Today Tom and I flew across the country from Utah to Maryland to spend a few days with my parents and see my siblings and their families. I was happy that it was a clear day in Baltimore and that we were arriving in the late afternoon while it was still light. One of my favorite views from the plan is the Chesapeake Bay. Today I saw tributaries of the bay that were partially iced over in and around land formations. Glimmers of sunlight danced on the ice and the water, creating a playful and beautiful scene. I wanted to take photos but the window was too scratched to take a photo that would do the scene justice.
Most of my memories of the Bay and the Ocean are from summertime vacations with my family in my childhood and youth. Seeing it in the winter time brings a new experience for me, even for just brief moments. During my descent into the Baltimore area, as I gazed at the Bay, I wondered what the Chesapeake Blue Crabs’ behaviors are like in the winter time and if they hibernate in cold weather. I love the Blue Crab and have so many memories of watching and observing blue crabs, catching a few with the best crabber of all time (my grandmother), and even being pinched by them!
So I did some research when I was at my computer and found information on how blue crabs behave in the winter:
I learned a little more about the wildlife in my home state today by researching what sparked my curiosity. Sadly, I know the Bay has been in peril due to pollution which has dramatically decreased the blue crab population. Still, for today, I reveled in the beauty of the water from above, the reflection of habitat within the water, and the desire to hope for continued views of scenes like this in the future.
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 