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Winter 2008-2009 G EAUGA S OIL AND W ATER C ONSERVATION D ISTRICT 14269 Claridon-Troy Rd. P.O. Box 410 Burton, OH 44021 Phone: 440-834-1122 Fax:440-834-0316 Email: [email protected] Website: http:// www.geaugaswcd.com Watershed Ripples The mission of Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District is “To conserve, protect, and enhance the natural resources of Geauga County by providing leadership, education, and assistance to all.” Inside this issue: Nightshift in the Riparian Zone 1 Nightshift...continued 2 Green Spaces as a Learning Place Munchy Medley 3 Here’s the Dirt… What’s Happening 4 The title “Watershed Ripples” refers to the carbon footprint we leave behind, which impacts the future of our watershed. Every action has a reaction, or a ripple effect, which affects our natural resources. Nightshift in the Riparian Zone What is a riparian zone and “whoo-whoo” lives there? We hear the words “riparian” frequently as urban sprawl spreads to the once pristine areas this habitat provides. One could describe the area using senses alone such as the fresh smell of earth, the damp, springy lichens and mosses or the cool breeze on your face as you hear the water ripple pass. By technical definition a riparian zone is an area along a wetland, pond, lake, stream or river which provides an area for hydrophytic vegetation to grow. These trees and plants provide a network of roots which help support the riverbank. Sediment deposition is the number one pollution source which enters into our waterways. It fills our streams, depletes the oxygen content of the water and fills the gills of our native fish. Through riparian buffers, soil erosion is slowed or prevented from the energy created by moving water, especially in times of heavy rain or melting snow. By preserving these transitional zones, the vegetation can filter out pollution before it enters our water source. Flood waters can be contained and absorbed slowly and diversity of wildlife supported. When you see an open field with a row of trees meandering through the land, look closely for the white and brown speckled bark of the American Sycamore or the peeling white bark of the River Birch. Seeing these trees can indicate without ever seeing a drop of water that a river or stream flows through the property. Trees and plants that require their feet to be wetter than normal but can not survive in the actual body of water inhabit the stream banks providing soil security, plant diversity, shelter and resting stops for many species. The leaves provide shade and stable water temperatures and falling leaves provide camouflage and add nutrients for the aquatic life. The raptor biodiversity that can occur in a small area due to these lush corridors is extraordinary. A vast array of hawks, owls, and eagles can be found in these buffer zones. From the smallest of Ohio’s owls the northern saw whet to the ferocious great horned owl. Ohio is home to eight owl species; the snowy, long-eared, barn, short-eared, screech, northern saw whet, great horned, and barred with the latter five calling the riparian habitat home. This time of year is very important to the population of Ohio’s owls, since January marks the beginning of the breeding season. The aggressive great horned owl, which is Ohio’s largest resident owl, is the earliest to mate. They begin in January with the owlets, usually two to three, hatching in mid to late February. They are an impressive owl with a clutching force of over 100lbs. in each foot, enough to break a human arm. Their body strength allows them to capture and carry three times their weight in prey with their needle sharp talons. Female great horned owls can weigh up to 5 pounds or more allowing them to carry a hefty 15 lb. skunk which is one of their favorite meal choices. Can they smell? No. Continued on page 2 Great Horned Owl
Transcript
Page 1: Watershed Ripples - Geauga SWCDgeaugaswcd.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/WRWINTER0809...Beyond Ecophobia: Reclaiming the Heart in Nature by David Sobel No Student Left Indoors by

Winter

2008-2009

G EAUGA SOIL AND WATER

C ONSERVATION D ISTRICT

14269 Claridon-Troy Rd.

P.O. Box 410

Burton, OH 44021

Phone: 440-834-1122

Fax:440-834-0316

Email:

[email protected]

Website: http://

www.geaugaswcd.com

Watershed Ripples

The mission of Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District

is “To conserve, protect, and enhance the natural resources of Geauga County by providing leadership,

education, and assistance to all.”

Inside this issue:

Nightshift in the Riparian Zone

1

Nightshift...continued 2

Green Spaces as a Learning Place

Munchy Medley

3

Here’s the Dirt… What’s Happening

4

The title “Watershed Ripples” refers to the carbon footprint we leave behind, which impacts the future of our watershed. Every action has a reaction, or a ripple effect, which

affects our natural resources.

