Beaver Creek Wetlands Association The Spotted Turtle Volume 26, No. 3 Summer 2012
Top Summer Sights New > Page 8 Drier Photos by Debbie Karr. Rob Evans and Richard Swigart Photos by Debbie Karr. Butterfly Survey Trails Saturday, July 14th 10:00 am Siebenthaler Fen > Page 2 Join BCWA Trustee Mike Zimmerman High to tally butterfly species for this annual event. We will meet in the parking lot, and then explore the different habitats Pool Cover Donations along the boardwalk—the wet woods, Flyers’ Do you have an old swimming pool the creek, and the sedge meadow—to cover or tarp that you would like to identify and record all the butterfly recycle? BCWA uses these items to species observed. Don’t forget your solarize/bake/smother monocultures of Trek binoculars, camera, and field guide! invasive plants at a couple of restora- See “Why Monitor Butterflies?” on tion sites. This technique has proven page 4 for more information. to be a slow but effective alternative to herbicide use. To donate these Monarch Butterflies Calendar of Events materials, please contact admin@ beavercreekwetlands.org. tracked 1700 miles BCWA Butterfly Survey to Mexico! Siebenthaler Fen July 14th, 10 am Also In this Issue Attention monarch taggers! Monarch Greene County Fair in Xenia Watch just updated their database—we July 29-August 4 President’s Message...... 2 have tag recoveries from our monarch News...... 3-4 tagging programs! BCWA Bug Bingo at Koogler • Tag NHZ970 applied to the wing of Reserve, August 4th, 10 am Volunteer Summary...... 5 a female monarch during our first Fairborn Sweet Corn Festival at Ohio Prairies & Spring Hike...... 6-7 tagging program on September 18, Community Park, Aug. 18 & 19 Top Summer Sights...... 8 2010, was recovered on March 5, Beavercreek Popcorn Festival Bike the Wetlands...... 9 2012, by Elido Moreno in Cerro Dayton-Xenia Rd, Sept. 8 & 9 Bill Hagenbuch Remembered.....10 Pelon, Mexico. • Tag PHG767 applied to the wing of Monarch Tagging at Koogler Reserve Sept. 15th, 2:30 pm www.beavercreekwetlands.org > Continued on page 4
President’s Message wildflowers were blooming and birds From the volunteer group were singing. I talked about history of How cool is that? On Saturday, May 12th, a group of this reserve and answered questions of On a Saturday morning in mid- employees from Northrop Grumman– all kinds. I tried to use all kinds of ad- May, I was out at Koogler Reserve Xetron volunteered their morning to jectives to describe this area that I love working on trails with a volunteer help improve the trail system at the to visit frequently. I also described group doing a community engagement Koogler Reserve within the Beaver many of the restoration efforts that are initiative with Northrop Grumman. Creek Wetlands. Prior to their efforts, ongoing in this and other reserves in This is the second year that this group the trail system consisted of a dirt the Beaver Creek Wetlands. has volunteered with the Beaver Creek trail mowed through the tall plant After our tour, it was back to the Wetlands Association. Last year we life in the reserve and a system of wheelbarrows to finish up on the last worked on clearing trash from the boardwalks over the land that is section of trail for the day. As we seasonal stream that flows through the frequently underwater. These trails were walking back to load up with property and into the Beaver Creek. and boardwalks have served to allow another pile of stone, conversation Our task this year was hard. easy passage through the wetlands. continued between the volunteers. As Moving wheelbarrow after wheelbar- However, flooding from the above I was listening, one of the guys said, row of crushed stone about a quarter average rainfall the past two years “This is a nice place...and to think, we mile to preplanned locations along the has caused additional portions of the are helping with wetland restoration. trail where it would be laid, raked out trail to be wet. How cool is that?” I couldn’t think of and made into a nice walking surface To help solve this problem, the anything else after that comment. I where the trail tends to be a little NG Xetron group, led by manager was so happy that someone was actu- muddy. Once we dumped our load, we Woody Willis, spent their morning ally out here enjoying this place and walked a quarter mile back and loaded with BCWA President Rob Evans the volunteer work they were doing. the wheelbarrows up again. This hauling many wheelbarrows full “How cool is that?” is all I could hear continued all morning until a much of gravel and spreading it over these in my mind. deserved break. After a little rest and wet areas to create stable, dry por- I am truly amazed at the hard some water, we went on a mini tour tions of trail. Patrons of the Reserve work by all of our volunteers and I of the property, beyond a spur trail, can once again walk these portions sincerely appreciate their dedication toward the back of the reserve. of the trail without being up to their to the Beaver Creek Wetlands. And, to We first walked by the stream that ankles in mud! answer his question…. “How cool is many of them helped to clear last year. —Woody Willis that?” …. I think it is very cool! Here we saw a pleasantly trickling Northrop Grumman-Xetron See you in the wetlands! stream of water, bouncing over rocks and logs without a piece of trash in Rob Evans sight. We walked out into the swamp BCWA President where many Photo by Rob Evans
2 Spotted Turtle—Summer 2012 News
