The Hushwing HERALD Blackbrook Audubon Society Volume 56 Number 4 April, May, June 2021 Spreading the Love of Nature in Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula Counties

UPCOMING EVENTS

DATE: Tuesday, April 20, 2021 DATE: Tuesday, May 18, 2021 PROGRAM: The Wildlife of Bass Lake PROGRAM: Eastern Coyote: Facts and Fiction SPEAKER: Chris Parker SPEAKER: Jon Cepek, TIME: 7:00 p.m. You can log in at 6:30. TIME: 7:00 p.m. You can log in at 6:30.

Register here or on the events page at blackbrook- Register here or on the events page at blackbrook- audubon.org to receive a link to this virtual program. audubon.org to receive a link to this virtual program.

Do you have a favorite nature moment? Every winter some people are lucky enough Something you’ve witnessed and perhaps caught to see coyotes using as a frozen on camera? Have you ever been face to face with highway. Now that we're into spring, coyotes are a wild otter, muskrat, or swan? Nature busy raising their young. Cleveland Metroparks enthusiast Chris Parker has, and not by accident. Wildlife Ecologist Jon Cepek will describe the ecology and behavior of the Eastern Coyote, Canis latrans, as well as their interactions with humans and pets using information based on Cleveland Metroparks research and national studies. Jon will answer questions about coyotes to help us understand the facts and correct the fiction about the highly adaptable coyote. Prior to working for Cleveland Metroparks, Jon was the District Supervisor for USDA Wildlife Services and a Wildlife Biologist for the National Wildlife Research Center. Jon’s current position North American River Otter Lontra canadensis is a mix of research and management and Photo by Chris Parker focuses on human-wildlife related issues including deer, coyotes, and wildlife diseases. Chris has documented the variety of wildlife He also works with Cleveland Metroparks Zoo that swims, flies and walks at Geauga Park Wildlife Conservation staff and international District’s Bass Lake Preserve in Munson Town- collaborators to understand interactions ship. He will reveal nature moments that between humans and wildlife and promote unfolded in front of him while on his quiet canoe coexistence with carnivores. Jon serves on The with a camera, coffee, and patient observation. Wildlife Society's Urban Wildlife Working Group He's watched Canada Geese squabble as one board and is a past President of the Chapter dove completely underwater to escape the of the Wildlife Society, and the Ohio Wildlife challenger, with the second one diving in pursuit. Management Association. Jon is a retired In this program, Chris will share his encounters Command Sergeant Major with 23 years of Army with Bald Eagles, river otters, mink, Osprey, and Army National Guard service including swans, loons, Prothonotary Warblers and more. deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. 2 Birding Opportunities! As restrictions hopefully will be easing this spring, we are being optimistic about our upcoming field trips. Please follow Blackbrook Audubon’s Facebook page and call Pat at 440-567-5879 for the latest information and to let us know that you are planning to attend. To continue to keep everyone safe, please observe the following guidelines: • Wear a face mask if you cannot maintain 6’ from those outside your household. • Do not share binoculars or spotting scopes outside your household. • Bring a lunch and water/beverage; we’ll check on availability of local restaurants closer to the event dates.

APRIL FIELD TRIP MAY FIELD TRIP

DATE: Saturday, April 24, 2021 DATE: Sunday, May 30, 2021 ACTIVITY: Early Spring Migration ACTIVITY: Late Spring Migration TIME: 8:00 a.m. TIME: 8:30 a.m. PLACE: Headlands Dunes SNP in Mentor PLACE: Sandy Ridge Reservation

