WCAS Feathered Flyer Newsletter Aug - Oct 2012

7/25/2019 WCAS Feathered Flyer Newsletter Aug - Oct 2012

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www.wca

sohio.org

Western Cuyahoga AudubonSociety

August - October 2012

Field trips page 2 & 3

Programs Page 4

Carbon Offset Project Page 4

Weeders In The Wild Page 5

Join WCAS Page 5

Ultra Wrap-Up Page 6

Legacy Wildlife Stamp Page 7

Contact Us Page 7

Inside this issue:

Ultrawalk-Ultrabird 2012 Wrap-Up

As we were walking up Ridge Road inHinckley Township on May 26, I said tomy three fellow Ultrawalkers, Do youknow what that mist down in that val-ley off to our right is? They said theydidnt, and I replied, Thats the EastBranch of the Rocky River, and werewalking to bring attention to residentshere that we all need to keep it clean!

I explained that we were on highground, hence the name Ridge Road,and storm water takes trash, waste,pesticides, and anything else in its pathdownhill into the river. We want peoplewho live on the private parcels betweenHinckley and North Royalton, to con-sider selling their land to Cleveland

Metroparks instead of developers whenthey decide to divest themselves oftheir property. That way their land canbecome part of the Emerald Necklaceinstead of more housing and shoppingcenters, I said.

WCAS board member Stan Searlesand Jason Wark and Laura Amen-dolagine, Cleveland Metropark Zoo em-ployees, and I were braving the 31-milecourse from Hinckley Reservation toEmerald Necklace Marina in Lakewoodon May 26, 2012 to raise funds forWCAS. This was the sixth annual Ul-trawalk, which is the inspiration of StanSearles.

Support Crew

Actually, we werent alone duringthe adventure. Audubon member VickieSearles leapfrogged ahead of themalong the route in her vehicle to pro-vide water, food items, and foot care.Audubon member Terry Gorges posi-tioned the WCAS banner at strategiclocations to bring the Ultrawalk to the

attention of passersby. Twelve Audubonsupporters joined the Ultrawalkers atCleveland Metroparks Ranger Opera-tions Headquarters in Fairview Park towalk the last five miles of the route.

Congressional Recognition

Pam Bobst, mayor of Rocky River,was on hand at Emerald Necklace Ma-rina to greet the entire group when itcompleted the Ultrawalk at 5:30 p.m.Joining her was Mike Patterson, sched-

By Tom Romito, WCAS President

uler for Congressman DennisKucinich. Mike presented us with aCertificate of Special CongressionalRecognition for raising publicawareness and expanding conser-vation efforts.

Donations & Pledges

During the months leading upto the Ultrawalk, we secured dona-tions and pledges from friends,relatives, and associates for themiles we walked. The intent of theproceeds from this years Ul-trawalk is to defray the cost ofpublishing the final report of thefive-year (2006-2010) breedingbird survey in the Rocky River IBA.

95 Bird Species

WCAS also wrapped up a greatmigration season with a three-daysurvey of the entire IBA called theUltrabird. This was a companionfund-raiser to the Ultrawalk.Thank you to all the UltraBirderswho came out to help! The bestbirds for this UltraBird were thenew ones! We saw a femaleMourning Warbler at South QuarryPicnic Area and a Gray-cheeked

Thrush in the same parking lot.We had a Pine Warbler in Hinckleyin the same area where we've hadMagnolia Warbler in the past. Wemissed the Magnolia this year, butwe had a singing White-throatedSparrow at Lagoon Picnic Area.Fantastic for late May! But we hadmore birders come out to join us.That was the best part.(see Ultrawalk-Ultrabird, Page 7)


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Field Trips

Page 3 www.wcasohio.org

Sunday, September 23, 8 AMBird Walk with Lake Erie Nature and Science Center

Lake Erie Nature and Science Center, Bay Village

Saturday, October 13, 8 AM

Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve (formerly Dike 14)

The Feathered Flyer

Leader: Chuck Slusarczyk, Jr.Target Species: Fall Migrants

Fo r o u r O c t o b e r f i e l d t r i p we will birdCleveland's recently opened Lakefront NaturePreserve (a.k.a. Dike 14) with Chuck Slu-sarczyk, Jr. Chuck has done a lot of birdingat CLNP and taken beautiful bird and butter-fly photos there. The preserve is located onan old dredge disposal site formerly knownas Dike 14 and is adjacent to the East 72nd

Street Marina in Cleveland. Be sure to parkat the Cleveland Lakefront State Park office,not the E.72nd Street Marina parking lot. Thepart office is located at 8701 Lake ShoreBlvd.D i r e c t i o n s : Via the Shoreway / I-90, takethe Martin Luther King Drive exit. Turn northtoward Lake Erie. Stay straight to go onLake Shore Blvd. The office is on the left.

