Mallows Bay Eco Tour - Final

Ospreys, or “fish hawks,” are mid-sized raptors that live near water, mate for life, and often reuse the same nest, enlarging it yearly. They breed in the Mid-Atlantic from March to August, then winter in Central and South America. A pair once nested in the shoreline tree here, but a storm destroyed the nest; ospreys are resilient and may rebuild nearby.

Paddlers passing the pilings often see double-crested cormorants drying their wings; with less oil in their feathers than other waterbirds, they absorb water, gaining weight that helps them dive deeper and faster for fish. Wooden platforms atop the pilings were built by Mallows Bay Park staff to support osprey nests, which had washed away in storms and high tides.

The<i> Accomac</i> is home to two osprey nests. Ospreys like to build their nests in open areas, high off the ground so predators cannot get to them. They often build their nests at the top of trees, or on man-made objects like nest platforms, telephone poles, or shipwrecks like the <i>Accomac</i>.<br><br>Click <a href="https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/accomac-b37b10a438ac47b58aad669a54c460c1">here</a> to view a 3D model!

A real-time water quality buoy in the river channel, managed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources' Eyes on the Bay program, collects data every 15 minutes on temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, clarity, and chlorophyll. This data supports decisions and tracks trends over time. <a href="https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/mallows-potomac/visit/water.html">Current Conditions</a>

The water quality buoy also uses an acoustic telemetry receiver that collects data on fish that have been tagged with a transmitter for research. Sanctuary staff collect and look at the data in partnership with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center<span> and the </span>Mid-Atlantic Acoustic Telemetry Observation System<span>. The data helps sanctuary staff and partners better understand what fish species are in the sanctuary, including any rare, endangered, or threatened species. Since 2019, the receiver has recorded 26,715 detections from 44 tagged fish.</span>

<span><i>Benzonia</i> rests on top of the <i>Caribou</i><span>, another U.S. Shipping Board wreck. The two ships together make for one of the most captivating sights in the Ghost Fleet. Half of the <i>Benzonia</i> rises out of the water and is filled with plant growth. This growth supports a variety of species, including an osprey’s nest on the back of the ship.<br></span></span><br>To view a 3D model of these vessels, <a href="https://skfb.ly/oNvTQ">c</a><a href="https://skfb.ly/oNvTQ">lick here.</a>

At Mallows Bay's northern edge, sunken ship remains trapped sediment to form Grady's spit, a new landmass where wetland plants took root. It now offers paddlers a small beach to rest. Volunteers sample water weekly here and at the boat ramp, with results posted on <a href="https://www.theswimguide.org/">SwimGuide</a>, through a program run by the <a href="https://www.potomacriverkeepernetwork.org/">Potomac Riverkeeper Network</a>.

The wreck sites of Moosabee, Dertona, and an unidentified vessel are known as the "Three Sisters," sitting near shore against a bluff, the farthest inland of the Ghost Fleet sites. Covered in plants like marsh tickseed and cardinal flower, the ships now support wildlife, including an active beaver lodge on the unidentified vessel.

These unidentified "flowerpot" wrecks are named for the plants growing inside them, like in a flowerpot. Rocks were placed in their hulls to weigh them down; over time sediment and seeds collected, forming man-made islands that stabilize Mallows Bay's shoreline and extend its wetlands. Marsh tickseed, cardinal flower, and interior sandbar willow now grow here, supporting wildlife such as red-winged blackbirds and zebra swallowtail butterflies.

<span>Look up, and you might see an eagle's nest high up in the pine trees. Bald eagles like to build their nests near water, and in older trees that can hold nests that weigh over 1,000 pounds. Bald eagles and ospreys are plentiful in the area and both like to eat fish. Thanks to the healthy waters, there are plenty of fish in Mallows Bay for both!</span>

Shallow water near shore supports underwater grasses, providing food and shelter for fish, crabs, and other animals; abundant grasses indicate healthy water. About a dozen types grow here, most commonly water stargrass, coontail, and naiads. Hydrilla, a non-native grass introduced in the 1970s-1980s, now dominates Mallows Bay, offering some benefits but crowding out native grasses.