Progress Reported in honeysuckle. Honeysuckle control were singing! The annual bird census was mostly successful, but we need to is a way for us to judge the com- Land Management work on it some more this fall. Red- ing and going of the wildlife in our tailed Hawks and Great Horned Owls conservation area. It is also a way to WRRSP properties have been seen several times recently raise a few extra dollars. So, if you The land recently acquired with cruising the meadow for prey. pledged or intend to pledge here is funding from the Water Resource Siebenthaler Fen the result – 82 birds. If you pledged Restoration Sponsor Program is Early spring warm days provided 10 cents per bird, the amount owed being cared for and managed by our a window of opportunity to treat reed is $8.20. The easy way to pay is to volunteers and the grant money canary grass that moved in the area go to our website and do it through set aside for this project. A prairie flooded by beavers. Since the RCG Paypal. planted on 21 acres is entering sprouts before most other grasses, —Jim Amon its second summer and is now in we used a grass-only herbicide and bloom. Two large stands of invasive really knocked out a huge part of the Beetles introduced to control reed canary grass have been treated invasion. Now it is becoming a nice purple loosestrife experience with mixed results. A sedge meadow meadow. The beavers were not all bad—they did kill lots of trees, but population decline in Beaver was planted in early June on one Creek Wetlands cleared section, and we may be now those dead trees are great habi- asking for volunteers to help plant tat for woodpeckers. The now-open Many of you know that we have plugs of plants, trees, and shrubs canopy lets in light that is promoting twice introduced Galerucella beetles in the other by fall. Honeysuckle, a fantastic growth of many kinds of to control a large infestation of the autumn olive and common reed are sedges. Isn’t nature grand? invasive plant purple loosestrife being taken out where they could —Jim Amon (Lythrum salicaria). This year the do the most harm and a growing population came back very weakly infestation of reed canary grass in a Birdathon results in the targeted area and calls to the Lake Erie wildlife station where high diversity fen is being controlled Debbie, Mike, and I counted 82 dif- we collected them mentioned that with carefully selected grass specific ferent species of birds in the Beaver they too saw a decline. Jim Schott, herbicides. Volunteers are always Creek Wetlands Corridor this spring. our contact there, said not to worry, welcome to assist in this effort. Not bad since the leaves were just as the beetles at their location also Hunter’s Pointe about all at full size and those little occasionally seem to fall in numbers, Last year Beavercreek Township birds were hiding behind them. Lucky but seem to always come back. mowed the large upland meadow for the team, we all spoke “Bird” and Nevertheless the situation is for the first time in several years, could tell by bird songs which species allowing us to go in later to control worrisome. We don’t want to spray herbicide to prevent spread of the weed because it could harm the bee- tles if their sole food source is killed off. One way to handle this might be to use a very low concentration of herbicide and spray the seed produc- ing parts of the plants so that seed production is diminished. This has worked to some extent before but is quite labor intensive. We may be looking for a crew to help around the end of June – stay tuned! —Jim Amon
The restored Little Beaver Creek in a recent photo Photo by Richard Swigart
See this newsletter in full color online at www.beavercreekwetlands.org 3 Bug Bingo Monarch Tagging Event > High Flyer’s Trek Saturday, Aug. 4th, 10–11:30 am Saturday, Sept. 15th at 2:30 pm Continued from page 1 Koogler/Wetland Prairie Reserve Koogler Wetland/Prairie Reserve a male monarch on September 24, The Beaver Creek Wetlands Associa- Mark your calendars for this popular 2011, was recovered on February tion cordially invites you to go a bit family event! Become “citizen 28, 2012, by Juuana Estela Garcia buggy in the prairie at Koogler Re- scientists” by taking part in this Dominguez in El Rosario, Mexi- serve on Saturday morning, August large-scale research project conducted co.* 4. Inspired by the National Wildlife by Monarch Watch, an educational Both of these butterflies traveled Federation’s Bug Bingo project, our outreach program based at the nearly 1700 miles from Koogler education chair Chris Simmons and University of Kansas. We will capture Reserve to the recovery locations in a crew of BCWA volunteers will set migrating monarch butterflies, record Mexico! up stations for insect identification some data, then tag and release them * Participants in the 2011 and “edible entomology.”* The to continue their long journey to program were given a card with young participants can shake insects their winter home in central Mexico. the tag number of “their” monarch. and spiders from the wildflowers Important data is collected for Butterfly PHG767 was captured onto catching sheets, and use but- monarch conservation, and tagged by terfly nets to nab flying insects. The plus it is a fun activity Chuck Darnell for everyone! of Fairborn. Koogler Wetland/ He attended Prairie Reserve is the public located on Beaver Val- tagging event
