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• Natural History Museum Escape Room

  • Start
    22 Jun 2020
  • End
    22 Jun 2022
  •  
    11:59 PM

  Register

  The Natural History Society of Maryland (NHSM) invites you to the wildest escape room on the internet. Navigate your way through the bowels of the NHSM Museum solving ever increasingly difficult puzzles that will challenge your naturalist mettle. Those who don’t make it out, will be added to the collections. Good luck.

  Designed for ages 12 and up. Great fun for families to do together.

  The suggested donation for this fun challenge is $5 (if you can give more, please do so). We know that the pandemic has affected so many lives. Therefore, if you can’t afford to give at this time, please select the free option. Once registered, you will be emailed the link. You will get one chance (use of the link) per registration.

  Please direct any questions to bstrong@marylandnature.org

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• World Turtle Day 2022

  • When
    22 May 2022
  •  
    10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    6908 Bel Air Rd, Natural History Society of MD

  Register

  

  Turtles have existed on Earth since the time of the dinosaurs, but unlike them, they have survived.   Join us for our second annual celebration of all things turtle and tortoise. We are partnering with MATTS this year to bring even more animals than last year! Meet and interact with over a dozen species, learn about the latest conservation efforts, and see specimens from the NHSM collections including the first bog turtle found in Maryland in 1940.  In addition you can feed a tortoise and even take a photo with one. Be sure to buy a raffle ticket for your chance to win one of three copies of “Turtles of the World” donated by Princeton University Press.

  World Turtle Day was created in 1990 as an annual observance to help people celebrate and protect these beloved creatures and their vanishing habitats around the world. There are 17 types of turtles that call Maryland home. Of those, 12 species are threatened by habitat loss and 9 are experiencing population decline. All four sea turtle species found in Maryland are protected by the ESA.

  Please arrive during your selected time slot and head to the check in tent. Timed entry is in place to help maintain social distancing guidelines. There is no limit to how long you can stay, so enjoy your visit! Spaces for each time slot are limited.

  1.  10:00 AM
  2.  11:00 AM
  3. 12:00PM
  4. 1:00PM
  5. 2:00 PM
  6. 3:00 PM

  

  COVID-19 safety guidelines:
  I. Limited attendance
  II. Timed entry
  III. Masks Optional
  IV. No food or drink in the building

  In partnership with:
  – Mid-Atlantic Turtle and Tortoise Society
  – Maryland Department of Natural Resources
  – Princeton University Press

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• Insect Study Merit Badge Class

  • When
    04 Jun 2022
  •  
    9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
  • Location
    6908 Bel Air Rd, Natural History Society of MD
  • Spaces left
    8

  Register

  

  They kill more people annually than any other animal. They account for the largest biomass of all terrestrial animals. And we can’t live without them. They are insects. Insects are the world’s most diverse group of organisms. We know of more than 2.4 million different types of insects which accounts for 80% of the world’s species.

  In earning the Insect Study merit badge, Scouts will glance into the strange and fascinating world of the insect. There, they will meet tiny creatures with tremendous strength and speed, see insects that undergo startling changes in habits and form as they grow, and learn how insects see, hear, taste, smell, and feel the world around them.If you are prepared, and have read the pamphlet, this class will help you fulfill a majority of the requirements for this badge. Course is being taught by a professional entomologist whi is also a Merit Badge Counselor and Scout Master.

  Things to remember to bring for this Merit Badge Class:

  1.  Merit Badge Blue Card properly filled out and signed off by your Scoutmaster
  2. Insect Study Merit Badge Pamphlet
  3. Scout Uniform
  4. Weather appropriate clothing for the time of year and location of the class for outdoor participation
  5. Supporting documentation or project work pertinent to this merit badge which may also include a Merit Badge Workbook for reference with notes
  6. A positive Scouting focus and attitude
  7. Lunch will be eaten outside weather dependent

  Most Merit Badges are not designed to be completed in a single session with an instructor, so it is not
  always possible to walk away with a completed and signed blue card at the end a program. Every badge
  requires some independent work by your scout. We call this “pre-work” because, if these requirements
  are performed prior to our program, we can complete and sign the merit badge card. Otherwise we will
  sign partial cards at the completion of our program and will have qualified counselors review
  assignments on an individual basis at a later date.

  

   

  The Natural History Society of Maryland is a volunteer-led non-profit organization, so the fee you pay will go directly to support the programs, the nature collections, and the building that make this kind of nature education possible.

  Thank you for your support!

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• Baltimore Heritage: Federal Hill Walking Tour

  • When
    04 Jun 2022
  •  
    10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
  • Location
    Federal Hill
  • Spaces left
    25

  Register

  

  Baltimore Heritage: Federal Hill Walking Tour

  Join us on a tour of Federal Hill and the surrounding neighborhood to learn about this waterfront community’s rich history, including stops at one of the last wooden houses in the city, the oldest house in Federal Hill, and of course, the hill we fortified to defend the city from the British in the War of 1812.

