiration, curiosity, and knowledge that the summer EcoCamp brings out in them. Hearing them recite the songs that they learned in camp together will remain a fond memory of mine.”

If you are interested in getting more involved with Pickering Creek you can get in touch with Mark Scallion at [email protected] or join one of the Center’s programs that is open to the public at www.pickeringcreek.org

Waterfowl Festival Board of Directors present check to DU Conservation for a Continent program. In order from left to right: Deena Kilmon, Executive Director, Waterfowl Festival; Jake McPherson, Ducks Unlimited Managing Director of Development- Great Lakes/Atlantic Region; Julie Susman, President, Waterfowl Festival 2025, Austin Durrer, Waterfowl Development Committee Chairman; Chip Heaps, Waterfowl Conservation Committee Chairman; Ernest Burns& Jonathon Rondeau, Waterfowl Board of Directors; Taylor Deemer, DU Director of Development/MD-DE; Colin Perry, Amy Horne, and Kim Newcomb, Waterfowl Board of Directors.

The Waterfowl Festival announced today a $70,000 conservation investment to support DU’s Conservation for a Continent Campaign in partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These projects will restore wetlands on publicly accessible lands—ensuring that Maryland residents, sportsmen and women, birdwatchers, and future generations have access to natural and wild open spaces.This funding will directly benefit waterfowl, wildlife, water quality, and outdoor recreation at three high-priority sites: Browns Branch Wildlife Management Area (Queen Anne’s County), LeCompte Wildlife Management Area (Dorchester Co), and Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (Dorchester County).

For more than 50 years, the Waterfowl Festival has celebrated the rich traditions of the Chesapeake Bay while advancing habitat conservation. This year’s gift, funded by the proceeds from the festival’s annual and iconic Premiere Night event,  underscores the Festival’s renewed commitment to protecting the landscapes that sustain both wildlife and the way of life that makes the Shore unique.

“Supporting meaningful, strategic, and shovel-ready  projects of this size ensures that our investment in conservation has lasting impact,” said Julie Susman, Board President, Waterfowl Festival. “These projects improve waterfowl habitat in some of the most important areas of the Atlantic Flyway while also enhancing public access, recreation, and the health of the Chesapeake Bay.”

The $70,000 contribution will help fund three major projects:

• Browns Branch Wildlife Management Area (Queen Anne’s County) – $20,000 will restore 16.2 acres of marginal farmland into shallow emergent wetlands, improving habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds while reducing an estimated 826 pounds of nitrogen and nearly 39,000 pounds of sediment from entering the Bay each year.

• LeCompte Wildlife Management Area (Dorchester County) – $20,000 will support the conversion of 16.6 acres of agricultural land into managed wetlands, enhancing habitat for migratory waterfowl and reducing more than 1,100 pounds of nitrogen and 59,000 pounds of suspended solids annually in the Nanticoke watershed.

• Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (Dorchester County) – $30,000 will leverage federal funding to restore 23 acres within the Refuge’s core 250-acre managed wetland complex. This work will sustain one of the most important wintering grounds for migratory waterfowl and improve water quality by reducing 1,800 pounds of nitrogen and more than 160 tons of sediment annually.

“The Chesapeake Bay’s wetlands are irreplaceable for waterfowl and people alike,” said Taylor Deemer, DU Director of Development/Maryland-Delaware. “The Waterfowl Festival’s investment is a powerful example of how conservation and community come together to make a lasting difference.”

Projects are expected to be completed by June 2026.

About the Waterfowl Festival
The Waterfowl Festival, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Easton, Maryland, is dedicated to wildlife conservation, the celebration of waterfowl art, and the preservation of Eastern Shore heritage. Since its founding in 1971, the Festival has raised millions for habitat restoration and community programs across the Chesapeake Bay region. Learn more at www.waterfowlfestival.org.

Cyclists of all ages and skill levels are invited to participate in the 21^st Ride for Clean Rivers on Sunday, September 21 — your chance to ride the beautiful back roads of Talbot and Queen Anne’s counties in support of ShoreRivers’ work for thriving rivers cherished by all Eastern Shore communities.

Riders can choose from fully supported Metric Century (62-mile), 35-mile, or 20-mile routes. All routes begin and end at Chesapeake College in Wye Mills and include SAG support and rest stops with food and drink.

Staggered group send-offs at 8am and 9am include a police escort across Route 50. Upon returning to the college campus, riders and volunteers will enjoy a catered lunch and beer provided by Ten Eyck Brewery. Participants are also encouraged to join teams and create their own fundraising pages to boost support for their ride from others.

ShoreRivers extends special thanks to the following sponsors and partners: Dean & Nita Goodwin, Chesapeake College, Bike Doctor Kent Island, Ten Eyck Brewing Company, TCR Event Management, as well as volunteers from the Talbot Skipjacks 4-H Club.

A portion of the proceeds from this event support ShoreRivers’ science-based advocacy, restoration, education, and engagement programs. Registration prices will increase as the event nears, so sign up now! To register as a rider or sponsor, visit shorerivers.org/event/rideforcleanrivers2025.