ley Road, just south and enjoyed it Photo by Richard Swigart of New Germany so much that Photo by Debbie Karr Trebein Road. Come he came out to dressed appropriately Koogler every to explore the prairie, day the follow- wetland, and wood- ing week to as- land habitats found in sist, and ended this park—long pants up tagging 21 budding entomologists will be able and closed-toe shoes of the 100 but- to study their six-legged captives are recommended as terflies during through special magnifier boxes at the monarchs do not stay along the the 2011 program. Congratulations, the identification station, and fill their mowed path! Don’t forget your but- Chuck! bingo cards as they identify various terfly net—a limited number of nets —Debbie Karr insects (and spiders, too). The suc- will be available on site. cessful bingo players then proceed BCWA purchases 100 tags from Why Monitor Butterflies? to the “edible entomology” station, Monarch Watch for this event, but it Long-term butterfly monitoring where they create their own insects is unlikely that all will be used during shows population trends and fluctua- using tasty treats. the public program. If you and your tions in range over time. Butterflies Basic body parts of insects are family are unable to are extremely introduced as the kids build each make it to the “main valuable indica- section with edibles such as marsh- event,” but would still tors of the state of mallows, strawberry candy ropes, like to participate in the environment. pretzels and potato chips. The reward this activity, you are They are affected for the learning experience is, of welcome to join BCWA by temperature course, to chow down on their edible volunteers who will changes and evi- “bug” creations. continue tagging mon- dence is emerging Photo by Richard Swigart Nets, collection boxes, identi- archs at this site until that shows but- fication guides, and treats will be all the tags are used. terfly populations provided. Dress appropriately—long In the past, this has are beginning to pants and closed-toe shoes are taken about a week to appear outside of recommended for walking the prairie accomplish. A schedule their normal range paths. for this activity will be posted on the due to changes in the global climate. *Entomology is the study of insects website in mid-September. Continued on page 11 >
4 Spotted Turtle—Summer 2012 wetland corridor. At Fairborn Marsh, Volunteer Activity Summary woody invasives were removed from the ditch that runs through the southern Little Beaver Creek Crew Every Geiger, the Saturday morning volun- part of the prairie. Work continued Saturday morning from mid-March to teers included Deb Adams, Jim Amon, at the conservation easement in mid-November, a group of dedicated Skip Beehler, Ann Byrd, Bill Byrd, Jim Beavercreek Township, with invasive BCWA volunteers meets at 9:00 a.m., Byrd, Aaron Deckard, Rob Evans, Lois reed canary grass under attack by both usually at Beavercreek Station, and Gschwender, Debbie Karr, Al Munoz, a contractor paid by WRRSP grant works at various land management Cecil Ogg, Jim Schneider, and Richard funding and by the volunteers. It is activities at multiple sites along the Swigart. encouraging to see skunk cabbage and Little Beaver Creek until noon (and Koogler Wetland/Prairie Re- turtlehead growing in a 5-acre field then heads up the hill to a favorite serve The emphasis at this site has that was shoulder-high in reed canary restaurant for lunch). At Creekside been trail building and preparations for grass just last year. Honeysuckle, Reserve, protective wraps were extending the boardwalk. Beavercreek autumn olive, and Callery pear have removed from tree saplings planted Township supplied geotextile fabric been cut and treated, and donated pool in 2010, more Callery pears were cut and crushed stone, which BCWA vol- covers have been spread over a patch out of the hillside prairie along US35, unteers placed to improve sections of of Phragmites to smother/solarize it. and the linear wet meadow under the trail that will not have boardwalk. Hopefully this control method will be the power lines south of the bikeway This was hard work! The piles of stone as effective here as it was on sweetflag was inspected for regrowth of reed were left in two different places as at another site. At Siebenthaler Fen, canary grass. Numerous patches of this close to work areas as possible, but still large patches of reed canary grass have invasive wetland grass have been cut needed to be hauled quite a distance in successfully been treated, and honey- and treated in this area for the past few wheelbarrows. Watch for notices about suckle and autumn olive were removed years, and the treatment was effec- boardwalk construction—it should from the levy along the Beaver Creek. tive—none was located! The regrowth begin soon—volunteers needed! In ad- Nannyberry viburnum and wafer ash of non-native sweetflag atHershner dition to trail construction, volunteers saplings have sprouted in this area as Reserve was cut down and the tarps the competition from honeysuckle has and pool covers used to smother it been reduced. The loop boardwalk has were repositioned. The adjacent area been cleared of overhanging vegetation, treated in this manner was seeded last which is a maintenance chore that must fall with sedges and wetland flower- be repeated several times during the ing plants, and was covered with fresh growing season. Under the direction of green sprouts. Invasive control efforts Jim Amon, volunteers for these tasks began at Hagenbuch Reserve, with have worked on invasive control, plant- were Skip Beehler, Matt Cary, Denise large stands of honeysuckle and the ed buttonbush, shrubby cinquefoil, Fong, Lois Gschwender, Jennifer How- large euonymus vines climbing the and swamp rose, and even collected ard, Debbie Karr, Richard Swigart, and trees falling victim to loppers and seed of early maturing sedges. Under Cindy Witker. chainsaws. Gray dogwood, elderberry, the direction of Jim Amon, volunteers In addition to these land manage- and meadowsweet have already been