  Accessibility Limitations: This is a walking tour in the city; typical city environment

  Ages: 11 years -adults

  What is the COVID risk level? This is an outdoor event, but people will probably sometime be closer than 6 feet

  Would this need to be cancelled or have a rain date due to weather? It won’t be canceled for rain, but it will be canceled if weather is dangerous

  Cancelation Policy: NHSM Field Experiences
  Cancelations made 7 or more days in advance of the field experience, will receive a refund (minus a $5 processing fee). Cancelations made within the week of the event will not receive a refund but can be transferred to a friend.

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• Public Bird Banding Demonstration at the Museum (2 of 2)

  • When
    08 Jun 2022
  •  
    7:00 AM
  • Location
    6908 Bel Air Rd, Natural History Society of MD
  • Spaces left
    6

  Register

  

  It’s like fishing for birds. We will catch birds in mist nets, weigh and measure them, then attach unique bands to help track them throughout their life.

  See birds up close and  participate in community science presented by Birds of Urban Baltimore (B.Ur.B) in collaboration with the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center! Bird banding is the process of catching wild birds, placing identifying bands on them, and releasing them back into the wild. For this project, we will be working with the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center to band select species of birds in order to evaluate the health of the bird community.

   Observe conservation research first hand!
   Get an up-close look at wild birds!
   Learn about the ecology and biology of birds, how they are captured, and why banding is important!

  BONUS Also come in and look around the museum….

  NOTE: Come when you can. Leave when you want. Catching birds is not guaranteed, but early morning provide the best opportunity. Banding Demos are weather dependent. They will be cancelled if it is thundering/lightening, raining or the temperatures are over 90 or below 50.

  Inclement weather date for this event is: June 9 – same time, same place

  

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• Timber Rattlesnakes

  • When
    08 Jun 2022
  •  
    7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Online via Zoom

  Register

  

  It’s known by many names, American viper, bastard rattlesnake, black rattlesnake, common rattlesnake, eastern rattlesnake, great yellow rattlesnake, mountain rattlesnake, northern banded rattlesnake, northern rattlesnake, pit viper, rock rattlesnake, velvet tail, yellow rattlesnake. In the scientific vernacular it is, Crotalus horridus. It’s the only rattlesnake found in Maryland. And it’s endangered. While once widespread throughout their range, timber rattlesnakes have vanished from many areas and remaining populations are patchy. John Carlson, Timber Rattlesnake enthusiast, photographer & conservationist has been doing volunteer work to protect and preserve Timber rattlesnakes in the Northeast since 2015. He is a former Secondary Educator of Social Sciences and Literacy and a U.S. Army Veteran residing in Rhode Island. John will be presenting on all things regarding Timber rattlesnakes, particularly the remaining populations in the New England states.

  Are you fascinated with reptiles and amphibians? The Natural History Society of Maryland’s Herp Club promotes the proper husbandry, conservation, study, and appreciation of reptiles and amphibians. Meet fellow “Herpers”! Amateurs, professionals, and kids of all ages are welcome! Membership to NHSM required. (NHSM membership is $25 for individuals, $35 for families.) Herp Club membership is an additional $5 for individuals and $10 for families annually. https://www.marylandnature.org/club-membership/
  Learn more about NHSM Clubs: https://youtu.be/pIA7naRjXws

  

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• The Marvelous Mysids of Maryland

  • When
    09 Jun 2022
  •  
    7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Online via Zoom

  Register

  

  What do you get when you cross a marsupial and a crustacean?

  Mysids, small shrimp-like animals, are a little known but ecologically important part of
  Chesapeake Bay’s ecosystem. They are referred to as opossum shrimp due to the brood pouch present in the species’ females which sets the order apart from other crustaceans, whose larvae are free-swimming. But there is more to the mysids than the pouch. Although small (adult size is about the width of a human
  fingernail), mysids dominate the diet of many juvenile fish, from bottom-dwelling fishes such as
  flounders and drums to fast swimming predators like rockfish and bluefish.

  Dr. Ryan Woodland, Associate Professor at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science will introduce us to the main species of mysids in the Chesapeake Bay, provide details on their ecology, and present recent research findings abundance, reproduction and diet of two of the most abundant species of mysid in the Bay, Neomysis americana.

  Dr. Woodland is an ecologist at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s
  Chesapeake Biological Laboratory (CBL) whose research focuses on trophic interactions in
  coastal food webs and how environmental factors (often human-induced) influence species
  communities and their dynamics in coastal ecosystems. The core themes of Dr. Woodland’s
  research touch upon several broad areas of food web ecology, but they all inform our
  understanding of the processes that support the incredible productivity of estuaries and coastal
  marine ecosystems. Many of Dr. Woodland’s research projects are regionally focused on
  Chesapeake Bay and the larger Mid-Atlantic region, but the processes underlying these local
  patterns can inform our understanding of conditions in other ecosystems. Prior to coming to
  CBL, Dr. Woodland held postdoctoral fellowships in Canada (Université du Québec à Trois-
  Rivières) and Australia (Monash University, Victoria), and he maintains active collaborations
  with researchers from both countries. In addition to teaching and mentoring graduate students
  at CBL, he is engaged in supporting the professional development of undergraduate students
  pursuing careers in STEM fields through formal and informal internships. Dr. Woodland received
  his undergraduate degree in Marine Safety & Environmental Protection from the Massachusetts
  Maritime Academy and his Masters and PhD in Fisheries Science from the University of
  Maryland College Park.

