January, 2010 PANAMA Road Trip ! by Mary Warren

This was one of my favorite finds...can you identify these feathered friends? 

I spent 10 days birding in Panama with Cheepers! Birding on a Budget…………………….Fantastic trip!! The group of 10 came from VA, NY, CO, TX, OH, and AZ. WE had an amazing guide, Guido, who knew where to find the birds, what they were, and how to let the group find them quickly!! He used a special birding laser light to point out the birds to the group. I need to get one of those things!! Each day we would venture out early, some days as early as 5 am, bird all morning, have lunch and siesta time, back out by 3 pm until dinner at 7, go over the list for the day, and go to bed exhausted but happy!! The total species for the group was 350!!! I saw about 310 of those, with 96 being life birds. But more important than the numbers was the beautiful scenery, the friendly people, and of course the warm weather!!!    We flew into Panama city, which is huge!! I couldn't believe the skyscrapers!! We were told that the population of Panama is about 3 million people and that 2 million live in Panama City!! We did get to see the Panama canal and watch the ships go through one of the three locks which was very interesting.
   Our home base was at Gamboa, about an hour north of the city. From there we ventured out each day to national parks, botanical gardens, zoos, and even a dump!! On our fifth day we flew to David in the western part of the country to visit the cloud forest. Our skilled bus driver took us up narrow winding mountain roads to view some spectacular scenery and birds. One stop was at the summer home of the director of the Panama Audubon Society!! She wasn't home, but Guido had made arrangements for us to have lunch there and do some birding.
   I would recommend tropical birding to everyone!! And Cheepers! Birding on a budget does a great job!! They have trips planned to Belize, Ecuador and Argentina! I heard that a trip to the Galapagos is also in the works………..who knows where my next adventure will lead me!
 

Road Trip !  ~  September 2-3, 2009
2nd Annual Wildlife Diversity Partners Meeting

             Shawnee State Park extended 2 days of perfect weather for the 2nd Annual Wildlife Diversity Partners Meeting on  September 2-3.
Wildlife Chief Dave Graham welcomed over 70 "wildlife partners" including Sandy Burris (representing Friends of Magee Marsh) as well as Mary Warren and Lisa Wendt (representing FAS).  Attendees were encouraged to find new ways to forge partnerships with each other so that our common goal of preserving Ohio's natural world can succeed over the long term.

              In pursuit of that goal, day one was devoted to education in the way of field trips facilitated by experts; choices included Forest Management, Scioto Brush Creek aquatics, Birds & Botany as well as Mary's choice, Butterflies & Dragonflies while Lisa and Sandy went on a hunt for the Timber Rattlesnake.

             As the sun heated up southern Ohio, Mary reported her group found butterflies galore with  25 species being recorded!  Mary quickly became the life of that party as the group got super-excited and gathered around her...it seems an infrequent visitor, the HARVESTER butterfly, choose to land on her for excellent viewing by all.

           Meanwhile, Sandy and Lisa enjoyed the sinuosity of roads leading into the Shawnee State Forest and found themselves in some of the highest elevations of the forest led by herpetologist, Doug Wynn aka The Snake Whisperer.   Wynn is a snake researcher, an expert the State of Ohio has turned to for more than 20 years for information about Ohio snake species.

          "Picnic Point" gave a fantastic view of Portsmouth, the Ohio River and Kentucky and that observation set the plate for Wednesday's travels but, first, they had a rattler to find!

          Armed with tracking equipment, his beautiful 51" timber rattlesnake was found within an hour.  
It was previously  implanted with a tiny radio transmitter as a means to provide data for Wynn's research.

              The Columbus Dispatch reports that no one has a good estimate of how many timber rattlers call Ohio home but researchers know that the number is low from loss of habitat, poaching, persecution as well as a slow reproductive process.  It was Wynn who proposed that the snake be listed as "endangered" in Ohio, and it was Wynn who helped develop conservation plans to try to save it from disappearing. The Wildlife Division said "Doug is one of the few we rely on for scientific research on the eastern massasauga rattlesnake, the timber rattlesnake and the eastern plains garter snake.  "He's developed the expertise on the biology, life cycle and habitat because of his repeated hands-on work with the species.   

             Next we traveled to the park's Nature Center and, with the assistance of park Naturalist Jenny Richards, Wynn gave a demonstration of how data is gathered on the timber rattlesnakes.  A pregnant female was measured, weighed and implanted with a radio chip with plans to implant the offspring which Doug estimated at 6 baby snakes due to be born within a week or so.  Wynn is in demand to teach the public, ecologists and hunters about snakes so for Lisa and Sandy to have the opportunity to track and safely touch a rattlesnake under Doug's guidance was a real treat! 

