Queen Anne's County takes care of numerous parks and wildlife reserves, and the one we had the chance to visit was a gigantic swathe of land called the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center. This area is also known as Horsehead Farm, on account of the peninsula being shaped like the head of a horse. Tall pines lined the road leading into the Environmental Center, and once we were on that road, we were officially out of civilization. As we passed through the pines, we came upon a vast marshland spreading out before us under the hot sun, and we knew this was the right place. It was very quiet, with little sound save a few birds and the wind rustling the reeds and grasses.

According to Judy Wink, Executive Director, the CBEC covers over 500 acres. They've found many archaeological sites on the peninsula, dating as far back as 10,000 years, so this has proven to be excellent territory for historical research. Apparently the ancient American Indians saw the fertility of this place. What's most unique to this land is the existence of a naturally occurring fresh-water pond right in the center of it, despite being surrounded by the brackish water of the bay. That pond provides sustenance to many of the birds living on the peninsula.

CBEC staff does continuous work in order to maintain the integrity of the marsh, so that future generations may continue to enjoy its beauty. Judy told us about deposition occurring along the beach of the reserve, which is causing their shoreline to grow. When an area of new sands is large enough, they will plant marsh grass there to solidify it. If it grows enough, it may lose its horse-head shape one day! They also go to great lengths to hold back the phragmeytes grass, which most Eastern Shore dwellers know to be the nemesis of the marsh.

Also on the itinerary of the CBEC is revitalizing the oyster population, which is why they've had their shoreline marked as a no-dredging zone. In place of dredging, they've constructed an artificial reef just under the water, providing an environment where oysters may thrive. Oysters are an integral part of keeping the bay clean by filtering water through their systems and removing pollutants. As an experiment, Judy said to fill two tanks with water and drop food coloring into both, so that the water becomes murky. Then, place a handful of oysters into one of the tanks, and see how quickly the water becomes clear compared to the tank without oysters. They may take only 20 minutes to filter the water. This just goes to show the cleaning power of a simple bivalve.

While the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center is a hub for bay research, it is open to tourists of a more eccentric nature. According to their records, the CBEC gets some 10,000 tourists per year. Most of them are hardcore birders, so more than half of these visitors are appearing in January and February and are more interested in research. If this isn't your cup of tea, the CBEC also rents kayaks and has extensive kayaking trails. Their summertime visitors love coming to paddle along their shore and watch for bald eagles flying overhead. On top of these options are kids' activities, such as guided tours through the reserve and science-oriented day-camps. Natural beauty and secluded activities make the CBEC one of the serene treasures of Queen Anne's County.

Written by Erik Yount. Photography by Errol Webber.