Frank and everyone else:

Your posting about the Neotropic Cormorant brings up a point that many 
people in the area are not aware of and that is the location of the Maryland 
and Virginia/West Virginia state line boundaries in regards to the Potomac 
River. Since colonial days, Maryland has owned all of the waters of the 
Potomac River to the low water line on the south side of the river. The line 
runs from point to point across creek mouths that feed into the river but 
all of the river proper are Maryland waters. That is why boaters can buy MD 
Lottery tickets on establishments located over the river on piers on the 
Virginia side. With this in mind, any bird flying over the river is actually 
in Maryland waters and would only be countable in Virginia if it flies over 
land. A bird flying down the river 5 feet from shore is not in Virginia. It 
is only through interstate agreements that Virginia boaters and fisherman 
can use the river without obtaining Maryland licenses and permits. This was 
agreed upon to the benefit of both states since Maryland would have a great 
deal of difficulty getting trade to their state if Virginia decided to levy 
a fee for ships entering the mouth of the Potomac in Virginia waters and 
sailing to Maryland. You can read about the evolution of this property line 
at the following link:

http://www.virginiaplaces.org/boundaries/mdboundary.html

As for the marsh that you described below, for the benefit of everyone else, 
could you give the position of this marsh?

Regards,

Ed Boyd
Westminster, MD

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Frank Powers" <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, November 13, 2005 1:05 PM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Neotropic Cormorant -- gone South?


> Yesterday afternoon I visited a marsh in the southland and came upon a 
> small cormorant, all black, resting on a piling about 30-50 yards from the 
> Dyke platform.  Having just seen a couple of Double-crested Cormorants 
> elsewhere, this bird's small size, thin beak, caused me to put my scope on 
> it.
> It remained stationary for a good 4-5 minutes, then took off, heading 
> north and well out over the Potomac, definitely in MD territory (hence, 
> this report).


> Frank Powers
> Glen Echo, MD
> Montgomery County