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DECEMBER 2020

Wild Winter Lights The magical holiday tradition returns

Five Best Places to Snowshoe Experience a new sport in Metroparks

Trail Hiking Four hikes worth bundling up for

Winter RiverFest Enjoy winter fun along the

Wild Winter Lights at ® A LETTER FROM BRIAN ZIMMERMAN

Explore Our Winter Outdoor Opportunities Happy December! The Emerald Necklace has shed many of its colors, trees and wildlife lie dormant and the first days of winter are upon us. Don’t let the stark landscape fool you, our parks remain alive throughout the winter season and the barren trees give way to spectacular vistas from park overlooks and surprising glimpses of wildlife like the red fox and snowy owl. This winter season there’s more to explore than ever in Cleveland Metroparks. In the next few pages you’ll learn about where our honey bees go in winter, tips for bird feeding during the cooler months and how we can learn a thing or two about resilience from invasive plant management. New lessons in nature can enhance your awareness and experiences when out in the parks. But if you’re ready for adventure right away, we also have the latest tips for cross-country skiing and CONTENTS snowshoeing and a handy list of the best winter hikes for you and your family to explore this season. 2 Letter from Brian Speaking of hikes, our Outdoor Experience team is so excited to be back out on the trails, 3 Trail Quest connecting with you and your families and sharing nature adventures with our community. 4 Discovering the Red Fox There’s a variety of hikes for everyone — whether you’re interested in birding, history or even longer, more challenging hikes, our team is here to help get you out and active this & American Mink winter. And there are over 300 miles of trails to explore! You can view and register for 5 Naturalist’s Almanac & upcoming programs at clevelandmetroparks.com/OE. Wild Winter Lights In addition to our educational programs, we are so excited to offer ways for the whole 6 American Chestnut & family to get outdoors this winter. Wild Winter Lights has again transformed Cleveland Club Moss Metroparks Zoo into a winter wonderland for the holiday season. And the all-new Winter RiverFest at Rivergate Park offers a new way to enjoy the Cuyahoga River, with a synthetic 7 Conservation & Science ice skating rink, igloo village, holiday lights display and more. Of course there’s no winter 8 Tobogganing & thrill in Cleveland Metroparks quite like the toboggan chutes — which are now open for the Winter RiverFest season. 9 Nature Shops While winter will bring its own set of challenges amid the pandemic, our parks will continue to be here for you. And I hope our December Emerald Necklace encourages you to bundle 10 Five Places to Snowshoe up and join us for your next adventure. See you out there! & Cross-Country Skiing

11 Honey Bees in Winter & Winter Bird Feeding 12 Directory & Map Brian Zimmerman Cleveland Metroparks CEO

Outdoor education and recreation programs have returned! Park naturalists are now leading a variety of • Group size per program will be limited to less free outdoor programs including birding, than 10 people following CDC guidelines. history, night hikes as well as family-friendly • Advance registration online is required. No hikes as a way to stay active and explore the in-person or phone registrations at this time. Emerald Necklace. • Facial coverings must be worn by all Outdoor Recreation specialists will also participants six years of age and older. offer weekend “try-it” sessions where guests • Due to high demand, guests are limited to can learn a new outdoor recreation skill. one program per week. Outdoor Recreation events will require a $5 Programs will be available for registration equipment rental fee, such as bicycles or two weeks in advance and all updates will be watersport rentals. available at clevelandmetroparks.com/calendar.

