Former Ohio First Lady Hope Taft invited the Ohio Young Birders Club to participate in the Ohio Governor’s Residence Heritage Garden BioBlitz on August 28, 2010.
This was an amazing opportunity for the young birders to work with experts in many natural fields as well as network with each other. The Governor of Ohio, Ted Strickland, made an appearance to meet the group and posed for some photos.
Photo Op
We split into three groups and set off to count birds, plants, insects and animals in the garden and two other neighboring houses. Hope Taft was kind enough to give a detailed tour of the garden to each group. She showed us many native plants in the garden, all from the five physiographic regions in Ohio. Different plants, soil and information was posted throughout the grounds from a cranberry bog, to a native prairie to a sand dune.
Sphinx Moth Caterpillar
We saw a great example of how native plants can be incorporated into a suburban yard, large or small. The mansion recycles water and uses solar panels for supplemental energy. Their goal to become energy-neutral or better is a work-in-progress. Governor Strickland plans to install a porous brick driveway to collect recycled water for the gardens and at some point a green roof.
Dew Drops on a Spiderweb
OYBC – Group
What a great experience to promote the Ohio Young Birders Club, native plantings, and energy efficient living. We had a great time and learned a lot!
Black Swallowtail Caterpillar
by The Birdfreak Team on September 1, 2010
in Birding
From the American Museum of Natural History:
Observe more than 50 different species of birds—including resident and migrant birds, water birds, song birds, and birds of prey— during this eight-week bird-watching adventure in Central Park. Join naturalists Stephen C. Quinn (Tuesdays and Fridays), Joseph DiCostanzo (Wednesdays and Thursdays, 7 am), and Harold Feinberg (Thursdays, 9 am) on tours through the park, one of the premier places locally to watch birds during spring and fall migrations. Participants will learn how to use field marks, habitat, behavior, and song as aids in identification. Interested birders, from beginners to the advanced, are invited.
WHEN:
Eight Tuesdays: September 7–October 26, 7–9 am
Eight Wednesdays: September 8–October 27, 7–9 am
Eight Thursdays: September 9–October 28, 7–9 am
Eight Thursdays: September 9–October 28, 9–11 am
Eight Fridays: September 10–October 29, 7–9 am
WHERE:
Walks start across from the Museum on the northeast corner of Central Park West and 77th Street.
ADMISSION $85
Get more info and order tickets online.
Great Blue Herons nest in trees, often in large groups called “rookeries”. That said, I was still surprised to spot a heronish blob across the prairie at Deer Run Forest Preserve. I quickly confirmed the bird was indeed a GBH but I was intrigued by his preening position, a few hundred feet from the nearby river.
I snapped a couple shots from afar and then tried to approach via what I thought was an inconspicuous trail.
I’m In A Tree!
I approached quietly and slowly but the mosquitoes chomping on my arm were nearly too much and I hastened my pace. The heron obviously wasn’t perching there for my amusement and as soon as I had a clear view of his bare-branched resting spot, he spooked.
I, like many birders, have seen herons hundreds (thousands? millions?) of times but this one let out the loudest heron croak imaginable and I could just feel his disdain for my presence. Nonetheless, a wonderful view of an oft overlooked “common” bird.
Great Blue Heron, spooked
We know herons like to nest in trees but why should one perch there, near a prairie, above a trail when the river is nearby? He was clearly preening but we’d like any thoughts on the benefits of this perch-of-choice. Gotta love bird behavior!!
Join in now on the 105th edition of Bird Photography Weekly!!
Help spread the word with these badges:
Copy this code to place this badge:
<a href="http://birdfreak.com/category/bird-photography-weekly/"><img src="http://birdfreak.com/images/bpw-sharing-logo-wide.jpg" width="225"/></a>
Copy this code to place this badge:
<a href="http://birdfreak.com/category/bird-photography-weekly/"><img src="http://birdfreak.com/images/bpw-sharing-logo-smaller.jpg" width="125"/></a>
