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Join us on Saturday, June 10, 1 pm, for a tour of Spring Brook Sanctuary next to Geauga County's Bass Lake Leaders: Geauga Park District Biologist Paul Pira and retired Geauga Park District Senior Naturalist Dan Best. This ONAPA outing is an introduction to Ohio’s only known native brook trout population found in the Chagrin River headwaters. The outing includes this fish’s cold water ecology and the story of its multi-agency preservation, protection and propagation presented by Geauga Park District Biologist Paul Pira. Following this brief indoor program in the Bass Lake Lodge, a venture into the Spring Brook Sanctuary will take place with a trout capture for a close up look at this amazing Ice Age relic with its unique native genetic pedigree. Addressed will be the geology and hydrology of Spring Brook as a brook trout refugium along with other rare and uncommon wildlife found in this small but critical State Nature Preserve. Be aware that ticks are present in all types of natural areas throughout Geauga County in all seasons. For precautions |
Osprey - Photo courtesy of ODNR
and more information, see: the OSU extension article, Expect more ticks in Ohio this season.
For those who have more time to spend and can provide their own canoe or kayak, Dan Best will lead a float on Bass Lake, a 160 acre natural lake home to nesting bald eagles and river otter that once featured hotels as a popular resort and event venue from 1870’s to the early 1900’s. Registration is REQUIRED. To register, email guy.denny7@gmail.com. Participation limited to 20. |
Tuesday, June 13, 2023
Sweet Clover and Other Invasives Removal at Chaparral Prairie State Nature Preserve
Sweet Clover and Other Invasives Removal at Chaparral Prairie State Nature Preserve
10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
209 Hawk Hill Road
West Union, Oh 45693
Adams County
Chaparral Prairie State Nature Preserve features 120 acres of prairies, glade openings, and woodlands. This preserve is best viewed in mid to late summer. It has very unique flora, featuring prairie dock, dense blazing-star, pink milkwort, blackjack oak and much more. This preserve has one of largest populations of rattlesnake master in the state. Trails through the prairie have a large population of dense blazing-star and a beautiful view of the rolling Adams County countryside.
Our project will include removing yellow and white sweet-clover, and common teasel which are invasive plant species throughout the preserve. Control will include pulling and using a small digging spade, if applicable. Yellow and white sweet-clovers are biennial herbs which become very bushy in the second year. Common teasel is also a biennial that grows as a rosette its first year, and then it sends up a flowering stalk the next.
Directions: Located about 3 miles north of West Union, follow State Route 247 to Chaparral Rd. to 209 Hawk Hill Rd.
What to Bring: Lunch, water, hat, boots, tick spray or repellents.
RSVP: To attend, please REGISTER HERE. If you have questions, please contact the Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE. Online registration is important for our planning.
209 Hawk Hill Road
West Union, Oh 45693
Adams County
Chaparral Prairie State Nature Preserve features 120 acres of prairies, glade openings, and woodlands. This preserve is best viewed in mid to late summer. It has very unique flora, featuring prairie dock, dense blazing-star, pink milkwort, blackjack oak and much more. This preserve has one of largest populations of rattlesnake master in the state. Trails through the prairie have a large population of dense blazing-star and a beautiful view of the rolling Adams County countryside.
Our project will include removing yellow and white sweet-clover, and common teasel which are invasive plant species throughout the preserve. Control will include pulling and using a small digging spade, if applicable. Yellow and white sweet-clovers are biennial herbs which become very bushy in the second year. Common teasel is also a biennial that grows as a rosette its first year, and then it sends up a flowering stalk the next.
Directions: Located about 3 miles north of West Union, follow State Route 247 to Chaparral Rd. to 209 Hawk Hill Rd.
What to Bring: Lunch, water, hat, boots, tick spray or repellents.
RSVP: To attend, please REGISTER HERE. If you have questions, please contact the Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE. Online registration is important for our planning.
