February/March

SEPTEMBER ACTIVITY

DATE: SATURDAY, SEPT. 25^th, 2004

ACTIVITY: In Search of Shorebirds

TIME: 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: The harbor in Conneaut, Ohio

In Ohio, when Waterfowl migrate north in the spring and south in the fall, they have lots of small lakes and rivers to stop, rest, and feed. When Cuckoos or Flycatchers or Sparrows or any other small Birds migrate, they too still have some woods and fields to stop and rest in. But in Ohio, the Shorebirds are pretty much out of luck and out of places.

You probably know that Ohio has lost to “development” over 90% of its wetlands (and that’s where Shorebirds like to stop and rest!). Only California has lost more as a state. And that’s not something to be proud of.

So when we Birders want to see Shorebirds, there are not many places in Ohio to go. In fact, if we here in Lake County want to see Shorebirds, the closest place is in Ashtabula County! And that place is the Harbor of Conneaut.

Conneaut (a Seneca Indian word meaning “the place where the Snow remains later”) is the last city along the Lake before you get to Pennsylvania. And the Harbor area is exactly the place we want to go. It’s got a nice marshy, sandy area just west of the Harbor that lots of different Shorebirds seem to like. And we do too!

When you get to the Harbor, you’ll see a small marina to the east and a parking lot with a small boat launch straight ahead. The sandy wetland area is to the west. This is where the Shorebirds stop. And although late September is getting to end of Shorebird migration, we can still expect to see 20 or so species. And using the directions on page 5, you can visit Conneaut anytime from July thru October and expect to see any of the Shorebirds that migrate through Ohio!

NOTE: If you’d like to join us for either activity, call Anders at (440) 257-7611 or Sign Up at the Meeting!

OCTOBER ACTIVITY

DATE: SATURDAY, OCT. 23^rd, 2004

ACTIVITY: Visiting “COLUMBIA

RESERVATION”

TIME: 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: New park in Columbia Twp.,

Lorain Co.

In October, for the last six years, we in Blackbrook have made the trek out to Lorain County to visit their Sandy Ridge Reservation. It’s a wonderful mitigated wetland park with lots of great habitat and great birds to see. Well, the folks in Lorain County liked that park so much; they built another mitigated wetland park, this time in Columbia Twp. (that’s the little square chuck of land that sticks into southeast Cuyahoga County!).

This new park is located a few miles west of I-71 near the corner of SR 82 and SR 252 in Columbia Station, just west of Strongsville. It’s situated both north and south of Route 82 and along the west branch of the Rocky River. Over 400 acres in size (that’s larger than Sandy Ridge!), it has more than 200 acres of restored wetlands and more than 3 miles of trails, And like Sandy Ridge, Columbia Reservation is also a great place to see Birds and other wildlife. The River here runs along old farm fields bordered by many giant trees that were never cut down. The diverse habitat here is astounding and we look forward to seeing many different kinds of Birds along the River and in the floodplains, in the forests and the fields, and of course in the ponds and wetlands! Why not join us (it’s FREE like all our Field Trips) for a great day?

Directions for all activities are located on Page 5!

Continued from September Program

“South Island is a microcosm of our own country, with farms in the east and south, fruit orchards in the north, and mountains (the Southern Alps) in the west; but all in the space of several hundred miles. Most of my route was along the west coast, on the only road there, and through places with Maori names like Hokitiki, Panakaki, Makaora, Wanaka, and TeAnau. Other places, like Westport, Franz Josef, Queenstown, and St. Arnaud reflect the European settlers.”

“Our trip was run by PedalTours, who helped us up the hills and moved us around the country in a van. We covered most of South Island and saw many of the National Parks. On non-riding days, we hiked in places like the Abel Tasman track, the Routeburn, and Doubtful Sound. The latter is a remote wilderness in Fjordland National Park and accessible only by a boat trip on Lake Manapouri, a bus ride over Wilmot Pass on an old construction road, and another boat trip on the Sound.”

