Birds of Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary
November 2020
Soar high above the ghost fleet with some of the incredible birds that call Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary home in this week's #EarthIsBlue video!
Media Transcript
[Screen fades from black into an aerial view of the Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary as instrumental piano music plays in the background. Shipwrecks and kayakers are visible. A blue banner appears in the bottom left corner with white text]
Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary in Maryland is the newest addition to the sanctuary system.
[Camera focuses on a single kayaker paddling between shipwrecks visible above the water]
The sanctuary protects heritage resources and is most renowned for the "Ghost Fleet," which are remnants of more than 100 World War I-era steamships.
[Two wooden beams jut out from the water, and a bird perches on one. The other beam appears to house a bird’s nest]
This structure provides a habitat for various fish and wildlife that call Mallows Bay home, including many species of birds.
[A bald eagle perches on a tree branch]
The bald eagle, perched on a branch, commands a watch from paramount views above the sanctuary.
[A bald eagle soars in the distant sky, barely visible against the clouds]
This national icon soars across the sky with a wingspan of up to 8 feet, scavenging for carrion or catching fish for its next meal.
[A piece of shipwreck juts above the water, an osprey perching on a rock nearby. Another osprey glides across the water, claws outstretched to catch a fish]
The sanctuary is also home to many nesting osprey, which can be seen catching fish with their arched claws as they glide across the water.
[Camera cuts to a shot of an osprey nest as a baby bird pokes its head out]
When ready to feast or feed its young, osprey will arrange the fish upright in its nest and rip off pieces.
When ready to feast or feed its young, osprey will arrange the fish upright in its nest and rip off pieces.
[A heron wades through shallow water as two Canada geese preen their feathers on the shore]
Waiting patiently for its next meal, you can find the great blue heron wandering around the shallow waters of the sanctuary looking for fish, frogs, and just about anything it can catch.
[The heron contorts its neck before catching and swallowing a fish]
An extendable "S"-shaped neck and sharply pointed bill help great blue heron catch prey.
[An osprey ruffles its feathers while perched on a rusty but intact shipwreck]
When visiting Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary to view the 'Ghost Fleet," be sure to keep an eye on the sky or the shore for some great birding!
[Screen fades to black, and the Earth is Blue logo appears followed by the website sanctuaries.noaa.gov/EarthIsBlue. Below, the logos for NOAA and the National Marine Sanctuaries are displayed along with credits]
Footage: Paul Chetirkin/ NOAA
Matt McIntosh/ NOAA
Shannon Shikles/ NOAA
Nick Zachar/ NOAA
Writer/ Editor: Kevin Sanchez Farez/ NOAA
Music: Universal Production Music
[Screen fades to black once more]