outdoors girl – Jay's Real Estate Blog

Outdoors Girl: End of the trail

So this is it. The last Outdoors Girl post.

I’m heading off for the family’s annual striped bass and bluefish fishing vacation on Chappaquiddick Island and when I return after Labor Day it will be to a desk on the Metro staff, where my Sun career started 23 years ago.

What a great 11 1/2-year romp through the outdoors. What an honor to follow in the footsteps of Rachel Carson, who had this job in the 1930s, fly fishing guru Lefty Kreh and Maryland outdoors editor emeritus Bill Burton. What a pleasure to meet and talk with you on the trails and on the water.

Thanks one and all. And thanks to my editors, who didn’t always get where I was going, but had the courage and sense of fun to say, “OK.”

More here.

Buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland? Call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues!

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>Reward to find goshawk killer grows

>The Maryland Ornithological Society has started a reward fund for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who shot and killed a northern groshawk, believed to be part of the state’s only breeding pair, and left three chicks to die near Savage River State Forest.

The birders have $800 in hand and MOS official Dave Webb says the amount is expected to increase as clubs send out their newsletters.

The Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Foundation also has offered a $1,000 reward.

Natural Resources Police is still investigating the death of the bird.

Maryland’s northern goshawks were driven to extinction in the 1900s by the logging industry’s harvesting of Appalachian Plateau forests. In 1991 and 1997, the federal government rejected calls to list the bird on the endangered species list. Many states, including Maryland, responded by placing the goshawk on their own lists.

In North America, the goshawk is federally protected under an amendment to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

>Last northern goshawk in Maryland killed

>By Candus Thomson, The Baltimore Sun

5:14 p.m. EDT, June 21, 2011
Someone in Garrett County has shot and killed Maryland’s most rare bird, the only known nesting northern goshawk.

Natural Resources Police confirmed the death of the raptor, which is on the state’s endangered species list. Without the female to protect and provide for them, the three chicks in the nest died as well.

Forestry and Timber The Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Foundation is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the shooter. NRP is asking anyone with information about the crime to call the Poacher Hot Line: 1-800-635-6124.

>With one step into the waves, Park Quest ends

Brisk breezes blow a week’s worth of sweat and DEET away as I step onto the beach at Assateague, the final stop in this year’s version of Park Quest 24/7.

The temperature is 75.2 degrees and the wind is blowing at 14 mph.

How do I know? The final Quest is all about the weather.

Ranger Meghan Sochowski crafted a challenge that addresses both ordinary conditions and extraordinary ones found in hurricanes and thunderstorms.

Follow the quest here.

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>Park Quest 2011: Four down, and only 20 to go

June 1, 2011

Park Quest 2011: Four down, and only 20 to go

Four parks down, 20 to go on my marathon Park Quest 24/7 to complete the challenges at 24 state parks — from Garrett County to the Atlantic Ocean in seven days.

So far, I’ve hiked following compass bearings to answer questions, paddled a canoe while staying on a GPS-set course, found letterboxes that taught me about natural resources and history and hiked to a cemetery, an aviary and a dam.

I’m sitting on the veranda at Rocky Gap State Park, enjoying a freshening breeze — don’t worry, it’s heading your way, Baltimore.

Follow the quest here.

If you or someone you know is considering buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues! As member of the Garrett County Board of Realtors, I can assist you with ANY listed property, regardless of the listing broker.

877-563-5350 Questions about ANY listed property? I can help! Call me!

Visit the ‘I Love Deep Creek & Garrett County group’ on Facebook! News, events, photos, real estate, community, info, more! 1,750+ members & growing!

>Park Quest 2011: Second stop

1) A cockroach will live nine days without its head before it starves to death.

2) Turtles can breathe through their butts.

3) Butterflies taste with their feet.

4) Paddling into a stiff head wind on Deep Creek Lake without Ranger Mark Spurrier in the stern providing the muscle is a futile exercise that is likely to result in negative mph.

I learned the first three facts from a poster in the Discovery Center bathroom at Deep Creek Lake State Park.

Follow the quest here.

877-563-5350 Questions about ANY listed property? I can help! Call me!

Visit the ‘I Love Deep Creek & Garrett County group’ on Facebook! News, events, photos, real estate, community, info, more! 1,750+ members & growing!