2 Emerald Necklace December 2020 | Vol. 69 #12 FEATURE ARTICLE

Trail Quest: Winter Exploration

Hinckley Lake in Hinckley Reservation

eing tasked with compiling the By now you’ve surely rooted through your summertime favorite offers an equally best winter hikes in Cleveland closets and bins to find cozy layers, and treasured winter odyssey. Pausing to BMetroparks is no small feat. Winter’s traded shorts for fleece and tennies for scan your surroundings may turn up stark and crisp landscape, now quieted boots. Time to lace up, zip up, and slip on the sight of a patrolling American bald and minimalist, offers adventurers a your hat and gloves for winter wanderings. eagle. soul-charging yet tranquil season of Here are four hikes to check off your “to serene connection with the natural Acacia Reservation conquer” list during this wild and beautiful world. All Purpose Trail (1.7 miles) winter in Cleveland Metroparks. Hundreds of miles of trails wind and This 155-acre green space oasis offers weave through thousands upon North Chagrin Reservation a paved loop trail through native thousands of acres of forests and fields A.B. Williams Memorial Woods grassland restoration tracts with young and wetlands and gorges and river Sylvan Loop (0.4 mile) combined with oak stands and clumps of pines. The plains. Overlook Trail (0.4 mile) west branch of flows through the forested western edge Wander through a dense maze of massive Cleveland Metroparks crocheted terrain of the reservation. The frosted open 300- and 400-year-old beech trees, sugar presents a perfectly sewn masterpiece landscape harbors bountiful seed, nut maples and hemlocks in this National of trail types for all paces and and berry supplies for overwintering Natural Landmark and member of the exploration preferences. From steep, finches, sparrows and resident ref- Old Growth Forest Network. A.B. Williams, rocky and root-woven treks to flat and headed woodpeckers. This reclaimed Cleveland Metroparks first naturalist, steady all purpose trails, a glorious golf course offers hikers flat terrain in a embraced this spectacular beech-maple diversity of hiking opportunities can be brisk open landscape. found in every reservation. forest as he conducted his doctoral studies and established the first Trailside Museum Reservation in the 1930s. Roving flocks of chickadees, nuthatches and woodpeckers may alert West Channel Pond Loop (0.5 mile) can be combined with Wildlife you to resident barred owls stealthily Management Loop (1.5 miles) blending in with tree trunks overhead. (Optional longer treks can be picked up Recently upgraded natural trails, a new from here. Be sure to pop down for a visit boardwalk and a new footbridge add to Squire’s Castle with your camera ready.) to the splendor of West Channel Pond’s family friendly half-mile loop around a Hinckley Reservation buttonbush marsh and riverbed forest. Hinckley Lake Loop Trail (3.5 miles) Winter wildlife flourishes here, with Ninety-acre Hinckley Lake is the backdrop resident active beaver and mink being for this impressive, classic loop trail just two of the “fan favorites.” winding around the lake’s edges through Jen Brumfield, Naturalist beeches, oaks, maples and spruces. This Rocky River Nature Center

clevelandmetroparks.com 3 INSIDE OUR PARKS Discovering The Red Fox

Photo by Tim Kynak

nown for its legendary cleverness and human eye. They have black on their Dens are often on a hillside in a forested dashing good looks, the red fox is one legs and the back of their ears, while a area. There are fewer things in nature Kof ’s most appealing mammals. bright white belly and tail tip provides more endearing than a litter of young fox An unexpected sighting of this canine some flashy contrast. Long legs and “kits” tumbling in play around their den hunting for mice on a cold winter morning thick coats make them seem larger site. These families stay together through is enough to make one’s day. Red foxes may than they are. Red foxes are around the summer as the young develop the hunt at any time of day but are more likely the size of domestic house cats, with skills they need to survive. Trail cameras seen during the day in winter. Free from most weighing around ten to twelve set out by Cleveland Metroparks Natural the bad press that plagues its larger coyote pounds. The true size of a fox is more Resources biologists occasionally capture cousin, red foxes are generally welcomed by apparent in the summer, when their images of these stealthy hunters as they humans as they help control neighborhood shorter, thinner summer coat can go about their daily activities, providing chipmunk and squirrel populations. make them look half their former size. valuable data on where they occur in our parks. Striking Good Looks Raising a Family Jeff Riebe, Naturalist Chestnut-brown to a deep orange-red, a Red foxes breed in late winter, and the North Chagrin Nature Center red fox in its winter coat is striking to the females give birth early in the spring.