“On the Otago Peninsula, near Dunedin, there are two special bird habitats that we visited. They added new bird species to the Life List for most of the group. The Royal Albatross, with its 3 meter wingspan [Ed. that’s over 9 feet!] nested on the grassy slopes near the Sound and was oblivious to the strong winds that made us thankful for the enclosed spotting shelter.”

“And the Yellow Eyed Penguin [Ed. Found only off South Island, New Zealand!] also raises its young along this coast. It’s an almost solitary bird and doesn’t nest in colonies like other Penguins. We saw them from special camouflaged trenches. These trenches put us at eye level with the very large chicks. Our visit to these special birds completed and unusual and fun way to see this beautiful country.”

Want to see and hear more? Why not join us on that Tuesday evening in September?

Directions are found on Page 5!

Continued from October Program

Nowadays, the Coal Companies use a different and nastier scheme to extract ALL the Coal and make a lot of money. It’s called “Mountaintop Removal Mining” and that’s exactly what they do. Incredibly, the companies, using dynamite blast off the entire top of the mountain just to get to the Coal Veins far below, which they then Strip Mine in a regular manner. And the remnants of the mountaintop, what happens to that?

That’s merely scooped up and trucked over to the nearest valley and dumped!! Usually this rock and dirt completely fill these small valleys, covering many small streams in the process!! And they don’t even bother to get Permits to do this!!

“An untold amount of the state has been flattened and hundreds of miles of streams have been buried.” That’s how the Charleston Gazette (of Charleston, West Virginia) characterized it in a series of award winning investigative articles (and available online at www.wvgazette.com ) !

This also happening in Kentucky and other states. And from Kentucky, Dave Cooper comes this month to tell us all about this incredibly destructive process. This resident of Lexington, Kentucky, worked 20 years as a mechanical engineer (most recently at the 3M plant making ‘Post-It’ notes!) before devoting his full attention to environmental issues after seeing a Mountaintop Removal Mine at Kayford Mountain (which of course is no longer!!). He is currently on a nationwide speaking tour to educate communities across America about “Mountaintop Removal Mining”.

Join us for this important October program and learn about this new threat to the environment!

FROM the DESK of the PRESIDENT

by Mary Ann Wagner

maryannelizebeth@aol.com

INTRODUCTION: Hi, I’d like to introduce myself. I’m Mary Ann Wagner, the new President of Blackbrook for the coming year. Don’t you agree we’re lucky to live in Northeast Ohio where we have many opportunities to interact with the world of Nature around us? We can also join local and national organizations (like Blackbrook Audubon and National Audubon!) to help protect the world of Nature. We can even take the opportunity to let our elected officials know of our concern on a number of issues affecting the world of Nature. If you find it hard to keep up with the issues, at each of our Blackbrook meetings, we learn of a Conservation Issue and what we can do personally about it. So you are needed and can help!

THIS SUMMER: Blackbrook’s Board of Directors has been busy this summer putting together a great line up of interesting and informative programs for our 2004-2005 season. A schedule appears elsewhere in this newsletter. Please note we have several different meeting locations and even starting times. This year, we’ll meet at Holden Arboretum, as well as our usual locations at Lake Metroparks and at Geauga Park District.

FRIENDS of BLACKBROOK: In addition to our regular Programs and Field Trips (which are always FREE and open to the public), we are putting together a Special Event for the “Friends of Blackbrook” and other Volunteers who have helped us at various events and assisted with assorted activities. We certainly appreciate the many hours, goods, and services donated by these Volunteers. Even some of our Program Speakers donate their time and expertise, as well as our Field Trip Leaders and those who are now monitoring IBA Trails.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: Speaking of Volunteers, we still need people to volunteer for a number of diverse projects! We always need people to bring Cookies and other Snacks to our Meetings; we need people to monitor the IBA Trails (some Birding I.D. skills are required); we need people to staff the booth at the various local festivals Blackbrook attends; we need people to committee volunteer to help the Board members do their jobs! So if you’d like to help us out, please talk to any Board Member or contact me at the e-mail address above.

