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Thursday, September 30, 2021 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 loppers. Herbicide application will be done by DOW staff and trained ONAPA volunteers.
RSVP: Please register REGISTER HERE. Online registration is important to our planning. If you have questions, please contact the Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
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 loppers. Herbicide application will be done by DOW staff and trained ONAPA volunteers.
RSVP: Please register REGISTER HERE. Online registration is important to our planning. If you have questions, please contact the Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
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Next field trip is September 25
We want to encourage particularly those who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to participate. Unvaccinated participants will be required to wear face coverings and social distance. There is no limit on the number of participants, but please register at guydenny@centurylink.net so we are able to reach you if the outing must be cancelled for any reason. Don't forget to pack a lunch and dress for for the weather.
Check our FIELD TRIP page for information on the October 2 seed gathering at Denny's Prairie and October 9 guided walk through Blackhand Gorge. |
Johnson Woods: photo by Beth Sanderson
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September stewardship projects get off to a great start in preserves around Ohio
September has been a busy month already for our stewardship crew. We started with Cranberry Bog on September, continuing to clear out the bog meadows choked primarily with poison sumac and glossy buckthorn. We worked at Cedar Bog on September 14 with 15 people, including a mix of partners, continuing to open up massasauga habitat. On September 16, we visited a new site for ONAPA, working with the Cleveland Museum of Natural History to remove invading glossy buckthorn at one of their fen preserves in Ashtabula County. We partnered with the Greater Cleveland Audubon Society on September 18 to help them remove invasive woody species near the lake at Aurora Sanctuary. This workday included an impressive group of 19 people from ONAPA, DNAP, and Audubon. (Photos by Jennifer Windus, except where noted).
September has been a busy month already for our stewardship crew. We started with Cranberry Bog on September, continuing to clear out the bog meadows choked primarily with poison sumac and glossy buckthorn. We worked at Cedar Bog on September 14 with 15 people, including a mix of partners, continuing to open up massasauga habitat. On September 16, we visited a new site for ONAPA, working with the Cleveland Museum of Natural History to remove invading glossy buckthorn at one of their fen preserves in Ashtabula County. We partnered with the Greater Cleveland Audubon Society on September 18 to help them remove invasive woody species near the lake at Aurora Sanctuary. This workday included an impressive group of 19 people from ONAPA, DNAP, and Audubon. (Photos by Jennifer Windus, except where noted).
August 21 annual meeting a welcome change to a challenging year
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ONAPA members returned to its annual in-person meeting in August after skipping last year’s get-together due to the COVID pandemic.
The eighth annual event drew 51 attendees to the West Woods Nature Center in Geauga County. Guy Denny and Jennifer Windus covered ONAPA's accomplishments in 2020-21, detailing partnerships and covering how pandemic challenges were met. A short business meeting gave an overview of an organization that is fiscally sound with an individual membership of 1,234 from 26 states. ONAPA also has 43 member organizations that support its mission. Its largest expense, the Stewardship Assistants program, enables the organization to directly improve the state’s natural areas and preserves. According to Windus, ONAPA was one of the few organizations that did not interrupt volunteer operations, continuing to run its stewardship program throughout the pandemic. With adjustments designed to keep project participants safe, ONAPA partnered with several organizations as well as the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves to continue work in the field. Over 50 volunteers fought invasive plants, restored habitat for threatened species, monitored preserves and surveyed rare plants. |
After lunch catered by the local Heinen’s, keynote speaker Lisa Rainsong engaged her audience with an audio-visual feast of the singing insects, crickets and katydids. Four field trips rounded out the event: a tour of Triangle Lake Bog and Kent Bog with Denny and Windus, a walk through Mentor Marsh with David Kriska, a visit to Geauga Parks’ Frohring Meadows with Linda Gilbert, and a study of lichens with Ian Adams just outside the nature center. |
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Compass Plants in Ohio's only native site get counted during ONAPA survey for the Division of Natural Areas database
On Tuesday, August 24, Jennifer Windus and the four ONAPA stewardship assistants made the long trek south to Lawrence County to Compass Prairie State Nature Preserve (access by written permit only). This is the only native site in Ohio for compass plant, a state endangered plant. It had not been monitored, including counting all plants, for several years. DNAP contracted to have woody species removed over the winter since the prairie was getting very overgrown. This prairie has a' good diversity of prairie plants, but the compass plant is the rarest and most well-known at this preserve. Enduring heat and humidity, seed ticks and chiggers, our crew counted over 1,000 plants, including over 100 flowering plants, and mapped the population with a GPS unit. In addition, there are many young plants, indicating reproduction is occurring. This was a great experience for our stewardship assistants, who have been surveying for several rare plants this year to assist DNAP with records for the Natural Heritage Database. |
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Myersville Fen crew - photo by Jennifer Windus.