Catch a Glimpse of the American Mink s winter’s chill settles over amusing to watch in the field. They the December landscape, the have a natural curiosity and are constantly AAmerican mink (Neovison vison) on the move. Their shiny black eyes are remains active among the stream, river, striking, with a gaze that seems to be waters and sparse selection could spell and wetland habitats of Northeast continually strategizing the next move. disaster, but the clever mink fares well. Ohio. Semi-aquatic and very secretive, Nimble on land, mink are also agile These voracious predators often kill more the mink is one of the most fascinating swimmers and divers that can quickly then they can eat and hide the rest away local mammals you may have never cross mixed terrain and be gone in a flash. in caches hidden under snow or brush. seen. Being mostly nocturnal, these Home for a mink is near water, typically A single hiding spot can contain several three-pound members of the weasel an earthen den dug into the bank of a whole fish, packed up in cold storage for a family usually move at night. However, stream or underneath a log or rock. There, winter feast. even nocturnal animals occasionally they remain warm and dry, riding out venture out in the day, and hikers with Bethany Majeski, Center Manager stretches of bitter winter weather. Breaks a quick eye may catch a glimpse of this North Chagrin Nature Center in the cold allow mink to come out on wily predator dashing across a frozen the hunt but finding food in December pond or tunneling into the snow. can be a challenge. In warmer seasons, Low and lean with sleek, chocolate mink subsist on a varied diet including brown fur and bushy tail, mink are fish, frogs, crayfish, birds and eggs. Frozen

4 Emerald Necklace December 2020 NATURALIST’S ALMANAC December: Who Will Stay, Hibernate or Migrate

December’s calendar brings the first true for insects as some lie dormant, bring a splash of color to nature centers’ day of winter and the shortest amount of like woolly bear caterpillars hibernating bird feeding stations. Resident Eastern daylight of the year; however, the plants under logs and leaf litter on forest floor. screech, barred and great horned owls become more active and vocal as their and animals have already considered it Dark-eyed juncos (“snowbirds”) and winter breeding season will begin at the winter for quite some time. Trees and American tree sparrows join ranks end of the month. A quiet night’s hike perennial wildflowers are now dormant, with northern cardinals, white- can offer the chance to hear the deep while seeds of annual species wait for throated sparrows and other ground- hooting of the great horned owl, “Who- spring. Both the amount of daylight and feeding species. Chickadees, titmice, cooks-for-you?” of the barred owl, or the temperature will play a role in awakening nuthatches, and brown creepers eerie trilling and whinny of the hand- them at just the right time. The same is form highly-active feeding flocks that sized Eastern screech owl. wander through woodlands in search of insects and berries, sometimes Along the lakefront, thousands of red- joined by uncommon pine and yellow- breasted mergansers, scaup, scoters, rumped warblers and the spritely red- and other waterfowl are using breasted nuthatch. as a migration portal to the east coast. From the high bluffs of Huntington American goldfinches have molted Reservation or Lakefront Reservation, their brilliant yellow garb for more one can view upwards of eight species subdued golden-browns, but still of gulls, many waterfowl staging offshore, and, with lots of luck, a very rare visit from a snowy owl that irrupted south from Canadian wintering grounds.

More than a million lights Musical light show Animals at night Visit FutureForWildlife.org/lights for dates and times

©Registered trademark of Cleveland Metroparks. clevelandmetroparks.com 5 INSIDE OUR PARKS Plight of the American Chestnut

merican chestnut trees were once a 1900s. The fungus was accidentally mature tree sighting, inspiring a glimmer staple of American culture. Utilized introduced by planting non-native of hope for an organism so deeply A as a food source, milled for lumber, chestnut species in 1904 and quickly entrenched in our culture. and even used by American Indians to spread, decimating this species. If you hear songs of chestnuts roasting relieve various ailments, these trees held While you likely have never seen this holiday season and acquire the same a dominant presence in the forests of or recognized a living example, thirst to learn the story of the American the eastern United States. You may now Cleveland Metroparks is fortunate to chestnut as I did, start with some online be wondering if you have ever seen an be littered with evidence of this once research to become more familiar with American chestnut, with the likely answer dominant tree. Many early structures the history and anatomy of this tree. Keep being no, you haven’t. like Brecksville Nature Center, Look- a watchful eye for naturalist-led hikes American chestnuts went from being About-Lodge, and multiple picnic that can introduce you to a root sprout one of the most populous woodland shelters were constructed from felled or point out a lone chestnut husk on the trees to battling extinction in less than a trees. Additionally, root shoots from forest floor. In time you may find yourself generation. This is all due to a parasitic long lost giants, struggling to hang picking out these historic remnants as you fungus, commonly known as the chestnut on, persist throughout the Emerald explore your favorite trails. blight, that infected and killed an Necklace’s forests. In rare instances Jake Kudrna, Naturalist estimated four billion trees in the early a curious hiker may even report a CanalWay Center