Over the summer, we did find a Volunteer to start up our web site again. It is on-line again at www.blackbrookaudubon.org ! Check it out for Meeting and Field Trip information as well as info about our Chapter. Also, this Newsletter will be posted on-line, so if you misplace yours, your can always “get another copy”!

DONATIONS WANTED: Beside Volunteers, we’re always looking for donations of Nature Books and nature magazines, especially children‘s books and magazines. We also need an Easel or some other means to display info for our Booth. And, of course, you can always donate a small amount of Money by joining the “Friends of Blackbrook”. Just ask one of our Board Members or e-mail me at the address above.

AN INVITATION to one of our MEETINGS: Are you of those people who’d like to attend a Blackbrook meeting but feel “funny” because you don’t “know” anyone? I understand how you feel. I was an Audubon member for years (and even let my membership lapse at one point) because of my strong interest in Birds and Nature. But I somehow persevered and you can too. Please, come to one of our meetings and introduce yourself --- I’ll be the one wearing a Nametag that reads “Mary Ann Wagner’! I look forward to seeing you!

Directions!

DIRECTIONS to CONNEAUT HARBOR: In Mentor, get on I-90 at SR 306 (#193 exit); drive East on I-90 for 48 miles to SR 7 (exit #241); get off here and drive North on SR 7 for 2 miles into town; at State St., turn Right (east) for ¼ mile following the Route 7 signs; 3 blocks later, turn Left (north) and follow SR 7 about 1 ½ miles to the Harbor and you’re there!

DIRECTIONS to COLUMBIA RESERVATION: in Mentor, get on I-90 at the SR 306 exit; drive West into Cleveland for about 20 miles to the start of I-71; drive South on I-71 for about 17 miles to the SR 82 exit in Strongsville; here, get off the Freeway and drive West on SR 82 thru Strongsville to SR 252 (it’s about 5 miles); just ¼ mile past the intersection of SR 82 and SR 252 is the entrance to the park!

DIRECTIONS to PENITENTIARY GLEN: From Mentor: DRIVE 1 MILE south of the I-90 & SR 306 Exit (the "Lakeland College Exit"); after you pass the college and go down the hill; STOP at the Traffic Light at the bottom of the hill; TURN LEFT (East) for a 1/4 mile; at the second Traffic Light, TURN RIGHT (South) on KIRTLAND-CHARDON ROAD; DRIVE UP the curving hill and then EAST for 2 MILES to the 'Pen Glen' entrance!

From Chardon: from the Square, DRIVE 3 MILES West on US 6 ("Water Street" until you're out of town). When the road "Y's" at the Cemetery, BEAR RIGHT (Northeast) on KIRTLAND-CHARDON ROAD. Then DRIVE 3 MILES to the 'Pen Glen' entrance!

KENN KAUFMAN

at HOLDEN:

We think that you will want to go see one of the Superstars of the Birding world, KENN KAUFMAN, but you will have to Sign up and Register! So who is Kenn Kaufman ? Well, he’s one of the two men (the other’s David Sibley) who have succeeded the late Roger Tory Peterson as THE AUTHORITY on the Identification of Birds! And he’s coming to Holden Arboretum in September! We can hardly wait!

Holden Arboretum is sponsoring 3 Programs featuring him and one of these events is even Free! [1] The first is “FLYING GARDENS: How to Attract Butterflies and Birds to your Garden”. The Date and Time: Friday, Sept. 10^th from 7 to 9 p.m. This FREE Lecture will be followed by Refreshments and Book Signing (if you don’t have one or more of his books, Holden will have some there!). REGISTRATION REQUIRED: call 440-602-3816 to register or for more info!

