Images

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.

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.

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

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

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

A Northern Harrier at the Patuxent Research Refuge

Patuxent Research Refuge, PG Co., MD

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. 

A Tufted Titmouse recaptured at the Bird Banding Lab's Fall Migration Station in 2021, originally banded at the station in 2013.

Student contractor and amphibian research technician, Claire Netto, is handling a salamander captured at Wendell State Forest in Wendell, MA. This salamander is one of many being monitored by the Northeast Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (NEARMI) using mark-recapture techniques.

Orange and yellow autumn foliage forms arch on American Holly Drive at the Patuxent Research Refuge in Laurel, MD. 

The Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab staff and volunteers will collect these seed heads for future use in the learning garden or for distribution to the public to plant on their own properties.

The Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab piloted a process in 2021 to propagate woody plants from cuttings. Once large enough, these plants will be used in the garden at Patuxent Research Refuge or distributed to the public for planting on their own properties. 

Alex Haro surgically implants passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag into juvenile lamprey (transformer) in preparation for a light deterrent study at EESC S.O. Conte Research laboratory's fish passage complex.