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The months for moths have arrived
Story and photo by John Watts
While recently enjoying the chatters and calls of our recently fledged Eastern Screech Owl family from my porch just after dusk, something caught my eye as it flew under the dim light. It was immediately obvious that it was not a May Beetle (June Bug) as it was large and the wing flutter made a very noticeable sound. I knew it was one of the Sphinx Moths, but which one? It finally stopped to rest on a porch beam allowing me to identify it as a freshly emerged Pandora Sphinx Moth! The freshness of this perfect specimen, with its uniform green coloration and large dark green patches in the basal forewing area, was highlighted by the visible pink veins and coloration on the fore and hindwings. The Pandora Sphinx (or Pandorus – Eumorpha pandorus) is widespread throughout the eastern half of North America from the southern Great Lakes and Canada to Florida. Its larval foodplants are members of the Grape Family and Virginia Creeper and it is found near most woodlots and fencerows where these species are common. Adults emerge in late afternoon and fly at dusk of the first evening. It is a common species which produces only one brood per year in the north; however, in the south multiple broods are likely as adults can be observed from April to September. Sphinx Moths or Hawk Moths as a family are common and often easily observed around lights or as day feeding moths. Adults of this group may be identified by the large and heavy body with a long-pointed abdomen. Many Hawk Moth caterpillars are called “hornworms” for the stiff |
Pandora Sphinx Moth
pointed horn on the rear end of the body. Some species are often observed around garden plants carrying the larva, egg cases, or cocoons of various parasitoid wasps and flies. In North America and Canada at least 127 species of Hawk Moths have been reported.
References: Beadle, David and Seabrooke Leckie. 2012. Peterson Field Guide to the Moths of Northeastern North America. Houghton Mifflin. New York, New York. Missouri Department of Conservation Discover Nature Series Field Guide – Sphinx Moths. Website: mdc.mo.gov. Tuttle, James P. 2007. The Hawk Moths of North America-A Natural History Study of the Sphingidae of the United States and Canada. The Wedge Entomological Research Foundation. Washington D.C. |
Tuesday, June 20, 2023
Invasive Species Control at Jackson Bog State Nature Preserve
Invasive Species Control at Jackson Bog State Nature Preserve
10:30 am – 3:30 pm
7984 Fulton Drive NW, Massillon
Stark County
Jackson Bog is a 58-acre preserve located in northern Stark County and owned by the Jackson Township Local Board of Education and the Ohio Division of Natural Areas and Preserves. The area was dedicated in 1980 as an interpretive preserve. It is actually a fen, or alkaline wetland, which lies at the foot of a dry, sandy kame (a glacially deposited hill or ridge). The belts of kames in this area of Stark County provide an extensive aquifer. These highly permeable gravel deposits readily absorb surface water and then hold it in staggering quantities as groundwater. The alkalinity is a limiting factor which dictates the types of unique plants which grow there. While the preserve is surrounded by residential development, a large school system, and a township park, it contains an amazing amount of plant and animal diversity, particularly many rare plant species. Habitat management is critical in the fen meadows to maintain the biodiversity of this small preserve.
We will be controlling woody species in the fen meadows, as well as purple loosestrife. We will be cutting and treating woody stems with herbicide and removing the cut stems. Flowering purple loosestrife will be cut and removed from the preserve.
Directions: Located in Stark County, 2 miles north of Massillon on Fulton Drive and a 1/2 mile west of the intersection of State Route 687 and State Route 241. The preserve is adjacent to Jackson Township Park.
What to bring: Bring lunch, water, gloves, and muck boots. Herbicide treatment will be done by DNAP staff or trained ONAPA volunteers. Tools will be provided.
RSVP: To attend, please REGISTER HERE. If you have questions, please contact the Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE. Online registration is important for our planning.
