Way Downstream

Around the Chesapeake, preserving forests as buffers that absorb runoff and pollutants has the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay reaching out to small-acreage landowners with a new, online program. Forestry for the Bay advises on sustainable forest management practices, plus recreational, timber and wildlife uses of Chesapeake forests. The free program helps members create a plan to manage their forest and connects them to technical and financial assistance: www.forestryforthebay.org …

In Maryland, art and wildlife cross paths in two annual game-stamp competitions sponsored by Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

In the 34-year-old Migratory Game Bird Stamp design contest, this year’s winning artist among a serendipitous 34 entries is Robert Bealle of Waldorf, a former professional taxidermist. All state migratory game licenses for 2009 bear the image of his male canvasback — the species of choice in the heyday of market hunting. If you’re going to hunt migratory game birds, you’re required to buy this artful stamp to take a shot …

In the 12-year-old Black Bear Stamp design contest, the winner is wildlife artist David Yarema of Mississauga, Ontario, whose Family Day painting features a black bear sow and cub. Some 15 artists — from as far as Colorado and Georgia — vied for the honor of designing this year’s stamp. Sale of the stamp brings in money to compensate farmers whose crops or livestock were pillaged by bears. Stamps go on sale to hunters, wildlife art collectors and conservationists this summer at DNR’s online store: www.dnr.maryland.gov/giftshop/ …

In Calvert County, stay in touch by signing up for CodeRED the county’s emergency telephone notification system. In the event of an emergency, the system calls hundreds of telephones per minute with a recorded message providing vital information. CodeRED has notified countians about power outages, missing persons, weather news, water and sewer service disruption and gas line breaks. But it only works if you phone works. When the power goes out, so do most modern phones. Keep at least one plug-in, non-portable phone. Register on line at www.co.cal.md.us, and click on the CodeRED Residential Data Collection Registration Form link. Or call the Emergency Management Office at 410-535-1600 x2638 …

Across the nation, our national parks are threatened by sales of private land within park boundaries. These private lands — known as inholdings — could be sold to developers, compromising habitats and biodiversity as well as injecting commercial interests in culturally treasured lands. The National Park Service has placed about 1.8 million acres of inholdings — valued at about $1.9 billion — on its priority wish list, according to the National Parks Conservation Association. Park managers rank inholdings as the most significant threats to preserving natural and cultural resources …

Our Creature Feature comes from our own big city, Baltimore, where it’s a boy — a big boy. At three weeks old, the first African elephant born at the Maryland Zoo is still without a name. Drive up to Baltimore’s Druid Hill Park to view the newborn (in photos; he and his mother, Felix, are still bonding in private) and play the name game. Until April 13, drop your name suggestions in one of three naming boxes at the zoo’s tram stop, main entrance and elephant overlook. Five name finalists will be posted on www.wbaltv.com for a wider vote …