  

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• Overlooked Places: Telling the interconnected history of Maryland through recent archaeology in Baltimore

  • When
    15 Jun 2022
  •  
    7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Online via Zoom

  Register

  

  Largely under researched, recent archaeological excavations in West Baltimore have documented an intact material record spanning over 250 years.  Adam Fracchia, Assistant Research Professor from the University of Maryland will share recent discoveries made  through a combination of salvage and research excavations in which they have been able to explore and compare the lives of different Baltimoreans.  By studying the material and spatial record of industry, wealthy estates, and alley rowhouses, we can better understand their lives and the history of Baltimore City and Maryland in general.

  Adam Fracchia earned a doctorate degree in anthropology from the University of Maryland, College Park, in 2014 researching the patterns and effects of industrialization and urbanization during the mid-nineteenth to twentieth centuries in Baltimore County, Maryland. Adam is also an Adjunct Professor in Anthropology at the University of Delaware where he teaches a range of undergraduate and graduate-level classes in anthropology and archaeology that are cross-listed in history and material culture studies.  Other recent work experience has included working as an archaeologist with the National Park Service (NPS) and the Maryland State Highway Administration, helping to oversee the management and mitigation of cultural resources and collections management.

  Natural History Society of Maryland’s Archaeology Club promotes the value of archaeology in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and surrounding areas. The goal of the Archaeology Club is to educate citizenry in the ethics, methods, and artifact preservation methods of archaeology and how archaeology can be used to document, discover, and promote local history. The Archaeology Club is inclusive to all persons who have an interest in archaeology. If you are an archaeology enthusiast, please consider joining us. You must be a member of NHSM to join any of its clubs. Follow this link to learn more: https://www.marylandnature.org/club-membership/

  The Natural History Society of Maryland is a volunteer-led non-profit organization, so the fee you pay will go directly to support the programs, the nature collections, and the building that make this kind of nature education possible.

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• COVID in Animals -A Zoo Veterinarian's Perspective

  • When
    16 Jun 2022
  •  
    7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Online via Zoom

  Register

  

  The SARS CoV2 pandemic has had wide implications for us humans for the past several years, touching almost every part of our lives. What about other species? This presentation will delve deeper into the unexpected risk this virus has played in animals, and how the disease has been managed in a zoo setting from a zoo veterinarian’s perspective to protect the people and the animals at the zoo.

  Initial investigations in 2020 demonstrated the risk of infection to an array of species based on the presence of the ACE2-receptor, giving veterinarians and researchers hints as to which animals may become infected. The first cases of clinical disease in felid species occurred in April 2020 at the Bronx Zoo during the first wave of the outbreak in New York City, resulting in mostly mild clinical signs in the affected tigers and lions. Since that time, multiple species of non-domestic cats have been affected to varying degrees by different variants circulating in the human population, including fatally in some cases. A subunit vaccine was developed in late 2021 and approved for use in American mink (Neovison vison) and has received experimental use approval from FDA for use in zoo species in multiple states.

  Ellen Bronson is the Senior Director of Animal Health, Conservation, and Research at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, where she leads the veterinary and nutrition programs, as well as the Zoo’s conservation programs, research endeavors, and sustainability program. She received her veterinary degree from the Freie Universitaet Berlin, and completed a residency in zoo and wildlife medicine at Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington DC. She has been a staff veterinarian at the Maryland Zoo since 2006. She has authored or co-authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications and three book chapters. Besides being one of the zoo’s three clinical veterinarians, she also is an active field veterinarian, working on animals ranging from native Maryland wood and bog turtles to Panamanian golden frogs and Bolivian river dolphins. Her research interests are broad and include avian malaria in penguins and reproductive health of frogs, among many others. She serves as the veterinary advisor to the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)’s Felid Taxon Advisory Group, where she advises on the medical issues affecting non-domestic cats regarding infectious diseases, preventative health, and more recently, the effects of SARS CoV-2.

  

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• Fossil Hunting at Stratford Cliffs (June)

  • When
    18 Jun 2022
  •  
    8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
  • Location
    Stratford Cliffs / Stratford Hall Plantation 483 Great House Road, Montross, VA 22520 · Montross, VA
  • Spaces left
    0

  Join waitlist

  

  Photo credit: Virginia State Parks | CC
  

  This Stratford Cliffs event is open to everyone!  

  We are returning to Stratford Cliffs for some fossil searching and hope you can join us!

  Stratford Cliffs, located in Montross, Virginia (on the south side of the Potomac River, adjacent to Westmoreland State Park) is part of the Stratford Hall plantation owned by four generations of the Lee family (and is now cared for by the Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation).
  

  The estate encompasses 1900 acres of farmlands and forests on a high bluff overlooking the Potomac River. The Cliffs, which are part of the Calvert Formation, are a rare geological phenomenon. The Calvert Formation cliffs along the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River rank among the most important fossil research sites in the Mid-Atlantic region. They were formed when land replaced an ancient sea. Fossils found here are composed of compacted marine plant and animal matter dating from the Miocene Epoch–approximately 17 to 10 million years ago.  