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Woody species cleared at Wolf Run and Myersville Fen
On Tuesday, August 10, our ONAPA stewardship assistants worked with Lori Totman, Knox County Park District Director, and three of her interns at Wolf Run Regional Park to remove woody species in one of the burn units. This was a cooperative project since ONAPA did some prescribed burning for the park district this spring at Wolf Run. We removed and treated autumn olive, black locust and multiflora rose in one of the units on Yauger Road in Mount Vernon. It was a great opportunity for our stewardship assistants to interact with the Wolf Run interns. On Tuesday, August 17, 10 ONAPA volunteers and assistants worked with DNAP staff at Myersville Fen to remove invading woody species as well as cattails in one of the two fen meadows. This is important stewardship to maintain the open meadows for a number of rare fen plant species. The rain chased us out early, but we were able to clear plenty before the rain moved in. |
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The Travels of Monarch X captures September's Lake Erie shore
Photos by John Watts
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Left, migrating monarch butterflies drape shoreline trees. Right, monarch butterfly on sweet Joe pye weed.
By John Watts
As a kid, one of my favorite and most influential books was a children's book titled The Travels of Monarch X. The book described the life cycle of a Monarch Butterfly tagged near Toronto, Canada, and followed along its fall migratory route through the eastern United States to the Gulf Coast and then to San Luis Potosi, Mexico. On the tag was also a request for the eventual finder to contact the scientist with the butterfly's final location if it was recaptured.
I had always heard about the Monarch's migration along the southern shore of Lake Erie but had never observed it until September 2020. I visited Lake Erie on September 13 and 14 to search for birds and while scoping across the lake, I noticed Monarchs regularly passing through my field of view over the lake half-to-a-mile off shore. I later visited Headland Dunes State Nature Preserve to find the trees draped with resting Monarchs. This phenomenon occurs annually along Lake Erie's south shore and islands. The main migration takes place between September 10 and September 25, but I would encourage anyone interested to keep an eye out any time after Labor Day. At Headland Dunes State Nature Preserve alone, there were thousands of butterflies. Other parks and preserves along the shore were reporting good numbers. This period also coincides with the migration of fall passerines, especially warblers. Whether interested in lepidoptera or not, I would encourage all to get out and see the spectacular migration of this butterfly recognizable to almost everyone.
As a kid, one of my favorite and most influential books was a children's book titled The Travels of Monarch X. The book described the life cycle of a Monarch Butterfly tagged near Toronto, Canada, and followed along its fall migratory route through the eastern United States to the Gulf Coast and then to San Luis Potosi, Mexico. On the tag was also a request for the eventual finder to contact the scientist with the butterfly's final location if it was recaptured.
I had always heard about the Monarch's migration along the southern shore of Lake Erie but had never observed it until September 2020. I visited Lake Erie on September 13 and 14 to search for birds and while scoping across the lake, I noticed Monarchs regularly passing through my field of view over the lake half-to-a-mile off shore. I later visited Headland Dunes State Nature Preserve to find the trees draped with resting Monarchs. This phenomenon occurs annually along Lake Erie's south shore and islands. The main migration takes place between September 10 and September 25, but I would encourage anyone interested to keep an eye out any time after Labor Day. At Headland Dunes State Nature Preserve alone, there were thousands of butterflies. Other parks and preserves along the shore were reporting good numbers. This period also coincides with the migration of fall passerines, especially warblers. Whether interested in lepidoptera or not, I would encourage all to get out and see the spectacular migration of this butterfly recognizable to almost everyone.