included Skip Beehler, Bill Byrd, Jim ment activities, volunteers also assist planted to replace the honeysuckle Byrd, Bill Gruner, Lois Gschwender, with mailings and staff the booth at spe- on the north side of the creek, with Al Munoz, Greg Notestine, Cecil Ogg, cial events. Assistance with the spring more planting planned for the south Jim Schneider, Judith Streiff, Ven membership mailing was provided by side of the creek in the near future. Swaminathan, Richard Swigart, Hitesh Dorothy Bordewisch, Rob Evans, Pat Little Beaver Creek Prairie benefited Trivedi, Rudra Trivedi, Dhira Venka- Hefner, Denny Jarvi, Meri Matilla, Judy immensely from the aggressive hon- tramani, Sadhvi Venkatramani, and Renz, Sue Rytel, Judith Streiff, Dave eysuckle removal last fall—a grove of Kathy Westfall. Under the direction of Townsley, Mary Townsley, and Brian nannyberry viburnum and a patch of a Rob Evans, a community service group Woodruff. At the Knollwood Garden native burning bush (Euonymus atro- from Northrop Grumman hauled and Party, refreshments were served by purpureus) were “liberated,” as were spread crushed stone on the section Carol Amon, Art Bauer, Ann Byrd, Rob Jack-in-the-pulpit and green dragon of trail the farthest distance from the Evans, Lois Gschwender, Jean Kash, on the wooded hillside next to the fen. piles. Thanks to Elisabeth Baca, Sam Judy Renz, Sue Rytel, Dave Scott, Susie Invasive control continued—garlic Banzhaf, Aaron Bauer, Paul Brown, Scott, Bill Skelly, David Shumway, mustard, dame’s rocket, and poison Josh Fuenst, Jim Samuels, Mike Chris Simmons, Chad Wilding, Eleanor hemlock were manually removed, and Trueblood, Justin Williams, and Woody Young, and Mike Zimmerman. plant diversity was increased by plant- Willis for their assistance. Thanks to all these volunteers for ing buttonbush, shrubby cinquefoil, Other Sites A core group of their hard work and dedication! swamp rose, blue flag, and sedgeCarex volunteers worked on land manage- —Debbie Karr lurida. Under the direction of Don ment issues at several other sites in the See this newsletter in full color online at www.beavercreekwetlands.org 5 It was generally believed that prairies in Ohio were only found in glaciated areas. The evidence ap- Ohio peared to support the theory that Prairies prairies moved into Ohio as the by Richard Swigart glaciers retreated. Prairies were
mainly recorded in northern, central Photo by Richard Swigart and west central Ohio, places where the glaciers had changed the terrain. Prairie remnants have since been found in southern and southeastern Ohio where glaciers never ventured. The evidence now suggests that a hot and dry period followed the glaciers for several thousand years, which was detrimental to the forest but allowed prairies to move into Ohio and estab- lish themselves. Once established, some of these prairies were able to resist the re-encroachment of forests. Imagine the surprise the early explorers and settlers felt after travel- ing for days through seemingly endless forest and suddenly coming Sometimes, when encountering upon large, treeless expanses as they pea, purple coneflowers and many visitors in the various reserves in the reached central, north central and more. They were equally impressed by Beaver Creek wetlands corridor, we western Ohio. The first openings that the grasses of late summer that were are asked why we are working to these early travelers encountered described as “taller than a man on create prairies. When people think of were probably savannahs, grasslands horseback.” prairies, their thoughts automatically with scattered trees or small groves These grasses, such as big blue- go west of the Mississippi River and to of trees. In other places, these might stem and Indian grass, have root sys- the Great Plains. I grew up watching have been sedge meadows which tems reaching deeper into the soil than cowboy movies and television shows were wet during part of the year and the plants are tall and so dense that the wishing that I could live “where the dry at other times. settler’s steel plated, wooden plow- buffalo roamed.” It wasn’t until I was Christopher Gist, exploring shares could not turn over the soil. in my mid-twenties and in an archae- southwest Ohio in 1751, wrote in This, along with the belief by some ology course that I discovered that his journal about following the Little settlers that if the soil wasn’t good bison did roam Ohio along with elk Miami River and traveling through enough to support trees, it wasn’t good and prairie chickens. a vast meadow up to a mile wide enough to support agriculture, protect- When the Ohio territory was first and about ten miles long in what is ed some of the prairies until the 1820’s surveyed, over three hundred prairie now northern Clinton County and when a blacksmith in Illinois by the sites were recorded. These sites, southern Greene County. It was also name of John Deere invented the steel some recorded in acres and others in recorded that when Alpha was first breaker plow. This was the beginning square miles, totaled from 300,000 settled in 1796 (the first settlement in of the end of the dry prairies, both the acres to more than 900,000 acres. The what is now Beavercreek Township), high grass prairies of the east and the wide range on the estimates is due to the entire “Big Beaver Valley” was short grass prairies of the west. different viewpoints of what defined prairie for five miles north of Alpha. Wet prairies were fairly safe until a prairie. These estimates come from It is unknown whether these were the 1850’s when the first of Ohio’s official surveyor’s reports but also wet or dry prairies