  Fossilized remains found at this site indicate a sea filled with primitive shark-toothed porpoises, salt-water crocodiles, sea cows, gopher turtles, rays, whales and sharks. Thousands of shark teeth found along this area attest to the frequency of the sharks, largest among them being Carcharodon megalodon, or Giant White Shark, with teeth measuring 7 inches or more.
  

  Most of the land along the shoreline is privately owned, and public access is severely limited, so we are lucky to have this opportunity!

  The driving time from Baltimore is an estimated 3 hours.
  

  Difficulty: This field trip is moderately strenuous (derived from the combination of the colder weather by the water and decent hiking). Depending on what storms have impacted the river, there could be washed up trees and debris on the beach, as well as broken glass. There could be a few scramble spots.

  Additional information will be provided to attendees closer to the trip date.

  Cancelation Policy: NHSM Field Experiences

  Cancelations made 7 or more days in advance of the field experience, will receive a refund (minus a $5 processing fee). Cancelations made within the week of the event will not receive a refund but can be transferred to a friend.

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• Market Days at the Museum

  • Start
    18 Jun 2022
  •  
  • End
    22 Oct 2022
  •  
  • Schedule
    4 sessions
  • Location
    6908 Bel Air Rd, Natural History Society of MD

  Register

  

  Q. What’s the Overlea Farmer’s Market have that no other farmers market has?

  A. A Natural History Museum.

  The Natural History Society of Maryland has hosted the Overlea Farmer’s Market in its parking lot for the past three years. This year, on select Market Days, the Museum will be open to the public. After you have filled your bellies, come inside and fill your minds. There are animals, fossils, plants, rocks, archaeological artifacts and more waiting for you. Complete the scavenger hunt, and win a prize. The gift store features a suite of items you can’t find anywhere else like a fossil hunt in a bag. Or pick up a pair of shark toothed cufflinks for that special someone.

  

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• SharkFest Red Carpet Event - Exploring the Hidden Lives of Sharks with Dr. Aaron Carlisle

  • When
    24 Jun 2022
  •  
    6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
  • Location
    6908 Bel Air Rd, Natural History Society of MD
  • Spaces left
    73

  Register

  

  Join us as we kick off Sharkfest 2022 with a special RedCarpet Event featuring a live keynote address by shark scientist, Dr. Aaron Carlisle, from the University of Delaware. who will provide an overview on shark evolution, biology, and ecology – highlighting the important role sharks play in the Mid-Atlantic region and the World’s oceans. Dr. David Shiffman will be back to read from and sign copies of his recently published Why Sharks Matter book. And we will cut the ribbon and unveil our new exhibit- Horizontal Shark Dentitions donated by Stephen Cunningham.

  Dr. Aaron Carlisle has a B.A in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton University, a M.S in Marine Science from San Jose State University and a Ph.D in Biological Sciences from Stanford University. He currently is an assistant professor at University of Delaware School of Marine Science and Policy. Dr. Carlisle is currently researching the spatial, trophic, and physiological ecology of elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays)  He is a member of an international research marine conservation consortium, as well as the IUCN Shark Specialist Group, which seeks to secure the conservation of the world’s sharks, rays and chimaeras. Over the course of his career, he has also worked as a member of the Pacific Shark Research Center, and alongside the NOAA Environmental Research Division.

  Spaces are Limited

  Doors open: 6 PM
  Ribbon cutting ceremony: 6:30 PM
  Speakers: 7 pm

   

  

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• SharkFest 2022

  • When
    25 Jun 2022
  •  
    10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  • Location
    Natural History Society of MD
  • Spaces left
    198

  Register

  

  Our oceans are home to more then 1,000 species of shark. Join us for an annual educational and fun day to celebrate some of the most successful creatures in history. Visitors will be able to learn through hands-on activities that cover shark anatomy, evolution, morphology and ecology.

  This is an event for all ages. The kid zone will feature a multitude of shark themed crafts, games and a chance to be a real life paleontologist and dig for shark teeth and bones! Guests will be able to see and feel shark skin, watch the birth of a ray, make a shark tooth necklace (extra fee).

  This year, we asked you to choose one to serve as the Shark Fest Ambassador for 2022. You chose the largest fish in the world – the whale shark.

  Here’s a sneak peak from last year

  Before you visit

  When you register, please pick a timed entry slot. Feel free to stay as long as you would like, there is no timed exit for this event. You will receive a confirmation email with your time slot. Please stop by the check in tent before entering the museum or any outdoor station.

  Entry times:
  10:00 AM
  11:00 AM
  12:00 PM
  1:00 PM
  2:00 PM

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• Catfish Species in Maryland: A snapshot of the last 120 years

  • When
    30 Jun 2022
  •  
    7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Online via Zoom

  Register

  

  Maryland is often called the “United States in miniature” and we have a variety of catfish species that demonstrates this as well.  We will look at the various habitats that these versatile fish prefer (native and introduced), the problems that can result from stocking nonnative fish and the challenges that managers face when dealing with a species that is both loved and reviled.  Presented by Mary Groves, Fisheries Biologist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Fishing and Boating Services.