Trip Leaders: Amy LeMonds (LENSC), Terri Martincic, Marty and Rob Reynard (WCAS)

Target Species: Fall Migrants

Wa r b l e r s heading south for the winter will stop here on the south shores of Lake Erie to feed and rest.We will look for these and other migrants, as well as resident birdlife. Meet at Lake Erie Nature and Sci-ence Center and walk the trails to Huntington Beach. Following our walk, we will join LENSC's Wildlife Re-habilitation Specialist Amy LeMonds for a live bird program.Y o u n g b i r d e r s w e lc o m e ! One of our leaders for thisevent is active in the Ohio Young Birders Club, adynamic group of birders ages 12 - 18. Learn moreabout OYBC at www.ohioyoungbirders.org.D i r ec t i on s f r o m t h e w e s t : Via I-90 East, Exit 156Crocker -Bassett Roads. Turn left on Crocker, whichbecomes Bassett at the railroad tracks. Turn right on

Wolf Road. Entrance is .7 miles on the left (north).D i r ec t i on s f r o m t h e e a s t : Via I-90, Exit 159 ColumbiaRoad North. Turn right on Columbia. Turn left on WolfRoad. Entrance is 1.9 miles on the right (north).D i r ec t i on s f r o m t h e s o u t h : Via I-480 east OR west,Exit 3, Stearns Road. North on Stearns (eastboundturn left; westbound turn right). Stearns becomesCrocker, then becomes Bassett at the railroad tracks.Turn right on Wolf Road. Entrance is .7 miles on theleft (north).


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Programs

All WCAS programs are free and open to the public. Our monthly programs are heldthe first Tuesday of each month, September through May, at Rocky River Nature Cen-

ter, 24000 Valley Parkway, North Olmsted, Ohio. For a map and directions seewww.wcasohio.org.

Page 4 www.wcasohio.org The Feathered Flyer

AugustField Trip & Weeders in the Wild Only!Go Birding!

Tuesday, October 2, 7:30 PM

The World of the House Sparrow

Science and natural history author Kim Todd introduces us to theworld of the House Sparrow and humans perception of this species.Innocent, invader, lover and thief are just some of the terms used todescribe the House Sparrow. In her program, Sp a r r o w (also thename of her most recent book)Kim will explore the natural and cul-tural history of this beloved, reviled, and ubiquitous bird as well asdiscuss its decline.

Tuesday, September 4, 7:30 PM

Mentor Marsh

Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve is one of Ohios uniquenatural areas of wetlands and upland forest. Nature is stillchanging the marsh, but so too is the careful managementthat has improved the opportunity for viewing open waterareas and the wildlife using the Marsh as a home or a mi-gratory stop. Mentor Marsh Naturalist, Becky Donaldson,will explain some of the ongoing challenges involved in themanagement and preservation of this coastal Ohio gem inthe program, M e n t o r M a r s h : R e s t o r i n g t h e G r e e n R ib -b o n .

Carbon Offset Project Update

Modeled after the Carbon Offset Bird Project launched at the 2011 Midwest Birding Symposium, WesternCuyahoga Audubon has begun a project to offset the carbon impact of some of the driving done duringour field trips. The process involves participants voluntarily contributing toward the fund based on mile-age and the size of vehicle driven. The WCAS website has more information and a handy form to calcu-late the amount you wish to donate. Click on Field Trip then Carbon Offset Project. Money generated willgo toward habitat preservation and restoration in the Rocky river Important Bird Area or other areawithin the range of the Western Cuyahoga Chapter. Consider contributing to the Carbon Offset Projectwhen you take a birding trip. The birds say, Thank you.

Total collected to date - $140.48


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Join WCAS as a Chapter Friend

www.wcasohio.orgAugust - October 2012

Want to be a WCAS Board Member?

