|
Save the date!
ONAPA Annual Meeting Saturday, August 23, 2025 Alley Park 2805 Old Logan Road SE Lancaster, OH 43130 Watch for more information on registration and field trips coming soon! Keynote Speaker - Andrew Gibson - lifelong admirer of the natural world. He has spent over the last decade as a field botanist with the Ohio Division of Natural Areas & Preserves with a focus on surveying, monitoring, and managing the state’s rare flora and habitats.Andrew is a graduate of Ohio University and Hocking College with degrees in plant biology and wildlife biology. Vascular plants are his passion -- especially the realms of Cyperaceae, Orchidaceae, and Pteridophyta.
|
|
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Pulling Invasive Plants at Fowler Woods State Nature Preserve 10:00 am - 3:00 pm 7815 Olivesburg-Fitchville Rd, Greenwich Richland County Fowler Woods is an excellent example of a beech-maple community, grading into swamp forest on the lower ground. Several low areas are water-covered most of the year and occupied by large buttonbush swamps. The numerous buttonbush swamps and woodland pools scattered throughout Fowler Woods support a wide diversity of breeding amphibians during the spring and early summer months. This nature preserve is one of the best sites in Ohio for viewing spring wildflowers. The woodlands support a variety of nesting birds including red-headed woodpecker, ovenbird, redstart and scarlet tanager. The 187-acre preserve has a brand new 1-1/4 mile loop boardwalk trail that begins at the parking lot.
We will be pulling invasive plants that are high priority for control: butterweed and other herbaceous invasives. Directions: The preserve is approximately 13 miles north of Mansfield. From the north or south, take State Route 13 to Noble Road, go east on Noble Road for approximately |
1 -1/4 miles to Olivesburg-Fitchville Road, then south to the preserve's parking lot, which is located on the west side of the road.
What to bring: Lunch, water, hiking boots, and gloves. RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE. Online registration is important for our planning. |
May birding can bring a variety of rewards
|
Story and photo by John Watts
In Ohio, May is considered the peak of spring migration. In fact, the staging areas of northwestern Ohio have been referred to as “The Warbler Capital of the World” and have become widely famous for hosting, quite possibly, the most spectacular annual staging of songbirds migrating north found anywhere. According to the internet upwards of 90,000 visitors will converge on the western Lake Erie area and participate in the 10-day festival known as the “Biggest Week in American Birding” during early to mid-May. While this area produces tremendous viewing opportunities, these migrants pass northward |
Eastern Screech Owl
|
across all of Ohio and most species can be found throughout our State. It is one of my favorite times of year and I encourage everyone to get out, even if it’s just in your own yard, to search for spring migrants. My small woodlot southeast of Columbus annually produces at least 85 species birds and nearly 20 species of warblers during April and May.
May also marks some of the first nesting and fledglings of our resident birds. By the middle of May, especially in the central and southern portions of the state, the first Eastern Bluebirds, American Robins, American Woodcocks, some resident woodpeckers, and of course Canada Geese have fledglings. A pair of Eastern Screech Owls have nested in my small woodlot for several years. On May 8, 2023 I was walking around the corner of our house when I noticed something: a fledgling gray phase Screech Owl quietly sitting on the outside corner of our porch. The next day I noticed it was gone and we hoped for the best. Later than evening as I walked one of our trails not far from the porch, there it sat. It had found a 4-foot stump to climb up on and sat there patiently waiting for nightfall and the parent’s arrival with food. Over the next couple of weeks raspy vocalizations began about dusk every evening and the four young siblings began flying as they could throughout the woods.
While I encourage everyone to go to your favorite nature preserve, park, private area or the Biggest Week of Birding Festival, don’t overlook what might be taking place in your own yard. I suspect you may also find it rewarding to observe.