              But alas, all good things must end and so it was with our afternoon adventures...

Evening dinner brought us the opportunity to discuss the new WILDLIFE LEGACY STAMP which will be available for purchase online in March at
http://www. wildohio.com.  Conference attendees voted and chose the photograph of a Baltimore oriole taken by Russell Reynolds of Lima.  Reynolds' winning image will appear on the inaugural Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp to be issued in March 2010.

The winning entry was selected from a field of 22 photos; the competition was only open to Ohio residents. Photographs were judged on originality, technical excellence, composition and overall impact.  Proceeds from the sale of the stamp remain here in Ohio to support vital habitat restoration and research projects, land purchases and conservation easements, and educational products for students and wildlife enthusiasts.

"This stamp was developed because we know there are Ohioans who want to help in our wildlife-conservation efforts," said David M. Graham, chief of the Ohio Division of Wildlife. "I encourage anyone who cares about wildlife and the places it calls home to plan on buying a Legacy Stamp.

That contest geared the gals up for the Nocturnal Night Creatures field trip headed up by Jim McCormac, Wildlife Naturalist.  Darkness descended and the symphony began.   Not only were the night-hikers serenaded by katydids, cicadas and crickets, observations of very busy spiders provided a unique look at web-making and supper-taking!  The highlight was Lisa's glimpse at a flying squirrel!

          But alas, all good things must end and so it was with day one...

Day 2 of the Wildlife Partners Diversity Meeting offered speakers and information for "partnering for diversity" as well as ideas for future "road trips" for FAS. 

          Friends of wildlife, new and old, spent time sharing ideas for collaboration and then said their goodbyes but the 'flatland gals' weren't quite ready to leave the beautiful rolling foothills and founds themselves stretching a few more hours out of the day. 

          A road trip through the state forest and lunch along the campground lake eventually led a to a new discovery...BOSTON SHAKES!  Newly energized by a milkshake covered by an ice cream sundae ( can you say sugar-high?), it was off to the Portsmouth "flood wall".  Portsmouth is on the Ohio River, and in the historic Boneyfiddle downtown district, there is a huge floodwall that stands between the city and the river. Starting in 1993, artist Robert Dafford painted large sections of the wall with murals/pictures that depict the last two centuries of Portsmouth's history. Many of the murals are 3-D and it feels as though you can "step into" them a they are 20 feet high and over 2,100 feet long. If you're looking for an interesting stroll along the Ohio River, this is the place for you.

          A quick trip over the river took the FAS flatlanders to Kentucky's Bluegrass Highway with that particular stretch of road honoring  Billy Rae Cyrus. It seemed fitting then that the Ohio Wildlife plated-vehicle headed north with an "Achy, Breaky Heart".

          But alas, all good things must end...until the next road trip!
 

A Monumental Day For Firelands Audubon  ~ Put-In-Bay Field Trip ~ May 31, 2009

    Sunday May 31^st was a beautiful day for our trip to Put-in-Bay. A group of 12 FAS members and guests enjoyed a field trip organized by Lisa Brohl, chair of the Lake Erie Islands Chapter of the Black Swamp Conservancy (LEICBSC). We visited the areas that FAS helped the LEICBSC protect.

   Our first stop was the Jane Coates Wildlife Trail where we took a guided tour of great old woods on newly established trails.  Kelly Faris and John Ladd, residents of South Bass Island and board members of LEICBSC, delighted us with their stories of the islanders, local geology and habitats.  They shared the history of the island from its Spanish beginnings and folklore to the present traditions.

   Our next stop was the Lake Erie Islands Nature and Wildlife Museum where a serendipitous bonus was to observe the weekly Antique Car Parade. Approximately 50 cars were led by a Mayberry-like police car with siren blaring and ended with the last vehicle’s occupants throwing candy.

    The Wildlife Center was a great treat.  Sandi Glauser joined John and Kelly to tell us about their amazing collection of mounted specimens of North American wildlife which were donated by an islander who had lived in Alaska.  If you have never seen this museum, we highly recommend it!  In the back, was a phenology garden which is one of several similar gardens being used as study sites for bloom time research throughout the country.