  

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• The Great Virgin Islands Frog Count: a low-tech, high-return method for finding frogs

  • When
    13 Jul 2022
  •  
    7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Online via Zoom

  Register

  

  Some people go to the Virgin Islands for sun and surf. Others, like NHSM Herp Club member, Russel, go for the Herps. On a recent trip to VI, Russ met Dr. Renata Platenberg, the principal investigator for the Great Virgin Island Frog Count. Russ invited her to present to the club, and we are excited to say that Dr. Platenberg accepted that invitation. Please join us for this special presentation.

  The Great VI Frog Count is a Citizen Science project to map the distribution of frogs across the Virgin Islands. This project is part of a long term study on VI frog activity patterns and distribution. In the past we have been limited to information that could be collected from people trained to recognize frog calls, and to areas where those people were able to access. Using a citizen science approach coupled with sound analysis software, we can increase the areas surveyed and decrease the human error. Long term, these data will provide valuable information on the status of our frogs, the health of their ecosystems, and their response to climate change.

  
  Project website: https://sites.google.com/view/vifrogcount/home

  Bio: Dr Renata Platenberg is a wildlife biologist with a specialism in night creatures. She earned her Masters of Science in Conservation Biology on invasive rats in the Galapagos from the University of Kent in 1994, going on to earn a PhD in Biology on legless lizard conservation in 1999. She had the good fortune to roam the national parks of the Colorado Plateau looking for herps for the US Geological Survey from 2000-2004, after which she relocated to the US Virgin Islands to serve as the terrestrial wildlife biologist and Endangered Species Coordinator until she made a lateral move to the University of the Virgin Islands to teach environmental science topics in 2013. She is currently looking for the next adventure. 

  Are you fascinated with reptiles and amphibians? The Natural History Society of Maryland’s Herp Club promotes the proper husbandry, conservation, study, and appreciation of reptiles and amphibians. Meet fellow “Herpers”! Amateurs, professionals, and kids of all ages are welcome! Membership to NHSM required. (NHSM membership is $25 for individuals, $35 for families.) Herp Club membership is an additional $5 for individuals and $10 for families annually. https://www.marylandnature.org/club-membership/
  Learn more about NHSM Clubs: https://youtu.be/pIA7naRjXws

  

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• Art and Nature: Make a Comb Basket

  • When
    24 Jul 2022
  •  
    10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    6908 Bel Air Rd, Natural History Society of MD
  • Spaces left
    10

  Register

  

  Joan is back to teach more basketry. This time it is a comb basket.

  In early America, combs were precious; made of shell, wood or metal they were expensive,  hard to make and difficult to obtain. Combs were necessary to comb hair as well as locate and remove lice. Most people did not have a dresser or chest of drawers to safely store the combs in.  Native Americans had a basket that served the purpose to safe guard the comb and it hung on the wall.   It is an interesting and unusual basket that has many uses.

  Joan Betzold, a basket weaver and weaving teacher for over 30 years, attends 40+ art, folk art, colonial, fiber and gardening shows a year. She has been honored as the Featured Artist at several nationally recognized shows. Joan designs, dyes the fibers, and weaves her original baskets using centuries old techniques without nails, glue, staples or molds. She is well-known for her award winning custom designs as well as unusual baskets incorporating vintage tools, kitchen items, antlers, or a treasured piece from a loved one. She teaches weaving at many local museums as well as privately. For several years she has been asked to serve as the basket weaving judge at the Maryland State Fair. Learn more: http://www.partnershipcrafts.com/

  TERMS and CONDITIONS: Open to adults and older teens. Because individual material kits are purchased and prepared for each student, cancellations will incur a $20 processing fee. Cancellations not accepted within a week of the course date. Every student will need to bring…a basin or bucket that will hold 2 gallons, spray bottle for water, old towel, 12 large clip type clothes pins, sharpened pencil, measuring tape, a brick or something heavy wrapped in plastic wrap. They need to wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Food an drink inside the facility is prohibited. NHSM retains the right to update or change these requirements at any time.

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• Fish Out of Water: Terrestrial Locomotion of Amphibious Fish

  • When
    28 Jul 2022
  •  
    7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Online via Zoom

  Register

  

  Amphibious fish are those that use a range of terrestrial locomotory modes, such as lateral undulation, tripod-like walking (using paired fins and tail), and jumping.

  A wide diversity of fishes exhibit amphibious behaviors for a variety of reasons. However, it is unknown how most amphibious fishes orient in terrestrial environments. Furthermore, while there has been some research into why fish emerge onto land, motivations for emersion can differ between species and data is deficient for many. Dr. Noah Bressman, Assistant Professor of Physiology at Salisbury University, will help us to better understand this behavior through his research into the senses and cues mangrove rivulus (Kryptolebias marmoratus) and walking catfish (Clarias batrachus) use to orient in terrestrial environments, describe the conditions that encourage emersion in northern snakehead (Channa argus) and walking catfish, and describe the terrestrial locomotor behaviors of northern snakeheads and Neotropical suckermouth catfishes (Loricariidae).