May also marks some of the first nesting and fledglings of our resident birds. By the middle of May, especially in the central and southern portions of the state, the first Eastern Bluebirds, American Robins, American Woodcocks, some resident woodpeckers, and of course Canada Geese have fledglings. A pair of Eastern Screech Owls have nested in my small woodlot for several years. On May 8, 2023 I was walking around the corner of our house when I noticed something: a fledgling gray phase Screech Owl quietly sitting on the outside corner of our porch. The next day I noticed it was gone and we hoped for the best. Later than evening as I walked one of our trails not far from the porch, there it sat. It had found a 4-foot stump to climb up on and sat there patiently waiting for nightfall and the parent’s arrival with food. Over the next couple of weeks raspy vocalizations began about dusk every evening and the four young siblings began flying as they could throughout the woods.
While I encourage everyone to go to your favorite nature preserve, park, private area or the Biggest Week of Birding Festival, don’t overlook what might be taking place in your own yard. I suspect you may also find it rewarding to observe.
Ramalina complanata - Photo by Robert Klips
|
Thursday, June 12, at 10: 30 am learn more about lichens at Caesar Creek
Leader Robert Klips, Associate Professor Emeritus at The Ohio State University, is the author of Common Mosses, Liverworts, and Lichens of Ohio. We will meet at the Caesar Creek Lake Visitor Center parking lot. This is the Corps of Engineers facility located off of North Clarksville Road, Waynesville, Ohio. If you have a copy of Dr. Klips’ book, he will be glad to autograph it. Participation is not limited, but please pre-register. Registration REQUIRED -- Email [email protected]. |
Invasive herbaceous plants primary targets of April stewardship
|
|
ONAPA was busy in April working on garlic mustard and Dame's rocket in several preserves. Fortunately garlic mustard was found in reduced numbers at each preserve, so we hope our efforts are slowly eliminating the populations. We had 6 projects at the following preserves:
- April 1 - Crane Hollow (photos by Jennifer Windus), clean-up in the pine plantation
- April 9 - Bonnett Pond Bog, garlic mustard & Dame's rocket in the woods
- April 16 - Rhododendron Cove, garlic mustard
- April 19 - Howard Collier Preserve, garlic mustard
- April 23 - Clifton Gorge, garlic mustard & Dame's rocket
- April 30 - Lake Katharine, garlic mustard
|
|
Seven stewardship projects completed in February and March
The ONAPA stewardship team kept busy in February and March with seven projects total. The weather cooperated for most of the projects, and we were able to accomplish some excellent habitat management. In February, we worked at Singer Lake, Travertine Fen, Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area, and Cedar Bog, with large volunteer groups at both Travertine Fen and Cedar Bog. In March, we worked at Medway prairie fringed orchid site, Daughmer Savanna, and Wolf Run Regional Park. At all these natural areas, we cut and treated woody species. We were also able to conduct prescribed burns on hree days in March.
|
Three stewardship projects completed in January with no cancellations due to weather
Lakeside Daisy SNP
Bonnett Pond Bog
|
Lakeside Daisy SNP
Brinkhaven Oak Barrens
|
Despite some cold and snowy days in January, ONAPA started off the new year with three stewardship projects and did not have to cancel any of them. We appreciated the hardy volunteers and DNAP staff that joined us as we accomplished good work on these preserves all three days:
- Lakeside Daisy Preserve (January 14) - red cedar removal with six people
- Brinkhaven Oak Barrens (January 23) - woody species removal in the north barrens with five people (photo)
- Bonnett Pond Bog (January 28) - woody species removal in the bog meadow with nine people
Volunteer Stewardship
|
Member Activities
|
|
|
Stewardship
|
|
|
Vertical Divider
JOINHelp us help Ohio's natural areas and preserves by becoming a member today by using PayPal!
|
Vertical Divider
DONATEONAPA is a 501(C)3 Ohio, volunteer run organization. Your donations are fully tax-deductible. Donate today using PayPal.
|
Vertical Divider
VOLUNTEERWe have many volunteer opportunities available throughout the year. Invasive control, preserve monitoring, etc.
|
|
|
|