Nightshift in the Riparian Zone

What is a riparian zone and “whoo-whoo” lives there? We hear the words “riparian” frequently as urban sprawl spreads to the once pristine areas this habitat provides. One could describe the area

using senses alone such as the fresh smell of earth, the damp, springy lichens and mosses or the cool breeze on your face as you hear the water ripple pass. By technical definition a riparian zone is an area along a wetland, pond, lake, stream or river which provides an area for hydrophytic vegetation to grow. These trees and plants provide a network of roots which help support the riverbank. Sediment deposition is the number one pollution source which enters into our waterways. It fills our streams, depletes the oxygen

content of the water and fills the gills of our native fish. Through riparian buffers, soil erosion is slowed or prevented from the energy created by moving water, especially in times of heavy rain or melting snow. By preserving these transitional zones, the vegetation can filter out pollution before it enters our water source. Flood waters can be contained and absorbed slowly and diversity of wildlife supported.

When you see an open field with a row of trees meandering through the land, look closely for the white and brown speckled bark of the American Sycamore or the peeling white bark of the River Birch. Seeing these trees can indicate without ever seeing a drop of water that a river or stream flows through the property. Trees and plants that require their feet to be wetter than normal but can not survive in the actual body of water inhabit the stream banks providing soil security, plant diversity, shelter and resting stops for many species. The leaves provide shade and stable water temperatures and falling leaves provide camouflage and add nutrients for the aquatic life.

The raptor biodiversity that can occur in a small area due to these lush corridors is extraordinary. A vast array of hawks, owls, and eagles can be found in these buffer zones. From the smallest of Ohio’s owls the northern saw whet to the ferocious great horned owl. Ohio is home to eight owl species; the snowy, long-eared, barn, short-eared, screech, northern saw whet, great horned, and barred with the latter five calling the riparian habitat home. This time of year is very important to the population of Ohio’s owls, since January marks the beginning of the breeding season.

The aggressive great horned owl, which is Ohio’s largest resident owl, is the earliest to mate. They begin in January with the owlets, usually two to three, hatching in mid to late February. They are an impressive owl with a clutching force of over 100lbs. in each foot, enough to break a human arm. Their body strength allows them to capture and carry three times their weight in prey with their needle sharp talons. Female great horned owls can weigh up to 5 pounds or more allowing them to carry a hefty 15 lb. skunk which is one of their favorite meal choices. Can they smell? No.

Continued on page 2

Great Horned Owl

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Barred Owl

Watershed Ripples Page 2

Nightshift in the Riparian Zone (Continued from page 1)

Most birds can not smell with the turkey vulture being the exception. Great horned owls usually nest in a crotch of a tree, or take over crow, red-tailed hawk or even eagle nests. This owls’ only enemy is humans, with car collisions counting for most of the fatalities along with illegal shooting and trapping. These owls are flexible when it comes to habitat, calling farms, neighborhoods, woodlands and wetlands home. You can hear this owl on the coldest of winter nights calling for its mate with its familiar “Hoot” or “Whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo”.

Our smallest riparian resident is the northern saw whet owl who stands only 8” high and weighs only 3 ounces. They are listed on Ohio’s special interest list since they are not common breeders to Ohio. They prefer to hunt under the strict cover of darkness depending on hearing alone for small mammals and even a variety of songbirds. As a cavity nester they use woodpecker holes in the heavy cover of conifers and brush. They will also utilize artificial nest boxes. The resonant “too, too, too, too, too” call can be heard in early April when they are the most vocal during mating. Their call was misidentified as resembling someone sharpening (whetting) a saw with a file, hence their name saw whet.

Another small woodland owl is the eastern screech owl, whose call is more of a tremulous whistle or a horse whining than that of a screech. Like most owls they depend on camouflage to help protect them from their predators, which includes other owls. They come in two color morphs either red or gray and even a transitional brown. It is thought that the gray morphs were more prevalent in areas of longer winters with the brilliant red morphs in warmer parts of the state. Similar to the saw whet

they too are cavity nesters and will utilize hollow stumps, woodpecker holes, broken limb cavities and artificial nest boxes. Peak breeding activity is February to March, with a clutch of 2 to 8 owlets. Their diet consists of a wide array of invertebrates, vertebrates, birds and mammals.

The barred owl is another wet woodland species that loves the rich diversity of prey found in the streams and understory. It is often found wading in streams in search of crayfish, fish, turtles and amphibians while in colder

months preying on game birds, opossums, squirrels and even other raptors. The distinct call “who cooks for you, who cooks for you all” is sometimes heard even during the daytime on overcast days. During the February to March mating their calls can take over the woods, especially when a pair are defending their territory. The calls resemble monkeys hooting and screaming throughout the woodland. All owls have facial disks surrounding their eyes which act like a satellite dish catching and directing sounds to their ears, which are located behind a protective flap of skin on the sides of their head. In some species their ears are asymmetrical, allowing them to triangulate in on the sound. This gives them the exact location enabling

them to hunt by sound alone on the darkest of nights.

