Northeast Ohio Nature

Butterfly Garden at The Holden Arboretum

2010-07-23T09:28:00.005-04:00

Directly behind the Corning Visitor Center at The Holden Arboretum you will find the Arlene and Arthur S. Holden Jr. Butterfly Garden. This is a summer garden that begins peaking now. You will find a variety of plants that not only attract butterflies but are host plants to encourage egg laying.

Magee Marsh Field Trip

2010-05-22T21:45:00.002-04:00

Today Blackbrook Audubon took a field trip to Magee Marsh. I went up on Friday afternoon with a few friends to scope things out. Our first bird on the beach was a life bird for me and my friends. A Kirtland Warbler as seen in the picture above. He was quite cooperative as many photographers surrounded him as he put on his show. Unfortunately he did not make an appearance on Saturday for the other Blackbrook birders who joined us.

Beaty Landing

2010-05-09T14:29:00.002-04:00

This birding season May 2010 through April 2011 Blackbrook Audubon will be monitoring Lake Metro Parks Beaty Landing. We have monthly hikes on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month at 8:00 AM as well as the 3rd Wednesday at 7:00 PM. These hikes are free. Today was our first bird hike for the season on this cold and chilly day. Here are the results:
3 Canada Geese
7 Mallards
2 Great Blue Heron
7 Turkey Vultures
1 Solitary Sandpiper
1 Ring-billed Gull
2 Mourning Dove
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
1 Downy Woodpecker
1 Hairy Woodpecker
2 Warbling Vireo
4 Blue Jay
5 American Crow
3 Northern Roughwinged Swallow
2 Bank Swallow
6 Cliff Swallow
1 Black-capped Chickadee
1 Tufted Titmouse
2 Carolina Wren
4 House Wren
3 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
2 Eastern Bluebird
2 Wood Thrush
7 American Robin
5 Gray Catbird
2 Brown Thrasher
30 Yellow Warbler
1 Magnolia Warbler
3 Yellow-rumped Warbler
1 Scarlet Tanager
5 Song Sparrow
2 White-crowned Sparrow
15 Northern Cardinal
2 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
5 Red-winged Blackbird
2 Common Grackle
14 Brown-headed Cowbird
3 Baltimore Oriole
40 American Goldfinch

If you have the time, join us on one of the bird hikes. Beginners welcome.

Common Moorhen Sighting

2010-04-22T10:21:00.002-04:00

At The Holden Arboretum this past week a Common Moorhen was sighted at Corning Lake. For a picture of the Common Moorhen and more information go to this website:

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Commom_Moorhen/id

Pymatuming field trip

2010-03-30T13:40:00.003-04:00

On March 21st twenty Blackbrook Audubon members took a field trip to Pymatuming. Our first duck when we arrived at the bridge on the Ohio side was a long tailed duck.

Throughout the morning we traveled to a few places including the fish hatchery on the Pennsylvania side. We were able to see several bald eagles, bufflehead ducks, ring-necked ducks, wood ducks and several other species.

Plan on attending our next field trip on April 24th as we travel to Lakeview Cemetary in Cleveland.

Spring is in the air

2010-03-17T18:44:00.004-04:00

I went for a walk with my dog Tucker who is a mixed breed of German short-haired pointer and black lab. I'm thinking it is the lab because we see water and he is in it. So today on our walk he chose to take a quick dip to "cool off" near the end of the walk. I'm so glad he chose to do it here because at the other end of the pond were hundreds of smelly dead fish. No doubt due to lack of oxygen while the pond was heavily ice covered this winter. On our walk we had an opportunity to see and hear a pileated woodpecker, nuthatches, chickadees, tufted titmice, crows, some turkey vultures in the sky (no doubt smelling the dead fish), cardinals and a few other birds whose songs I do not know. Some of the trails at Girdled Road Park South were still snow covered in the woods, the warm weather and sun made them a little soft. The open areas were clear but muddy. It was a really nice day today for a walk and it looks like the rest of the week will be the same. Go out and enjoy.

Bald Eagle Nest

2010-03-06T09:11:00.004-05:00

A new nest is being constructed by this pair of bald eagles on Rt. 44 North near Mentor Headlands State park. It is not known at this time whether the eagles will actually nest at this site as they make more than one nest. Eagles will lay 2 to 3 eggs and hatch in about 35 days. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife would like individuals to know that state and federal laws protect bald eagles and their nest sites. Any type of disturbance around a nest could cause the birds to abandon the site or discourage them from using the nest in the future. Please do not do anything to disturb them by trying to get closer for a better picture by going into the marsh.

Robins in the holly bushes

2010-02-04T09:30:00.003-05:00

Yesterday at noon I was able to break away from the visitor center at The Holden Arboretum and hike to the Holly collection hoping that maybe a long eared owl would be tucked away inside one of them. However, there were no signs of any owls in the dense bushes but there were lots of robins feasting on all of the holly berries. It is a little bit of a hike to see the Holly collection but they are beautiful to see this time of the year.