Club Moss: A Winter Garland on the Forest Floor

ecember falls during the great retreat Cleveland Metroparks in winter can be An up-close observation shows club- indoors, when most are avoiding an awe-inspiring place, where hikers like reproductive structures possessing Dthe cold, snow and shorter days. can walk under hemlock boughs laden thousands of spores ready to be released. December doldrums set in with fresh fallen snow, sit on a log From these spores arise rudimentary and and seeing beyond the near an icy creek in the stillness of the finally mature plants. It is amazing that immediate discomfort woods, or watch chickadees feverishly these diminutive beauties can take up is very difficult. retrieving their hidden caches on a to 20 years to form. Once established, However, others sunny, crisp, cold morning. different species of club moss multiply have learned by underground rhizomes, producing a One of the finest December sights to embrace garland of green and carpeting the ground in a mature woodland is club moss winter and with elegance. adorning the forest floor, highlighted seek its by a light covering of fresh snow. Altering a few words of Aristotle: “To beauty. Standing at only three to six inches appreciate the beauty of a club moss in Aristotle said tall, these miniature evergreen plants December, it is necessary to stand out it well: “To have been downsized through many in the cold.” Take this as a challenge to appreciate millennia, unlike their primitive giant embrace winter and find a living garland the beauty of cousins from the Coal Age. Not a moss on the sylvan floor! a snowflake it is at all, club mosses are actually relatives necessary to stand Foster Brown, Naturalist of ferns. out in the cold.” North Chagrin Nature Center

6 Emerald Necklace December 2020 CONSERVATION & SCIENCE Threats to our Eastern Hemlock Population Shown: hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA). Shown: elongate hemlock scale (EHS)

astern hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis) hemlock forests either for shade in the and more recently found in Lake and are evergreen, coniferous, slow summer or cover in the winter. Geauga counties in 2017. Another growing trees that can survive up to invasive pest is elongate hemlock E Unfortunately, hemlocks are threatened 400 years. Hemlocks grow on cool, moist, scale (EHS) which feeds on the by several invasive pests in Ohio. well-drained soil and are often restricted underside of hemlock needles. EHS is Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) is a small to ravines in . Hemlocks very small and resembles a grain of insect that siphons nutrients along the create unique and important habitat that brown rice. Although both underside of hemlock twigs. HWA gets its is densely shaded and allows cold water pests are harmful, name from the woolly, white appearance specialists, such as brook trout, to survive HWA can kill of the insect as it collects nutrients. In the summer heat. Nearly 50 species of trees within 2012, HWA was found in southwest Ohio mammals and 100 species of birds use 4-10 years while EHS takes longer Regaining Resilience to build through Invasive Plant Management up to harmful ecember is a time of reflection, Invasive plant management helps to levels. when we hope to put the tumult reconnect strands in the web of life. Luckily, of 2020 in the rear view mirror. It’s A reward of stewardship is watching D we have for connecting with loved ones and for natural areas rebound with life that was not found dreaming over new ways to be in the world. suppressed by invasive species. That’s HWA in our We are lately attuned to our need for one why we spend thousands of hours parks yet, only another as well as security in our daily lives. removing invasive plants in the parks, EHS. Both insects How can something so difficult to detect and garden with native plants at home. likely move via birds, wind, impact us so profoundly? Loss of livelihood, Connections that were weakened — and nursery stock and will continue to of life, of the relative ease of pre-Covid-19 plants and insects, insects and birds, soil spread to new areas. living: the ways we relate to the world are and water — regain resilience. As with diminished by the pandemic. gardening, the changes are incremental. To combat these pests in northeast Ohio, The Nature Conservancy Recent social structures have renewed On cold, gray days, I crave books full received grant funds from the Great our appreciation for nature, or fostered of life such as “The Living Landscape: Lakes Restoration Initiative to perform awareness of invasive plants, pests, and Designing for Beauty and Biodiversity in treatments and surveys. As partners pathogens. There are parallels between the Home Garden”, by Rick Darke and on the grant, Cleveland Metroparks the novel coronavirus in human society Doug Tallamy (2014, Timber Press). natural resources staff and volunteers and invasive species in ecosystems. Both Each page is like a field trip with a great surveyed North Chagrin, South disrupt the interrelationships that we naturalist who inspires me to reconnect Chagrin, Bedford, and Brecksville need to thrive. Invasive plants disrupt native plants and wildlife in the reservations. Additional surveys will relationships between plants and wildlife, intentional gardens of cities and suburbs. continue this winter when pests are soil microbes and forest trees, rainfall and Jennifer Hillmer, Invasive Plant Coordinator most noticeable. Treatments will be stream biota. Their effects can reach long Division of Natural Resources considered in 2021 where dense EHS into the future of the forests and wildlife. populations have been found. We will continue to monitor and treat our beloved hemlocks to mitigate these threats. Daniel Volk, Forest Health Project Coordinator

