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Nature Preserve Committee Formed: The Nature Preserve Committee of the Piney Orchard Community Association (POCA) was formed in the Spring of 2002.
A web site was established in November, 2002, when it became the official web site for the Piney Orchard Nature Preserve, linked to the Piney Orchard community site at Piney Orchard/Recreation/Nature Preserve. It is maintained solely by volunteers. We welcome contributions of photographs of the Preserve and announcements of interest.
Hawk Banding: One of our first experiences as a committee was to articipate in a hawk banding, organized by Mike Callahan of Bowie Wild Bird Center. About a dozen people gathered on the morning of May 27,2002, to assist in the banding of two red shouldered hawk "chicks," which were being raised by their parents in a large nest high in a tree on the Little Patuxent flood plain within the Preserve. A registered raptor-bander climbed the tree, the chicks jumped from the nest, the observers found the chicks which were not yet flying, and the banding proceeded successfully, after which the chicks were returned to the nest. The parent hawks were not seen or heard until later, when one was spotted sitting calmly on a fence in the River's Edge community, no doubt looking for frogs. For pictures of this interesting morning: Hawk Banding. Mike has volunteered to band birds hatched in our nest boxes (see Habitat Enhancement below). Mature red-shouldered hawks are observed circling over the Preserve on occassion.
Anne Arundel Bird Club: On June 2, 2002, Dave Perry of Crofton led a bird walk in the Preserve for the Anne Arundel Bird Club, which was attended by several novice birders from Piney Orchard. Peter Hannan has led bird walks on April 19, 2003 and May 15, 2005.
Bog Committee: On July 16, 2002, we hosted the "Bog Committee" of the Maryland Departments of the Environment and Natural Resources. Consisting of representatives from many organizations, this committee has been formed to study various bog habitats in the state, starting with Anne Arundel County, in order to better understand the importance of boggy wetlands and to aide in their preservation. For a picture of a boggy area we explored: Bog Committee.
Habitat Enhancement-Nest Boxes: On October 29, 2002, Bill Becraft, Sanctuary Manager for the Central Maryland Audubon Society, came to the Piney Orchard Community Center to give a talk to the Piney Orchard Nature Preserve Committee and other interested persons on how to develop and maintain habitat for birds, specifically Eastern Bluebirds, Wood ducks, and Purple Martins. He talked about these threatened and beneficial birds, and demonstrated through slides and models how to build and maintain artificial habitat that will attract and support these birds. Girl Scout Cadets from Troop 1725 and Cub Scouts from Troop 769 and their leaders volunteered to help with this project. We also began coordinating with Piney Orchard Elementary School, to develop a nestbox monitoring program as "citizen scientists" for the Cornell Ornithology Lab. Sites for 10 bluebird nest boxes were identified in the Preserve. Seven more sites were identified around Piney Orchard Elementary School. The Scouts built them over the winter with installation on 3/15/03. Steve DeCata also contributed a woodduck box which has been installed in the pond south of Wood Duck Way. Volunteers are now actively monitoring the nest boxes under the leadership of Martha Weiwel.
The Vineyards Nestbox Trail: in Spring, 2004, the Vineyards neighborhood of Piney Orchard began their own nestbox trail, organized by Betty O'Leary and Glenn Close. The nestboxes were made by the Cubs of Troop#769.
Purple Martin House: May, 2005, saw the installation of a Purple Martin House in the storm water management pond near the Francis Station neighborhood. Martha Weiwel and neighbors are observing and monitoring the house for martins.
Learn more about what we hope to achieve as "citizen scientists" as part of the Cornell Ornithology Lab's Birdhouse Network and keep up-to-date on our nestbox project: Nestboxes. You can become a part of this and other projects in your own backyard.
Habitat Enhancement-Native Plants: One of our long-term goals is to enrich the habitat of the Preserve with plants native to the Maryland coastal plain which would naturally occur here if the land had not been disturbed as dramatically as it has been over the years. Such enrichment will benefit the total ecosystem of the Preserve, but especially birds and insects. Additionally, by involving our children in these projects, we hope to foster an appreciation for our natural surroundings.
Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly Habitat: Cathy DeCata and Margie Johnson worked with the Junior Girl Scouts of Troop #1741 to develop habitat for the Maryland State Butterfly by planting White Turtlehead plants in the perimeter of a storm water management pond between Lone Wolf Trail and the River Run neighborhood. The White Turtlehead is the "host" plant necessary to the life cycle of this threatened species. The project was completed on May 15, 2004, with assistance from a grant from Unity Gardens of Anne Arundel County. The interpretive sign was designed and funded by the Girl Scouts, with help from Acer Designs. Baltimore Checkerspot
Wade Brown Memorial Garden: In memory of Wade Brown, a Piney Orchard resident and former Trailmaster of the Odenton-based Chesapeake Bay Country Wanderers, a native plant garden has been developed at the Nature Preserve Kiosk. Cathy DeCata, Debra Peak, the Wanderers, Jason Goldblatt, and Beechfield Landscaping, Inc., have made important contributions to this evolving project. Memorial Garden
Plant Survey: On November 24, 2002, the Maryland Native Plant Society, led by Joe Metzger, spent six hours on a beautiful late Fall day in the Preserve identifying various plant species to add to our growing lists. Over 30 species were added that day. 16 Society members and others from Piney Orchard and surrounding communities took advantage of this opportunity.**This project is ongoing and has led to many of the species listed in our Species pages. Eventually we will have a species checklist suitable for downloading and using on walks in the Preserve.
Nature Walks: Dave Perry led a nature walk on Saturday, May 3, 2003, Dave is a resident of Crofton with family ties to Piney Orchard, and leads walks often at the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge. He is doing the breeding bird survey for this area. Dave has helped us develop many of the species lists we now have, and has made many helpful suggestions to the committee on both our trail and bird habitat projects.
WBA Trail: Members of the committee have been working with the Anne Arundel County Department of Parks and Recreation and the Friends of the AA County Trails to assure that when the WBA Trail is constructed along the eastern boundary of the Preserve, the wild nature of the area and several endangered species will be protected. On September 3, 2003, the committee, under the leadership of Debra Peak, sponsored a well attended community meeting at which David Dionne, Superintendent of Trails, and Elizabeth Wyble, President of the Friends, shared the latest information about the progress of the Trail in AA county. We regularyly check in with Recreation and Parks on progress with the WBA, the first phase of which opened in the Fall 2004. Updates are part of our Committee minutes: Committee
Signage:The committee is actively working on updating the signs in the Preserve, both those spelling out the rules and restrictions (installed Summer, 2005), and those offering interpretive information. Look for updated signs as you enjoy your walks in the Preserve.
Benches: Benches were added in July, 2005, at convenient and scenic spots in the Preserve. Enjoy!
Project Clean Stream:On April 9, 2005, Cadet and Junior Girl Scouts outdid themselves cleaning up the mess along Patuxent Road at the Little Patuxent Bridge, as part of Project Clean Stream, sponsored by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. We're proud of the work these young women have contributed to the Preserve and the Piney Orchard environment.
Photo by Catherine Weber
Girl Scouts perform barrel role towards ever-growing mound of trash
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