Chimney Swift Tower

2010-02-03T16:14:00.004-05:00

The Chimney Swift Tower is now complete. At The Holden Arboretum located on the far edge of Foster's pond behind the Corning Visitor center a boy scout built the tower as part of his eagle scout project in conjuntion with our conservation staff. We shall see if this spring brings a nesting pair inside.

An American Robin feasting

2010-01-13T13:07:00.002-05:00

The American Robin is a familiar bird in the winter time in northeast Ohio. People have called asking what to feed them. The robin's diet normally consists of fruit, seeds and insects. In the wintertime they feast on a variety of fruits such as crabapples. You can place fresh fruit (apples) cut up, soaked dried fruit like raisins on a low platform. If a robin is super hungry they may eat suet, grapes and peanuts. The best way of helping out robins and other fruit eating birds is to plant landscape to support them such as crabapples, holly, winterberry, etc. Thank you to Mary Ann from Blackbrook Audubon for this picture.

Lake and Geauga Christmas Bird Count

2009-12-29T11:00:00.002-05:00

On December 20th Blackbrook Audubon participated in the Audubon Christmas bird count. We covered areas in Lake and Geauga county. With over 25 participants we were able to visit many parks and trails. Becky and I visited Big Creek, Whitlam woods and Girdled road north. That day the black-capped chickadees were out in force. We counted 53 but I am sure there were many more that we missed.

Yellow-throated Warbler

2009-12-21T15:11:00.003-05:00

This unlikely visitor was spotted in Chagrin Falls, Ohio last week on December 16th. Looks like suet is on the menu for today. Thanks to Sally Isacco who provided us with this photo.

When are they filling up the feeder?

2009-12-13T12:46:00.002-05:00

If you have not already started to feed the birds this winter, this is a good time to start. A variety of birds can be attracted to feeders with oil sunflower seeds and suet. Many birds supplement their diet in the winter at home feeders. If you are able to set your feeders with a view from a window, you can have hours of enjoyment watching them come and go. Don't worry, this Black-capped Chickadee was enjoying sunflower seeds shortly after the picture was taken.

The start of a Chimney Swift tower

2009-12-07T14:19:00.005-05:00

The Holden Arboretum was contacted by a boy scout who wished to install a Chimney Swift tower as an Eagle Scout project. After reviewing several areas with the conservation department, a location behind Foster's pond was selected. Last weekend the tower began to take shape. This is just the start. When the tower is completed it will be 12 feet tall.

The Chimney Swift must have deep shafts in which to raise families and roost at night. Much like the Purple Martins, Chimney Swifts rely almost entirely on man-made structures for nest sites . The Chimney Swift can eat nearly one third of their weight in mosquitoes and other annoying insects daily. Further updates and information on Chimney swifts to follow.

Bufflehead duck at Corning Lake

2009-12-02T15:23:00.002-05:00

In the late fall it is not unusual to spot a pair or more of Bufflehead ducks at Corning Lake at The Holden Arboretum as they migrate through to their winter grounds. You can see the male above is quite a colorful speciman.

The Bufflehead ducks are the smallest diving ducks in North America. Tree cavity nesters most exclusively made by Northern Flickers and occasionally Pileated Woodpeckers near ponds and streams. They will often stay with the same mate for several year.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird on nest

2009-06-05T11:39:00.003-04:00

Hidden in a pine tree, neatly build between pine cones sits a Ruby-throated Hummingbird on her nest at The Holden Arboretum. In her mouth is a piece of lichen that she is adding to her nest held tightly together by spider webs.

Camouflage 101

2009-05-09T14:34:00.013-04:00

This Gray Treefrog missed his mark in camouflage this morning while on the side of a dark brown play table at Buckeye Bud's area at The Holden Arboretum.

After a few minutes warming in my hand, he reluctantly went on this small tree trunk. Notice the toe discs that allow him to cling and climb rapidy in trees.

Ring-necked duck and American Wigeon duck

2009-03-21T14:59:00.004-04:00

A brief visit by this American Wigeon on Foster pond at The Holden Arboretum.

A pair of Ring-necked ducks on Corning Lake at The Holden Arboretum. As of today, several pairs were still present.

Wood ducks have also been seen on Blueberry Pond, Buttonbush Bog as well as Corning Lake.

Avon Lake Power Plant Field Trip

2009-02-17T14:03:00.005-05:00

On Sunday, we had 8 birders who braved the snow and cold and traveled to the Avon Lake Power Plant to view gulls and ducks. While there were thousands of gulls some highlights were a Glaucous gull and several Greater Backed gulls. Redhead ducks, Common Mergansers, Common Goldeneye and Bufflehead ducks were also spotted.

Although we saw a Glaucous Gull at the Avon Lake Power Plant it was to far away to get a good picture. This guy was flying pretty close to shore at the E. 72nd Street pier.