Native plants are thriving after removal of invasive honeysuckles in 2013 and 2017 at .

clevelandmetroparks.com 7 at The Chalet Tobogganing Recreation Area No Snow Required! Regular 2020-2021 Toboggan Toboggan season Hours – Reservations Required: • Fridays: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. begins November 27 • Saturdays: Noon – 9 p.m. Experience the icy thrill of tobogganing! The • Sundays: Noon – 5 p.m. twin, 700-foot refrigerated ice chutes operate with or without snow through early March, Holiday Hours: weather permitting. All riders must be 42” or • Sunday, Dec. 20 through Wednesday, Dec. 23 taller to ride. Chutes open under 50°; snow not Noon – 9 p.m. needed. Children, ages 14 and under must be • Thursday, Dec. 24 – Noon – 4 p.m. accompanied by an adult. All riders must wear gloves or mittens. Facial coverings are required • Friday, Dec. 25 – CLOSED for guests 6 years and older. • Saturday, Dec. 26 through Wednesday, Dec. 30 Noon – 9 p.m. Please visit clevelandmetroparks.com/tchutes • Thursday, Dec. 31 – Noon – 5 p.m. for all toboggan information and current safety updates or call 440-572-9990. • Friday, Jan 1 and Saturday, Jan. 2 Noon – 9 p.m. The Chalet at Mill Stream Run Recreation Area is located at 16200 Valley Parkway in Mill Rates: Stream Run Reservation, between Routes 42 Adults – $12 all-day ticket and 82 in Strongsville – just a short distance Children (11 & under) – $10 all-day ticket from I-71 and the . One-ride ticket – $6 Visit clevelandmetroparks.com/tchutes for more information on group rates, private rentals

Reserve your spot for toboggan fun! Reservations are required. Please visit clevelandmetroparks.com/tchutes or call 440-572-9990 for more information.

A new way to enjoy winter fun in Cleveland Metroparks

Ice skating • Festive light displays • Igloo village • Food & beverages Starts November 27

Merwins Wharf | 1785 Merwin Avenue | Visit clevelandmetroparks.com/WinterRiverFest for dates and times

8 Emerald Necklace December 2020 Visit our website for a great at The Chalet selection of park apparel and Recreation Area general merchandise!

Great Gifting with Cleveland Metroparks apparel NOVEMBER SPECIAL DECEMBER SPECIAL

Cleveland Metroparks FREE Mask 2021 Calendar or Bandanna Cleveland Metroparks Cleveland Metroparks $ 99 With any $50 online Breakfast, Medium, Centennial Book only 4 merchandise purchase. Dark Roast Coffee $19.99 Regular price $9.99 Offer Valid 12/1/20 – 12/31/20 $10 Offer valid 11/1/20 – 11/30/20 Offer not valid with purchase of gift Shop online at cards. Some exclusions apply. clevelandmetroparks.com/shop While supplies last. Enter Code Bird Seed FREEMASK or Wreath FREEBANDANNA at checkout. $22

Visit our pop-up shop this holiday season at Merwin’s Wharf. The shop will be located in the Lock 44 Room during Winter RiverFest. For hours visit clevelandmetroparks.com/ WinterRiverFest. Owl Sweatshirt $45 Visit our Hinckley Lake Boathouse & Store.

Visit our store for a full selection of merchandise and expanded selection of sale merchandise. Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday: Noon – 5 p.m.

