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Saturday, October 23, 2021
Woody Species Control at Brinkhaven Oak Barrens 10:00 am – 3:00 pm Township Road 13, Brinkhaven (Gann) Holmes County Brinkhaven Oak Barrens was designated as a state natural landmark in 2005 for being the best example in north central Ohio of what famous Ohio ecologist, Paul Sears called “oak openings.” It was just dedicated as a state nature preserve this year. The 114-acre preserve owned by the private non-profit organization, Killbuck Watershed Land Trust, protects two oak barrens containing six state-listed plants, including the threatened thyme-leaved pinweed. ONAPA has been assisting the KWLT with habitat management to restore the two oak openings. We will work in the northern opening, as the southern opening has had significant clearing in the past two years, as well as a spring burn in April 2016. We will be cutting larger woody stems and treating the cut stems with herbicide. Trained DNAP staff and ONAPA volunteers will conduct the herbicide application. Directions: From Brinkhaven (Gann) on U.S. Rt. 62, drive about 4 ¼ miles east on U.S. Route 62 to Holmes Co. Rd. 25. Drive about ¾ mile north to an intersection and |
turn left (west) on to Township Road 13. Drive for about
1.2 miles and the parking lot will be on the right. The parking lot is about 500 feet beyond the old railroad overpass, on the right (it is hard to see as it is a grass parking lot with no signage). What to bring: Bring lunch, water, hiking boots, gloves, and hand tools such as hand saws and loppers (if you wish). ONAPA and KWLT will provide tools and herbicide, and conduct herbicide application. RSVP: Please REGISTER HERE. Online registration is important for our planning. Please contact The Ohio Natural Areas & Preserves Association HERE if you have questions. |
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Thursday, October 28, 2021
Woody Species Control at Karlo Fen State Nature Preserve 10:30 am – 3:30 pm Summit County Karlo Fen is a ground water fed boreal fen exhibiting sphagnum hummocks, marl areas and some prairie species. Located in the Portage Lakes area near Nimisila Reservoir, this fen was once part of a much larger series of glacial relicts that have all but disappeared due to impoundments, agriculture and other developments. |
Karlo Fen is home to small fringed gentian, white beak-rush and Ohio goldenrod. Karlo Fen is currently managed under lease agreement by Summit County Metroparks. Project goals will be to remove invading woody species in the fen meadow such as glossy buckthorn, autumn olive and gray dogwood.
Directions: Karlo Fen is located on the east side of Christman Road near the Portage Lakes State Park campground, .25 miles north of the intersection of E. Nimisila and Christman Roads. A parking lot is located on the west side of Christman Road across from the preserve. We will meet in the parking lot and hike into the small preserve.
What to bring: Bring a lunch, water, long-sleeved shirts, gloves, and muck boots. Herbicide treatment will be done by DNAP staff and trained volunteers. Tools will be provided.
RSVP: Please REGISTER HERE. Online registration is important for our planning. Please contact The Ohio Natural Areas & Preserves Association HERE if you have questions.
Directions: Karlo Fen is located on the east side of Christman Road near the Portage Lakes State Park campground, .25 miles north of the intersection of E. Nimisila and Christman Roads. A parking lot is located on the west side of Christman Road across from the preserve. We will meet in the parking lot and hike into the small preserve.
What to bring: Bring a lunch, water, long-sleeved shirts, gloves, and muck boots. Herbicide treatment will be done by DNAP staff and trained volunteers. Tools will be provided.
RSVP: Please REGISTER HERE. Online registration is important for our planning. Please contact The Ohio Natural Areas & Preserves Association HERE if you have questions.
Hardy Autumn Meadowhawk dragonfly continues to fly into October, even November
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Photos by John Watts
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Autumn Meadowhawk adds a streak of red to changing colors in Ohio's fall landscape.
By John Watts
As the fall season progresses, we consciously or not note signs of the seasonal changes. Some are obvious such as leaf color change, shorter days, cool crisp weather and migrating birds. There are other less noticeable events, such as fewer insects. Many of Ohio’s dragonflies flight dates diminish substantially as we enter October. However, one species, the Autumn Meadowhawk, continues to fly throughout most of Ohio through October and even into November. In fact, they can even survive that first blast of winter and still be found in late November as far north as northeast Ohio. In the northern part of Ohio, if you observe a meadowhawk it is almost certainly an Autumn. Formerly known as the Yellow-legged Meadowhawk for its distinctive yellow to greenish-yellow legs, this small dragonfly possesses a blood red face and eyes, a bright red abdomen and red wing stigmas. Autumn Meadowhawks are common throughout Ohio and are most numerous near small ponds, wetlands and slow-moving streams. They will venture to nearby uplands in search of basking areas to stay warm during cooler fall days. During these days there are very approachable for observation and photographs.
As the fall season progresses, we consciously or not note signs of the seasonal changes. Some are obvious such as leaf color change, shorter days, cool crisp weather and migrating birds. There are other less noticeable events, such as fewer insects. Many of Ohio’s dragonflies flight dates diminish substantially as we enter October. However, one species, the Autumn Meadowhawk, continues to fly throughout most of Ohio through October and even into November. In fact, they can even survive that first blast of winter and still be found in late November as far north as northeast Ohio. In the northern part of Ohio, if you observe a meadowhawk it is almost certainly an Autumn. Formerly known as the Yellow-legged Meadowhawk for its distinctive yellow to greenish-yellow legs, this small dragonfly possesses a blood red face and eyes, a bright red abdomen and red wing stigmas. Autumn Meadowhawks are common throughout Ohio and are most numerous near small ponds, wetlands and slow-moving streams. They will venture to nearby uplands in search of basking areas to stay warm during cooler fall days. During these days there are very approachable for observation and photographs.
References: Rosche, Larry, Judy Semroc, and Linda Gilbert with illustrations by J. Brumfield. 2008. Dragonflies and Damselflies of Northeast Ohio, second edition. Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Cleveland. Ohio. 300p..
A bounty of seeds were collected in the prairie on a perfect autumn day for the task
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Armed with snippers, paper bags and markers, some 30 prairie lovers spread out over 20 acres, harvesting dried seeds from the tall grass prairie October 2.
Backed by the table full of samples, ONAPA president Guy Denny gave a brief overview of seeds available in the prairie he established over many years before sending the collectors into the field. ONAPA stewardship assistants Maddie and Lydia manned the displays. ONAPA board member Dick Moseley and other ONAPA volunteers helped with plant identification in the field. Natives in Harmony's Gail Martin from nearby Marengo made sure there was a large selection of plants for those of us who wanted to have a back up plan for our seed collections. |
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Woody invasive plants no match for ONAPA volunteers in preserves
Erie Sand Barrens
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ONAPA had two stewardship projects recently at Erie Sand Barrens SNP (September 21) and Herrick Fen SNP (September 23). Both focused on the removal and treatment of invading woody species. Seven ONAPA volunteers worked with DNAP preserve manager, Warren Dunegan at Erie Sand Barrens to remove black locust, sassafras, and sumac in an area with prairie and barrens plants. Seven ONAPA volunteers worked with five staff from The Nature Conservancy to remove glossy buckthorn and other woody invasives in the fen meadows along the boardwalk at Herrick Fen, our third season to partner with TNC at this high-quality fen preserve.
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Herrick Fen
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Herrick Fen
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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 7, 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 7, 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. |
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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