December 18, 2025
Appalachian Lab's Big Day of Birding
Our natural world is at the center of all we do at UMCES and inspires our community of staff, faculty and graduate students in their connections to the institution and to one another. In celebration of the centennial, creative, nature-inspired 100 for UMCES activities took place across the university throughout 2025.
On May 10, World Migratory Bird Day, the Appalachian Lab organized a Big Day of Birding with the goal of identifying at least 100 species in one day. We are happy to report that the goal was exceeded with 147 species observed by more than 40 UMCES birders across the state! Check out the eBird Trip Report the details
Similarly, the 100 for UMCES iNaturalist page has logged observations of 120+ species on and around the Appalachian Lab campus!
The Chesapeake Biological Lab’s DolphinWatch program marked several 100 for UMCES milestones in 2025:
- In the first 100 days of 2025, DolphinWatch registered 100 new volunteer dolphin observers.
- On May 16, the program received its 100th dolphin sighting of 2025.
- On May 26, DolphinWatch received its first sighting ever of a group size of “more than 100” dolphins. It came from the Upper Bay to the east of the mouth of the Patapsco River.
- In 2025, three DolphinWatch volunteers logged over 100 dolphin sightings. We are so grateful for citizen scientists!
The team from IAN with the results of their day of volunteer trash clean up.
Across the state, 100 for UMCES also committed to the difficult but satisfying work of trash pick-up! The team from the Integration and Application Network spent the day on historic Carr’s Beach in Annapolis collecting trash both large – an intact chimney – and small. Horn Point Lab faculty members Victoria Coles and Raleigh Hood collected 100 bags of trash during their 2025 daily runs in rural Maryland. Twenty-eight people from the Appalachian Lab worked along the C&O canal for almost 100 volunteer hours one Saturday to collect well over 100 lbs. of trash and recycling.
From Horn Point Lab’s home on the Choptank River, Provost and Vice President for Education Bill Dennison completed his commitment to swim 100 miles in 2025 in October.
In a 100 for UMCES project that will have lasting impact far beyond the centennial year, faculty, staff, and students began to document 100 Women of UMCES, honoring the impact of decades of women in the field who contributed to UMCES’ success. What started as a simple spreadsheet of names and dates has expanded to several hundred names, inspiring stories, and a momentum that will see the project grow in visibility and importance. Stay tuned!