References: Hutchins, Ross E., 1966, The Travels of Monarh X. Rand McNally. Chicago, Illinois. 64 p.
Stewardship project turnout benefits from good weather in early August
Above: Jeff Davis and Bob Glotzhober haul out a log at Cedar Bog, adding to the pile pictured at right. Below: Kent Bog participant turnout was, well, BIG.
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ONAPA had two excellent stewardship projects in early August with record turnouts since the start of the pandemic. On Tuesday, August 3, 13 ONAPA volunteers and six DNAP staff worked together at Kent Bog to remove glossy buckthorn in the shrub thickets. Larger shrubs were cut and treated with herbicide while smaller ones pulled out. Adam Wohlever, preserve manager, also girdled red maples growing in the shrubs and providing significant shade.
On Thursday, August 5, ONAPA organized a great partners stewardship day at Cedar Bog (actually a fen). We partnered with DNAP, Cedar Bog Association and several herpetologists who have been studying massasaugas in the fen. The 18 participants, including eight from ONAPA volunteers, cleared a significant corridor to a wooded area, connecting two meadows for massasauga habitat. ONAPA will continue this work on September 14 and October 19 (see Fall Stewardship Projects). |
Denny's Prairie in peak bloom for field trip on spectacular summer day in July
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Photos by Jan Kennedy
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The Tallgrass Prairie Tour at Guy Denny's on Saturday, July 31, enjoyed a spectacular turnout which was higher than expected. The day's weather was perfect for small groups to experience the 20 acres of prairie forbes and grasses at peak bloom.
We estimate about 70 visitors enjoyed the group leaders' discussions of prairie establishment and management, and history of plant uses by indigenous people and early settlers. Over four hours, tours were led by Guy, Dick Moseley, Jennifer Windus, and John Watts. Stewardship assistants Lydia and Makaila and board member Jim Mason helped with ONAPA displays and materials. Mark your calendars for the next field trip, a September 25 walk through the Johnson Woods Old Growth Forest. |
Stewardship project crews stay busy during the summer heat of late June into July
Jackson Bog
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Milford Center Prairie
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ONAPA stewardship assistants and volunteers have been busy over the past month working with DNAP preserve staff. On Saturday, June 26, ONAPA had seven people work at Daughmer Savanna, which is managed by the Crawford County Park District. We removed teasel and woody species, and cleared some trails.
On July 15, we removed invasive plants at Milford Center Prairie. DNAP had woody species removed in the winter, so we worked on mullein, teasel, giant ragweed and sweet clover. The prairie plants are looking impressive and responding well to the clearing.
On July 17, a crew of eight worked at Jackson Bog, removing purple loosestrife and cattails. It threatened rain but we were able to accomplish three hours of work.
At Clifton Gorge on July 22, we pulled a recent invasion of Japanese stiltgrass along the river through the gorge and removed woody species such as bush honeysuckle on the scientific side of the preserve.
Despite the heat and recent rain, we continue to make progress with habitat management thanks to our stewardship assistants and volunteers.
On July 15, we removed invasive plants at Milford Center Prairie. DNAP had woody species removed in the winter, so we worked on mullein, teasel, giant ragweed and sweet clover. The prairie plants are looking impressive and responding well to the clearing.
On July 17, a crew of eight worked at Jackson Bog, removing purple loosestrife and cattails. It threatened rain but we were able to accomplish three hours of work.
At Clifton Gorge on July 22, we pulled a recent invasion of Japanese stiltgrass along the river through the gorge and removed woody species such as bush honeysuckle on the scientific side of the preserve.
Despite the heat and recent rain, we continue to make progress with habitat management thanks to our stewardship assistants and volunteers.
Volunteer Stewardship Project Reports
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