AUDUBON OHIO RECOGNIZES FIVE SITES IN LAKE AND GEAUGA COUNTIES FOR INCLUSION IN INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF 'IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS’

Dedication Events Take Place May 22, June 18 & 19, 2004

Columbus, OH, Tuesday, May 4, 2004 – Across the country since 1995, hundreds of local chapters of the National Audubon Society have been nominating Important Bird Areas (IBAs) for national recognition as a means of protecting bird populations and vital habitat.  Blackbrook Audubon Society, a northeastern Ohio chapter of the National Audubon Society serving the communities of Lake and Geauga counties, has nominated five distinct tracts of land that will be included by Audubon in the international network of Important Bird Areas.  Formal dedication ceremonies will take place on May 22, June 18, and June 19.

Audubon Ohio currently has identified a statewide network of 56 IBAs.  The five sites newly being recognized will be added to this network: Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve, Lake Metroparks Girdled Road Reservation, and Geauga Park District’s Big Creek Park, which are all key segments of the Lower Grand River IBA; Geauga Park District’s Eldon Russel Park, a key site in the Upper Cuyahoga River IBA; and Holden Arboretum a key site in the Chagrin River IBA.  Each park will unveil signage at its dedication ceremony consistent with the other nationally recognized IBAs across the country.   

The IBA program is Audubon Ohio’s lead conservation initiative.  The goals of the initiative are to identify key areas throughout the state that are critical to the survival of birds, and to promote the conservation of these areas in order to maintain healthy bird populations. 

Started in Europe in the late 1980s by BirdLife International, the IBA program has been a powerful conservation tool, protecting millions of acres of habitat.  In the U.S., the National Audubon Society pioneered the first statewide IBA project in Pennsylvania in 1995.  The IBA program is currently underway in nearly all 50 states, and more than 1,000 IBAs have been designated in the United States alone.  For more information on the IBA program and the nomination process go to www.audubon.org.

Headlands Dunes is being recognized for its significant of bird life – more than 300 different species have been seen in the area.  The Girdled Road Reservation and Big Creek Park are nesting sites for 13 species of state-listed birds.  Eldon Russel Park contains an extensive corridor of undisturbed riverine habitat that is supports breeding populations of birds like Sandhill Cranes, Red-headed Woodpeckers, and Cerulean Warblers. 

“Many Ohioans too often believe that the best natural areas are far away, in the Rockies or beyond,” remarked Jerome C. Tinianow, executive director of Audubon Ohio.  “Important Bird Areas allow us to discover and experience critical natural habitats right in our own communities, and to make them part of our lives.  They teach us that Ohio is a very special place after all.”  

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Dan Best, Chief Naturalist for Geauga Park District adds that there are significant geographic and ecologic reasons for IBA’s in Northeast Ohio: “Since many birds migrate along or across Lake Erie, the narrow band of flat land or Lake Plain, is an important “rest and refueling” stop along the migratory highway.  The hills, stream valleys and wetlands of Ohio’s Western Reserve provide critical breeding habitat for great variety of birdlife.”

“These designations are important for two reasons,” stated Harriet Pedone, Blackbrook Audubon Society President.  “First, identifying and preserving these sites means that we are providing essential habitat for bird species during their nesting season and during migration.  Here birds can find what they need to live—food, water, and a safe area to rest or raise young.  Secondly, being part of nationally recognized IBAs is important because it creates national and local public awareness of bird conservation.”

Bird walks and other fun activities have been planned for each park dedication—all are invited to attend these free and informative dedications.  John C. Ritzenthaler, Director of Habitat Conservation for Audubon Ohio, will be on hand to unveil the signage at all five parks as will Blackbrook Audubon President, Harriet Pedone.  Mark Johnson of WEWS News Channel Five will also speak about the affects of weather on migration at the Lake Metroparks Girdled Road dedication on May 22 at 10:30 a.m.  A complete list of IBA dedications is below.

Audubon is dedicated to protecting birds and other wildlife and the habitat that supports them.  Our national network of community-based nature centers and chapters, scientific and educational programs, and advocacy on behalf of areas sustaining important bird populations, engage millions of people of all ages and backgrounds in positive conservation experiences.

Saturday, May 22^nd

Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve

“Birds and Blooms”

8:00 – 9:00 a.m. - Nature walk on the property led by Charlotte McCurdy, Preserve Manager, Ohio Department of Natural Resources and representative for Blackbrook Audubon Society.

9:00 – 9:30 a.m. -Dedication of Headlands Preserve IBA by John Ritzenthaler, Director of Habitat Conservation, Audubon Ohio and Harriet Pedone, President, Blackbrook Audubon Society.

For more information, call:  440-632-3010

Saturday, May 22^nd

Lake Metroparks Girdled Road Reservation

South Entrance, 12899 Radcliffe Rd., Concord

“The Wings of Spring”

9:00 – 10:00 a.m. - Nature walk on the property led by Pat Morse, Naturalist, Lake Metroparks and representative from Blackbrook Audubon Society.

10:00 – 10:30 a.m. - Dedication of Girdled Road IBA by John Ritzenthaler, Director of Habitat Conservation, Audubon Ohio and Harriet Pedone, President, Blackbrook Audubon Society. 

10:30 a.m. - Mark Johnson, WEWS News Ch. 5 discusses the affects of weather on migration.

10:30 a.m. - Light refreshments served.

For more information, call: 440-639-PARK

Saturday, May 22^nd

Geauga Park District Eldon Russell Park

16315 Rapids Road, Troy Township

“Fins and Feathers”

1:00 – 2:00 p.m. - Electro-shock fish population sampling by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife in the Upper Cuyahoga River.

2:00 – 2:30 p.m. - Dedication of Eldon Russell IBA by John Ritzenthaler, Director of Habitat Conservation, Audubon Ohio and Harriet Pedone, President, Blackbrook Audubon Society. 

2:30 p.m. - Nature Hike on the property to look for prothonotary warblers and other neotropical songbirds led by Carol Skinner of Blackbrook Audubon Society.

2:30 p.m. - Naturalist-led canoe float by Geauga Park District and Ohio Department of Natural Resources Scenic Rivers Program to see warblers, orioles, and many other songbirds.  A limited number of Park District canoes will be available for those without their own. 

For more information, call:  440-286-9516

Friday, June 18^th – Sunday, June 20^th

Holden Arboretum

9500 Sperry Road, Kirtland

For more information call:  440-946-4400

Saturday, June 19^th

Geauga Park District Big Creek Park

The Donald W. Meyer Center, Big Creek Park

9160 Robinson Road, Chardon Township

“Big Creek Park: Important Bird Area”

The Donald W. Meyer Center, Big Creek Park

3:00 p.m. Gather in the Francis Hall Amphitheater for Audubon Ohio’s dedication of this park as an Important Bird Area known for its grand variety of forest birds that will be pointed out by sight and sound.

4:00 p.m.  More Deer, Fewer Birds

Indoor illustrated program featuring National Park Service Wildlife Biologist Lisa J. Petit who relates how heavy vegetation browsing by overabundant deer reduces bird numbers in our local forests.

For more information, call:  440-286-9516