Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Woody Species Control at Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area
Woody Species Control at Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area
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10:00 am – 3:00 pm
S.R. 83 PFO site (Holmes County) This 5,671-acre wildlife area is situated in northeastern Ohio in portions of Wayne and Holmes counties. The area extends north from Holmesville to three miles south of Wooster, and lies between State Route 83 on the east and State Route 226 on the west. The area is in a shallow, U-shaped glacial outwash valley. Approximately half of the wildlife area consists of marsh and swamp that is flooded during some portion of the year. This |
wetland complex is Ohio’s largest remaining marshland outside of the Lake Erie region. We will be working at one of the sites for Eastern prairie fringed orchid (PFO) which occurs at Killbuck Marsh.
We will be cutting woody species, primarily dogwood, alder, and willow, hauling brush out of the sedge meadow, and treating the cut stems with herbicide. Herbicide treatment will be done by DOW staff or trained ONAPA volunteers. ONAPA will provide loppers and handsaws.
Directions: This PFO site is located on the west side of Holmesville, just off State Route 83. We will park at the Holmesville Conservation Club on Franklin Street/320. We will be working in the sedge meadow across the road from this parking lot. If you have not worked at this site before, more detailed directions will be sent to you after you register for the project.
What to bring: Bring lunch, water, gloves, and good hiking boots. Herbicide treatment will be done by licensed or trained ONAPA stewardship assistants and volunteers. Tools will be provided.
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.
We will be cutting woody species, primarily dogwood, alder, and willow, hauling brush out of the sedge meadow, and treating the cut stems with herbicide. Herbicide treatment will be done by DOW staff or trained ONAPA volunteers. ONAPA will provide loppers and handsaws.
Directions: This PFO site is located on the west side of Holmesville, just off State Route 83. We will park at the Holmesville Conservation Club on Franklin Street/320. We will be working in the sedge meadow across the road from this parking lot. If you have not worked at this site before, more detailed directions will be sent to you after you register for the project.
What to bring: Bring lunch, water, gloves, and good hiking boots. Herbicide treatment will be done by licensed or trained ONAPA stewardship assistants and volunteers. Tools will be provided.
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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Save the date: OIPC Annual Meeting February 20
Ohio Invasive Plants Council is holding its annual meeting Friday, February 20, at Alley Park, Lancaster. Details will be shared on the OIPC WEBSITE - registration will be in early February. |
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Plant science scholarships open to second-year undergraduate students - deadline is February 28 |
The Western Reserve Herb Society offers Plant Science scholarships. These are open to students who have completed the second/sophomore year of undergraduate study and are enrolled in a bachelor’s degree. The applicants for these scholarships must be attending an accredited college or university and have achieved a grade point average of 3.2 or above.
The Western Reserve Herb Society Scholarship covers all accredited colleges and universities in the United States. There will be two (2) awards of $4,000 each.
The Frances Sylvia Zverina Scholarship is restricted to students studying at an accredited institution within the state of Ohio. All Ohio candidates are also automatically considered for the National Scholarship. There will be two (2) awards of $4,500 each.
Preference is given to applicants who demonstrate course work in rigorous sciences, exceptional dedication through outside experiences, and whose career goals may involve work in areas such as the public or nonprofit sector, education, sustainability, and research.
Students studying at a college or university in the state of Ohio are automatically considered for both the National AND the Ohio Scholarship.
Visit the Western Reserve Herb Society for more information and to apply - deadline is February 28.
The Western Reserve Herb Society Scholarship covers all accredited colleges and universities in the United States. There will be two (2) awards of $4,000 each.
The Frances Sylvia Zverina Scholarship is restricted to students studying at an accredited institution within the state of Ohio. All Ohio candidates are also automatically considered for the National Scholarship. There will be two (2) awards of $4,500 each.
Preference is given to applicants who demonstrate course work in rigorous sciences, exceptional dedication through outside experiences, and whose career goals may involve work in areas such as the public or nonprofit sector, education, sustainability, and research.