White-winged Crossbills - The Holden Arboretum

2009-02-07T12:58:00.006-05:00

White-winged Crossbills are a special visitor in the winter. They migrate down from Canada when food is scarce. They can be found in conifer collections as they eat seeds primarily in hemlocks, spruces and tamaracks. Their beaks are designed for the task of removing seeds from the conifer cones. An individual crossbill is capable of eating up to 3000 conifer seeds in one day. This winter white-winged crossbills have been reported throughout Ohio. At Holden they have been seen in the conifer collection and the hemlocks off of the woodland trail. These pictures were taken in the conifer collection.

Mr. Blue Jay in my Yard!

2009-01-25T11:41:00.000-05:00

I counted six of them today! So noisy and wasteful, but oh so beautiful! Sally Isacco

Blackbrook Fieldtrip to Middlefield

2009-01-25T11:20:00.005-05:00

On Sunday, Jan. 17th, 2009, 13 people from Blackbrook took our annual fieldtrip to Middlefield in search of Rough- legged hawks. We found the hawks plus many more.

Cold Birdwatchers

Rough-legged Hawk point and shoot camera thru binocs.

ID Lapland Longspur

Snow Buntings point and shoot thru binocs .

Location: Hayes Road Area

Observation date: 1/18/09

Number of species:

31Canada Goose 16 Cooper's Hawk 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 1

Red-tailed Hawk 4 Rough-legged Hawk 16 American Kestrel 2

Rock Pigeon 75 Mourning Dove 14 Red-bellied Woodpecker 2

Downy Woodpecker 2 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Blue Jay 8 American Crow 9

Horned Lark 35 Black-capped Chickadee 10 Tufted Titmouse 6

White-breasted Nuthatch 5 American Robin 2 European Starling 60

Cedar Waxwing 40 American Tree Sparrow 20 White-throated Sparrow 2

Dark-eyed Junco 30 Lapland Longspur 4 Snow Bunting 40

Northern Cardinal 10 Brown-headed Cowbird 10 House Finch 100

Pine Siskin 4 American Goldfinch 6 House Sparrow 100

White-winged Crossbill Invasion

2009-01-25T11:15:00.004-05:00

Sally Isacco, Chardon, found this at the Nature Realm a few days ago!

Crossbills have also been seen at The Holden Arboretum.

Local Birds

2009-01-17T16:44:00.004-05:00

Before the snow fell Bob Bartok took some pictures of local birds.

American Robin

Mourning Dove

Black-capped chickadee

Blue Jay

Send us your pics of Northeast Ohio birds and nature. We will post it on our blog!

Xmas Bird Count- The Holden Arboretum

2008-12-28T13:57:00.002-05:00

Group of 5 xmas bird count volunteers

Frozen Carvers Pond

Female Merlin

The temperature was a balmy 60+ degrees for this years xmas bird count on December 27 in at The Holden Arboretum, Kirtland, Ohio. Typically the temperature is below freezing. I believe we hit a record temp for the day. The group decided since it was so nice we would trek 5+ miles to carvers pond to find a male Merlin. Not only did we find one Merlin perched high in a dead tree put we also found a female perched nearby on another dead tree.

Long Eared Owl- The Holden Arboretum

2008-12-28T13:41:00.004-05:00

While looking for Mockingbirds in the Holly Collection at The Holden Arboretum, we came across a Long-eared Owl. Long-eared Owls are not as common in Ohio. They are found mostly during the winter. This was an unexpected surprise and one of the highlights of the day. This was the first time the owl was spotted on Xmas bird count.

Cedar Waxwing - The Holden Arboretum

2008-12-19T10:34:00.004-05:00

150 cedar waxwing were seen in

The Holden Arboretum Holly collection.

Here he is eating off of a winterberry bush.

White-throated sparrow - The Holden Arboretum

2008-12-06T14:25:00.005-05:00

This white-throated sparrow flew into a window of one our buildings. Obviously stunned, I brought him to my office to stay warm and check him out. Within ten minutes he was alert and ready to go back to his outside world. Upon release he took a few moments to pose for me, then took off into the brush.

Blackbrook Helps at Eagle Creek!!

2008-12-01T21:04:00.002-05:00

Julie, Becky, Nancy and Beck (see in pic) assisted guests with selecting appropriate bird seed and feeders.

Can you identify this bird?

2008-12-01T20:58:00.001-05:00

Any guesses??

Bird Prints- Ashtabula County-Rock Creek

2008-11-30T10:44:00.004-05:00

American Tree Sparrow Wing Prints

American Tree Sparrows migrate to Ohio from Northern Canada in the fall and winter. They are usually found foraging in flocks in low bushes or on the ground. In snowy areas, they will hit weeds with their wings and then collect the fallen seeds from the snow.

Turkey Foot Prints

Wild turkeys are found in hardwood forests with scattered openings, swamps, grassland. Turkeys are active during the day, roosting in trees from sundown until sunrise. In the winter they feed on sensitive fern, waste corn, and fruits such as barberry, rose hips, and dried apples.