but, generalizing so-called “ditch laws” were passed from personal journals of early explor- from early stories about “upper” and to open more of Ohio’s land to ag- ers and settlers. The vast majority of “lower” prairies, it can be assumed to riculture by draining as much of the Ohio was covered with forest and to probably have contained both, transi- seasonal wet areas as possible. many observers at that time, any area tioning from dry to wet prairie to fen. We will probably never regain our that wasn’t covered by trees was called These early observers were herds of bison and elk or our flocks a prairie, although sometimes they impressed with the diversity of of prairie chickens, but we can visit were called meadows and even barrens flowering plants found in midsummer restored pieces of our past. Cemex along with other descriptive names. such as black-eyed Susan, partridge Reserve, owned by Greene County
6 Spotted Turtle—Summer 2012 Parks and Trails, has examples of both thaler Fen also owned by the Division Transportation, which can be viewed wet and dry prairies. Examples of dry of Wildlife. from the bikeway spur that runs from prairies can be found and visited at The Beaver Creek Wetlands As- the main bikeway to Research Boule- Oakes Quarry Park owned by Fairborn sociation also manages two other Prai- vard. City Parks, Fairborn Marsh owned ries that are presently not open to the There are several activities sched- by the Beaver Creek Wetlands As- public. One is the Zimmerman Prairie uled to take place in the prairie at the sociation, the Koogler Wetland/Prairie Preserve, a remnant of an original Koogler Wetland/Prairie Reserve later Reserve owned by Beavercreek Town- prairie, which can be viewed from the this summer. One is the “Bug Bingo” ship and the Beaver Creek Wildlife bikeway west of North Fairfield Road, children’s activity scheduled for Area owned by the Ohio Department owned by the Ohio Department of August 4. The other is the tagging of of Natural Resources, Division of Natural Resources, Division of Natural migrating Monarch butterflies sched- Wildlife. Sedge meadows can also be Areas and Preserves. The other prairie uled for September 15, at which time visited at Fairborn Marsh, Koogler is the Little Beaver Creek Prairie, the prairie grasses should be “taller Wetlands/Prairie Reserve and Sieben- owned by the Ohio Department of than a man on horseback.”
and get “face to face” with the in- stands for but had never personally Spring Hikes habitants of the water flowing under experienced the wetlands. We were in the Wetlands the boardwalk. Combining this with happy to fulfill her request and to collecting samples from vernal pools explore the same prairie, woods and There were two guided hikes at that were created where trees were wetlands that the previous hike had Koogler Wetlands/Prairie Reserve knocked down by the remnants of explored. this spring. Debbie Karr and Richard Hurricane Ike, gave us close up views At this time, we are not sure who Swigart had the privilege of leading of tadpoles, dragonfly nymphs and benefitted the most from this excur- these tours. The first tour, on April 17, even a green frog (all of which were sion, the guest of honor, her friends involved 20 home-schooled children, later released back into the water from or the guides that had the privilege of ranging in age from preschool to the which they were obtained). leading this special hike. We would eighth grade, and their parents. This first hike appeared to be a also like to take this opportunity to Our challenge was keeping track success for all concerned and served thank the volunteers who gave their of twenty children while trying to find as a learning experience for the second time and a lot of hard work to make subjects that would hold the interest of hike that took place on May 31. The the trail accessible to a wheelchair such a wide range of ages. Each child participants of this hike were of a (with a lot of assistance) so this gem was given a magnifying glass to use slightly different demographic. The of a reserve could be viewed by all. and to keep as their own. This really hikers in this case were members of —Richard Swigart seemed to pique their interest as we the Yellow Springs Senior Citizens explored the prairie, the wetlands, the Center. Do you have a group that would like woods and the creek. This tour of the wetlands was re- a guided tour of one of the wetland The boardwalk in the wet woods quested by a long-time member of the sites? Please contact Administrative became a high point of the hike as Beaver Creek Wetlands Association Coordinator Bob Limbert to make this allowed the students to lie down who agrees with everything BCWA arrangements. Photo by Richard Swigart
See this newsletter in full color online at www.beavercreekwetlands.org 7 BCWA’s 25th Anniversary Photo Contest Share your photos to help celebrate our 25th anniver- sary in 2013! BCWA an- nounces a photo contest to highlight the beauty of the wetlands corridor and help Photos by Debbie Karr and Richard Swigart celebrate a quarter century of work to protect and restore this unique space. The contest is open to members and non-members. We seek photos of all sea- sons showing anything found in the wetlands: wildlife, flowers, landscapes, insects, birds, people or anything else you find interesting. Entry deadline is March 31, 2013, with judging in April. Win- ners will be announced on the website and newsletter. All submissions must be 8” x 10” horizontal prints labeled with name, address, phone number, and e-mail address, plus the date of the photo and location in the Beaver Creek Wetlands Things not to