Students studying at a college or university in the state of Ohio are automatically considered for both the National AND the Ohio Scholarship.
Visit the Western Reserve Herb Society for more information and to apply - deadline is February 28.
Bald Eagles now commonly seen in Ohio
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Photo and story by John Watts
The resurgence and success of the Bald Eagle in Ohio and the Great Lakes, is nothing short of astounding. Bald Eagles have always been a part of Ohio’s avifauna. Lake Erie’s south shore has supported a Bald Eagle population throughout Ohio’s history. During the 1940’s, this population became restricted to western Lake Erie’s Sandusky Bay except for the occasional nesting attempt on one of the larger northern Ohio inland reservoirs. While as late as the mid-1960’s, the Sandusky Bay region supported 11-15 pairs. However, many of the nests were unsuccessful due to the impacts DDT and other related |
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pesticides of infertile eggs or eggs with thin shells. By 1979, this population was reduced to 4-5 pairs (Peterjohn 2001). The first breeding bird atlas in the mid-1980’s documented six pairs in the state (Peterjohn & Rice, 1991).
As the effects of the pesticides subsided after being banned in the early 1970’s, Ohio’s Bald Eagle population began to improve. By 1989, 12 pairs were documented as breeding in Ohio. During the 1990’s the eagle population continued to rebound with 57 pairs known as of 1999 (Peterjohn, 2001). Since 2000, Ohio’s Bald Eagle population has continued to expand in number and distribution. As of 2025, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website reports 964 confirmed active nests in 87 of Ohio’s 88 counties. Bald Eagles have now become fairly common permanent residents and maybe seen about anywhere in Ohio.
Winter surveys are also conducted by the Ohio Division of Wildlife. As of 2023, winter surveys reported at least 622 Bald Eagles throughout Ohio. As mentioned, while seeing a Bald Eagle is now possible about anywhere, the southern shores of Lake Erie hold the highest number of Bald Eagles even during the winter months.
Bald Eagles eat a number of birds, especially waterfowl, small mammals, and fish throughout the year. They will also eat carrion including road killed White-tailed Deer when the opportunity presents itself. When claiming or stealing a carcass, they often eat their share while fending off competition from other eagles and American Crows. During your winter outings and hikes keep an eye to the sky as well as the ground for our charismatic Bald Eagle.
References:
https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/safety-conservation/about-ODNR/news/americas-national-bird-thriving-in-the-buckeye-state
https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/animals/birds/bald-eagle
Peterjohn, Bruce G. 2001. Birds of Ohio. The Wooster Book Company. Wooster, Ohio. pp. 109-112.
Peterjohn, Bruce G. and Daniel Rice. 1991. The Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Natural Areas and Preserves Columbus, Ohio. pp. 72-73.
As the effects of the pesticides subsided after being banned in the early 1970’s, Ohio’s Bald Eagle population began to improve. By 1989, 12 pairs were documented as breeding in Ohio. During the 1990’s the eagle population continued to rebound with 57 pairs known as of 1999 (Peterjohn, 2001). Since 2000, Ohio’s Bald Eagle population has continued to expand in number and distribution. As of 2025, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website reports 964 confirmed active nests in 87 of Ohio’s 88 counties. Bald Eagles have now become fairly common permanent residents and maybe seen about anywhere in Ohio.
Winter surveys are also conducted by the Ohio Division of Wildlife. As of 2023, winter surveys reported at least 622 Bald Eagles throughout Ohio. As mentioned, while seeing a Bald Eagle is now possible about anywhere, the southern shores of Lake Erie hold the highest number of Bald Eagles even during the winter months.
Bald Eagles eat a number of birds, especially waterfowl, small mammals, and fish throughout the year. They will also eat carrion including road killed White-tailed Deer when the opportunity presents itself. When claiming or stealing a carcass, they often eat their share while fending off competition from other eagles and American Crows. During your winter outings and hikes keep an eye to the sky as well as the ground for our charismatic Bald Eagle.
