Doing good pays off, big.

Meadowbrook Marsh in Marblehead, Ohio was the Carbon Offset Bird Project for the 2011 Midwest Birding Symposium.  Birders from all across the country joined the Ohio Ornithological Society's efforts to purchase this land, which kicked off a very good thing. 

The wetland at Meadowbrook Marsh was not protected prior to MBS 2011.

Thanks to your support, we engaged  Rob Krain of  Black Swamp Land Conservancy in the effort. BSLC worked long and hard to complete the deal for this property and to put a conservation easement in place.

Now the watery viewscape of Meadowbrook Park, a significant birding area, is protected from future development.  This will always be a place for nature.

Q: What could be better than saving a wetland for protecting birds?  

A:  Protecting an area that "works" for us by storing carbon.

Recently, a study cited in the Smithsonian says wetlands are extremely efficient for storing carbon.

The prairie/meadow in the park also provides excellent habitat for insects and small passerines.  The woods which lines the park provides food and safety for all manner of wildlife.  Handicap accessible trails make outings easy-going, even for those in a wheelchair.  This biologically diverse property is good for birds and good for people at the same time!

A sight -for-sore-eyes, a singular Monarch butterfly

 A few days ago I photographed a male Monarch butterfly nectaring on Swamp Milkweed in the meadow.  The Monarchs have been M.I.A. this year, and much has been written of the impact farm chemicals are having on this iconic species of insect. Every school child knows of the Monarch and their annual migration to Mexico.  However, their numbers are diminishing so rapidly, they have become a species of grave concern.

Meadowbrook provides a chemical-free place for butterflies to nectar and breed, for the next generation.

Fall at Meadowbrook Marsh.

 As fall colors the trees with golden hues, those Monarchs will arise from Meadowbrook's meadow and fly south to their wintering grounds in Mexico.  Just in time to bid them farewell, will be the birders of Midwest Birding Symposium.

Once again, the viewing platform at Meadowbrook will be filled with eco-minded birders, admiring the fall shorebirds and warblers as they too, fly away south.  Please stop by Meadowbrook and witness the good work birders started by instituting our very first ever Carbon Offset Bird Project.

Go here for a Meadowbrook map and location guide provided by Kenn Kaufman and the Black Swamp Bird Observatory.

Please, join our efforts at MBS 2013 to increase the carbon holding capacity of another birding area, to benefit both birds and mankind.  If you like being part of a good thing, then print off the form below, and send it in. Or better yet, bring it by the Carbon Offset booth in the main auditorium during MBS and see the nice people working there.

This year's project is at the Boss Unit at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. You will feel good when you write that check, and help us help the birds.  Thank you.  (Click on the form below to enlarge and print.)

From the (birding) news!

One of the many organizations that I am happy to promote is the Ohio Ornithological Society.  They bill themselves as "Ohio's Birding Network."  OOS (as we fondly call them) has a stellar website which includes current information, blog links, and a calendar.  You should check them out if you are interested in Ohio's birds and the birding scene. Go to www.Ohiobirds.org.

The Cerulean is the name of a beautiful blue warbler, a small bird that is a real poster child for conservation.
It is also the name of the OOS' newsletter.  It is packed full of good information.  Today I was surprised to see an article on page four- that looked really familiar!

In case you missed my presentation at Mid-West Native Plant Conference- this article is  a short-course on the topic.

If you are interested in reading the whole thing, go here.  Meanwhile, Click on the Cerulean logo in my side panel and  join the OOS.

You'll also want to sign up for Midwest Birding Symposium!  We have load of fun planned for Lakeside, Ohio this September.  Hope to see you there!

No "Dead" Tree

Tales from the Marsh Part 1.

Meadowbrook Marsh is brimming with life, and death. Everything is nature is connected by a fine cord, according to John Muir, and life is interwoven with death and decay. If one looks closely at a so-called dead tree, he might be surprised with the variety of life forms displayed.
Standing timber or firewood to some, but in reality, a micro-forest of diversity can thrive on this tree. From the berries on an obvious-at-a-distant Virginia Creeper, Parthenocissus quinquefolia to the pin-head sized grubs buried in the bark, dead trees provide sustenance to birds, squirrels and a multitude of lesser life-forms.

Bird watchers filled the platform at Meadowbrook Marsh during Midwest Birding Symposium. Dead ash trees are numerous in the wood lot behind.

Humans seem to be the only animal unable to appreciate a standing dead tree. But perhaps birders are more highly evolved humans, as they often realise birds can be found in the open canopy of decay. Unfortunately, the number of dead trees in all of north-western Ohio is at a staggering high.

The Emerald Ash Borer (photo FDACS), uninvited guest from Asia has infested our ash trees, leaving trails of devastation and decline in our woodlots. The grubs of this emerald green beetle are impacting the management of city parks, neighborhood tree lawns and creating a boon for tree services everywhere. Certainly, dead trees can be hazardous in a populous community, but perhaps we should examine the broader implications in woodlots and natural areas.

Those D-shaped exit holes are the telling tale. Soon the bark layer, will separate from the tree, revealing the channels grubs used and interrupted the water-service from the roots to the leaves. The cause of pre-mature death. But from this death springs life: fungi, ants, grubs go to work as decomposers. Meanwhile, berry festooned vines of ivy and grape feed flocks of migrating bird and provide life-support for wintering birds.

It is a micro-community in a high-rise tower.

Red-headed Woodpecker, photo Dave Lewis

Woodpeckers are the winners. The Hairy and Downy rap out their beat, while Red-bellieds call from the tops of snags. It may be hard to remember so much life can come from death, but ask the birders. They already know.