7984 Fulton Drive NW, Massillon
Stark County
Jackson Bog is a 58-acre preserve located in northern Stark County and owned by the Jackson Township Local Board of Education and the Ohio Division of Natural Areas and Preserves. The area was dedicated in 1980 as an interpretive preserve. It is actually a fen, or alkaline wetland, which lies at the foot of a dry, sandy kame (a glacially deposited hill or ridge). The belts of kames in this area of Stark County provide an extensive aquifer. These highly permeable gravel deposits readily absorb surface water and then hold it in staggering quantities as groundwater. The alkalinity is a limiting factor which dictates the types of unique plants which grow there. While the preserve is surrounded by residential development, a large school system, and a township park, it contains an amazing amount of plant and animal diversity, particularly many rare plant species. Habitat management is critical in the fen meadows to maintain the biodiversity of this small preserve.
We will be controlling woody species in the fen meadows, as well as purple loosestrife. We will be cutting and treating woody stems with herbicide and removing the cut stems. Flowering purple loosestrife will be cut and removed from the preserve.
Directions: Located in Stark County, 2 miles north of Massillon on Fulton Drive and a 1/2 mile west of the intersection of State Route 687 and State Route 241. The preserve is adjacent to Jackson Township Park.
What to bring: Bring lunch, water, gloves, and muck boots. Herbicide treatment will be done by DNAP staff or trained ONAPA volunteers. Tools will be provided.
RSVP: To attend, please REGISTER HERE. If you have questions, please contact the Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE. Online registration is important for our planning.
Garlic mustard pulls took up most of April's stewardship project work in the field
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The ONAPA stewardship team has been busy with garlic mustard, Dame's rocket, butterweed, wintercreeper, and other invasives in April. We also conducted four prescribed burns at Daughmer Savanna, Newell Preserve (Licking Co.), Cedar Bog, and North Kingsville Sand Barrens (Cleveland Museum of Natural History preserve). We had seven stewardship projects at Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area (April 6), Wolf Run Regional Park (April 13), Milford Center Prairie (April 18), Clifton Gorge (April 20), Howard Collier Preserve (April 22), Rhododendron Cove (April 25), and Kendrick Woods (April 27).
At Killbuck Marsh and Wolf Run, we were cutting and treating woody species, but at the other preserves, we 
Collier Woods garlic mustard team (Photo by Lydia Radcliffe)
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focused on the herbaceous invasive plants, primarily garlic mustard. At Milford Center Prairie, we worked on woody species, common teasel, and other invasives in the recently burned prairie units. We had a great Earth Day at Howard Collier Preserve pulling garlic mustard and enjoying a wildflower hike in the spectacular spring display. Volunteer numbers were down, so come out and join us sometime soon!
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Pulling garlic mustard is still necessary to control of this noxious weed
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In case you have seen the results of recent research at Cornell University which suggests we should not pull garlic mustard anymore, please keep pulling garlic mustard. Many people see the article title, "When it comes to garlic mustard, doing less is more" and do not read the full article. The research is based on an ideal situation where you can control deer and non-native earthworm populations which have both severely altered our woodland ecosystems. Since this is unrealistic, we want all the garlic mustard warriors to keep pulling and controlling garlic mustard or we will lose all the progress we have made over many years. While it sounds good and it would be great to stop pulling garlic mustard, the results of this research are unrealistic. Read the article HERE.
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Garlic mustard (Photo from the Ohio Invasive Plants Council)
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Prescribed burns started in April
ONAPA conducted two prescribed burns in cooperation with several other partners. On Tuesday, April 11, we burned the Newell Recreational Preserve for the Licking County Park District with help from Knox County Park District, Licking County Park District, Dawes Arboretum, and MAD Scientist Associates. On Wednesday, April 12, we burned two units at Cedar Bog in Champaign County with help from Five Rivers Metro Parks, Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District, Hancock County Park District, Pheasants Forever, MAD Scientist Associates, and the City of Gahanna. Both days were very warm and involved burning grassland units. We greatly appreciate all the help from various partners! |
Photo by Lydia Radcliffe
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March projects get a boost from more favorable weather for tackling invasive species
Photo credits: Honey Run prescribed burn, Lori Totman; stewardship projects, Jennifer Windus.