  Dr. Noah Bressman is an Assistant Professor of Physiology at Salisbury University. With a background in marine and organismal biology, his research is highly interdisciplinary and collaborative. Dr. Bressman’s research mainly focuses on the amphibious behaviors of invasive fish species, such as Northern Snakeheads and Walking Catfish, investigating why they emerge onto land, how they move around and survive on land, and where they go/how they orient on land. He is also collaborating with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, and USGS to investigate the health, biology, and ecology of recreationally-important and/or invasive fish species, such as Blue Catfish and Northern Snakehead. In addition to being a scientist, Dr. Bressman is an avid science communicator, using biological art as a tool for science communication, creating TED-Ed lessons, and writing scientific blogs for a variety of journals, scientific societies, and shows. When not researching fish, Dr. Bressman is competitive fisherman on a mission to catch every species of fish – currently at 447!

  

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• A fish-eat-fish world: Dunkleosteus and other creatures from the Cleveland Shale

  • When
    03 Aug 2022
  •  
    7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Online via Zoom

  Register

  

  The Cleveland Shale is a well-known deposit from the Devonian Period, also known as the Age of Fishes, where fossils of numerous fish are uncovered, including the famous Dunkleosteus.
  Dunkleosteus belonged to a diverse group of fish called placoderms, which dominated the Devonian seas before going extinct during the second major mass extinction in Earth’s history.
  Another group of fish, the sharks, are also well preserved in the Cleveland Shale and were prey to the fearsome Dunkleosteus. Travel back in time to the Late Devonian, approximately 360
  million years ago, to learn about the apex predator, Dunkleosteus. Discover what made this fish so unique and formidable and learn about the other fish, some familiar and some bizarre, that
  coexisted in the ancient marine ecosystem.

  Amanda Mc gee is the Head of Collections and Collections Manager for the Department of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Her responsibilities include
  overseeing the collections management staff, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the vertebrate paleontology collection, and participating in the museum's transformation project,
  including planning all new exhibits, collection storage facilities and lab spaces. Amanda’s fieldwork background includes excavation of Late Cretaceous fauna from Alberta, Canada and
  Late Devonian fish from the Cleveland area.

  Amanda has a Master of Science specializing in Vertebrate Paleontology from the University of Calgary where her research focused on fossil turtles and turtle eggs from the Late Cretaceous of
  Alberta. Amanda also has a Masters in Museum Studies from the University of Toronto. Before joining the staff at the CMNH Amanda worked as a fossil preparator and field assistant that the
  Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology in Drumheller, Alberta, as well as a collections intern at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. In her spare time Amanda enjoys hiking, reading, and
  spending quality time with her husband Cory and their tuxedo cat, Mona.

  Show details
• Grasses, Sedges and Rushes Identification

  • Start
    06 Aug 2022
  •  
  • End
    14 Aug 2022
  •  
  • Schedule
    4 sessions
  • Location
    6908 Bel Air Rd, Natural History Society of MD
  • Spaces left
    5

  Register

  

  Grasses and grass-like plants form a key component of most plant communities yet are notoriously difficult to identify. This is due to many factors, the most prominent of which are that grasses, sedges, and rushes (i.e., “the graminoids”) are usually small, narrow-leaved plants with unassuming, diminutive flowers – and they all look alike!

  This course is designed for individuals interested in learning how to tell the difference between these three easily confused groups of plants. It is intended to improve Grass, Sedge and Rush (GSR) identification skills in wetland and adjacent upland habitats with emphasis on key field characteristics of select genera of GSRs. The course will include a combination of in-class lectures, instructor-led keying, and field identification at local habitats.

  28 Contact Hours in total.

  • Saturday, August 6 – 9AM-5PM – CASSROOM 
  • Sunday, August 7 – 9AM-5PM – CLASSROOM
  • Saturday, August 13 – 9AM-5PM – CLASSROOM
  • Sunday, August 14 – 9AM-5PM  – FIELD

  Instructor Bio

  Sean Sipple is a Senior Environmental Scientist for Coastal Resources, Inc. with over 19 years of experience. He co-leads CRI’s Natural Resources Team and oversees water quality and biomonitoring studies in non-tidal and tidal habitats, with broad expertise in natural resources disciplines such as rare, threatened, and endangered species and habitat surveys, waters of the U.S. (including wetlands) delineations, and mitigation monitoring.  He conducts, reviews, and assembles complex natural resource studies related to residential, commercial, transportation, and utility projects, both private and public. He holds numerous accredited certifications, including Professional Wetland Scientist, Professional Wetland Delineator, Benthic Macroinvertebrate Taxonomy, Fish Taxonomy, Fish Crew Leader, Qualified Bog Turtle Surveyor, and Small Whorled Pogonia.  Sean also regularly provides professional training to natural resource professionals in the region in wetland delineation, plant identification, and other technical disciplines.

  Cancellation Policy: NHSM reserves the right to cancel the class if the minimum number of students is not reached or for other circumstances outside our control.