Since the Spring Bird Walk Series is officially Sandy Ridge Reservation has become a reg- canceled this year, we thought it would be nice to ular birding destination in all seasons, especially have an April field trip at Headlands Dunes State during spring migration. This Lorain County Nature Preserve. This will be early in migration Metropark encompasses over 500 acres of so you can become familiar with the area, if you wetlands and woodlands that host a variety of are not already. We’ll hope to see varieties of waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds, and raptors warblers, kinglets, thrushes, vireos, wood- throughout the year, including a resident Bald peckers and other songbirds. We will meet at the Eagle nest and often-seen Sandhill Cranes. The far east end of the Headlands Beach State Park two-mile- parking lot. A wide boardwalk leads to the beach. long trail is Dress for the weather and bring your binoculars. on level terrain and passes through a wet woods and reclaimed wetland areas of the park. Nearly 250 bird species have been observed Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) since the Sandhill Crane Setophaga coronata park opened Antigone canadensis Photo by Debbi Schuster in 1999. Photo by Debbi Schuster Bring your Join us for the last IBA Walk at Beaty Landing binoculars and a spotting scope if you have one. Sunday, April 25 at 8:00 a.m. Sandy Ridge is about an hour drive from Mentor in Painesville along the at 6195 Otten Road, North Ridgeville, 44039. 3 Our Monthly IBA Walk Takes Flight After two years of recording the diversity of birds at Beaty Landing in Painesville, our Important Bird Area census will migrate to the Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve starting Sunday, May 23. Every fourth Sunday of the month, we’ll meet at the entrance gate to the Utility Pipeline Access Road, an otherwise restricted area, by the intersection of Woodridge Lane and Forest Road in Mentor Headlands at 8:00 a.m. This will be a closed program with group birding together, not the open-house style that’s offered by the Marsh Nature Center staff on the second Saturday morning of each month. The gate will be closed behind us as we begin our IBA walk. Northern Harrier, formerly Once we finish birding the pipeline road, we’ll explore the other known as the Marsh Hawk path that leads to the interior of the Marsh, the Wake Robin Trail Circus hudsonius boardwalk. Parking is available along the south side of Woodridge Ln. Photo by Nan Patrick or in the lot at 8936 Woodridge at the trailhead of Wake Robin. Lake County has an easement on the pipeline path, which is only accessible by a permit or when attending a Nature Center program with a naturalist. Dogs are not allowed in any State Nature Preserve. Both Beaty Landing and the Mentor Marsh are within the Grand River – Lower Watershed IBA. Help us document what birds have returned to the Marsh to nest or rest during a migration stopover and which species are still arriving thanks to the ongoing restoration efforts by the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Contact Becky Donaldson at [email protected] if you would like more information.

