May is the beginning of horseshoe crab spawning season on the Chesapeake Bay. They come into the shallows by the thousands to breed and lay their eggs. They are the oldest animal design with which we have contact in the Chesapeake. In this episode, John Page Williams takes a look at the reproductive cycle and history of these curious critters.

You can start finding diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) around the Chesapeake Bay region in May, when they emerge from their winter hibernation under the mud to mate and simply absorb spring's warmth and sunshine. In this episode, John Page Williams shares the species' history along the Chesapeake and the challenges they continue to face.

The well-stocked Chesapeake is home to a lot of fishing birds. In creeks and coves with high, sandy, wooded banks and shallow flats full of tasty little fish, the dominant fisher is the belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon). John Page provides insights into what makes these brightly colored birds such successful fishers.

April is a turning point for migrating birds, and the flow of life through the Chesapeake is heavy. It's the time for spotting some small travelers coming from as far south as Patagonia, at the southern tip of South American. While some stay for the summer, others are here for just a short time as they continue on as far north as British Columbia. John Page shares where to look and what to look for.

The Chesapeake region is home to a broad variety of turtles. The most common species, however, is the common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina serpentina). At first glance they are ugly and mean. But there's more to them than a sour face. In this episode, John Page shares insights into this local reptile's disposition, versatility, and more.

By far the most common snake along the Chesapeake's rivers and marshes, the water snake (Natrix sipedon) is often mistaken for other species of venomous snake. But just because they are nonvenomous doesn't mean they should be trifled with.

The common loon (Gavia immer) returns to the Chesapeake in late February and March, resplendent in dramatic, iridescent breeding plumage. You'll see these remarkable divers around the Bay from now until early May.

The fish-eating double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) is the only cormorant species that appears commonly on the Chesapeake Bay. March is an especially good month for early migrants, as the Bay's fish populations are beginning to stir.