Every five years biologists with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources survey nesting birds on the islands in the Chesapeake Bay. Today they are utilizing drones as a less invasive way of conducting the census. Climate change and erosion have caused some islands to disappear while other islands are expanding. Two of the most highly counted birds, the brown pelican and double-crested cormorant, are not native to the Chesapeake Bay. Both have done well and expanded their range since the banning of the pesticide DDT. Brown Pelicans moved north while cormorants moved south. Other wading birds and shore birds are commonly seen as well such as Great blue herons and herring gulls.

This assignment was completed for Chesapeake Bay Magazine.

The Shenandoah Salamander is an endangered, rare lungless salamander. It is only found on three high peaks in Shenandoah National Park. A relict of the Pleistocene, the species is found in and around talas slope as opposed to creeks and streams. Here it is dry and cool even in summer. Mark worked with scientists from the USGS who study the salamander and the threats it faces.

The assignment was published in Earth Island Journal.

The piping plover is a threatened species of shorebird that requires pristine beaches as nesting habitat. In some areas the bird, and the protection it receives under the Endangered Species Act, is quite controversial. Though on Assateague Island a successful balance of conservation and recreation has been successful.

This assignment was published for What’s Up Media.

A PDF of the print version.

One of the first species granted protections under the United States Endangered Species Act was the elusive Delmarva Fox Squirrel. Large and stunningly silver, this mostly ground dwelling squirrels decline was due to habitat loss and road fatalities. In 2015 it was delisted, a huge conservation success story. Mark wrote and photographed two articles on the 5 year delisting plan regarding the squirrel. Trail cams now take the place of live capture in the remote swamps of the Delmarva peninsula.

Web version of story for Earth Island Journal.

PDF of article in Maryland Natural Resource.

A population of rare and wondrous synchronous fireflies (think Christmas lights display in dark hemlock forest) was discovered in the Allegheny National Forest a decade ago. Since then the nonprofit Pennsylvania Firefly Festival was formed and holds an annual summer celebration of the firefly. They also conduct research on firefly habitat and search for other possible populations (even by kayak) throughout the forest. They also raise awareness to proper firefly viewing such as wearing red cellophane over headlamps as to not disrupt the mating signals and inserting native foliage and fruits in mason jars when children collect them (and releasing them soon after!).

This assignment was completed for the National Forest Foundation.

Additional work on the fireflies was done for Pennsylvania Magazine