One Tradition Comes to Roost May 16 — Birding-in-Place at Headlands

Blackbrook Audubon’s “Big Sit” comes back, Bring an umbrella in case of rain and dress albeit different this year. (So what else is new?) warmly or bring a blanket if the weather is cool. On Sunday, May 16, we’ll gather in the picnic Headlands Beach State Park is at the northern area at the far eastern side of the Headlands terminus of State Route 44 (Heisley Road) in Beach State Park any time after 8:30 a.m. Lake County. As you enter the State Park, keep to Everyone will need to bring their own snack and the right and follow the road to the eastern end beverage. There will be no sharing of snacks. of the park and turn left into the last row of Please plan to wear a mask, bring a chair and parking lot (P-1) for the State Nature Preserve. binoculars. (Did you know you can borrow Look for the Blackbrook Audubon banner and a binoculars from the Mentor Public Library?) group of people with binoculars looking up. We’ll space our chairs at least six feet apart and watch a nice variety of warblers and other birds in the nearby shrubs and trees. Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve, just north of our Big Sit site, is a haven for warblers before they migrate across Lake Erie in April and May. Stay for as long as you like. The Blackbrook Audubon Spring Bird Walks have been canceled for a second year, but this is a perfect activity for less mobile people who enjoy group birding. See old friends and meet new people with a shared interest. The entrance to the handicapped- accessible boardwalk to the beach is not far from where we’ll be sitting. Restrooms are nearby. Scanning the trees at the Big Sit May 19, 2019. 4 reduce competition for food. One photographer claimed she approaches a nest tree to avoid obstacles like vegetation. In the end, the birds are the ones who decide if you are too close. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s National Bald Eagle Management Guidelines state for a “Non- motorized recreation and human entry (e.g., hiking, FROM the DESK of the PRESIDENT camping, fishing, hunting, birdwatching, kayaking, canoeing) . . . If the activity will be visible or highly by Trevor Wearstler audible from the nest, maintain a 330-foot buffer during the breeding season . . .. This distance is Hello Everyone, reasonable for owls, hawks and falcons as well. Nesting season can start as early as January National Audubon Society has a brief set of for birds of prey. There have been some dis- precautions to consider and a description of bird turbing trends around their nesting sites, locally behaviors it would help to know. All we ask is and nationally. Birders and photographers alike that you respect the wildlife you are trying to have been getting too close to these magnificent observe or photograph. creatures. With more people out in the parks and public areas these days, it has become even more Happy 60th Anniversary Geauga Park District critical to avoid intruding on birds as they rear Founded in August of 1961, Geauga Park their young. As the ambassadors of our birding District’s first park, Woodin Road Park, opened hobby, we must encourage others to be more three years later. The system has now grown to 27 careful while they are birding or taking photos. public parks and over 70 miles of Nesting is a highly stressful time for all birds. hiking trails. Blackbrook Audubon They must defend territories while feeding looks forward to more fascinating themselves and their hatchlings. However, there programs and increased acreage are far fewer raptors around than songbirds, and for the preservation of ecosystems. they merit extra attention. Additional pressure from overly admiring fans can result in a failed Habitat Improvements at Local State Parks or abandoned nest. Gary Gerrone, the manager of Geneva and It seems a shame this issue needs to be Headlands Beach State Parks, shared some great addressed from time to time. Binoculars and news in a virtual open house last month. cameras are designed to give us better views A grant will be used to begin an attack on without getting too close to the birds. The con- invasive phragmites in wetlands near the marina flict is not just between wildlife and people, but at Geneva State Park. between people. It won’t always be easy, but Many of us have seen ducks swimming in the these are the times we have to help respectfully last few parking rows at the western end of the educate those we see not being mindful of their Headlands Beach State Park parking lot. Fish distance from birds. swim here, spring peepers call and Great Blue For a more comprehensive ethics guide to Herons even forage over the submerged parking birding and bird photography, visit mindful- lot. Gary said these western rows are below the birding.org/images/mindful/pdfs/complete.pdf. level of Lake Erie and the water table is above the surface. Recognizing a losing battle, the state Editor’s Note: As you approach a nest, if the will acquiesce to Mother Nature and turn the parents vocalize at you or fly to another tree, this flooded portions of parking lot into a “true” change in their behavior is a clear indication that wetland this season using funds from the Great you are too close. If you drive the parent from Lakes Restoration Initiative. the nest, the eggs or chicks are exposed to the Gary added they are seeking ideas on elements and to a possible attack from predators more beach activities. You can reach him at 440- or other raptor parents in the area who want to 850-1683 or [email protected]. 5 Backyard Birdathon 2021 Possible Picnic, Healthy Hike? Like many other National Audubon Society The Blackbrook Audubon June potluck picnic chapters around the country, Blackbrook followed by an evening bird walk has been a Audubon holds an annual Birdathon to raise popular event for many years, as our scheduled money. People form teams, count birds and programs come to an end and members scatter collect donations from sponsors. Blackbrook far and wide for the summer. Although COVID-19 spends about $1,500 per year to provide over restrictions are beginning to ease, we don’t know 900 kids with Audubon Adventures newsletters, what guidelines may be in place by mid-June. and the Birdathon funds raised are used solely Rather than making plans now and poten- for this purpose. tially altering them later, we’ve decided to post- This year’s Blackbrook Birdathon will be pone decisions until early June. At the very least, Saturday, May 8, World Migratory Bird Day, we hope to do an through May 16, the Sunday of our Big Sit at evening bird walk Headlands. Choose any 24-hour period between on Tuesday, June these dates and count the highest number of 15, our customary each bird species you see at one time. picnic date. If you Please submit a copy of your list with your have suggestions on donation by May 31, 2021 to where to meet for a Blackbrook Audubon Society nice birding stroll, P. O. Box 1306 Mentor, OH 44061-1306. email them to us at Rather than gathering donation pledges yourself [email protected]. We’ll email an update to turn in, you can ask people to mail their to people signed up for our Constant Contact donations directly to Blackbrook Audubon. Just notices and post on our website. If you don’t have them include a note to let us know they are have computer access, feel free to call Mary Ann sponsoring you. Birdathon donations are always at 440-255-0961 after June 5. appreciated whether or not you count birds or sponsor a participant. Election of Board Officers Enter your results in eBird. Send us a photo of your best bird. We may be able to include it in Every spring, the members of the Blackbrook a future issue of the Hushwing, with credit to the Audubon Society vote for the four elected photographer, of course. officers on our Board of Directors. We announ- Everyone visits the well-known birding ced these nominees at the March 16 meeting: hotspots, but you can help find the birds living in President: Trevor Wearstler quieter spaces like our backyards. The Wellness VP: Mary Ann Wagner Walk north of TriPoint Medical Center in Secretary: Becky Donaldson Concord is less than a mile and includes a pond. Treasurer: Debbi Schuster You might find avian treasures in more out-of- The election will take place during our virtual the-way nooks while avoiding crowded parks. meeting on April 20. Please let us know if you have questions, want to sit in on a board meeting Here are some safety tips: or join a committee, or would like to help staff Stay up to date with closures of parks and the Blackbrook display at future events. public spaces. Avoid unnecessary travel. Always adhere to the most recent physical distancing guidelines. We are sad to report the recent passing

