Photos of the Month: April

From backyard birding, to walks along the neighborhood beach, and wildlife webcams, we're staying home while still experiencing all the Chesapeake Bay region has to offer! Take a look at some of the major news and photo highlights below from us, our partners, and supporters.

Do you have a favorite Chesapeake photo you took this month that you'd like to submit to be featured as one of our Photos of the Month? Upload your digital photo here or tag us in your photo on your public Twitter or Instagram. We look forward to seeing your photos!

Instagram Photos

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Had to go a little earlier in the day to get these shots, but it was definitely worth it. Being at the lake when it was still dark out was weird. There was a feeling of both being alone and hyper connected at the same time. A feeling we all know too well right now. First shot:a double crested cormorant lands in the water Second shot: A beaver swims through water at sunrise Third shot: George soars above the lake looking for breakfast Fourth shot: A chickadee takes off from a branch #sunrise #audubonsociety #birdsofinstagram #nature #naturephotography #coldmorning #lake #hiking #beaver #raptorsofinstagram #eagle #baldeagle #baldeaglesofinstagram #cormorant #cormorantsofinstagram #chickadee

A post shared by Jules Jacobs (@jjacobs_photo) on Apr 10, 2020 at 8:40am PDT

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Did you know that our Happy Oysters filter 9.61 Billion gallons of water a week? So while Mike is busy delivering to you lovely folks, our Happy Oysters are busy doing their part to clean up the #chesapeakebay ! What have you done today to clean up your environment? #environment #water

A post shared by We Raise Happy Oysters (@sapidus_farms) on Apr 16, 2020 at 1:23pm PDT

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Follow Rio the raindrop's journey from the Appalachian Mountains to the Bay (and check out how amazingly talented our educators are 😍). Complete the lesson with our student investigation worksheet to see how much you learned from Rio at the link in our bio! #SaveTheBay #LearnFromHome #LearnOutside #EnvironmentalEducation

A post shared by Chesapeake Bay Foundation (@chesapeakebayfoundation) on Apr 19, 2020 at 9:16am PDT

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• Sunrise • The Magothy River • Maryland • April 2020 • listen • these osprey parents to be were very vocal about my close vicinity to their little ones • • • • • • • #visitmaryland #mdinfocus #annapolis #igvideo #stephaniehritz #sunrise_sunset #homeinteriors #leagueoflenses #igtones #igtravel #quaratinelife #photography #southernliving #earthfocus #saltlife #fishinglife #boatinglife #lanscapelovers #usna #splendid_shotz #video #visualambassadors #creativephotography #pier

A post shared by Stephanie (@stephaniehritz) on Apr 21, 2020 at 7:23am PDT

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Great Egret. #birdsofinstagram #egret #marsh #wildlifephotography #nature #wildlife #bird #photography #natgeowild

A post shared by Joey Melvin (@whistlingwing) on Apr 20, 2020 at 2:05pm PDT

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Twenty years ago, the @chesapeakebayfoundation - with the help of @smithgroup and a committed project team - achieved the first #LEED Platinum certification for its new headquarters, the Philip Merrill Environmental Center. On this #EarthDay, CBF reflects on how the project and experience continue to shape their work and community in 2020. Link in bio.

A post shared by USGBC Maryland (@usgbc_maryland) on Apr 22, 2020 at 1:11pm PDT

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Flight of the Dragonfly. They live their lives as if they had just been told they only have six months to live. Quickly moving from resting place to resting place, Dragonflies exert tremendous surges of energy, demanding a perch for moments of rest. They a have a very important job to do. Eating mosquitoes. Maybe that’s why we revere them as a sign of good luck. One dragonfly alone, can kill and eat hundreds of mosquitoes per day. With invisible wings moving at 30 flaps per second, dragonflies can maneuver at great speeds. As mystical as they are practical, Dragonflies are the subject of many stories. As legend has it, they only live for one day. Which brings us back to my original statement asserting that Dragonflies live their lives as though they only have six months to live. It’s because it’s true. Six months is their average lifespan, one summer of eating mosquitoes. _________________________________________ #dragonfly #dragonflies #insect #insects #insects_of_our_world #insectphotography #insectlovers #insectphoto #nature #naturelover #cynthiaherrickphotography #natgeo #yourshotphotographer #smithsonianmagazine

A post shared by Cynthia Herrick Photography (@cynthiaherrickphotography) on Apr 24, 2020 at 7:33am PDT

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Almost looks like this Blue Jay is offering a gift up to the gods. It is an old piece of zip tie that he was flying around the yard with. Think twice about how trash is discarded. The world around us is a gift. Let’s not lose such a precious gift. #earthdayeveryday . . . . . . . . . #cmflattenthecurve #bluejay #nuts_about_nature #nuts_about_birds #audobonsociety #nature_perfection #birds_nature #birds #birders #wildlifephotography #birdsofinstagram #birdphotography #birdphoto #birdlife #birdlover #birdwatching #bestbirdshots #bird_captures #birdsonearth #featheredfriends #animallovers #rva #rvaphotography #richmond #richmondva #animalloversofinstagtam #virginiawildlife #rva #nikond850 #teamnikon

A post shared by Jillian Chilson - Photographer (@jillsfotoluv) on Apr 23, 2020 at 10:57am PDT

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Look out below! While our osprey nest was built at a height ospreys prefer, every year a Canada geese pair love to take over at the behest of their coming goslings. These goslings have to jump 35-feet in order to follow their parents to their first swim. But don't worry—these little goslings have flexible bones and lots of floof to make cushion their fall. #SaveTheBay

A post shared by Chesapeake Bay Foundation (@chesapeakebayfoundation) on Apr 25, 2020 at 7:26am PDT

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On Earth Day, Amy Flora found a pregnant seahorse hanging onto one of her oyster cages in the Lafayette River. Flora, of Norfolk, said this little guy was almost ready to "pop." She named him Colley, and after shortly observing him in a tank, released him back into the oyster reef near her home. Click on our bio link for the story.

A post shared by 13News Now, WVEC (@13newsnow) on Apr 25, 2020 at 1:40pm PDT

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Found cuteness on a hike today . Teens are a bit like turtles ... when the noise gets to be too much in their world hopefully that have a room with a door to close to retreat to like a turtle has his shell! . . . . . #turtle #noise #solitude #cuteness #wildlife #encourage #quiet #teens

A post shared by SIMPLE TEEN LIFE LLC (@simpleteenlife1) on Apr 26, 2020 at 8:27pm PDT

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Now, it is more critical than ever to focus on the intersection of climate change and Bay saving—two sides of the same coin. Climate change makes Bay saving more challenging, while Bay saving makes climate change less damaging. Our newest Save the Bay magazine focuses on just that and this special edition issue is one of CBF’s first publications distributed 100 percent digitally. Check out the link in our bio to learn how climate change is affecting the Bay, what we're doing to combat it, and what you can do to help. #SaveTheBay

A post shared by Chesapeake Bay Foundation (@chesapeakebayfoundation) on Apr 29, 2020 at 8:23am PDT

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• Sunrise • Maryland • April 2020 • • • • #visitmaryland #mdinfocus #annapolis #art #stephaniehritz #sunrise_sunset #homeinteriors #leagueoflenses #igtones #igtravel #quaratinelife #photography #southernliving #earthfocus #saltlife #chesapeakebay #boatinglife #pier #lanscapelovers #todayinannapolis #splendid_shotz #visualambassadors #creativephotography

A post shared by Stephanie (@stephaniehritz) on Apr 30, 2020 at 10:57am PDT