Images

Sunrise on the power canal adjacent to the S.O. Conte Research Laboratory in late February.

Micah Kieffer, EESC sturgeon biologist and a member of NOAA's sturgeon recovery network, returns to the S.O. Conte Research Laboratory with a young adult Atlantic sturgeon that was found on the shore in Reverse, Massachusetts in February of 2022.  Fish is scheduled for necropsy in the days to come.

With the willing help, and creative problem solving skills of roughly 20 volunteers throughout the day,  these two structures emerged. Bolts were tightened down, people quickly figured out what needed to happen and by the end of the day two Hoop House structures were up and almost ready for the clear sheeting that will cover them.

A field at the Bee Lab is leveled with gravel in preparation for the Hoop House area. Disassembled Hoop House parts were laid out on the leveled gravel to be sorted, lined up and put together. Roughly 20 volunteers showed up to help align and set the Hoops in to place. 

Chuck preps the ground for EESC Native Bee Lab's Volunteer Hoop House Raising at Patuxent in mid February. He made sure we set up on a stable well drained spot

Photo of a 1:4 scale model of the novel d-cylinder fish ladder in the hydraulics laboratory in Turners Falls, MA.

Ice fishing for yellow perch at Lake Habeeb, Rocky Gap State Park, Alleghany County, Maryland

USGS map showing the movement of a lesser scaup infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (red line) compared to four lesser scaup not infected (maroon, yellow, blue and black lines). Movement was recorded January 23 to 26, 2022. The black dot identifies where the birds were captured and released in Maryland.

A map of where birds were banded in 2021, in blue, a total of over 600,000 banding records.

A map of where previously-banded birds were found in 2021, in pink, a total of almost 120,000 encounter and recapture records. An “encounter” is any observation of a previously-banded bird, of which a “recapture” is a special case where the bird is captured by a permitted bander, either the person who originally band

This is a long-tailed salamander (Eurycea longicauda), which can be easily identified by its unique pattern and long tail. The tail of the long-tailed salamander can measure up to the twice the length of the body. This species is stream-adapted, meaning that the larvae are fully aquatic and live in streams.

Photo Contest | Winter 2022 | Honorable Mention 1
Amphibian research technician with begrudgingly cooperative salamander

A Savannah Sparrow at the Patuxent Research Refuge.  Patuxent Research Refuge, PG Co., MD

A Northern Harrier at the Patuxent Research Refuge

Patuxent Research Refuge, PG Co., MD

An American Tree Sparrow at the Patuxent Research Refuge photographed by Wildlife Biologist, Mickey Lutmerding.

A Japanese quail egg is being examined to determine if the egg is viable.  Associated project: Development and optimization of toxicogenomic tools for assessing immunomodulatory, metabolic, and endocrine effects of emerging contaminants.

During Nov-Dec 2021 study in the Conte Fish Passage Complex (flume bldg), juvenile lamprey transformers were tagged and released in the 10' wide west flume to evaluate their response to various conditions including water velocity and light.

During Nov-Dec 2021 study in the Conte Fish Passage Complex (flume bldg), juvenile lamprey transformers were tagged and released in the 10' wide west flume to evaluate their response to various conditions including water velocity and light.  Alex Haro is shown here clearing the flume of fish that were not captured in the trap or moved downstream.

Casey Knapp is an Information Specialist at the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center on the Partner and Employee Engagement Team. 

Banders compare the wings of two banded Purple Finches at the USGS Bird Banding Lab's Fall Migration Station. 

A male Sharp-shinned Hawk banded at the USGS Bird Banding Lab's Fall Migration Station.