289 | Fossil Field Trip: Calvert Cliffs

Think about how many are still left in the bush?!

00:00:00 - Abe, Bev, and Ryan went fossil hunting! This time they took a trip out to the shores of Chesapeake Bay, but first. What is the Chesapeake Bay, how did it get there, and what was the climate like when the fossils they ended up finding were forming? We chat about that, mostly informed by Roadside Geology of Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, D.C. and with a dramatic reading from Fossil Collecting in the Mid-Atlantic States: With Localities, Collecting Tips, and Illustrations.

00:19:11 - Listen, the fossils have been there for millions of years, they can wait until after you've had a beer. After some prompting, Bev decides to go first with a Réserve Ale from Ponysaurus Brewing Co. Ryan's up next with some Starfire from Crooked Run Brewing which reveals a deep love of passionfruit. And Abe finishes the lineup with a HOPness Monster IPA leading to some pretty terrible 'dad' jokes. 

00:29:19 - Next up, we get to the actual fossil hunting grounds. Results at Calvert Cliffs State Park are suboptimal, but after a stop at a local brewery, we're given some tips for a better beach and head to Brownies for much-improved collecting. To end, we give a breakdown of what we found, some grades to each site, and some tips and tricks for future fossil hunters to use to improve their odds of getting the best haul! Check out some of the photos from our expedition below!

01:16:10 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like fossil collecting; you have to be patient to get something good. First things first, we plug the kickoff event for the newly organized DMV AWG happening later this month. Be there! Next, Abe has an e-mail for new patron Kay S., which has a lot of good info to inform her BSso thesis title, which is: The statistical effect of 5-star hotels on fossil diversity: a comparative study between La Brea Tar Pits and Ashfall fossil beds. Thanks, Kay! Next up, Bev has a new 5-star iTunes review from Kramkjk, which forces Bev to reveal a terrible secret. Finally, Ryan has an e-mail from Morgan B. about science-y things to do on an upcoming trip to Panama. 

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Music:
Bayview - Isle
Heart of Courage - Two Steps from Hell
Passion Is Accurate - The Kills
Pulling Teeth - Green Day

Image credit: Ryan Haupt