Since owls are nocturnal, they depend on good eyesight for flight maneuverability and hunting. The last of our wetland owls is no exception. The long-eared owl has the famous large saucer-like eyes. If we had eyes the size of owls in comparison to our body size they would be the size of large grapefruits and weigh almost 5lbs. Owls’ eyes have more rods than cones allowing more light to enter, yet the eyeballs are fixed in the socket unable to move. Owls have an amazing 14 vertebrate in their necks compared to our 7 which gives them the incredible flexibility to move the head 270˚. Their necks are very small and are surrounded heavily by their dense feathers. The feathers are specially designed for silent flight with fringes edging the primary feathers muffling their flight sounds. Their feather-covered legs aid in silent flight for protection against cold winter nights and from the last fight of prey. Another early breeder, long-eared owls lay eggs in late March and April, in the preferred abandoned nests from crows or hawks. Owlets will be fed an assortment of small mammals, such as the meadow vole which is a favorite of this owl. This owl is on Ohio’s special interest list since it is not a common breeder in Ohio.

In the last 200 years over 90% of Ohio’s wetland areas have been destroyed according to the Great Lakes Commission. Owls are just one of the many species for which the riparian zone provides water, shelter and space. By protecting these areas and utilizing best management practices, we can ensure that not only are our nightshift occupants protected but that biodiversity is maintained and encouraged. These buffers provide the filtration system necessary for a healthy water source and healthy streams and rivers. Late winter and early spring are excellent times to explore and appreciate Geauga counties riparian areas in search of those nightshift raptors. So bundle up and head out to prowl for owls!

Northern Saw Whet

Owl

Eastern Screech Owl

Long-Eared Owl

Department of Natural Resources-Division of Wildlife-www.wildohio.com Owls: The Silent Fliers by R.D. Lawrence

Raptor! A Kid's Guide to Birds of Prey by Christyna M. and Rene Laubach

Additional Resources

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*Outdoor Education Resources

Watershed Ripples Page 3

Munchy Medley

Craft Supply Suggestions-*Be aware of any food allergies prior to the program when gathering your supplies* Raisins, Currants, Cranberries, Apples, Oranges, Peanut Butter (alternatives Sunbutter®, Soybutter), Safflower,

Sunflower, Millet, Egg Shells, Grapes, Melons, Corn, Millet, Thistle, Bananas, Popped Popcorn (No salt or butter)

Read the story Stranger in the Woods by Carl R. Sams II & Jean Stoick. Take the children for a walk in the woods to a clearing or a field. Ask the children who came to visit the “stranger” in the book? What animals do they think might be in their own woods, fields, or backyards? What tracks do they see? What signs left behind are around them? Give each child baggies of various seeds, nuts, raisins, berries, orange slices, etc. in separated bags, anything that would be healthy and enjoyed by local wildlife. Avoid bread products as they are unhealthy and can make wildlife severely ill. Ask them to design a picture of an animal that they have seen before, either at home, the park or school. Have the children sprinkle the items in the snow, creating a mosaic animal. Discuss what animals might eat the various items. When all the children are done have them

share their animal, then head back to the woods to wait and see what winter wildlife come to your munchy medley. You can expand, depending on your time constraint and budget. You can use spray bottles with food

coloring to add to the artwork, decorate surrounding trees with berry/raisin chains, create a journal of who comes to visit, or make mosaic critters on construction paper.

Discount School Supply and The School Funding Center: http://schoolgrant.blogspot.com/ The Geography of Childhood: Why Children Need Wild Places by Gary Paul Nabhan and Steven Trimble Childhood and Nature: Design Principles for Educators by David Sobel Schoolyard Enhanced Learning, Using the Outdoors as an Instructional Tool, K-8 by Herbert Broda Place Based Education, Connecting Classrooms and Communities by David Sobel

Beyond Ecophobia: Reclaiming the Heart in Nature by David Sobel No Student Left Indoors by Jane Kirkland Into the Field: A Guide to Locally Focused Teaching by Clare Walker Lesli Greening School Grounds: Creating Habitats for Learning Edited by Tim Grant and Gail Littlejohn Nature Intelligence: Science in the School Yard by Jenna Glock, Susan Wertz, and Maggie Myer

The Winter Picnic by Robert Welber One Snowy Night by M. Christina Butler & Tina Macnaughton Stranger in the Woods by Carl R. Sams II & Jean Stoick In the Snow Who’s Been Here? By Lindsay Barrett George Monster Tracks by A. Delaney

Owl Moon by John Schoenherr Birds at Your Feeder by Erica H. Dunn and Diane L. Tessaglia-Hymes Cornell Lab of Ornithology-www.birds.cornell.edu

Additional Resources

Green Spaces as a Learning Place

As we build homes, businesses and even new schools, we occupy more and more space limiting the amount of green space for children to play, learn and explore. Many researchers and educators have written numerous books* on the importance of unstructured outdoor experiences and education. Geauga County is fortunate to have many talented and dedicated teachers who feel just as strongly about outdoor education. These teachers have utilized their own time and in some cases money, and have searched for funding to provide these opportunities to Geauga County students. Some of the schools that have benefited from these dedicated educators are Kenston High School, Maple Elementary, West Geauga High School, Westwood Elementary, St. Mary’s and Newbury Elementary to name a few.