Do not share binoculars, scopes, or phones. of long-time Blackbrook Audubon member We’ll post the results such as most species spotted, most unusual bird, most common bird Robert (Bob) Hanes . and any other categories we can come up with. May Bob’s interest in and love of nature Thank you for your participation. As always, live on in all of us. we very much appreciate your support! 6 Rehab Resumes at the Wildlife Center Have you heard of Motus Wildlife Lake Metroparks Wildlife Center began Tracking? accepting injured, sick and orphaned wildlife with new admittance procedures on April 1. The Motus means building is still closed, but animals can be taken “movement” in Latin. to the rehab center by appointment between 10 If you haven’t heard a.m. and 4 p.m. Call 440-256-1404, ext. 2131 or of Motus yet, we’re check their website for advice in determining excited to share this whether an animal needs assistance. new(er) way of track- ing birds and other Eco-management Update for fauna. “The Motus Wild- Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve life Tracking System is A Motus receiving an international collab- The Ohio Department of Natural Resources - station needs a clear orative network of line of sight, a power Division of Natural Areas and Preserves (DNAP) researchers that use source and Wi-Fi. continues to work on improving habitat at automated radio telem- Headlands for wildlife and the rare plant species etry to simultaneously track hundreds of that call the preserve home. This work includes individuals of numerous species of birds, bats, cutting and treating invasive honeysuckle and and insects. The system enables a community of white mulberry. While birds and wildlife will researchers, educators, organizations, and utilize these species, white mulberry and citizens to undertake impactful research and honeysuckle do not host the wide array of insect education on the ecology and conservation of larva and fruit that birds need for a healthy diet. migratory animals. When compared to other In partnership with DNAP’s State Botanist, technologies, automated radio telemetry the Division is currently working on a list of currently allows researchers to track the better native woody species to replace these smallest animals possible, with high temporal invasive trees and shrubs. Ideally, species such and geographic precision, over great distances.” as Rough-leaf Dogwood, Cornus drummondii and Blackbrook Audubon is aiming to fundraise Black Oak, Quercus velutina, will be planted in to help install more Motus towers east of the management areas in the near future. Visit Cleveland along the Lake Erie shoreline in the links for natural history information on these partnership with Cleveland Metroparks and the natives including faunal associations. Cleveland Museum of Natural History who already have established towers. Stay tuned. In the meantime, dive into the fabulous Motus April is website to take a peek at birds coming across Lake Erie and learn more!

