OIPC Workshop focuses on controlling "Invasive Plants in Your Backyard"
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The first offered by the Ohio Invasive Plants Council since 2019, this workshop will feature controlling invasive plants in smaller settings and include control demonstrations. Designed for gardeners, landowners and land managers, the workshop is being held in cooperation with the Crawford Park District.
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Thursday, September 1
9:30 am - 3:00 pm Lowe-Volk Nature Center 2401 State Route 598 Crestline, Ohio $20 workshop ticket includes lunch |
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Tuesday, August 23, 2022 Woody Species Control at Meilke Road Savanna Wildlife Area 10:30 am – 3:30 pm 630 North Meilke Road, Holland Lucas County |
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Meilke Road Savanna was acquired by the Division of Wildlife (DOW) as oak savanna habitat specifically for Karner blue butterflies and other rare butterflies in the Oak Openings. While it is a small wildlife area, only 22 acres in size, it has tremendous plant and animal diversity. The Division also has a management agreement with Spencer Township for another 15 acres of oak savanna adjacent to the wildlife area. Regular management including prescribed burning and woody species removal is necessary to maintain the open oak savanna and barrens habitat. In the spring, large populations of wild lupine, the only host plant for the Federal threatened Karner blue butterfly, once known to be abundant in the Oak Openings, bloom.
For this stewardship project, we will be cutting and treating woody sprouts in the savanna to maintain open habitat necessary for rare plants and butterflies.
Directions: Located on the north side of Hill Avenue, west of Crissey Road, and east of Meilke Road in Holland, just west of Toledo; parking is at the Spencer Township office at 630 North Meilke Road. Hill Avenue can be accessed from Crissey Road.
What to bring: Bring lunch, water, hiking boots, gloves and hand tools (hand saws and loppers) if you wish. ONAPA will also provide tools. Herbicide application will be done by DOW staff and trained ONAPA volunteers.
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.
For this stewardship project, we will be cutting and treating woody sprouts in the savanna to maintain open habitat necessary for rare plants and butterflies.
Directions: Located on the north side of Hill Avenue, west of Crissey Road, and east of Meilke Road in Holland, just west of Toledo; parking is at the Spencer Township office at 630 North Meilke Road. Hill Avenue can be accessed from Crissey Road.
What to bring: Bring lunch, water, hiking boots, gloves and hand tools (hand saws and loppers) if you wish. ONAPA will also provide tools. Herbicide application will be done by DOW staff and trained ONAPA volunteers.
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.
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July busy stewardship month
The ONAPA stewardship team had a busy July, finishing up prairie fringed orchid surveys in early July at Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area. Since then, we have worked at North Pond on Kelleys Island (July 7), Trillium Trails in Great Parks (July 12), Crabill Fen (July 13), Jackson Bog (July 14), Owens Fen (July 19), Herrick Fen (July 21), and Clifton Gorge (July 26).
At North Pond, we were removing frogbit, a nasty aquatic plant that has invaded the open water. We are helping Great Parks of Hamilton County with some of their dedicated preserves, so at Trillium Trails we helped with Amur bush honeysuckle removal. In the four fens, we removed woody species and vines (e.g., Asiatic bittersweet), cattails, and teasel and Canada thistle (at Owens Fen). At Clifton Gorge, we worked on the scientific side removing invading bush honeysuckle, privet, and other woody invasives. We continue to have 10-20 people on our projects, including partners and volunteers. We are especially thankful for our five stewardship assistants and loyal volunteers. We are always looking for new volunteers, so please join us! |
ONAPA, DNAP and Great Parks groups at Trillium Trails
Jackson Bog
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Watch for the start of fall migration of shorebirds during lake shore and mudflat birding
While August doesn’t usually call to mind the autumn, if one notes the sequence of our natural world it is clear that fall or autumn is approaching. August is a time when many of our birds begin the southern treks to their wintering grounds. In fact, for some shorebirds, even early July can produce the first Least or Solitary Sandpiper beginning its return migration. Shorebirds are difficult, but as with any other group of species patient study can result in easy identification of many species. Of the 443 species of birds on Ohio’s official checklist (Ohio Ornithological Society -https://ohiobirds.org/resources/official-ohio-ornithological-society-bird-checklist/) 47 species are shorebirds. With some effort, one can expect to encounter 25-35 shorebirds in Ohio during a typical year. Fall shorebird migration begins to advance in mid-August and extends into late September. While numbers tend to decline in October and most individuals have departed by November, there are occasional stragglers that linger into December. Our most familiar shorebird, the Killdeer, may overwinter in Ohio in low numbers during some years. Wilson’s Snipe have also been recorded during our winter months.