  • Cancellations made 3 months in advance receive 90% refund
  • Cancellations made 1 month in advance receive 50% refund
  • No refunds available if cancellations occur 1 week in advance

  

  Show details
• Scrimshaw Workshop for Kids

  • When
    28 Aug 2022
  •  
    10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
  • Location
    6908 Bel Air Rd, Natural History Society of MD
  • Spaces left
    13

  Register

  

  When you think scrimshaw, images of whaling ships may come to mind. However, the art of scratching images into materials as art can be traced back throughout human history and prehistory. Nate Salzman, Education and Exhibit Specialist from the Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum will share with us the history of scrimshaw and then we will learn how to take simple materials (bone, and ink), simple tools (sandpaper and scribe) and turn them into something simply stupendous ….. Scrimshaw! No experience is necessary. If you can draw a straight line, you can scrimshaw.

  This session is open to children aged 10-17 (there is an adult session later on the same day). SPACES are limited. At the time of this posting, masks are optional. This protocol may be changed at any time based on evolving public safety. Cancellations prior to one week before the start of the class will incur a $5 processing fee. Within a week, no refunds will be issued.

  The origin of the word “scrimshaw” is somewhat obscure, but most scholars agree that it probably came from an Old Dutch word which means “a waste of time.” A “scrimshander” was someone who never got much done. Today that word is used to identify etching or carving of bone or other natural materials and is recognized as an American folk art.

  The intersection of art and science has been a foundational pillar of NHSM since its founding in 1929

  

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• Scrimshaw Workshop for Adults

  • When
    28 Aug 2022
  •  
    1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
  • Location
    6908 Bel Air Rd, Natural History Society of MD
  • Spaces left
    7

  Register

  

  When you think scrimshaw, images of whaling ships may come to mind. However, the art of scratching images into materials as art can be traced back throughout human history and prehistory. Nate Salzman, Education and Exhibit Specialist from the Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum will share with us the history of scrimshaw and then we will learn how to take simple materials (bone, and ink), simple tools (sandpaper and scribe) and turn them into something simply stupendous ….. Scrimshaw! No experience is necessary. If you can draw a straight line, you can scrimshaw.

  This session is open to adults (there is a kid’s session earlier on the same day). SPACES are limited. At the time of this posting, masks are optional. This protocol may be changed at any time based on evolving public safety. Cancellations prior to one week before the start of the class will incur a $5 processing fee. Within a week, no refunds will be issued.

  The origin of the word “scrimshaw” is somewhat obscure, but most scholars agree that it probably came from an Old Dutch word which means “a waste of time.” A “scrimshander” was someone who never got much done. Today that word is used to identify etching or carving of bone or other natural materials and is recognized as an American folk art.

  The intersection of art and science has been a foundational pillar of NHSM since its founding in 1929

  

  Show details
• Maryland Ornithological Society's Sanctuaries: From Mountains to Saltmarsh

  • When
    29 Sep 2022
  •  
    7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Online via Zoom

  Register

  

  The Maryland Ornithological Society owns ten sanctuaries, totaling about 3,000 acres, spanning the
  state from Garrett County in the west, to Somerset County on the lower Eastern Shore. All of the
  sanctuaries are open to the public every day of the year, at no charge, and represent a microcosm of the
  habitats for birds and other wildlife in Maryland. Two of the sanctuaries, Carey Run and Irish Grove,
  offer overnight lodging in their historic, rustic homes. Many of the other sanctuaries are seldom visited.
  Drawing on the files of the MOS Sanctuary Committee, historic accounts in Maryland Birdlife, and
  photos and materials provided by MOS members from across the state, Marcia will provide profiles of
  the sanctuaries, discuss their birds and habitats, and show maps and photos. Because MOS would
  welcome assistance from naturalists in documenting the flora and fauna at the sites, Marcia will
  conclude with suggestions on how interested individuals can become involved with the sanctuaries.

  About the Presenter ; Marcia Watson is a long-time member of the Maryland Ornithological Society. As a member of the MOS Sanctuary Committee, Marcia is working to foster awareness of the sanctuaries among MOS members and the broader public. Interested in biology and the outdoors from the time she was a little girl, Marcia holds a doctoral degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Delaware, and for over 20 years specialized in research dealing with the environmental signals that animals use to coordinate their lifecycles with seasonal changes such as daylength and temperature. She then moved on to become an academic administrator at University of Delaware and, later, University of Maryland University College. Marcia is now retired and lives with her husband Gene Scarpulla in Bowie, MD. She serves as President and webmaster of the Patuxent Bird Club.

  

  Show details
• The Kingdom Fungi 101

  • Start
    15 Oct 2022
  •  
  • End
    16 Oct 2022
  •  
  • Schedule
    2 sessions
  • Location
    6908 Bel Air Rd, Natural History Society of MD
  • Spaces left
    20

  Register

  

  From 8-meter mushrooms to zombie ants, we will explore the mysteries of the kingdom Fungi and their importance to us all.