Studies conducted through the Journal of Attention Disorders have proven that children who are easily distracted due to ADD or ADHD can benefit from outdoor experiences. By providing safe outdoor classrooms, we enrich minds of children to learn and develop while gaining a deeper sense of appreciation and stewardship. This year Geauga SWCD is offering $1,500 in grant monies to assist local Geauga County schools to create a green space as a learning place. The program objective is to advance the knowledge, appreciation and stewardship of students and teachers of Geauga County’s natural resources as well as encourage a partnership between Geauga SWCD and local schools in providing conservation education. There are numerous resource books. One excellent choice is No Student Left Indoors by Jane Kirkland. This is a step by step guide to creating a field guide for your schoolyard helping students record, observe and discover nature. For more information and application forms, contact the district or visit www.geaugaswcd.com. The deadline to apply is February 16, 2009.

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Your Geauga SWCD

Education Contacts

Katie Nainiger-Conservation

Education Coordinator

[email protected]

Ron Etling-District

Conservation Educator

[email protected]

(440) 834-1122

www.geaugaswcd.com

Watershed Ripples...Here’s the Dirt Page 4

Outdoor Land Lab Grants The Geauga SWCD is offering outdoor land lab grants for the 2008-2009 school year to

Geauga County schools to enhance outdoor education. The program objective is to

advance the knowledge, appreciation and stewardship of students and teachers of Geauga

County’s natural resources as well as encourage a partnership between Geauga SWCD and

local schools in providing conservation education. For more information and application forms

contact the district or visit www.geaugaswcd.com.

Thank you to the Western Reserve

Federation of Conservationists for

sponsoring “Watershed Ripples” and

conservation education in Northeast Ohio.

National Conservation Poster Contest “Dig It! The Secrets of Soil”

Geauga County SWCD is sponsoring a Conservation Poster Contest. "Dig It! The Secrets of Soil" is the theme for the National Association of Conservation Districts Stewardship Week April 26-May 3, 2009. NACD is using the “Dig It!” theme in partnership with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and the Soil Science Society of America. This collaboration will complement the Smithsonian "Dig It! The Secrets of Soil" traveling exhibition, which will run July 19, 2008 through January 3, 2010 at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. and travel to museums across the United States May 2010 to September 2013. The purpose of the contest is to instill in our youth an appreciation for the environment and the need to protect our precious soil and water resources. Geauga County schools must submit posters to the District office on or before April 24, 2009, or call Geauga SWCD office by April 17, 2009 to arrange for the District to collect them by the deadline. Prizes will be awarded for 1st and 2nd place winners. For more information visit www.geaugaswcd.com or www.nacdnet.org.

2009 Area II Envirothon “Biodiversity in a Changing World”

High school students from Northeast Ohio counties are invited to test their skills during the Area II Envirothon on April 29, at Camp Asbury, Hiram, OH. The 2009 theme is “Biodiversity in a Changing World.” For more

i n f o r m a t i o n g o t o h t t p : / /www.envirothon.org or contact Geauga

SWCD.

Every winter, When the great sun has

turned his face away, The earth goes down into

a vale of grief, And fasts, and weeps, and shrouds herself in sables,

Leaving her wedding-garlands to decay -

Then leaps in spring to his returning kisses.

~Charles Kingsley~

Winter Wonderland

Ohio Division of Wildlife (ODOW) Wild School Sites Grant

This year the ODOW is offering $500 in grant money to help establish, support and purchase materials, equipment and resources to encourage outdoor classrooms that sustain habitat for wildlife. The grant is open to schools, non-profit and government agencies. The grant period is January 1st through May 31st. For more information www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife education resources wild school sites.

Fresh Air, Fresh Fruit

The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation is a nonprofit charity dedicated to planting edible, fruitful trees and plants to benefit the environment and all its inhabitants. Their primary mission is to plant and help others plant a collection total of over 18 billion fruit trees across the world and maintain their growth under organic standards. The program supports and encourages sustainable stewardship while providing fresh fruit to schools and their surrounding community. In 2008 thirty schools received 1,000 trees. In 2009 the number is anticipated to grow. If you would like to apply to receive FREE fruit trees and shrubs for your schoolyard, have a school official send an email to [email protected] or for more information visit the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation at www.ftpf.org.


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