>First stop on Park Quest 2011 – Outdoors Girl

Beautiful start to my state park marathon: 24 state parks in seven days, going west to east. It’s only 65 degrees right now at Herrington Manor State Park. But humidity is hanging like damp cheesecloth over the 53-acre lake.

Some folks are out fishing early and the park manager, Lieutenant Al Preston is sprucing up the grounds around the lake house.

Follow the quest here.

877-563-5350 Questions about ANY listed property? I can help! Call me!

Visit the ‘I Love Deep Creek & Garrett County group’ on Facebook! News, events, photos, real estate, community, info, more! 1,750+ members & growing!

>Natural Resources Police honor their own

>In a packed church basement in Annapolis last night, Natural Resources Police honored officers for their work in law enforcement, rescue, conservation and boating safety.

Cpl. Michael Friend was named Officer of the Year for his tireless efforts to catch drunken boaters on Deep Creek Lake, pursue wildlife poachers and carry out dangerous underwater recovery operations and for his work on behalf of charities such as the annual Polar Bear Plunge that raises money for Special Olympics.

Friend, whose conservation work was recognized in 2008 by the National Wild Turkey Federation, is known for his ability to “improvise, adapt and overcome any situation,” NRP Capt. Bob Davis said.

John Griffin, secretary of the Department of Natural Resources, called the police force a “vital link to our healthier future,” noting that NRP is one of just two law enforcement agencies to have statewide jurisdiction.

Read the full article here.

877-563-5350 Questions about ANY listed property? I can help! Call me!

Visit the ‘I Love Deep Creek & Garrett County group’ on Facebook! News, events, photos, real estate, community, info, more! 1,750+ members & growing!

>Let the Quest planning begin

>Registration began this morning for Park Quest 2011, the geo cache, history lesson, adventure challenge rolled into one, sponsored by the Maryland Park Service.

This year, the cutoff is 1,000 teams, and believe me, it won’t take long to fill up. All you’ll need is one adult and one kid and a team name (I’m sticking with Sacagawea). Then, complete 10 of the 24 Quests to be invited to the Finale in September, where you’ll compete for prizes.

The premise is simple. Register–it’s free–and receive a passport. The passport serves as your ticket to each of the 24 parks and whatever gear is needed to complete the challenge. After a successful Quest, get the passport stamped and move on.

Teams have from May 7 to Sept. 5 to get their 10 stamps–but don’t stop there. Last year, I did all 24 in seven days, the Park Quest 24/7, and will give it my best shot again in June.

Read the rest here.

877-563-5350 Questions about ANY listed property? I can help! Call me!

Visit the ‘I Love Deep Creek & Garrett County group’ on Facebook! News, events, photos, real estate, community, info, more! 1,750+ members & growing!

>Talking turkey: be safe

>The only time I ever came close to causing a hunting accident happened during a turkey hunt.

I won’t bore you with the particulars except to say that I thought I had a clear shot until my friend’s head popped up from the far side of a downed tree. It scared me to Sunday school and did nothing for my steady hand.

Monday is the start of the month-long spring wild turkey season. Last year hunters killed 2,847 wild turkeys, a 2 percent decline from the 2009 total of 2,910. The western counties proved to be the best hunting grounds. Garrett County led the state with 345 birds, followed by Allegany (327) and Washington (303). Charles and Dorchester (213) rounded out the top five.

Approximately 10,000 hunters pursue turkeys annually during Maryland’s spring season and about 25 percent are successful in taking at least one turkey.

Read the full article here.

877-563-5350 Questions about ANY listed property? I can help! Call me!

Visit the ‘I Love Deep Creek & Garrett County group’ on Facebook! News, events, photos, real estate, community, info, more! 1,750+ members & growing!

Category: outdoors girl

Outdoors Girl: End of the trail

>Reward to find goshawk killer grows

>Last northern goshawk in Maryland killed

>With one step into the waves, Park Quest ends

>Park Quest 2011: Four down, and only 20 to go

>Park Quest 2011: Second stop

>First stop on Park Quest 2011 – Outdoors Girl

>Natural Resources Police honor their own

>Let the Quest planning begin

>Talking turkey: be safe

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