[2] The second program is “In the Field and Brunch with Kenn Kaufman”. The Date and Time: Saturday, Sept. 11^th from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. This program will cost $25 for Members of Holden and $35 for Non-Members. Again

REGISTRTION is required. Call 440-602-3816 to register or for more info.

[3] The third program that weekend is “A Birder Looks at Butterflies”. The Date and Time: Saturday, September 11^th from 1 to 2 p.m. This Program costs $5 for Members of Holden and $8 for Non-Members. Call the same number as above to register or for more info.

If you’ve never attended one of these programs featuring a well known Naturalist, why not go? They’re always fun and you’re sure to see more than a few people you know. Perhaps we’ll even see you there!

“IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS” DEDICATED by Harriet Pedone

We hope you were able to attend one of the “Important Bird Area” Dedications that have taken place within the last few months. “Ohio Audubon” (the statewide organization of all the Ohio chapters) recognized 5 separate sites in Lake and Geauga Counties as part of the international network of IBA’s!

On May 22^nd, there was a Dedication up at Headlands State Park (#1), right next to the Nature Preserve. A special sign had been erected and then John Ritzenthaler (from Ohio Audubon) spoke and presented a Plaque to Charlotte McCurdy (the Preserve Manager for Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve). She then lead a Nature Walk thru the Dunes and told us all about the special rare plants and the many Birds that can be seen here. The State Park and State Nature Preserve make up one IBA, since they are right next to one another (and many people don’t know the difference).

Later that day, another Dedication took place at Lake Metro parks Girdled Road Reservation (#2). The Director of Lake Metroparks, Dave Noble, spoke and told us the history of the Park, stressing the importance of habitat protection. Then Mark Johnson, the Channel 5 Weatherman, spoke about how the weather affects bird migration. Afterwards, Pat Morse, a Park Naturalist, led a Nature Walk for those of us lucky enough to be there on such a beautiful, sunny day.

In the afternoon, it was on to Geauga Parks District’s Eldon Russell Park (#3). After the Dedication Ceremony, Dan Best, the Chief Naturalist, led a canoe float. The whole day was wonderful; and we in Blackbrook Audubon had a wonderful time and were proud to take part in these three IBA Dedications.

On June 18, Holden Arboretum (#4) was also dedicated as an IBA and Holden celebrated for the whole weekend. At the Dedication Ceremony, Jerry Tinianow, the Director of Ohio Audubon, presented Elaine Price, the Director of Holden Arboretum, a special Plaque and the Sign recognizing Holden as an IBA. Other activities followed celebrating Holden as an IBA for its many nesting and migrating Bird areas.

On June 19^th, Geauga Park District’s Big Creek Park (#5) was dedicated as an IBA. That afternoon, Lisa Petit, a biologist from Cuyahoga Valley National Park, gave a program on how the overpopulation of deer are affect out bird’s habitats in a negative way.

Our thanks to all those who helped make these five IBA Dedication Ceremonies successful and enjoyable events. We hope you’ll think about joining our efforts to monitor these IBA’s. In short, we need volunteers to bird these areas; and when you volunteer to do this (and we hope you do), you’ll understand and know why they are “Important Bird Areas”!

NEW NEWSLETTER SCHEDULE: Last year at this time we talked about our Chapter’s financial situation and how it might change in the future. To summarize it, our Chapter needs to become financially self-sufficient. At that time, the Blackbrook Board was contemplating several changes and asked for some input from you. Well, we got a few letters and e-mails and some phone calls and then we decided to leaves things pretty much as they were. Mainly, it was because we received a lot of support from the “Friends of Blackbrook” group we started

However, this year, we are going to make a change we’ve discussed for some time. We’ll be changing the number and the schedule of the Hushwing. We are going from five to four issues a year. We’re doing this partly to save some money and partly to save us some work. A newsletter is a lot of work; to write it, to edit it, to print it, to address and then mail it requires the hard work of perhaps of dozen or so people. Time and money we think would be better spent elsewhere.

