Today's World Oceans Day, an annual celebration of the water bodies that cover 70 percent of the earth's surface.
It's hard to enjoy a day "down the ocean," though, when you have to watch out for tar balls on the beach like this little girl has to at Gulf Shores, Alabama. Never mind what they're doing to fish, oysters, pelicans and other wildlife that frequent the seas and shores. The spreading oil slicks in the Gulf of Mexico are a grim reminder of the oceans' vulnerability to degradation.
Barring some unanticipated shifts in the Gulf current or weather developments, our mid-Atlantic beaches are unlikely to be fouled by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, experts say. All the more reason to enjoy and cherish what we have in our own backyard.
For example, the annual orgy of horseshoe crabs on Delaware beaches is winding down, but it's not too late to spot a few doing what they've done for eons - crawling out of the surf, laying millions of eggs in the sand and returning to the water. They aren't as plentiful on Maryland beaches, but there are some hot spots. Check here to see them.
The University of Delaware's Bill Hall, who directs a volunteer census of the ancient crittters every spring, reports the horseshoe run this year has been a decent one - producing a bounty of eggs that should help to sustain the crab population while also feeding the migratory shorebirds that stop off on Delaware's beaches on their way to their summer nesting grounds. It's too late to help out with this year's census, but think about joining the effort early next spring.
If you can't get to the beach today, the National Aquarium in Baltimore has a monthlong series of fun programs and events planned to take a local look at ocean health. For today's kickoff of "Beyond the Boardwalk," the aquarium asks visitors to wear blue in a demonstration of support.
(Photos: Reuters, The Baltimore Sun by Jerry Jackson)