Training Locations Vary By Date:
- Thursday, March 5, 3-5 pm at Hutchins Pond, Owings
- Saturday, March 7, 1-3 pm, Flag Ponds Nature Park, Lusby
The training will cover:
- How to locate your assigned sites
- Review of the NEW field data form
- You can find it on Google Drive here: https://tinyurl.com/yeymtytu
- How to submit monitoring data
- Time for questions and discussion
Objectives of Orchid Site Monitoring
In 2025, the Calvert Orchid Research and Conservation Program established twenty monitoring sites across seven public areas, representing ten orchid species. Some sites include sequential data from surveys conducted between 2018 and 2024 through the Calvert Orchid Project, while others have limited or intermittent records.
Our current goal is to develop at least five consecutive years of monitoring data for selected population sites. A five-year dataset will provide a meaningful snapshot of population viability, emerging threats, and habitat trends within the County. It will also establish a foundation for long-term monitoring.
Volunteers document:
- Habitat changes
- Weather impacts
- Invasive species presence
- Population size and trends
- Human disturbance
- Plant location stability and shifts
- Other notable ecological observations
All monitoring sites are named, mapped, and designated by geographic coordinates. Most were selected for accessibility, population size, or unique characteristics. While many additional populations are documented in the Plant Population Database, they are not currently monitored due to limited access or longer hiking requirements.
For Information: Karyn Molines, Karyn.molines@calvertcountymd.gov, 410-535-5327