  Our third stop was the newly acquired Scheeff East Point Nature Preserve. This land was destined for development until the owner was overwhelmed by the cost to run sewer and water to his intended housing properties.  The parcel now provides critical island habitat for thousands of migratory birds and the threatened Lake Erie Water Snake.  The view of the lake and surrounding islands was spectacular.  What a gem!

    The efforts of the LEICBSC were most impressive and their hospitality was outstanding.  We finished our trip with a stop at Perry’s Monument and went out on the town for dinner before catching the 7:00 o’clock ferry home.  Some of the interesting folks we met were a group of travel writers from across the nation, and stereoscopic photographers (two cameras for 3-D effects) who were preparing a presentation to get their group to come to our area (Sawmill Creek) for their next convention.

Article written by Pat Krebs / Sandy Wright   Photographs by Gene Wright

MOXLEY MARSH FIELD TRIP     Sunday, April 19, 2009   41 Species Count

Canada Goose

Trumpeter Swan

Wood Duck

Gadwall

Widgeon

Mallard

Blue-winged teal

Northern Shoveler

Green-winged teal

Lesser Scaup

Bufflehead

Double-crested cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Turkey vulture

Bald eagle

Coot

Killdeer

Greater yellowlegs

Snipe

Ring-billed gull

Mourning dove

Kingfisher

Red-bellied woodpecker

Downy  Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Tree Swallow

Rough-winged swallow

Golden-crowned kinglet

Ruby-crowned kinglet

American Robin

Ruddy Duck

Common Loon

Brown Thrasher

Yellow-rumped

Palm warbler

Song sparrow

Red-winged blackbird

Common grackle

Brown-headed cowbird

Hooded Merganser

Through the lens of Alicia Elmer . . .

Horned Grebe, mostly complete breeding plumage. 
Hospital pond in Norwalk 3/24/09

This Horned Grebe has been in a man-made pond in front of the new addition at Fisher-Titus Medical Center in Norwalk from March 23-26, 2009. Who knows how long it might stay! Most Horned Grebes migrating through Ohio do not start to develop their breeding plumage until
they are on their breeding grounds much father north.
 

Two hybrid Mallard/Domestic ducks chasing a pure Mallard at Castalia Duck Pond on 3/03/09

Merlin, Norwalk Reservoir 03/09/09

I saw this female Merlin at the Norwalk Reservoir around fifteen times, from late November till mid March, and in the very same tree almost every time. There are few places in the state where Merlins have been reported to be over-wintering as opposed to just migrating through.

According to Jim McCormac, "There are now Merlins wintering in several of Ohio's large cemeteries". His interesting article on Merlins is at http://jimmccormac.blogspot.com/2008/12/merlin.html

Cooper's Hawk, Norwalk Reservoir 3/11/09
peeking over his shoulder

Members of the Firelands Audubon Society journeyed to Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area on February 16, 2009.

From the Oak Hill Cemetery: Bald eagle nest to east, Red-tailed Hawk nest to west. Northern Harrier flyby. Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers. Blue Jay. Chickadee species (probably Carolina, but we didn't think much of it at the time!) Tufted Titmouse and White Breasted Nuthatch. Brown Creeper ( a great look) Pair of Eastern Bluebirds perching on gravestones. Tree Sparrow and Junco.

From Killdeer Plains proper. A passel of waterfowl, mostly Canada Geese and Mallards, but good variety of others including Hooded Merganser, Redhead, Canvasback, Northern Pintail, Black Duck, Tundra Swan (~40) and Trumpeter Swan (4). One Short-eared Owl seen at 11AM, as it interacted with two Rough-legged Hawks. Ended up being the only owl seen all day. Rough-leggeds were very common, all light phase. Red-tails also very common. Several Kestrels and Northern Harriers.

A boatload of Eagles, including eight on the ice of one pond in close proximity, one of which was determined to be a Golden Eagle adult! Another Golden, an immature, was seen soaring earlier over the same pond.

Smaller land birds were not as plentiful, though one 1st year Red-headed Woodpecker did show at our favorite spot for finding them. Crows and Horned Larks were seen several times, as well as tree sparrows. One Cardinal finally made an appearance, and a small flock of Red-winged Blackbirds flew by late in the day.

The most notable 'road bird' seen on the way was a Mute Swan at Castalia Pond, making it a three swan day for this correspondent. One Robin and one Grackle were also spotted.

Reported by Brad Phillips

                  Winter Bird-Feeding Field Trip@ Dean and Carol Sheldon's

                                                  January 24, 2009

                   From the lens of Gene and Sandy Wright...