CM Sweatshirt Shop online at clevelandmetroparks.com/shop $45

clevelandmetroparks.com 9 OUTDOOR RECREATION Top 5 Places to Snowshoe ooking for a way to extend your adven- change trail has the added benefit moderate challenge, and an opportunity turing season? Lookino further than of adding on some mileage with the to see wildlife. snowshoeing. As winter comes into full White Pine Trail. L 4. If rocks are more of your thing, swing, snowshoeing is a great way to get 2. Just down the road is beautiful Hinckley Reservation is for you. outside and explore Cleveland Metroparks. South Chagrin Reservation. Just like Snowshoeing along the network of trails Snowshoeing was once used to travel great most reservations, South Chagrin has around Worden’s Ledges should not be distances on snowshoes that were up to six a great network of bridle trails that are missed in the wintertime. feet long. Luckily for you, modern snowshoes wonderful for snowshoeing. Be sure are not quite as big, and it feels just like 5. Lastly, a nice stroll around Big to check out the extensive network walking! Cleveland Metroparks has a variety Met Golf Course (rentals available) is of bridle trails around the Miles Road of great locations to snowshoe when there picturesque and sure to be a time to Sledding Hill. Bring your sled for some is at least a four-inch base of snow. remember. added winter fun! This winter, when you see snow, grab Check out these top five places to 3. Snowshoeing the outside edges of some snowshoes and start exploring! snowshoe: Shawnee Hills Golf Course in Bedford 1. North Chagrin Reservation has always Reservation will provide great views, a Zach Tolles been a popular place to hike and connect Outdoor Recreation Specialist with nature. This doesn’t have to stop once snow starts falling. Grab your snowshoes and check out the 1.6-mile Scenic Loop Trail for stunning views. This moderate elevation Getting Started with... Cross-Country Skiing

f you have never intentionally skiing to do, you need to make sure you considered getting outside in the dress like you are going for a winter run. Iwinter for exercise, consider cross- Dress in non-cotton layers as you will country skiing. Skiing is a simple skill quickly heat up. It takes some discipline, to learn and is one of the cheapest but don’t over dress! This can cause winter sports to enjoy. To get started, extra perspiration which can lead to and before buying or renting anything, hypothermia. understand that there are two types of Cross-country skiing is a great way cross-country skiing: classic and skate. to escape the house and get outside. In classic, you push-off one ski and glide Cleveland Metroparks offers rentals at on the other ski in two parallel tracks, a Big Met Golf Course. You can also ski more relaxing motion that lets you enjoy with personal equipment at Little Met, the quiet, often scenic terrain around Shawnee Hills, Seneca, Mastick Woods, you. In skate skiing, you push-off one and Sleepy Hollow Golf Courses. Always ski and glide out in a V motion as you make sure there is at least a four-inch transfer your weight to the other ski base of snow before skiing. For cross- — much like ice skating. Both types of country ski conditions on golf courses, skiing are best done on groomed terrain; call 216-635-3270. Bridle trails are also however, classic skiing can be done good to ski on as they generally are when you’re out setting your own tracks. wider trails without lots of sharp, abrupt Oftentimes you can find tracks a skier in corners. Regardless of where you go, front of you has left behind, making you enjoy the winter! glide longer on each stride. Dan Sahli Once you have decided what type of Outdoor Recreation Specialist