Shorebirds utilize exposed mudflats often created by the drying out of wetland pools. Timing is everything as these areas can dry quickly under the August summer heat and lack of rainfall. For birdwatchers it is important to keep an eye on these areas as species may move on quickly if the habitat disappears. Many shorebirds migrant at night often resulting in significant changes in terms of number individuals and species at a given site. Many shorebirds travel thousands of miles during the biannual migrations often crossing continents and even open ocean. The Bar-tailed Godwit travels up to 6,000 miles non-stop as part of its migratory movements.
Nature Preserves such as Pickerington Ponds Metro Park in Franklin County, Sheldon’s Marsh in Erie County, and Headland Dunes in Lake County can be very productive shorebird stopover points. Also, wetland restoration areas in your local park districts and some State Wildlife Areas may also be productive. The two refences below are highly recommended field guides that are specifically focused on shorebirds and their identification.
Shorebirds utilize exposed mudflats often created by the drying out of wetland pools. Timing is everything as these areas can dry quickly under the August summer heat and lack of rainfall. For birdwatchers it is important to keep an eye on these areas as species may move on quickly if the habitat disappears. Many shorebirds migrant at night often resulting in significant changes in terms of number individuals and species at a given site. Many shorebirds travel thousands of miles during the biannual migrations often crossing continents and even open ocean. The Bar-tailed Godwit travels up to 6,000 miles non-stop as part of its migratory movements.
Nature Preserves such as Pickerington Ponds Metro Park in Franklin County, Sheldon’s Marsh in Erie County, and Headland Dunes in Lake County can be very productive shorebird stopover points. Also, wetland restoration areas in your local park districts and some State Wildlife Areas may also be productive. The two refences below are highly recommended field guides that are specifically focused on shorebirds and their identification.
References:
O’Brien, Michael, R. Crossley, and K. Karlson. 2006. The Shorebird Guide. Houghton Mifflin Company. New York, New York. 477pp.
Paulson, Dennis. 2005. Shorebirds of North America-The Photographic Guide. Princeton University Press. Princeton, New Jersey. 361pp.
O’Brien, Michael, R. Crossley, and K. Karlson. 2006. The Shorebird Guide. Houghton Mifflin Company. New York, New York. 477pp.
Paulson, Dennis. 2005. Shorebirds of North America-The Photographic Guide. Princeton University Press. Princeton, New Jersey. 361pp.
Clockwise, from top left: Sanderling at Headland Dunes State Nature Preserve; Lesser yellowlegs; pectoral Sandpipers in flight; Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Photos by John Watts.
(Left to right): Lydia Radcliffe, Peter Zimmermann, Rachael Patterson, Edison Cigany, and Maddie Brown.
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Stewardship assistants key to ONAPA mission
ONAPA is very proud of our stewardship assistant team this year, our first year with five stewardship assistants! Three are returning: Maddie Brown, Lydia Radcliffe, and Rachael Patterson.
Our two new assistants are Edison Cigany, a college student at The Ohio State University with a major in plant biosciences, and Peter Zimmermann, a college student at Oberlin College with majors in biology and geology. We are pleased to have them with us this season, working alongside our loyal and dedicated volunteers. |
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Stewardship volunteers and assistants lend a hand in many ways
The stewardship program has been super busy from mid-June through early July. This included counting showy lady's-slippers at Cedar Bog on June 16, helping with downed trees at Knox Woods on June 22 and 28 (due to the storms), another day at Daughmer Savanna working on teasel and woody species on July 2, and surveying for Eastern prairie fringed orchids at elevent sites over four days. The prairie fringed orchid surveys were conducted in cooperation with the US Fish & Wildlife Service, DNAP, and the Division of Wildlife. We now have five stewardship assistants on board, so combined with our loyal and hardy volunteers, we have a great crew this season! Come out and join us in the field soon.
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Cedar Bog rare plants counted, Knox County downed trees cleared and rare orchids surveyed
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Several projects continue to focus on herbaceous invasives in May and June
ONAPA finished up May and started into June with four stewardship projects. We worked at Irwin Prairie in Lucas County on May 24 with seven people pulling garlic mustard in the north woods, hauling out several bags of this invasive plant. On May 31, six people worked at Milford Center Prairie digging out common teasel, pulling sweet-clover and Canada thistle, as well as cutting woody species in the prairie. Smooth rose was in full bloom at this time. Nine volunteers worked together at Brinkhaven Oak Barrens on June 7 to pull garlic mustard and Dame's rocket in the woods, as well as assessing the oak barrens for upcoming projects later in the season. The two oak barrens are looking good after the last several years of woody species control projects there. On June 9, seven people from ONAPA worked with Kyle Bailey from Crawford County Park District at Daughmer Savanna to remove common teasel (very little this year) and other herbaceous invasives, plus woody species that are present in the savanna. We will have another project here on Saturday, July 2 - please join us! |
Smooth rose at Milford Center Prairie
Tim Lavey (left) and Randy Carmel with pulled garlic mustard and Dame's rocket. Randy is president of the Killbuck Watershed Land Trust which owns Brinkhaven Oak Barrens.
