Putting Ohio Birds on the Map

It was hot, hard work... but a ton of fun. The 2011 Ohio Ornithological Society's annual conference was the ultimate block-buster for the Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas II.

One of the OBBA most prodigious atlasers, Craig Caldwell and the event's Ringmaster, Julie Davis greeted people at the Friday afternoon registration table. Several of the OOS Board members worked hard to make this event possible. Paul Rodewald kicked the evening off with a program on the background info of the OBBA II, and an update of the current needs.

Here's our group bright and early Saturday morning, watching for breeding bird behaviors at Sandy Springs. Our groups fanned out throughout the Shawnee and Adams county areas. We spent six hours in the field on Saturday, and returned for an afternoon of Bare Naked (without binoculars, that is...) Birding with Ted Floyd of the ABA.

After supper, Ted rolled up his sleeves and encouraged us to think out of the box a bit, and try some night birding. The program must have been a resounding hit, because afterward a caravan of cars headed out to bird Adams County!

Standing along the road in front of the Eulett Center turned out to be the perfect place for an outstanding concert of Chuck-will's-widows. The avian concert was long and strong, with calls in the nearby, bushy understory!

"Kat Doc" Kathi Hutton listens intently to calling frogs and other strange noises off in the distance. No amplification was need for the Chuck's!

After a good night's sleep, round two of atlasing commenced in Adams County. Dan Sanders provided birding support as we documented the resident birds on the "Conrad Tract." This important piece of land was purchased with funds from OOS and Clean Ohio Funds and is managed by The Nature Conservancy. I have more to tell you about that, but it will get its own separate post (along with some botany.)

Dave Hughes tries his hand at marking the chit sheet as wife Laura and Craig Caldwell look on. The whole weekend was about reaching out to train new people on atlasing and refining our skills in bird observation. Thanks to all the people who gave of their time and talents to continue this important scientific work.

As much fun as it is to bird, there is also a good feeling to know we are making a difference and providing valuable information about the status of the birds in Ohio.

Good birding= great fun!

Wood Lily Survey

An unusual lily, isolated to but a few counties in Ohio, can be found in both Adams and Scioto Counties. I wandered south to help set up for the OOS Breeding Bird Atlas program, and found myself smack dab in a botanical opportunity!

Wood Lily, Lilium philadelphicum is distinguished from other, more common lilies by its up-right flower.

Lucy Miller, a fine botanist / naturalist from Adams County invited me along to search some back woods and prairie opening for these rare flowers. We found at least eight populations of these highly colored flowers in bloom, and a few more that had the buds browsed off by deer before we found them.

The survey was being conducted by Marjie Becus, well known for some rare plants finds in Ohio. Here she marks the location of a blooming population of Wood Lily with a GPS locator.

And a birding bonus! While kicking around these prairies, we accidentally stirred up a brooding Whip-poor-will! We can count this "confirmed" breeder for the OBBA! Just like their relatives the "Chuck's," their nest consists of nothing more than a scrape on the ground.

Many more amazing things to feature from Adams County- wish you were here!

Ohio River: the way we roll-

While attending to several engagements in southern Ohio, I also spent an enjoyable afternoon along the river.


What could be better than a second story porch view of the Ohio River? Doo doo doo, looking out my backdoor at River Haven. This charming Bed and Breakfast is but a mile away from Manchester Island, part of the National Wildlife Refuge.


Birding and botanizing the river bluff couldn't be easier. While scaning from my roost, I found one of my favorite plants- False Indigo, Amorpha fruticosa. It is the host plant for both the Southern Dogface butterfly- a butterfly with a 'dog face' pattern on the wings- and the amazing Amorpha Borer! That alone would be a good start for a backyard bio-blitz.

Just below the porch are the groundskeepers. Goat's make outstanding botany browsers and invasive plant control. They are increasingly popular for invasive vegetation mitigation. But please- don't let them eat the Amorpha!

A bit further to the west on Rt. 52, lies another historic Ohio River town, Ripley. Their waterfront area has a beautiful walkway, reminiscent of ones found in Charleston, South Carolina.

On down the street is the Parker House, complete with a placard telling of the black man who bought his way to freedom, and of Ripley's own John Rankin, an active member of of the underground railroad movement to free slaves in the mid 1800's. The Rankin name rang a bell for me, as Lexington Ohio also boasts of a Rankin underground railroad house of it own. Must have been a family business.

The next couple of days will be packed with birds (and a little botany) from Adams and Scioto County. It has certainly been warm here in southern Ohio, but we pay it no heed, just like Old Man River- we keeps on rolling along.

Conservation- in Land We Trust

A general survey for a local land trust provided a great opportunity to spend some quality field time with some highly knowledgeable folks.

American Copper butterfly on a Hawkweed. Both are considered non-native species- but who cares? Sometimes you just have to appreciate a beautiful spring day and the spectacular colors.

Judy Semroc from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History was concentrating on interesting insects and possible salamanders in this clear running stream.

My eyes were immediately smitten with the blues of the Marsh Blue Violet, Violet cucullata. These tall stemmed flowers aren't your garden variety violets. They favor wetlands, and the shortened lower petal proclaims it as a Marsh Blue.

Do you recognize this well-known wetland flower? It is the seed pod from Marsh Marigold, Caltha palustris. The delicate green orbs hold a million miniature seeds just on the brink of spilling into the stream.

The upland portion of this property provided an exciting find for well-known naturalist, Larry Rosche. We gathered round to document the unveiling of ...

Showy Orchis, Orchis spectabilis.

This is a very nice find for Ashland or Richland counties. After scouting around a bit, we were able to locate numerous grouping of incredibly robust plants. A deer had nibbled a bit on the edge of this beauty, so we created a stick-cage to protect it in the future.

There are many Land Trusts in Ohio doing important work to protect and conserve Ohio's natural resources- the ones we can see, smell and touch! Thanks to the people who have dedicated their time and efforts to set aside natural areas protected from logging, drilling and other unnatural disasters. Once the money from exploiting our State Parks resources is quickly spent, Ohioans will realize we should have put more effort into protecting our land.

Wildflowers at Work

Not only are native plants lovely to look at, they can be work horses in the landscape. A few of the beauties in my yard are producing a view scape to rival anything produced by those big splashy foreign flowers that big-box stores sell.


Wild Columbine, Aquilegia canadensis

This plant is found wild throughout Ohio, from the shores of Lake Erie to the rocky outcroppings in Adams County. The delicate dangling flower is a show stopper in its native orange and yellow form, a favorite of the hummingbirds visiting the yard.

While I wouldn't mix-and-match pink and orange in my attire, nature has a fabulous way of showing off the most outrageous colors! A couple of years ago, while doing programs on wetland plants, I installed this new garden with an upland bird feeding station and a wetland/waterfall incorporated.

Those native flowers have really come into their own this year, creating a striking display. And the wetland? This years rain has been keeping it well filled; it also acts like a raingarden, regulating the water in my side yard.

Did you note the "mini" wild geraniums near the rock work? Herb Robert, Geranium robertianum is a favorite native from the northern portion of the state. Mine originally came from my yard in Lakeside, Ohio. I have also seen Herb Robert adorning the rock edges at the glacial grooves on Kelleys Island.

It is much like our larger native Wild Geranium, Geranium maculatum. However, these delicate flowers bloom well into summer. You'll continue to enjoy their fern shaped leaves right into fall, as they tinge with brilliant red.

So put those native plants to work in your landscape. And if you want to learn more about (or buy) native plants- sign up for the Midwest Native Plant Conference- go right here.