Images

A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker on a cold winter day taken in Owings, Maryland, USA

Bald Eagles flying over the Patuxent River                       

Peregrine Falcon 'Ben" was banded with a USGS auxiliary marker, black over red H/34 in 2013. He nested for years on a building ledge in Chicago until struck a window and died in November 2024.

A male lesser scaup at the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center in Maryland. This bird was not part of this new research. Photograph taken in 2017. Credit: Jeffrey Sullivan, USGS. 

A male White-tailed Deer at Eastern Ecological Science Center located on the Patuxent Research Refuge.

A common eider duck. This species was studied as part of research by the USGS and partners to identify the frequencies at which sea ducks can hear underwater. The research can help inform decisions on the use of sound devices to deter ducks from fishing gillnets and other threats.

Scientists use mealworms to train two lesser scaup ducklings to peck at a target after tones are played at certain frequencies. This species was studied as part of research by the USGS and partners to identify the frequencies at which sea ducks can hear underwater.

Scientists record whether a surf scoter duck pecks at a target after tones are played at certain frequencies. This is part of a study by the USGS and partners to identify the frequencies at which sea ducks can hear underwater.

A long-tailed duckling. This species was studied as part of research by the USGS and partners to identify the frequencies at which sea ducks can hear underwater.

Two common eider ducklings. This species was studied as part of research by the USGS and partners to identify the frequencies at which sea ducks can hear underwater.

Seastar (Asterias sp.) encountered during seagrass monitoring in Little Pleasant Bay, Massachusetts. Seastars are important predators on shellfish and barnacles.

Dr. Micah Keiffer of the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center (EESC) at the S.O. Conte Research Laboratory performing surgery on a sturgeon to implant an acoustic receiver used to monitor movements.  USGS North Atlantic and Appalachian Regional Director, Mike Tupper, and Deputy Director, Dan Hipper, and USGS EESC Director, Tom O'Connell observe.

Female box turtle with cellular transmitter (bold). A solar-powered transmitter made by Cellular Tracking Technologies, Inc attached to the shell of female box turtle. This type of transmitter sends data using the cell tower network to an account which can then be viewed on a computer with Google Earth interface and does not require physical radio tracking.

These field staff are learning protocols for assessing trail impacts on the Appalachian Trail in Virginia. Tread conditions and the factors that influence them are assessed at transects across the trail, including impacts such as trail width, soil loss, and muddiness.  

Dam on Deer Creek, MD at the Eden Mill Nature Center.  MD DNR and USGS visited to discuss American eel passageway project ideas.

This female Lesser Scaup is being swabbed to test for current infection with an avian influenza virus. By understanding prevelance among different species we can better understand the risk of transmisison across the wild bird - domestic poultry interface.

A long-tailed duck with an underwater speaker in the background. This is part of a study by the USGS and partners to identify the frequencies at which sea ducks can hear underwater. The research can help inform decisions on the use of sound devices to deter ducks from fishing gillnets and other threats. Credit: Jonathan Fiely, USGS. Date: March 2017.

USGS scientist, Barb Lubinski, practicing arm bandage wrap on another scientist, Kelly Maloney, as part of first aid training in 2017 at the Leetown Science Center in West Virginia

Northern snakehead (Channa argus) are an invasive species in the mid-Atlantic region.  Scientists from EESC are working with our federal and state partners to learn more about northern snakehead and their potential impacts to other aquatic animals in the region. Here, a scientist is collecting a blood sample from a northern snakehead specimen.

Northern snakehead (Channa argus) are an invasive species in the mid-Atlantic region.  Scientists from EESC are working with our federal and state partners to learn more about northern snakehead and their potential impcats to other aquatic animals in the region.

Three wild Sandhill Cranes at Eastern Ecological Science Center on the Patuxent Research Refuge.