ShoreRivers protects Maryland’s Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, education, and engagement.

shorerivers.org

Chesapeake Wildlife Heritage (CWH) will host its annual Magnificent Monarchs workshop on Sat., Sept. 27 at 10 a.m. at Barnstable Hill Farm in Chester. The public is invited to join CWH staff to tag and learn about the migrating habits of Monarch butterflies. Participants will also learn about the Monarch’s life cycle and will help scientists from around the continent track its astounding generational migration.

The workshop is free to the public, but space is limited. To register, email [email protected] or call 410-822-5100. Directions will be provided.

Chesapeake Wildlife Heritage is dedicated to designing, restoring and managing wildlife habitat and establishing a more sustainable agriculture. In addition to stewarding 1,150 acres in Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties that it owns and manages as wildlife sanctuary, CWH works daily with private and public landowners to help ensure the future of the region’s wildlife and the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Since the organization’s founding in 1980, CWH staff has restored nearly 2,000 acres of wetlands, planted more than 1,000 acres of woodlands and created 5,000 acres of warm season grass meadows. For more information, visit cheswildlife.org.

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Horn Point Laboratory invites the public to its annual, free Open House on Saturday, October 11, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This 2025 Open House theme is Make Waves with Science.  This year marks the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s centennial, so there is even more to celebrate at the annual event.

“Science drives innovation, creates knowledge, generates solutions, and inspires us to think about our world in new ways,” said Horn Point Lab Director Mike Sieracki.  “And sometimes science makes waves–in all the best ways!  Horn Point Lab chose the theme Make Waves with Science for this year’s Open House to celebrate the impact of groundbreaking research.  We’re looking forward to celebrating that impact with our Open House guests!”

Visitors will explore the world of marine science through hands-on exhibits created and staffed by the lab’s faculty, staff, and students. Exhibit topics include a plankton zoo, digital sandbox, physical oceanography, and remote sensing technology being used in the Choptank River.

Along with the interactive exhibits, there will be additional activities including exploring the largest oyster hatchery on the East Coast, and STEM and Chesapeake Bay-themed crafts and games.  Children who complete the open house scavenger hunt will receive a complimentary t-shirt.  Food vendors Choptank Oyster Company and Taqueria Floritas will have refreshments for purchase. Horn Point Lab students will be selling sweets, popcorn, and lemonade, with proceeds benefiting fundraising for student activities.

The Open House is free and fun for all ages, and takes place rain or shine. Comfortable shoes are recommended for walking around the campus.  An on-campus shuttle will also run throughout the day. Horn Point Laboratory campus is located at 2020 Horns Point Road off Route 343 outside of Cambridge, Maryland.

For more information, visit umces.edu/events/annual-open-house or contact Claire Otterbein at [email protected].

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Guiding our state, nation, and world toward a more sustainable future

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) is a leading research and educational institution working to understand and manage the world’s resources. From a network of laboratories spanning from the Allegheny Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean, UMCES scientists provide sound advice to help state and national leaders manage the environment and prepare future scientists to meet the global challenges of the 21st century.

HORN POINT LABORATORY 

Understanding of the world’s estuarine and ocean ecosystems through a research program in oceanography, water quality, restoration of sea grasses, marshes and shellfish.

 The Horn Point Laboratory, located on more than 800 acres on the banks of the Choptank River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, has advanced society’s understanding of the world’s estuarine and ocean ecosystems. Horn Point scientists are widely respected for their interdisciplinary programs in oceanography, water quality, restoration of sea grasses, marshes and shellfish and for expertise in ecosystem modeling. With ongoing research programs spanning from the estuarine waters of the Chesapeake Bay to the open waters of the world’s oceans, Horn Point is a national leader in applying environmental research and discovery to solve society’s most pressing environmental problems.

Along with summer swimming comes ShoreRivers Bacteria Monitoring season. It is advised that people not swim 24-48 hours after a major rain.

Every summer, ShoreRivers deploys a team of community scientists to monitor bacterial levels at popular swimming and boating sites, providing vital information on human health risks to the public. Their samples are then processed, according to standard scientific protocols, in ShoreRivers’ in-house labs. The program follows the Environmental Protection Agency’s standard protocols for collecting and analyzing samples. It makes the results of that testing public, informing people about current bacteria levels as they plan their recreational activities in our waterways. Results are posted every Friday, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, at shorerivers.org/swim and on both the organization’s and its individual Riverkeepers’ social media pages.

A second page, shorerivers.org/swimmable-shorerivers-espanol, was established in 2023 to share this program with the Spanish-speaking community. Additionally, 14 signs can be found at public sites around the Eastern Shore that explain the goals of the Swimmable ShoreRivers program and indicate where users can find weekly results in both English and Spanish. These signs (and the program at large) are made possible thanks to funding from the Cornell Douglas Foundation, and ShoreRivers’ Riverkeepers will continue working with local county officials to install more.

