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Subject:

Access to Swan Creek

From:

stan arnold

Reply-To:

stan arnold

Date:

Tue, 24 May 2011 05:47:49 -0400

Hi Folks,

As interest in the Swan Creek facility continues to increase with the
discovery of noteworthy birds there, I'd like to once again offer the
guidelines for visiting the property.  The facility is a dredged material
containment facility operated by the Maryland Port Authority under the
direction of the Maryland Environmental Service.  The facility is located in
an industrial area near the Key Bridge, sandwiched between a power plant and
a chemical plant.  Nevertheless, it offers habitat that is unique to Anne
Arundel County, and similar to that found on Hart-Miller Island.  The MES
folks who magage the facility, along with the Port Authority, are very
receptive to having birders visit the facility.  They spent millions of
dollars creating the mitigated wetland there, and they want to see it used
by critters as well as people wanting to see the critters.

To get to the facility (from Baltimore and points west), take the last exit
off the I-695 beltway prior to the Key Bridge, onto Hawkins Point Rd., turn
left on Fort Smallwood Rd., and immediately after the stop light at Pitman
Road, turn left onto Kembo Road.  Drive to the end of this road, through two
gates, and park at the end of the fence to the right, just prior to the
flagpole.  Go to the first trailer on the left, and write your name in the
log book just inside the door.  The people there are very friendly.  Robert
Natarian is the onsite supervisor, and Juinell and Rachel are sub-managers.

While there is no public access to the dredged material cells, birders may
set up their scopes in the vicinity of the flagpole, but are asked to stay
off the roadway.  The north cell (to the left) is where the curlew was found
last night.  While most shorebirds tend to stay toward the back of the cell,
they will often visit the mud flats closer to the front (west side) where
viewing is better.  This is where the curlew was seen and photographed.
Almost all shorebirds are in the north cell, and the gulls and terns like to
sit on the islands in the south cell.  Follow the lower road past the south
cell to get to the wetlands.  The original wetlands are on the right, with a
viewing platform, and the mitigated wetland is on the left (hosting marsh
wrens and sometimes rails).

Being a place of business, the facility is opened on workdays from about 7
a.m. to about 3 or 3:30 p.m.  Sometimes, if you sign in by 3 p.m., you can
stay till about 5, if the workers will be staying.

Good luck, and let me know if issues arrise with visiting this facility.

Stan Arnold
Ferndale


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