Our Bay Critter Projects Ms. Cromwell’s Class March 2013

Amazing Shrimp by Ria T. The largest Shrimp is one foot. Fresh Shrimp gets spoiled easily. Female Shrimp lays 500,000 eggs to 1,000,000 eggs.

Awesome Osprey’s by Mohammad I. Osprey’s toes are opposable. Ospreys mate at 3 years old. An Osprey moves the fish into the direction it’s flying so it is easy to fly.

Blue Crab By Israela M. Blue Crabs have predators such as little worms and isopods. Blue Crabs live in many different places like fresh water and deeper waters. Few crabs live no longer than 3 years. Blue crabs are best known symbol of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay.

Blue Crab By Valerie Ducos Blue Crabs live in different places like deep waters, in holes or on land. Blue Crabs eat clams, worms, eelgrass, sea lettuce, decayed vegetation and anything else they can capture. The predators of the Blue Crab are little worms and isopods. One interesting fact is in the bay the male crabs are called “jimmys” and females are called “sooks”.

Bold Bald Eagles By Alex.E. Bald eagles grow a wingspan of 7 feet. They eat raccoons,red fox, beavers and vulture vomit. On their feet they have long talons to catch prey.

Canada Goose by Josh T. There is about ten kinds of Canada geese. The Canada goose has a black neck. Canada geese are found on shallow marsh.

Catchy Clams by Lauren.P. Native Americans used clams for beads on money. They have no heads or teeth so the live by breathing through holes. Clams have a long tongue like foot that they dig with.

Catfish by Julia P. Catfish has sharp spines. They have excellent sense of hearing. They have two to four pairs of whiskers.

Crazy Clams by Thomas W. Hard shell clams have inhabited Ocean City because of a hurricane in 1933 that created the inlet. They have no head or teeth. They live at the bottom of the bay.

The Beautiful Eastern Painted Turtle by Christopher R. Birds and some humans eat the eastern painted turtle. A turtle shell has two layers. They grow up to nine inches long.

The Great Blue Heron By Brandon G. The Heron has a wingspan of 6 feet. The Heron can hunt on land as well as on water. Herons have been known to choke to death trying to swallow prey too large.

The Awesome Horseshoe Crabs By Jonas M. Horseshoe crabs have ten eyes. They have the oldest living fossil in Maryland. Horseshoe crabs lay 80,000 to 100,000 eggs per year.

Jellyfish By:Maija F. Jellyfish range in size from less than one inch. It have no heart,no brain,and no bones. They are mostly made out of water.

Mallard Duck by Benjamin H. Mallard ducks are colorful. Mallard ducks eat different animals, clams, and fish. The mallard duck has different predators like foxes and raccoons.

Rocking Flounders by: Datta I. Flounders weigh between 3-6 pounds. It hunts sea worms, small fishes, squid, shrimp. They are also known as fluke or plaice.

Amazing Salamander by Mya H. Predators are red tail hawks, raccoons and bullfrogs. They eat tadpoles, worms, fish eggs and snails. They live in poison ivy and wild strawberry.

Sea Horse By Jessie Fayer Sea horse is A small fish with a head that looks like the head of a horse They grow to 6 in or 15 cm. They have long bendable tails.

Sneaky Raccoons by Kevin K. Raccoons live in the forests in the Chesapeake Bay. They also have long fingers, which help them catch and eat their prey. It may eat an entire wasp nest, including larvae, or eat all of the berries from a poison ivy plant, keeping it from spreading.

Strong Horseshoe Crab by: Havish.G An adult horseshoe can be bigger than a woman. The horseshoe crab is the oldest fossil in Maryland. Horseshoe crabs lay 80,000 to 100,000 eggs a year.

Super Diamondback Terrapin Man by Eymeris A. Most diamondback terrapin can pull their head and tail in their shells. Their predators are humans, raccoons, opossums, foxes and others. The diamondback turtles scientific name is malaclemy. It is known for the diamonds on its shell.

Super Salamander by Saahith T. Salamanders do not have lungs. Salamanders have smooth skin without scales. A Soil Mite makes a home for the salamander.

The Amazing Bluefish By Mikel N. Bluefish can live to be 12 years old and can reach 40 inches in length. Its predators are sharks, tuna, and swordfish. There are bluefish all over Chesapeake Bay.

The Amazing Flounders by: Sanjana U. Flounders live on sandy and muddy bottoms of bays. They hunt shrimp, seaworms, small fishes, and squid. Both of the flounder’s eyes are on the same side head.

The Voracious Bluefish by Conner.P Bluefish have razor sharp teeth. Bluefish can sometimes weigh more than 30 pounds. In the Chesapeake Bay bluefish eat bay anchovies, white perch, American shad, and herring.

Zooplankton by Jazzlyn P. If there's a big group of zooplankton it is called protozoa. All fish depend on zooplankton for food during their larval phase. Zooplankton grow only using water sun and minerals.

Class Works Cited Chesapeake Bay Coastal and Bay Life. Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Creature Feature. Department of Natural Resources. dnr.maryland.gov/mydnr/CreatureFeature / dnr.maryland.gov/mydnr/CreatureFeature / Maryland Fish Facts. Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter. US Geological Survey. Study of Northern Virginia Ecology. Fairfax County Public Schools. nu.htm. nu.htm World Book Student Science Discovery Encyclopedia, 2007 and World Book Encyclopedia, 2007.