References:
https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/safety-conservation/about-ODNR/news/americas-national-bird-thriving-in-the-buckeye-state
https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/animals/birds/bald-eagle
Peterjohn, Bruce G. 2001. Birds of Ohio. The Wooster Book Company. Wooster, Ohio. pp. 109-112.
Peterjohn, Bruce G. and Daniel Rice. 1991. The Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Natural Areas and Preserves Columbus, Ohio. pp. 72-73.
Killbuck Marsh stewardship
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Tackling woody invasives at Resthaven
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December a productive month in the field
As we wind down the year, the ONAPA stewardship crew had four more projects in December: Clifton Gorge on the 9th, Resthaven Wildlife Area December 11, Daughmer Savanna December 16, and Honey Run Highlands Park December 18. These were all productive projects, removing and treating invading woody species. We worked on bush honeysuckle along the lower trail at Clifton Gorge. At Resthaven WA, we opened a small remnant prairie on Oxbow Road. At Daughmer Savanna, we continued to work on woodies in the understory, and cleaned up some downed trees and large branches. Columbus Metro Parks staff and volunteers helped that day and we had a super group of 21 people. We helped Knox County Park District staff at Honey Run Highlands to remove large autumn-olives in a grassland unit, in preparation for a spring burn. |
Randy Haar handles the chainsaw at Resthaven
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October a slower month for stewardship projects
October was a slower month for the ONAPA stewardship crew. We had two project cancellations and four days specifically for the stewardship assistants. We held projects with volunteers at Cranberry Bog (Oct 16), Brinkhaven Barrens (Oct 18), Meilke Road Savanna Wildlife Area (Oct 21), and Lakeside Daisy Preserve (Oct 23). These all involved woody species removal and cut stem treatment. Other projects and events with the stewardship assistants included a Lakeside daisy transplant, an Ohio Invasive Plants Council workshop, and prescribed fire manager training. 
Brinkhaven Barrens
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Meilke Road Wildlife Area
Lakeside Daisy SNP
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Cranberry Bog
Cranberry Bog
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September projects all a "go" in warm and dry September
In spite of another dry and warm month, September was pretty busy for the ONAPA stewardship team. We had projects at Gallagher Fen, Greenbelt Preserve (Great Parks), Wengerd Woods (Cleveland Museum of Natural History), Cranberry Bog, and Kitty Todd Preserve (The Nature Conservancy). For all these projects, we were working on woody species control for species such as bush honeysuckles, privet, and glossy buckthorn. 
Wengerd Woods
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Attendees at ONAPA 12th Annual Meeting August 23 enjoy great weather at Alley Park
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ONAPA held its 12th Annual Meeting on Saturday, August 23 at the Gosling Nature Center at Alley Park in Lancaster. Two guest speakers, Andrew Lane Gibson from the Ohio Division of Natural Areas and Preserves and Heather Stehle from Crane Hollow, Inc., shared their experience, often with a side of humor. Andrew took the audience on a trip around Lake Superior, highlighting the orchids of the region’s many habitats. Heather shared the legacy of Crane Hollow Preserve.
Guy Denny and Jennifer Windus also gave updates about ONAPA activities in the past year. It was a good turnout with 72 people attending. Two vendors selling nature-related items were available for attendees -- Savannah Freeman with Moonville Print Shop and Nora Steele. It was a beautiful day, perfect for the four field trips in the afternoon -- Crane Hollow, led by Heather Stehle and Jennifer Windus, Wahkeena Preserve, led by Tom Shisler, Rock House in Hocking Hills State Park, led by Tim Snyder, and a short hike around Alley Park, led by Dick Moseley. |
Volunteer Stewardship
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VOLUNTEERWe have many volunteer opportunities available throughout the year. Invasive control, preserve monitoring, etc.
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