DockTalk
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##Nothing says spring quite like the return of the ospreys! Photo by Mark Bandy
Spring Is Right Around the Corner
t may not feel like it right now, but spring will be here before we know it. Here are five signs that spring might be closer than you think. 1. Ospreys We always say that the first osprey sightings on the Bay are a sure sign of warmer weather to come. Ospreys mate with the same partner for life and return each year to nest in the same area in which they were born. Adult male ospreys begin arriving at old nest sites in late February or early March. 2. Spring Peepers The tiny nocturnal woodland frogs known as spring peepers begin singing
18 March 2021 SpinSheet.com
around this time of year, providing an evening soundtrack for those living near the woods, ponds, or shallows. 3. Fish and Crabs Of course, all anglers can think about at this time of year are the yellow perch that gather in the uppermost tidal tributaries for spawning. And recreational crabbing season in Maryland officially opens on April 1. 4. Spring Commissioning Nothing signals spring quite like the buzz of sanders and the smell of bottom paint wafting through a marina. Just don’t wait for the weather to be perfect before you
commission your boat, especially if you would like to enlist professional help. You know how busy your tax accountant is right now? Same for the marine service pros on the Bay. They face a huge traffic jam of orders, so make your appointment today. 5. Spring Boat Show After no Annapolis Boat Shows in 2020, we’re more excited than ever for the 2021 shows! This year the Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show is joining forces with the Bay Bridge Boat Show April 15-18 in Stevensville, MD. Learn more on page 20.