Remember that opportunities abound in WCAS. How aboutconsidering these:

Data Entry/SpreadsheetDevelopment PlanningPresentation/Teaching Outreach Arranging Field TripsContact Development Leading Tours or Field TripsHospitality for Meetings Event ParticipationFundraising Record Keeping

Page 5

Its time again to encourage all readers of The Feathered Flyerto board the train as a Western CuyahogaAudubon Society Friend. For people interested in connecting with nature, this is one of the best dealsbut best-kept secrets in Cleveland. Why? Its easy to join, but we have to continually get the word outto the public. Lets cut to the chase and tell you how to join: Go to http://www.wcasohio.org/

join_wcas.htm or the insert in this newsletter, find the application form, then act!So whats in it for you for your $20 application fee? First, all of your dues stay with WCAS to supportour programs, field trips, and conservation activities. These things are not costly, but they are not cost-free, and we need your help to keep them going. Second, you will receive a hard-copy version of TheFeathered Flyerevery three months in the U.S. mail so you can keep up with the news and calendar ofour activities. If youre not computer friendly, the newsletter coming in your mail is a benefit and con-venience for you. Youll also receive a name tag and WCAS window cling.There are about 100 WCAS Friends in Greater Cleveland. Im proud of everyone who supports us, comesto meetings, and gets involved in our conservation and public education activities.Once again, to join please use the application form that has been inserted in this newsletter or (for thosethat are OK with computers,) the application form on the WCAS website. Directions are on the form.

By Tom Romito, WCAS President

Weeders in the Wild

Join Western Cuyahoga Audubon as we go into natureand restore biodiversity one plant at a time.

Saturday, August 4, 1:00 pmLook About Lodge, Cleveland Metroparks

(Last One in 2012!)

The woodland around Look About Lodge is dotted with Japanese barberry, an invasive plant that cangrow from 2 - 8 feet high. Ages 14 to adult can bring work gloves and a shovel to help curtail thespread of this shrub.Take I-480 east to Route 422 (near I-271). Exit at Miles Road (the exit comes up quickly!). Turn right(east) on Miles. Look About Lodge will be on the right.

Welcome New Members

Most recentRich CajaLast 6 monthsTerry HoganMary Lou McGuireBarbara MiskeDr. Barbara Shagawat

Suggestions on Ways to Help Birds

Some suggestions you may want to consider to help our feathered friends -

1. Offer fresh water2. Use native plants to provide food and shelter3. Have a brush pile4. Let dead trees stand if practical.5. Keep pesticides to a minimum6. Cover large expanses of glass with a screen, orpull a white curtain

7. Pet cats should stay inside8. Work with local land conservancies or park dis-tricts to preserve land for habitat.9. Keep on top of local and national conservationissues, and communicate your views to your legisla-tors10. Join WCAS!


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The Feathered Flyer

Walk for Salvation

Page 6 www.wcasohio.org

Thank you to those who participated in the Walk for Salvation on the Near West Side of Cleveland onSaturday, July 14. We also were interviewed by WTAM 1100 who was present at the event. WCAS peopleincluded: Tom Romito, Mary Anne Romito, Nancy Howell, Stan Searles and Vickie Searles.

Do You know Any of theseUltraBird or UltraWalk Participants?

If so, you might ask them why they did it and will they do it again?Thank you to the following:

UltraBirders

Kit BirchBill DeiningerMary Lou HuraJoanne Gorges

Terry GorgesPenny O'Connor

Mike PasekRayka Petkova

Ryan PulisMary Anne Romito

Tom RomitoEileen Zimlich

UltraWalkers & 5 Mile Walkers

Gayle AlbersJennie DeChantMark Hofelich

Ellen HortonChristopher, Sophia & Jonah Ku-

har

Tom RomitoStan Searles

Laura Amendolagine

Park Ops, Emerald Necklace and Support Volunteers

Liz Clingman

Joanne GorgesTerry Gorges

Mark Hofelich

Mary Lou HuraMike Pasek

Vicki SearlesBarry Wolfe

Volunteer Page

Thank You, Field Trip Leaders

Our fantastic volunteer field trip leaders showed us more than 140 different bird species during our birdwalks in 2011-2012. We went to more than two dozen different birding hotspots, including the Ultrabirdand the Christmas Bird Count.