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Volunteers go into the woods after garlic mustard and other invasive plants in May
May continued to keep our stewardship team busy in the woods with garlic mustard, Dame's rocket, and butterweed. Photographer and stewardship projects leader Jennifer Windus captured some action shots at Davey Woods (top row) and Fowler Woods (bottom row).
On May 10, seven ONAPA volunteers worked with one DNAP staff person at Davey Woods and pulled 20 bags of garlic mustard and Dame's rocket. The woods was beautiful with spring wildflowers and we had a nice hike after pulling.
On May 11, a small group of five worked at Hueston Woods to remove garlic mustard in the Big Woods. On May 12, ten ONAPA volunteers and two DNAP staff worked at Fowler Woods, pulling garlic mustard and butterweed. Butterweed continues to invade the wet areas of the preserve, so we made a concerted effort to reduce these populations. On May 19, eight ONAPA volunteers worked with preserve manager, Warren Dunegan to pull garlic mustard, Dame's rocket, and butterweed in the upland woods at Olsen Preserve.
On May 10, seven ONAPA volunteers worked with one DNAP staff person at Davey Woods and pulled 20 bags of garlic mustard and Dame's rocket. The woods was beautiful with spring wildflowers and we had a nice hike after pulling.
On May 11, a small group of five worked at Hueston Woods to remove garlic mustard in the Big Woods. On May 12, ten ONAPA volunteers and two DNAP staff worked at Fowler Woods, pulling garlic mustard and butterweed. Butterweed continues to invade the wet areas of the preserve, so we made a concerted effort to reduce these populations. On May 19, eight ONAPA volunteers worked with preserve manager, Warren Dunegan to pull garlic mustard, Dame's rocket, and butterweed in the upland woods at Olsen Preserve.
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Garlic mustard and Dame's rocket keep volunteers busy in preserves April into May
Spring stewardship projects continue to focus on garlic mustard, Dame's rocket, and butterweed. While garlic mustard populations have been down in some preserves, there is still plenty to pull, especially with Dame's rocket. On April 26, 13 people including four from DNAP, worked at Rhododendron Cove to pull garlic mustard.
On Thursday, April 28, six ONAPA volunteers worked at Clifton Gorge to remove garlic mustard and Dame's rocket. On Thursday, May 5, nine people including one from DNAP, pulled garlic mustard and Dame's rocket at Sheepskin Hollow Preserve in Columbiana County. All three projects had beautiful weather with awesome scenery and an abundance of spring wildflowers in bloom. |
We have been short on volunteers lately, most likely due to the price of gas, but we would love to have more participants. Come join us soon! |
Four prescribed burns completed with partners in April despite wet weather
Several people from ONAPA participated in four prescribed burns this spring where ONAPA was the lead, in partnership with other agencies and private landowners. Jennifer Windus and John Watts were the certified prescribed fire managers on these four burns. It was a challenging April to conduct burns given the wet weather, but we managed to complete the burns, two the Knox County Park District and Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and two for private landowners on their small prairies. We burned three units at Wolf Run Regional Park in Mount Vernon for the park district.
Photos shown here are from the North Kingsville Sand Barrens in Ashtabula County, a preserve owned and managed by the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. This is a very significant sand barrens with many rare plants and insects. We burned about a third of the barrens and plan to burn more next year. We had great cooperation from the North Kingsville Fire Department as they helped to manage traffic along the road and the four trains that went by on the south boundary while we were burning! The preserve had not been burned in about 20 years, so the Museum hopes the fire rejuvenates the barrens which has a large wild lupine population.
Several people from ONAPA participated in four prescribed burns this spring where ONAPA was the lead, in partnership with other agencies and private landowners. Jennifer Windus and John Watts were the certified prescribed fire managers on these four burns. It was a challenging April to conduct burns given the wet weather, but we managed to complete the burns, two the Knox County Park District and Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and two for private landowners on their small prairies. We burned three units at Wolf Run Regional Park in Mount Vernon for the park district.
Photos shown here are from the North Kingsville Sand Barrens in Ashtabula County, a preserve owned and managed by the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. This is a very significant sand barrens with many rare plants and insects. We burned about a third of the barrens and plan to burn more next year. We had great cooperation from the North Kingsville Fire Department as they helped to manage traffic along the road and the four trains that went by on the south boundary while we were burning! The preserve had not been burned in about 20 years, so the Museum hopes the fire rejuvenates the barrens which has a large wild lupine population.
Volunteer Stewardship Project Reports
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Member Activities
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VOLUNTEERWe have many volunteer opportunities available throughout the year. Invasive control, preserve monitoring, etc.
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