10 Emerald Necklace December 2020 IN YOUR BACKYARDS Honey Bees in Winter

inter brings with it stillness, peace, During the growing months, honey Fall is a time of frenzy for all insects, and a constant chill in the air. Most bees farm their territory of flowering especially the honey bees. Foraging the Winsects have prepared for this plants constantly, bringing back legs last goldenrods and asters will top off season by laying eggs, creating cocoons, or full of pollen and stomachs full of their comb with much needed resources. changing into pupae. The winter behavior of nectar. The two and one-half square Dwindling pollen resources signal to honey bees is rare in the bee world. Solitary mile tract will feed their colony its the queen that it is time to prepare for bees native to Ohio die off prior to the chill entire life. Honey is expelled as nectar winter. Egg laying ceases, pheromones of winter. There are no pollen or nectar and stored in the comb, as well as the (smell) trigger the colony to start resources, and the air is too cold to keep their essential protein-filled pollen. These clustering. bodies warm. All the while honey bees are food sources are essential for the hive The outside winter world may be silent, actively staying warm inside their hive with during the winter. but the inside of a honey bee colony food resources to spare. is literally buzzing. Surrounding the White-throated sparrow Queen are her 30,000 workers. Rotating between the outside and the inside of Winter the huddle and furiously beating their wings to keep the hive at a balmy 95 degrees. This is no simple feat and is Bird extremely taxing on these tiny insects. Getting Started with... The stored honey and pollen are Feeding essential for the colony to survive the bitter cold. Cross-Country Skiing ird feeding is an enjoyable as black-capped chickadees, cardinals, year-round activity that can be blue jays, titmice, and nuthatches Bespecially rewarding during the relish sunflower seed. Niger thistle winter. Watching the birds in your yard attracts goldfinches and, occasionally, can brighten your mood on a cold, grey pine siskins and common redpolls. Northeast Ohio day. Providing a variety Spreading millet will bring dark-eyed of food choices will help you attract the juncos and a variety of sparrows to most species of birds. your feeding grounds. Birds that do not fly to warmer Non-migrating insect-eaters require fat climates for the winter are called “non- during the cold weather months, which migrators.” These species have special they obtain from suet. Woodpeckers, adaptations that allow them to survive nuthatches, Carolina wrens and the frigid weather of Ohio winters. Non- bluebirds are especially fond of this While enjoying the serenity of the migratory birds grow two-thirds more tasty treat. Bluebirds and robins are season, listen closely and you may hear feathers in the fall than their migrating attracted to vines, shrubs and trees the humming of honey bees warming counterparts. Some species survive by laden with fruit. An estimated 10 their hives in the distance. huddling together on cold nights, while percent of robins do not migrate, Natalie Schroder, Naturalist others enter a state of “torpor” that relying on berries and cover to survive Canalway Center allows them to temporarily slow down the winter. their body systems overnight to save Offering a variety of different foods energy. Non-migrators are also skilled will bring more species to your feeding at finding seeds, fruits and nuts during station. Just be sure to clean your the winter, but they certainly appreciate feeders regularly with nine-parts water help from humans when it is offered. to one-part bleach to keep the birds Many birds’ food of choice is black oil healthy and happy. sunflower seed. Woodland species such Karen Lakus, Naturalist Rocky River Nature Center

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Emerald Necklace® Directory Published monthly by: Board of Park Commissioners Cleveland Metroparks Rental Facilities Cleveland Metroparks Bruce G. Rinker Dan T. Moore Administration Offices 216-635-3304 216-635-3200 President Vice President 216-635-3200/24-hour info clevelandmetroparks.com Debra K. Berry Brian M. Zimmerman Vice President Chief Executive Officer 4101 Fulton Parkway Outdoor Experiences and Cleveland, OH 44144 Education clevelandmetroparks.com 216-881-8141 Park clevelandmetroparks.com/OE Nature Center Cleveland Metroparks Police Golf Accidents or Emergencies Nature Centers: 440-333-4911 Zoo Brecksville Nature Center Swim Area Cleveland Metroparks Zoo & 9000 Chippewa Creek Drive The RainForest Brecksville, OH 44141 216-661-6500/24-hour info Brecksville Reservation 3900 Wildlife Way 440-526-1012 Cleveland, OH 44109 FutureForWildlife.org CanalWay Center RIVERGATE 4524 E. 49th Street Cleveland Metroparks Golf Cuyahoga Heights, OH 44125 Golf Services/440-232-7247 Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation (course info & inquiries) 216-206-1000 clevelandmetroparks.com/golf North Chagrin Nature Center The Chalet Recreation Area 401 Buttermilk Falls Parkway 16200 Valley Parkway Mayfield Village, OH 44094 Strongsville, OH 44136 North Chagrin Reservation Mill Stream Run Reservation 440-473-3370 440-572-9990 Rocky River Nature Center Lakefront Reservation 24000 Valley Parkway Administration Building North Olmsted, OH 44070 8701 Lakeshore Blvd. Rocky River Reservation Cleveland, OH 44108 440-734-6660 216-881-8141 Watershed Stewardship Center Volunteer Services 2277 W. Ridgewood Drive 440-331-8237 Parma, OH 44134 clevelandmetroparks.com/ West Creek Reservation volunteer 440-887-1968 Cleveland Metroparks does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age or disability in employment, services or access to programs or activities. Cover photo: Wild Winter Lights at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Emerald Necklace is also available online at clevelandmetroparks.com Additional photos courtesy of Cleveland Metroparks photo archive, unless © Registered trademarks of Cleveland Metroparks. otherwise noted.