Hurricane Erin affecting places far inland

 

Summer Dendrology

 Dendrology is the study of woody plants and trees identification and taxonomy, and a really big part of the foundational knowledge for field researchers, naturalists, hunters and fishermen, canoeists and kayakers, and especially those who are all of the above.

Here is a list of trees someone might find on the lower South Branch of the Potomac and surrounding areas in Hampshire County (WV) or Allegany County (MD).

Visit our source for these data (hyperlinked) by visiting Virginia Tech's Dr. Dendrology pages at 
https://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/factsheets.cfm

 = nonnative, planted and a wildland component, commonly "escapes" cultivation
 = a North American native, may naturalize outside its native range

•   Acer campestre - hedge maple

•   Acer ginnala - Amur maple

•   Acer negundo - boxelder

•   Acer nigrum - black maple

•   Acer platanoides - Norway maple

•   Acer pseudoplatanus - sycamore maple

•   Acer rubrum - red maple

•   Acer saccharinum - silver maple

•   Acer saccharum - sugar maple

•   Acer spicatum - mountain maple

•   Aesculus flava - yellow buckeye

•   Aesculus hippocastanum - horsechestnut

•   Ailanthus altissima - tree-of-Heaven

•   Akebia quinata - fiveleaf akebia

•   Albizia julibrissin - mimosa

•   Alnus glutinosa - European black alder

•   Alnus serrulata - hazel alder

•   Amelanchier arborea - downy serviceberry

•   Amelanchier canadensis - shadblow serviceberry

•   Amelanchier laevis - Alleghany serviceberry

Waterkeepers Chesapeake promoting Community Science

 from https://waterkeeperschesapeake.org/be-a-scientist-in.../, online resources promoting watershed science, citizen science, under the term Community Science.

From being an observer to an educator and to joining cleanups with your local Waterkeeper, there are many ways to get involved and make a real impact. Look for:

• a full list of Waterkeeper organizations near you;
• how to volunteer and get hands-on with water monitoring; and
• tips to turn your curiosity into action

Predation of Spotted Lantern Flies

 

Predation of spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) by generalist arthropod predators in North America

Abstract: Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula White, (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae)) is a non-native, invasive pest with a broad host range that has rapidly spread since its discovery in the United States in 2014. Managing emerging invasive pests can be challenging as repeated insecticide inputs can lead to resistance and impact non-target organisms. Alternative strategies, such as biological control, reduce risks but require extensive investigation before implementation. A recent community science study suggests that arthropods are major predators of L. delicatula. However, this pest can sequester toxins from its preferred host, tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), which may defend it from predation. Thus, we tested a variety of predatory arthropods against all life stages of L. delicatula to determine if they would avoid prey fed on A. altissima compared to other host plants. Predatory arthropods did not show a preference when given a choice between L. delicatula reared with access to A. altissima compared to those reared on alternative hosts. We then tested 10 commercially available or easily field-collected generalist predators to determine if these potential biological control agents could reduce L. delicatula populations. Spined soldier bugs (Podisus maculiventris (Say, Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)), Carolina mantids (Stagmomantis carolina (Johansson, Mantodea: Mantidae)), and Chinese mantids (Tenodera sinensis (Saussure, Mantodea: Mantidae)) were the most effective at reducing prey populations, indicating they have promise as effective natural control agents. Our results also suggest that conservation and/or augmentation biological control using generalist predators already present in the landscape could be a useful management strategy for L. delicatula.

Johnson, A.E., Hermann, S. & Hoover, K. Predation of spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) by generalist arthropod predators in North America. Arthropod-Plant Interactions 19, 31 (2025)

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11829-025-10138-0

Mullein - an uncommon, nonnative plant

The Great (or common) mullein, Verbascum thapsus, is native to Europe, northern Africa, and Asia, and introduced in the Americas, Australia and New Zealand.  This biennial (two-year life cycle) plant grows to more than 2 meters every other year. It prefers sunny, disturbed soils, and it can even survive between the stones of a patio.  Mullein can be invasive in temperate regions, but does not survive in shade or from tilling. It does host some insects that can be harmful to other plants. It is widely reported as medicinal, but no approved drugs are made from mullein. It can also be used for making dyes and torches, and can even be used when toilet paper would be necessary but not available. 

Here's a good video from another perspective:
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1EYjRhVT3H/

Oldtown Bridge floods again

 The poor old bridge connecting Maryland and West Virginia over the North Branch of the Potomac has been flooded more often than I can remember in previous years.  (Looking North from Green Spring, WV)

Normal level from the same perspective.
 

Eagles hatch at the Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown.

 Notice the carp at the feet of the adult on the left.

WVDNR Stocked 90 Watersheds During Week of March 10

 The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) never announces stockings in advance, but they announced that the following lakes and streams were stocked with trout during the week of March 10 (a few are in the upper South Branch watershed):

Anawalt Lake

Anthony Creek

Back Fork of Elk River

Back Fork of Elk River (Catch and Release)

Big Sandy Creek

Boley Lake

Buffalo Creek (Brooke)

Buffalo Creek (Clay)

Burnsville Tailwaters

Cacapon Park Lakes

Camp Creek

Castlemans Run Lake

Clear Fork of Guyandotte River

Clear Fork of Guyandotte River (Delayed Harvest)

Clover Run

Conaway Run Lake

Coopers Rock Lake

Cranberry River

Desert Fork

Dillons Run

NCTC Camera 2 Live View

Camera 2 from the National Conservation Training Center

Bird feeders during Avian flu outbreaks

 from Cornell Lab  

Originally published April 2022. Updated through February 2025 to reflect further developments in the outbreak.

Many people are concerned about the outbreak of avian influenza, or bird flu, that began in 2022 and has affected domestic poultry, waterfowl, raptors, shorebirds, other species of birds, and some mammals in many parts of the world. Because the current strain (H5N1) causes heavy losses to poultry, it is referred to as highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI.

Transmission of avian influenza from birds to humans is rare, according to Centers for Disease Control’s summary of current avian influenza testing and infection statistics.

Reports of Avian Flu in Birds

This H5N1 strain of avian influenza virus affects a wide variety of wild birds, including hawks, eagles, falcons, owls, crows, vultures, shorebirds, game birds, seabirds, and especially waterfowl such as Canada Geese and Mallards (see list of species with HPAI detections, below). The virus is shed in the saliva, mucus, and feces of