The weather cooperated somewhat better in March than February and we conducted six stewardship projects, plus one prescribed burn at Honey Run Highlands Park (Knox County Park District). We worked at Honey Run Highlands Park (March 2), Zimmerman Prairie (March 9), Killbuck Marsh WA (March 16), Brinkhaven Barrens (March 21), Mentor Marsh (March 22), and Cedar Bog (March 28).
All of the stewardship projects involved cutting woody species and treating the stems with herbicide to prevent re-sprouting. In most cases, except Mentor Marsh where we worked in a buffer woods to the marsh, we were working in open meadow or prairie sites to maintain the habitat for native and rare species such as the Eastern prairie fringed orchid. At Brinkhaven Barrens, we worked with Killbuck Watershed Land Trust to control tree-of-heaven in the woods. At Cedar Bog, we removed invading woody species along the entrance to the preserve which will greatly improve the meadow habitat as you drive into the parking lot.
All of the stewardship projects involved cutting woody species and treating the stems with herbicide to prevent re-sprouting. In most cases, except Mentor Marsh where we worked in a buffer woods to the marsh, we were working in open meadow or prairie sites to maintain the habitat for native and rare species such as the Eastern prairie fringed orchid. At Brinkhaven Barrens, we worked with Killbuck Watershed Land Trust to control tree-of-heaven in the woods. At Cedar Bog, we removed invading woody species along the entrance to the preserve which will greatly improve the meadow habitat as you drive into the parking lot.
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Applications for 2023 Stewardship Assistants are now open
The stewardship program is now in its eighth season and ONAPA is looking for qualified stewardship assistants to help us for three to six months starting in May. Stewardship assistants work on natural areas and preserves throughout Ohio, conducting rare plant surveys, preserve monitoring, and assisting with some administrative duties. The position is part-time with fieldwork two to three days a week. The program is designed to contract with recent college graduates in the fields of botany and zoology, natural resources, environmental science, and related fields. We will also consider college students who recently completed their junior year as well as graduate students. We expect to have several returning stewardship assistants this year, but hope to contract with individuals from |
southwest Ohio to help us build a stewardship team in that region.
The position description is found HERE and to apply, use the CONTACT US link. This experience is guaranteed to make for an exciting and rewarding summer if you like working outside with people! |
February projects in the field concentrate on woody species control
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Photos by Jennifer Windus
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In February, a couple projects were cancelled, but we managed to accomplish seven projects at Crane Hollow (February 2), Beck Fen with The Nature Conservancy (February 14), Cedar Bog (February 15, 21, 28), W. Pearl King Prairie Savanna with Columbus Metro Parks (February 23), and Sheldon’s Marsh with DNAP (February 28).
At Crane Hollow, we assisted Crane Hollow Inc. with clean-up of a white pine plantation which we are in the process of removing (planted years ago when it was owned by the Division of Forestry). At the other natural areas, we were removing invasive woody species. It was the first time for ONAPA to work at Beck Fen and W. Pearl King Prairie Savanna, so it was a great opportunity for volunteers to see different preserves with different partners. A super added benefit at Beck Fen was seeing a saw-whet owl at the end of the day – such a treat for all of us! |
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Two stewardship projects completed and a workshop on woody species ID mark January in the field
In January, we had to cancel a couple of projects, but we had a small crew work at Brinkhaven Oak Barrens with the Killbuck Watershed Land Trust (January 4) and a large group of 18 people work at Cedar Bog (January 19). We also had a volunteer appreciation lunch and winter woody identification workshop with Bob Klips on January 25. The weather was problematic, so only half the volunteers we planned for showed up for the workshop, but we had a great day at Highbanks Metro Park. We learned how to identify woody species in the winter using a key and looked at great specimens provided by Bob. At lunch, with box lunches from Chelley Belly in Delaware, we recognized several volunteers for their contributions to ONAPA. In the afternoon, we went on a short hike at Highbanks to look at woody species near the nature center. |
Workshop with Bob Klips (standing) - Photo by Lydia Radcliffe
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