Ohio Natural Areas & Preserves Association

Thursday, May 7, 2026
Garlic mustard control at Irwin Prairie

10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
9987 West Bancroft Street, Holland
Lucas County

The core of this preserve is a treeless, wet sedge meadow dominated by several species of sedges, rushes and wetland grasses. It is the finest remaining sedge meadow in the state. The preserve is actually comprised of a mosaic of distinctive plant communities based on variations in water table levels.

We will be removing garlic mustard in cooperation with the Toledo Wild Ones.

Directions: Meet at the parking lot located on Bancroft Road, about five miles north of the Toledo airport.

What to bring: Bring lunch, work gloves, long-sleeved shirt and pants, hiking boots, tick spray or repellent.

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.

Friday, May 15 at 9 pm
Night Owl Moth Survey

9:00 p.m. – Midnight. Our program leader - naturalist Judy Semroc - will be assisted by Greg Cudworth. Using special lighting techniques, we will be inventorying and identifying moths and other night-flying insects at the Denny Nature Preserve in Knox County. In the event of inclement weather, this event will be rescheduled for Monday, June 15. Registration Required - participation limited to 25 -
email [email protected]

Cecropia moth

Black-and-white warbler

Blackpol warbler

Warbler Identification:
It Can Be Black and White!

Story and photos by John Watts

The first half of May each year, 35 species of eastern wood warblers arrive or pass through Ohio on their spring migration journey. Ohio (specifically the western Lake Erie area) lies in the primary migratory route for nearly all of these species. Learning the identifying characteristics to differentiate species can be overwhelming for new and even experienced bird watchers when often you only get a fleeting glimpse, Many species generally are adorned with bright, flashy plumages while others have patterns of earth-tones. Two species differentiate themselves by simply sporting patterns that are black and white.

The Black-and-White Warbler is a striking breeding resident in Ohio’s Hill Country with population densities greatest in the Hocking Hills, Wayne National Forest, and Zaleski and Shawnee State Forests (Rodewald, 2016). Breeding pairs are scattered from southeast Ohio into northeast Ohio’s mature forests and are uncommon throughout most of the northwestern half of Ohio. Their striking black and white striped body pattern is unmistakable with a white eyebrow stripe and black streaking that extends onto the breast and sides. Black-and-White Warblers nest on the ground and can generally be observed at lower forest levels. They are often found foraging up and down the main trunk or major limbs of a tree, more reminiscent of a White-breasted Nuthatch than a leaf gleaning warbler. Their high pitched “wee-see-wee-see-wee-see” song is often compared to an old fashion sewing machine sewing rhythm.

The Blackpoll Warbler passes through Ohio with the latter half of the migrating warblers with some individuals lingering until late May. While possessing black streaking that extends from the throat onto their sides or flanks, it lacks the overall black and white body striping of the previous species. Blackpoll Warblers’ caps are completely black with bright white cheeks, similar to our chickadee species. Their backs are usually a darker pattern with darker stripes on the upper back and white wing bars. The Blackpoll Warbler’s song is in a high frequency, a rapid series of single pitched “si” notes with a slight emphasizes on the first part of the note giving it a circular sound. Blackpoll Warblers nest across the North American northern spruce forests, even extending to near the tree line from Alaska, across Canada, and into the higher elevations of the New England states.

So, actually, identifying warblers can be “black and white” but only in a couple of instances. Enjoy this year’s spring migration.

References
Curson, Jon, David Quinn, and David Beadle. 1994. Warblers of the Americas. Houghton Mifflin Company. New York, New York. pp. 150-152.
Rodewald, Paul G. et al. 2016. The Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in Ohio. University Park, PA: Penn State University Press. pp. 358-359.

Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Invasive Species Control at Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve

10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
2381 State Route 343, Yellow Springs
Greene County

This 268-acre preserve protects one of the most spectacular dolomite and limestone gorges in the state. Registered as a National Natural Landmark in 1968, Clifton Gorge encompasses a 2-mile stretch of the Little Miami State & National Scenic River, just east of John Bryan State Park. The gorge protects one of the best examples of post-glacial and inter-glacial canyon cutting. The Silurian limestone and dolomite bedrock supports an abundance of plant life, including at least 347 species of wildflowers and 105 species of trees and shrubs. The cool north-facing slopes provide much needed moist, shady habitat for northern relics such as hemlock, Canada yew, arborvitae, red baneberry and mountain maple.

The limestone bedrock here provides an ideal habitat for bush honeysuckle, and other invasive shrubs. This stewardship project will focus on removal of garlic mustard and Dame's Rocket. We will be working on the south side of the river which is the Scientific side and usually requires an access permit to visit.

Hiking on the Scientific side of the preserve may be difficult as there are no trails & it is very rocky, including some mild climbing down rocks to reach some areas.

Directions: Park at the main Clifton Gorge parking lot, just west of Clifton on State Route 343.

What to Bring: Bring lunch, water, insect repellent, hiking boots and gloves.

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.

Bonnett Pond Bog

W. Pearl King Savanna

For February, we were able to accomplish six projects, so it was a productive month:

February 4 - Bonnett Pond Bog - worked on the bog mat as the pond was frozen thanks to long-term frigid temperatures
February 11 - Daughmer Savanna
February 17 - Pearl King Savanna with Columbus Metro Parks - large group of almost 40 people, many staff and volunteers from Columbus Metro Parks
February 19 - North Kingsville Sand Barrens with Cleveland Museum of Natural History - cleared more trees and burned brush piles to open more units for prescribed burning in the spring
February 25 - Kitty Todd with The Nature Conservancy - worked on fire breaks for two burn units
February 26 - Wolf Run Regional Park with Knox Co Park District - cut and treated woody species in a grassland unit to be burned this spring

ONAPA is preparing to help several other partners with prescribed burns this spring including at Daughmer Savanna, North Kingsville Sand Barrens, Ashland County Park District, Knox County Park District, Crawford County Park District, and Richland CountyvPark District. These burns will be conducted in March and April. (Photos by Jennifer WIndus)

Bonnett Pond Bog

Only two projects to start 2026

Due to the holiday break, we did not start our stewardship projects until January 15 at Lakeside Daisy Preserve. We had a good turnout of 10 people on a snowy day and lots

of cedars were removed. At the second project - Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area - we removed woody species from one of the prairie fringed orchid sites. Brinkhaven Barrens, cancelled January 28 because of snow depth, was rescheduled for February 12.

Killbuck Marsh stewardship

Tackling woody invasives at Resthaven

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

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

Meilke Road Wildlife Area

Lakeside Daisy SNP

Cranberry Bog

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

Attendees at ONAPA 12th Annual Meeting August 23 enjoy great weather at Alley Park

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

Stewardship Project Reports

Member Activities

2024 Event Highlights

Stewardship
Projects

We plan stewardship projects year-round throughout Ohio and we are always looking for volunteers. We will include a short field trip on each project to see some of the preserve where we are working.

2025 Member
Field Trips

Preserve
Monitoring

Field trips are scheduled from late spring into early fall. Most are easy walks through our state's Division of Natural Area's preserves. Watch the website and Facebook page for updates.

Any state nature preserve in your area can be visited and a report completed to help inform ONAPA and the preserve managers about the condition of the preserve.