Join Eastern Shore Land Conservancy as we celebrate our  35th anniversary on Saturday, September 13, 2025 from 1—4 PM during our third annual  LandJam! This year, this family-friendly afternoon will be at the wonderful Councell Farms  during their opening weekend. LandJam features live local music including upbeat blues rock  music from the 599s and bluegrass from Coastal Plain. Local favorite Taqueria Floritas will  serve up fresh tacos. Kids can learn more about ESLC’s conservation work on the Eastern Shore and win a fun ESLC prize by participating in a simple scavenger hunt that winds through  Councell Farms’ fall Field of Fun! 

This event is rain or shine. Admission is just $6 per person. Admission is free for grandparents  and children under two. ESLC encourages pre-registration at  

https://www.eslc.org/event/landjam/, but walk-ups are welcome. Free parking, bathrooms, and  handwashing stations are available. 

Councell Farms’ 20+ fall attractions will be up and running! Come enjoy the playground, feed  the goats, pick out fall pumpkins and apple cider, and enjoy Councell’s corn maze, jumping  pillow, combine slide, duck races, trike track, straw maze, and more! Councell Farms also serves  ice cream from Vanderwende’s, a family-owned-and-operated dairy farm and creamery in  Delaware. 

“Eastern Shore Land Conservancy is thrilled to partner with Chip, his family, and all of Councell  Farms for our third annual LandJam,” said ESLC CEO & President Steve Kline. “A community  leader, thoughtful business owner, and friend of ESLC, Chip is a tremendous example of the  devoted Eastern Shore advocates whose pivotal support have provided a sturdy foundation for  ESLC’s 35 years of service and 67,000+ acres of Eastern Shore conservation.” 

ESLC is very grateful to all individuals and businesses who have chosen to sponsor this year’s  LandJam. Sponorships are still available at all levels. For more information please visit our  registration page (https://www.eslc.org/event/landjam/) or contact ESLC Development Manager  Sam Pugh at [email protected] or (410) 227-8182. 

Established in 1990, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy’s mission is to conserve, steward, and advocate for the  unique rural landscape of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, forever a special place of diverse and abundant natural  resources and thriving rural communities.

Along with summer swimming comes ShoreRivers Bacteria Monitoring season. It is advised that people not swim 24-48 hours after a major rain.

Every summer, ShoreRivers deploys a team of community scientists to monitor bacterial levels at popular swimming and boating sites, providing vital information on human health risks to the public. Their samples are then processed, according to standard scientific protocols, in ShoreRivers’ in-house labs. The program follows the Environmental Protection Agency’s standard protocols for collecting and analyzing samples. It makes the results of that testing public, informing people about current bacteria levels as they plan their recreational activities in our waterways. Results are posted every Friday, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, at shorerivers.org/swim and on both the organization’s and its individual Riverkeepers’ social media pages.

A second page, shorerivers.org/swimmable-shorerivers-espanol, was established in 2023 to share this program with the Spanish-speaking community. Additionally, 14 signs can be found at public sites around the Eastern Shore that explain the goals of the Swimmable ShoreRivers program and indicate where users can find weekly results in both English and Spanish. These signs (and the program at large) are made possible thanks to funding from the Cornell Douglas Foundation, and ShoreRivers’ Riverkeepers will continue working with local county officials to install more.

Join Eastern Shore Land Conservancy as we celebrate our  35th anniversary on Saturday, September 13, 2025 from 1—4 PM during our third annual  LandJam! This year, this family-friendly afternoon will be at the wonderful Councell Farms  during their opening weekend. LandJam features live local music including upbeat blues rock  music from the 599s and bluegrass from Coastal Plain. Local favorite Taqueria Floritas will  serve up fresh tacos. Kids can learn more about ESLC’s conservation work on the Eastern Shore and win a fun ESLC prize by participating in a simple scavenger hunt that winds through  Councell Farms’ fall Field of Fun! 

This event is rain or shine. Admission is just $6 per person. Admission is free for grandparents  and children under two. ESLC encourages pre-registration at  

https://www.eslc.org/event/landjam/, but walk-ups are welcome. Free parking, bathrooms, and  handwashing stations are available. 

Councell Farms’ 20+ fall attractions will be up and running! Come enjoy the playground, feed  the goats, pick out fall pumpkins and apple cider, and enjoy Councell’s corn maze, jumping  pillow, combine slide, duck races, trike track, straw maze, and more! Councell Farms also serves  ice cream from Vanderwende’s, a family-owned-and-operated dairy farm and creamery in  Delaware. 

“Eastern Shore Land Conservancy is thrilled to partner with Chip, his family, and all of Councell  Farms for our third annual LandJam,” said ESLC CEO & President Steve Kline. “A community  leader, thoughtful business owner, and friend of ESLC, Chip is a tremendous example of the  devoted Eastern Shore advocates whose pivotal support have provided a sturdy foundation for  ESLC’s 35 years of service and 67,000+ acres of Eastern Shore conservation.” 

ESLC is very grateful to all individuals and businesses who have chosen to sponsor this year’s  LandJam. Sponorships are still available at all levels. For more information please visit our  registration page (https://www.eslc.org/event/landjam/) or contact ESLC Development Manager  Sam Pugh at [email protected] or (410) 227-8182. 

Established in 1990, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy’s mission is to conserve, steward, and advocate for the  unique rural landscape of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, forever a special place of diverse and abundant natural  resources and thriving rural communities.