Christine CainCraig CaldwellTim ColbornBill Deininger

Tim FairweatherNancy HowellRich KassoufEthan KistlerJoAnn Kubicki

Gabe LeidyTerri MartincicMary Anne RomitoJeanne Williams

Maybe a little premature, but

Christmas Bird Count 2012

For those of you who like to plan way ahead, Christmas Bird Count 2012 is scheduled for Sunday, De-cember 30. Details will be announced at a later date. Everyone from beginners to very experiencedbirder are invited join in the count, as well as the post count festivities. Mark your calendar!

Cuyahoga Fairground Wind Turbine Survey

WCAS is planning to conduct a survey of the consequences of large wind turbines to wildlife and particu-larly to bats at the new turbine in Berea. Tom Romito is exploring how this is accomplished while abidingby federal, state and county protocols. Once this is established, volunteers will be needed. The currentplan is to begin no later than April, 2013, although a preliminary study may start late this year.


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Page 7www.wcasohio.org

WESTERN CUYAHOGA

AUD UBON SOCIETY

4310 Bush Ave.

Cleveland, OH 44109

Phone: 216-741-2352

Fax: 216-741-1879

Email: [email protected]

Contact Us

Visit our website

www.wcasohio.org

WCAS Chapter Newsletter

Published 4 times per year in

February, May, August and

November by the Western

Cuyahoga Audubon Society.

www.wcasohio.org is the official

Chapter Web Site.

WCAS Board Meetings held at6:30 pm prior to each programat Rocky River Nature Center.General public and WCASmembers welcome.

PresidentTom Romito, 216-741-2352TreasurerNancy Howell, 440-891-1710Newsletter Editor

Kurt Miske, 440-835-6700WebmasterMary Anne Romito, 216-741-2352Field Trip CoordinatorPenny OConnor, 216-676-4859Directors at LargeLiz Clingman, 440-799-1881Gayle AlbersStan SearlesBarry WolfeMark Hofelich

August - October 2012

(Ultrawalk/Ultrabird, contd

From Page 1)

To see the list ofbirds and greatphotographs ofboth the Ultrabirdand Ultrawalk,

visit the website,www.wcasohio.organd click on thePictures and Re-ports navigationbutton. A Bald Eagle with chick in the Rocky River

IBA Mary Anne Romito.

UltraWalkers joined by 5 milers Terry

Gorges

Lake Erie Birding TrailDid you know that the shores of Lake Erie offer the opportunity to see more than 400 species of birds?The Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources has developed the Lake Erie Birding Trail, a string of prime birdinglocations along the 312-mile Ohio Lake Erie shore and immediate environs. The Cleveland area loop in-

cludes 24 parks and preserves. The website for the trail includes directions to the various sites, birdhighlights and checklists. Check it out at: ohiodnr.com/Home/LakeErieBirdTrailIndex/

Get your 2012 Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp, availablefrom WCAS at programs and field trips. The $15 stampfeatures a spotted salamander. Your packet also in-cludes a lapel pin, a window sticker and an informationcard. Buying this collectible wildlife stamp will showthat you support:

habitat restoration, land purchases and conserva-

tion easements

keeping common species common

endangered & threatened native species

educational products for students and wildlife en-

thusiasts

wildlife and habitat research projects

O h i o W i ld l i f e Le g a cy S t a m p


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WesternCuyahogaAudubonSociety

4310BushAve.

Cleveland,OH44109

Mission StatementThe mission of WCAS is to educate the public about conservation of the natural world through memberinvolvement in chapter activities and community outreach.

What are we about?What we are really about is enjoying, experiencing and learning about nature. We offer many opportuni-ties to participate in field trips, volunteer activities and educational programs while meeting other peoplewith similar interests and values. We conduct bird walks, teach bird identification and participate in theAnnual Christmas Bird Count and Audubon Spring Bird Census. But thats only a small part of what wereabout. When you think of WCAS, think of:

Our members range from experienced naturalists to first time explorers. What binds us is our love of na-ture in all seasons. Join us in enjoying, supporting & experiencing all of the nature Cleveland has to offer.

Birds

Butterflies, Bees and Dragonflies

Deer, Chipmunks, Squirrels & Raccoons

Photography and Nature Video Picnics, Guided Walks, Naturalists, Field Trips

Gardening, Backyard Habitats & Plant Sales

Education, Conservation efforts & Legislation

advocacy

Children, Families, Seniors & Friends

The Cleveland Metroparks our various localcounty Metroparks, the CVNP, The Cleveland Mu-

seum of Natural History & The Cleveland Zoo

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WCAS Feathered Flyer Newsletter Aug - Oct 2012

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