miss in the wetlands this summer where it was taken. The entry • The pink cotton candy • Sparkling waters of Little in and out of sunbeams in form will have space for ad- blossoms of Queen of the Beaver Creek at Creekside the wet woods—now you ditional comments if desired. Prairie Reserve see them, now you don’t! Photos should be in the • Buckeye butterflies • Masses of Prairie Dock • The sunny yellow blos- highest resolution possible, • Dragonflies & damselflies blooming at Zimmerman soms of summer and a digital version will be • Building more boardwalk Prairie and Little Beaver • Brilliant Cardinal flower in required from the winners. at Koogler! Creek Prairie along the the spotlight of a sunbeam Mail prints to BCWA Photo • Basket-shaped Oriole nests bikeway • The soft mauve of Joe-pye Contest, P.O. Box 42, Alpha, high in cottonwoods • Swamp rose perfume in the weed and deep magenta OH 45301. Prints will be • Freshness after a summer early morning of ironweed and all the returned only if a self-ad- storm • Obedient plant next to pollinators they attract dressed, stamped envelope is • Early morning dew drops Siebenthaler Fen boardwalk • Viceroy butterflies provided. Complete contest glistening on spider webs • Yellow-breasted Chat chat- • Metallic blue berries of rules will be posted on the • Wind blowing through a ting away silky dogwood and white website. sedge meadow • Turtles on a log in the creek berries on red stems of An exhibit of the win- • Flickers nesting in old • A Prothonotary Warbler gray dogwood ning entries is planned for dead trees • The rattling call of a Belted • Bottlebrush flowers of May 2013. Winners will • Sitting on a bench and let- Kingfisher as it flies along Canadian burnet also be published in a 2014 ting Mother Nature speak the creek • Popping Touch-me-not BCWA calendar to be avail- to you • Swamp milkweed and its seed capsules! able in summer of 2013. • Volunteers doing stuff that resident Monarch caterpil- • The towering big blue So get out into the wet- would cost a zillion dol- lars stem and Indian grasses of lands now and don’t forget lars—for free! • Phantom crane flies drifting late summer in the prairies your camera!
8 Spotted Turtle—Summer 2012 part of Kettering around use the nearby trail to the Huffman Prairie Bikeway Bike the The Greene to Belmont near Phillips Park wetland com- links downtown Fairborn Wetlands? the Fen and curves north to plex. From Phillips Park with Huffman Reserve Linden Avenue near Eastown you can walk a mile or more along Kaufmann Avenue. Shopping Center. There into the wetlands, check Along the way visit Maybe not through them, the Iron Horse Trail meets out the observation tower Huffman Prairie (much but you can bike to and Creekside Trail. and do some fine birding. of which was and still is alongside many of our Residents of Beaver- Back at Rotary Park, the a wet prairie/wetland), wetland sites, and even visit creek can take Creekside spur takes you on to the Wright Brothers Flying several in a single outing. Trail west into Dayton to Hunters Ridge and Hunter’s Field, and zip into the To assist in your journey, reach the Iron Horse Trail Pointe Communities. Other campus of WSU to enjoy visit BCWA’s website and and Woodman Fen, or bike bike trails along Dayton- their Biology Reserve download maps for each east toward Xenia, passing Xenia and North Fairfield with 200 acres of very fine location you will be visiting. many wetlands along the Roads allow the majority woodlands. These maps will provide way. You can park where the of Beavercreek residents to Future When finan- you with valuable informa- trail meets Dayton-Xenia, reach Creekside Trail and cial conditions improve, tion like locations, hiking Grange Hall, North Fairfield the wetlands. let’s hope that cities, town- trails and what to see. Once or Factory Roads. Fairborn Residents ships and the county can you arrive, get off your From the Greene/Mont- can find bike trails to the find ways to make other bikes and walk through the gomery County line head east wetlands too. Fairborn parts of the Beaver Creek sites. on Creekside Trail. Just east Community Park next to Wetlands safely accessible Note: I haven’t tried of Grange Hall you’ll pass Fairborn High School ties by bikeways. Places like the full bike/hike mixes Zimmerman Prairie south of bike paths along Dayton- Oakes Quarry, Fairborn described below. It may take the bikeway. Further east, Yellow Springs Road to Marsh, Koogler Reserve, some trial and error to find take the Creekside spur south more paths that lead through and the Siebenthaler Fen how best to park and lock to the US 35 off-ramp & Re- the park. If you continue all would be great places for bikes at different points. search Park Blvd. You’ll see the way to the last parking cyclists to visit if bikeways Depending on how intrepid Little Beaver Creek Prairie area near the ball fields, connected to them. For you feel you may want to and pass a wetland mitiga- you can then walk your now we suggest you reach bring along a map or GPS tion site along an abandoned bike back into the wetland these sites by four wheels, device. Or go primitive and on-ramp to US 35. Back on woods and eventually reach not two. read the sun’s position to Creekside Trail, you’ll next a well-built wooden bridge —Mark Martel get oriented! pass Hagenbuch Reserve, that connects to housing Bikeways provide just west of North Fairfield to the north. The trail will amazing gateways to wet- at Beavercreek Station. lead you out on Meadow- lands and more. They can Now under care of BCWA, lands Drive. Turn left and be hard to describe in words the Reserve affords a good continue