  Taught by mycologist, Serenella Linares, during this course, we will learn about the natural history of these fascinating creatures, their ecological roles, their ever changing taxonomy, how these organisms intersect with different environments, and how crucial fungi are in human lives. This program is a 2 part series, with a lecture portion via zoom followed by an in-person day of discovery and forest exploration to see and identify the organisms in their natural habitat.

  • INSTRUCTION – Saturday, October 15
  • FIELD STUDY – Sunday, October 16

  NOTE: As of publishing, this course is designed to be taught in person at the Natural History Society of Maryland. NHSM will continue to monitor the ever-changing public health environment, and reserves the right to impose public safety measures including moving the course to online if deemed necessary.

  Instructor’s Bio – Serenella Linares serves as Director of Adult Education at Audubon Naturalist Society (ANS) and Co-Chair of Naturally Latinos. Through the Naturalist Hour, Natural History Field Studies, and Master Naturalist programs, Serenella utilizes the virtual world as an introductory door into the fascinating aspects of nature and a catalyst for people to get inspired to learn more in person.

  Prior to joining ANS, Ms. Linares worked as an assistant park naturalist with the Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation from 2011-2016 at an urban nature center serving predominantly African-American and Hispanic communities. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in biology from Universidad Metropolitana de Puerto Rico, a Master’s degree in atmospheric science from Howard University, and graduate training in mycology from University of Maryland. When Ms. Linares is not teaching, she explores natural areas, photographs practices nature photography, and participates in citizen science projects.

  

  Show details
• Lichens 101: Biology, Ecology and Diversity

  • When
    29 Oct 2022
  •  
    10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  • Location
    6908 Bel Air Rd, Natural History Society of MD
  • Spaces left
    15

  Register

  

  This workshop will introduce participants to lichen biology, ecology, and diversity.  We will start the workshop in the classroom with an introduction to lichens and a discussion of some of the ways and places that lichens grow. Then we will go on a short walk with an introduction to some of the common lichens of Maryland and a demonstration of how to collect, label, and store specimens. Then we will spend the next 2 hours in the lab, viewing the features of the lichens we’ve collected under the microscopes and using keys to identify them. Participants will also have the option to bring their own specimens to identify. Participants should bring walking shoes and outdoor clothes appropriate to the weather as this event will take place rain or shine. We will provide hand lenses for participants to observe the lichens in the field (but we encourage you to bring your own if you have one!) and microscopes will be available in the lab.

  Natalie Howe has been studying lichens with high or low intensity for the past 14 years, and currently lives in Washington DC.  She is a Biological Scientist at the U.S.D.A., and an adjunct teacher of Mushrooms, Molds, and Society class at George Mason University. In the pre-covid times, she was volunteering with the lichen team at Patuxent Research Refuge in MD, Rock Creek Park in DC and at Liberty State Park in NJ to document the lichens there. For her dissertation research at Rutgers University in New Jersey, she studied the ecology of lichens in the NJ Pinelands.

  Recommended text: Urban Lichens: A Field Guide for Northeastern North America Paperback – November 23, 2021 – by Jessica L Allen (Author), James C Lendemer (Author), Jordan R Hoffman (Illustrator). Purchase is optional. Copies will be available during the class for reference. 

  NHSM reserves the right to apply and/or change any and all COVID related policies based on the public health landscape at the time of the course. We appreciate your understanding.

  

  Show details
• Big Book Sale - Members Only Night

  • When
    04 Nov 2022
  •  
    5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    6908 Bel Air Rd, Natural History Society of MD

  Register

  

  Before the doors open to the general public, NHSM Members will get first dibs on the great selection of books. Each year, the Natural History Society of Maryland hosts a big book sale. Proceeds support on-going educational programming. There are tons of great books at garage sale prices including: Field Guides – Nature – Plants – Outdoor Activities – Wildlife – Photography – Archaeology – Fossils – Children’s – Gardening – Textbooks – Periodicals – Historic Pamphlets – Memoirs – Travel Guides – and more…

  If you aren’t a member, it is easy to become one. Memberships start at $25 and are tax deductible.

  General Public Sale – Can’t make it on Friday night, come out to the General Public Day on November 5  to Feed your curiosity with new books.

  Fill your house with stacks of books, in all the crannies and all the nooks. Dr. Seuss

  

  Show details
• Big Book Sale - General Public Day

  • When
    05 Nov 2022
  •  
    10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    6908 Bel Air Rd, Natural History Society of MD

  Register

  

  Come one, Come All. Saturday to Feed your curiosity with new books.

  The Natural History Society of Maryland is hosting a book sale. Proceeds support on-going educational programming. Great books at garage sale prices including previously loved: Field Guides – Nature – Plants – Outdoor Activities – Wildlife – Photography – Archaeology – Fossils – Children’s – Gardening – Textbooks – Periodicals – Historic Pamphlets – Memoirs – Travel Guides – and more…

  NOTE: Members Only Night is the night before, November 4 – Before the doors open to the general public, NHSM Members will get first dibs on the great selection of books. If you aren’t a member, it is easy to become one. Memberships start at $25 and are tax deductible.

  Fill your house with stacks of books, in all the crannies and all the nooks. Dr. Seuss

  

  Show details