Anyway, our new Newsletter Schedule will be: the first issue will be for Sept/Oct, the second for Nov/Dec/Jan, the third for Feb/Mar, and the fourth and last for Apr/May/Jun.

We don’t think this will cause too many problems since we are re-starting our Web Site and all the info you would normally look for in the Newsletter will be there! And you can access it at any time on the nearest Computer!

CANADA GEESE NOW 2 SPECIES:

We’ve all known for years that there are many different sizes if Canada Geese. And all the Field Guides clearly show this. Perhaps you even know that there are at least a dozen races of Canada Geese, some smaller than Mallards and some as large as the “Giant Canada Goose” we’re all familiar with. You know, the ones you normally see in the Parks and on the Golf Courses; the ones that are becoming such a pest in many places.

Anyway, the A.O.U. (American Ornithological Union) has recently released their now yearly changes in the Taxonomy of Birds (where they makes changes and sometimes drive us crazy doing it!!).

The 2004 A.O.U. Checklist of Birds has a number of changes in English and Scientific Names, but only one that actually affects us Birders in Ohio. But what a change!! The four smallest races of “Canada Goose” will now be called “Cackling Goose”!! These are “Richardson’s” (Branta hutchinsii), “Taverner’s” (B. taverneri), “Aleutian” (B. leucopoenia), and “Cackling” (B. minima).

Three of these races are presently pictured in both the National Geographic Guide and the Sibley Guide to Birds. Peterson only shows the Richardson’s. So it’s time to get out that Marking Pen and make some changes in your Field Guide now.

How to Identify a “Cackling Goose”: basically, it’s (1) a Lot Smaller than the one we normally see. Occasionally, haven’t you seen a “Canada” that’s about the size of a Mallard? These small Geese are especially easy to see when they’re in a gaggle of normal sized Geese! They also have (2) rather Small Bills. It helps that the “Richardson’s” is the only small race that is thought to come through Ohio. And it also has (3) a Gray rather than a Brown back. So now you have a good reason for looking at all those large groups (or gaggles) of Canada Geese you see everywhere. If you see one, you’ll get to add another species to your Life List!!

For more information on this “Split” (and lots of other great stuff about Birds), go to the Ohio Birds web site at www.ohiobirds.org .

PRINTER CARTRIDGES RECYCLING: We’re starting a new program to make a little money for Blackbrook and do a little Recycling at the same time. And we need your help!

Please save any empty Inkjet or Toner Cartridges from your Home or Office! Rather than sending these things to a Landfill somewhere, we in Blackbrook can recycle them and make a small amount of cash to add to our Treasury. We’ll have special “Collection Box” for any and all Cartridges that you bring to our meetings. We’ll then pack them up and ship them to the Recycler (who will pay us a small amount for each Cartridge we send them). So they’ll end up being reused rather than polluting the natural world. It’s one of the small things that you can do to help the environment and us. Thank You!!

PEREGRINE NESTS: One of the pleasures of Bird Watching is to try and see the more unusual and special birds every year. Perhaps you, like many of us, try and see most of the 38 Warbler species that arrive every spring. Another special treat is to see the Peregrine Falcons nesting in our cities on the ledges of the tallest buildings. Watching these “F-18’s” of the bird world rocketing and twisting and turning high among the buildings (while looking for Rock Pigeons) is always fun. However, you can mostly only see the nests and nestlings by photos in the newspaper or on a web cam. And, like Bald Eagle nests, we like to keep track of how the Peregrines are doing. This year, 2004, they’re doing better than ever with a record 54 chicks fledged (i.e., grown enough to fly from the nest) from 15 Falcon nests in 11 cities and towns in Ohio. Amazing, 5 of those nests (with a total of 16 chicks) were in Cleveland! And another was in Lakewood (with 4 chicks)!

For more information, you can check out the Ohio Department of Natural Resources web site (which is where we got all the numerical facts of this story. Good luck!

UPCOMING EVENTS

KENN KAUFMAN