north. At the end but check Google Maps glimpse of Little Beaver of the block you’ll cross or any of the links listed Creek. Another spur along Garland and find yourself below. Many access points North Fairfield Road con- now on Sanctuary Drive, connect numerous com- nects residents south of US which leads right into munities to bike trails and 35 to Creekside Trail. Con- Cemex Reserve. In addition, wetlands that are part of the tinuing east of North Fair- Fairborn’s Wright Brothers system we call the Beaver field, the Creekside Reserve Creek Wetlands. Here are has numerous foot trails with Helpful links: several possible trips you views of LBC, a nice woods, beavercreekwetlands.org/maplocations.html can take this season: Residents of Ketter- some relict prairies, and wet- metroparks.org/Documents/Recreation/MV_Rec_Trails.pdf lands that were part of the old ing and nearby areas can railroad right-of-way where metroparks.org/GetOutside/RegionalTrails.aspx get on the Iron Horse Trail the bike trail runs now. metroparks.org/GetOutside/IronHorseBikeway.aspx bikeway and see Wood- Continuing east, don’t man Fen. This Five Rivers miamivalleytrails.org/creekside-trail miss the Rotary Park spur MetroParks site is at the metroparks.org/AboutUs/News_FenNominal.aspx veering northeast from Com- headwaters of a stream that munity Park at the Factory ci.beavercreek.oh.us/old/services/parks-rec/park.htm#Rot winds its way to join the Road parking area. At Rotary Little Beaver Creek. The co.greene.oh.us/parks/pdf/maps/bike-paths/Huffman_Prarie.pdf Park you can park your bike Iron Horse Trail connects wright.edu/university-maps/campus-maps near the picnic shelter and
See this newsletter in full color online at www.beavercreekwetlands.org 9 BILL HAGENBUCH coming and going at all hours of the preservation group ahead. day and sometimes night, people you As years seemingly flew by, 1918 - 2012 have never met or heard of, phones the Wetlands Association became a Behind every successful organization ringing, excited, sometimes loud con- household entity in the Beavercreek/ there are people who get the job done. versation—Bill’s patient wife, “Gra- Fairborn community. Bill became the It is often stated, “10% of the member- cie” put up with all of this and often father figure, the legitimizer, advisor, ship or congregation or group does all had goodies on the kitchen counter for contributor, and patron. His business the work.” In general that is true and the taking. contacts paved the way for acquisi- when you size up that 10%, frequently Bill became our first president tion of the “Banana,” a banana-shaped an individual stands out—a selfless, shortly after the Internal Revenue portion of real estate adjacent to Little dedicated, highly Beaver Creek that had motivated person been sought after by whose time, effort and developers as an auto many contributions dealership site. make that success The Hagenbuch possible. family donated Zim- Bill Hagenbuch merman Prairie to the was that person for Ohio Department of our Beaver Creek Natural Resources, Wetlands Association. Division of Natural Ar- Back in 1988, even eas and Preserves and before we were Hagenbuch Reserve to chartered as a non- the BCWA, both vital profit organization, pieces of quality wet- Bill provided us lands. In addition, they with an office in the contributed financial basement of his home gifts and placed a con- on Fairfield Road in servation easement on Beavercreek. An of- their private property fice, a phone number along the Little Beaver and his Macintosh Creek. computer, accompa- Bill’s patient, nied by his marvelous generous approach to computer literacy, gave the wetlands Service approved the Beaver Creek problem solving benefitted many other organization a remarkable beginning. Wetlands Association’s charter as a groups in addition to BCWA. I find it All of this, plus his warm human non-profit organization. Under his difficult to stop writing of his accom- approach to life and a cup of fresh leadership, working committees were plishments and how much he will be coffee for visitors and volunteers when established to produce the necessary missed. May you have a wonderful they dropped in to the “office,” got the governance documents, fundraising, journey, good friend! BCWA started on the right track. newsletter, land acquisition and man- —Dane Mutter, former Executive Imagine, if you will, an office in agement—all of the necessary ground- Director, BCWA the basement of your house. People work to move the goals of a wetland
Spotted Turtle Name and Submissions, Questions, or Donations of Land/Easements: Logo: Noted area wildlife artist Charley Comments: We rely on members like If you are interested in donating land, Harper generously donated the art for our you to make this newsletter the product placing an easement on property, or re- logo in 1988. His work has been adopted of several diverse voices. If you have an membering the BCWA in your will, please by the National Park Service and is appre- idea for an article or a picture to include, don’t hesitate to call the Beaver Creek ciated worldwide. Our newsletter recog- please send them to admin@beavercree- Wetlands Association at (937) 320-9042. nizes the Spotted Turtle as an icon for the kwetlands.org. Also, we welcome any many rare animals and plants protected in comments or questions. For submissions, BCWA Annual Report: Copies the Beaver Creek Wetlands. questions, or comments, please include are available by request. E-mail the office “newsletter” in the subject line of your at [email protected] or e-mail. We reserve the right to edit for call (937) 320-9042. content or clarity.
