Images

A blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) swims in the shallows of Dogue Creek near Mount Vernon, Virginia. 

One of the many trails at Leetown Research Laboratory behind the Fish Health building. It is a beautiful, shaded path that leads to the baseball field and degassing building. A very relaxing place to stroll and listen to the birds in the woods on either side of the path. Oftentimes, flycatchers can be heard or spotted in this area.

Sturgeons are among the most endangered animals globally. Once plentiful along the Atlantic coast, the shortnose sturgeon suffered severe population declines due to overfishing and habitat loss. In 1973, it was listed under the federal Endangered Species Act, as the Hudson River—its key habitat—was heavily polluted and oxygen-deprived.

Megan Evans is the Public Affairs Specialist at the Eastern Ecological Science Center. 

Native to the Mississippi, Ohio, Missouri, and Rio Grande Rivers, blue catfish were first introduced as a novel sportfish to the James River in the 1970s (Chesapeake Bay Program, 2020). The map below depicts observational records of the spatial and temporal invasion of blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay.

The great blue heron (Ardea herodias) is a large, wading bird known for its striking blue-gray plumage, long legs, and graceful demeanor, commonly found near water bodies across North America. This one was photographed in Ocean City, MD. 

Tom O'Connell is the Center Director for the Eastern Ecological Science Center. 

Ducklings born in the Sea Duck colony at the Eastern Ecological Science Center in Laurel, MD, are housed in a separate building. The ducklings receive round-the-clock care. 

The Sea Duck colony at the Eastern Ecological Science Center in Laurel, MD, is the only facility of its kind in the United States. Pictured are two male and one female Common Eiders floating in their pond. 

The Sea Duck colony at the Eastern Ecological Science Center in Laurel, MD, is the only facility of its kind in the United States. Pictured are White-winged Scoters on the edge of their pond. 

A female Ruby-throated Hummingbird buzzing among the bee balm stops to get some nectar. Shot in front of the Gabrielson Building at the Eastern Ecological Science Center in Laurel, MD. 

Brian Richardson is the Assistant Center Director for the Eastern Ecological Science Center

Emily is a biologist with the Eastern Ecological Science Center at the Patuxent Research Refuge

Dave is the Program Manager of the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) at the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center in Laurel, MD.

Shannon Skalos is a Biologist with the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) at the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center.

Allison Sussman is a Biologist with the Remote Sensing and Geospatial Analysis Team (RSGAT) at the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center in Laurel, MD. 

Allison Sussman is a biologist with the USGS EESC in Laurel, MD                

Dave is the Program Manager of the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) at the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center in Laurel, MD.

Emily is a biologist with the Eastern Ecological Science Center in Laurel, MD             

Diana is a Biological Science Technician at the Eastern Ecological Science Center Patuxent.

A conceptual box-and-arrow diagram of avian influenza transmission. In each box, the first letter indicates low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) infection status (susceptible, infected, recovered) and the second indicates highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) infection status.