10 Spotted Turtle—Summer 2012 > Why Monitor Butterflies Continued from page 4 Join the BCWA Today! Compared to other species of insects, Help reclaim our local wetlands corridor butterflies are relatively easy to observe and restore it’s natural beauty and function. and identify. The adults are obvious Your member dues fund land acquisition, in nature and can almost always be education programs, habitat restoration found where there are nectar and food and management of our preserve. plant sources. Butterflies have specific habitat requirements. Habitat loss due Please make your check payable to BCWA and to human activities and replacement of mail to: BCWA, P.O. Box 42, Alpha, OH 45301 native plants with ornamental and non- native plants have had a devastating impact on butterfly populations. Name One of the citizen science moni- Address A 501(c)(3) land toring activities that occurs across Phone the country is the annual “4th of July trust organization. Count” sponsored by the North Ameri- Email Your donation is tax deductible. can Butterfly Association. BCWA Choose your member level: started participating in this survey sev- $5 Student $35 Contributing eral years ago. This year the date is Sat- $10 Senior (60+) $50 Supporting urday, July 14th, 10:00 am at Sieben- $15 Individual $100 Patron thaler Fen. We would love for you to $25 Family $1,000 Life come out and help identify and count butterflies. Some of the cool butterflies we’ll see include the larger monarchs, Your donations to BCWA and the Spotted Turtle Society can be used in your tax tiger swallowtails, and red admirals, deductions. We are a 501(c)3 charitable organization and land trust under IRS. down to tiny least skippers. It is a lot of fun and provides an opportunity for you to explore the wetlands. Last year Endowment at $135K it was a little warm, of course expected and growing for the middle of July. But don’t worry, the count only takes about two hours Our Endowment Fund has grown to and we count butterflies mostly from over $135,000 in a little over three years. A recent bequest was left the safe confines of the boardwalk. For in the form of a life annuity. Such those of you with the inclination, and planned giving can result in tax if time and conditions permit, we may savings and/or income to you, while continue the survey at another site. leaving a legacy of conservation. Dress appropriately—long pants and The BCWA Endowment Fund is a I would like to learn more about gift closed-toe shoes are recommended— permanent savings plan to help en- options to help grow the Beaver Creek sure that BCWA continues to protect Wetlands Endowment Fund. Please and bring water. You don’t need to be contact me about planned giving. experienced at identifying butterflies wetlands for future generations. The BCWA Endowment Fund may accept – just bring a desire to discover and I have already included BCWA in my many types of planned, deferred, estate planning. I would like to become learn. We’ll have extra butterfly nets and outright gifts that can actually a member of the Spotted Turtle Society. and field guides for everyone to share. increase the value of your estate, —Mike Zimmerman enabling you to do more with what I wish to make an outright gift payable you leave for others. to ‘”BCWA Endowment Fund”. “Happiness is like a butterfly: the Spotted Turtle Society members in- Please return to: more you chase it, the more it will clude anyone who has made a gift to Beaver Creek Wetlands Association the Beaver Creek Wetlands Associa- elude you, but if you turn your atten- Attn: Endowment Committee tion Endowment Fund. P.O.Box 42, Alpha, Ohio 45301 tion to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder.” Name —Thoreau For information on a Address variety of planned giving options, call or write to us, Phone or contact The Dayton Email Foundation directly.
See this newsletter in full color online at www.beavercreekwetlands.org 11 P.O. BOX 42 NONPROFIT ALPHA, OH 45301 ORGANIZATION Address Service Requested U.S. POSTAGE PAID XENIA, OHIO 45385 PERMIT NUMBER 76
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The Spotted Turtle | Volume 26, No. 3 | Summer 2012
Officers Spotted Turtle Editors Founded in 1988, the Mission of the Rob Evans, President Jim and Carol Amon Beaver Creek Wetlands Association Ann Byrd, Vice President Mark Martel is to protect the wetland ecosystem Deborah Karr, Secretary Deborah Karr in the Beaver Creek watershed Doug Hull, Treasurer Webmaster through partnerships, community Jim Amon, Technical networks, and public education. Trustees Rob Evans Deborrah Adams Visit us Online Ann Byrd www.beavercreekwetlands.org Jim Schneider Mike Zimmerman Contact Us Rob Evans Administrative Coordinator Donald Geiger [email protected] Denny Jarvi President Mark Martel [email protected] Sue Rytel Technical Advisor Christina Simmons [email protected] Deborah Karr Webmaster Nancy Bain [email protected] Lois Gschwender Media James Runkle [email protected] Newsletter Publisher [email protected] Oregon Printing www.oregonprinting.com Photo by Richard Swigart