Mentor Marsh Eagles’ 12th year of nesting Mentor Marsh’s Bald Eagle pair began their 12th year of nesting in the eastern basin of the Plant a Pocket Pollinator Garden Marsh on Saturday, February 27. The Marsh volunteers who watch the adults’ behavior and New Book Corner follow the phenology of nesting first noticed an The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most eagle hunkered down in the nest on this date! Essential Native Trees by Doug Tallamy Incubation is about 35 days, so this puts the hatch date in the first week of April. You can like Problem Plants of Ohio Kent State University Press or follow the Mentor Marsh Facebook page to A guide to ID and control invasive plants keep tabs on how these eagles and their by Megan E. Griffiths, Melissa A. Davis and David Ward offspring (eyases) are doing around the Marsh. 7 Thank this Animal however coastal development and sea level rise for your Clean Vaccine affect the crab population as well. Shorebirds migrating to the Arctic from South America time their arrival on the U.S. East Wildlife farming and housing many taxa of Coast to coincide with these spawning events to animals in substandard conditions near humans refuel on the nutritious eggs. This is their best may have given us the viral pandemic we are food source to make the final push in their 9,000- now fighting. We've developed vaccines, but to mile journey to raise their own young. use them, we continue to capture another There is a synthetic alternative for the com- animal, perhaps at its own peril and sealing the ponent in horseshoe crab blood. Europe has fate of several birds and sea turtles as well. approved recombinant Factor C (rFC) and Eli Meet the horseshoe crab, Limulus poly- Lilly in this country uses it also. However, the phemus, who's not a crab at all. This marine U.S. Pharmacopeia, the non-governmental body arthropod, related to spiders and scorpions, that sets quality standards, wants more testing. looks like a small tank swimming the Atlantic Read about the important work by scientists Coast from Maine through the Gulf of Mexico. that could make a difference for horseshoe crabs The pointy structure out the back is not a stinger, and help shorebirds like Red Knots. The linked but a telson which helps the animal right itself if article was written by the author of The Narrow a wave flips it. They take at least nine years to Edge: A Tiny Bird, An Ancient Crab, and An Epic mature and live about 20 years. They pre-date Journey that chronicles the migration of Red dinosaurs. In addition to the Atlantic species Knots, a sandpiper who's relied on horseshoe here, three other species live in Southeast Asia. crabs a lot longer than we have. Crawling around the bottom sediment munching clams and worms exposes the little tanks to a great deal of bacteria. Instead of the Friends of Blackbrook Audubon white blood cells we use to fight infection, ☐ New ☐ Renewal horseshoe crabs have amoebocytes that react in the presence of certain bacteria, their endotoxins Name ______and even a fungus. These special cells release "goo" that coagulates around the invading Address ______bacteria. In 1956, Fred Bang observed this process and in the 1970's the Limulus amoebo- ______cyte lysate (LAL) test was approved to check for contamination in drugs, IV fluids, vaccines, City, State, Zip ______surgical implants, etc. If a clot forms, impurities are present and they have to remake the batch. Email ______Every spring, horseshoe crabs gather on Blackbrook Audubon does not share or sell its mailing list. beaches during high tide to spawn, when each ____ $30 Individual ____ $45 Household female may lay about 90,000 eggs. Males then ☐ Hushwing Herald newsletter via email fertilize these eggs, but only 10 per female are estimated to reach adulthood. While this ancient ☐ Hushwing Herald via snail mail animal is in the process of trying to ensure future (for Friends of Blackbrook only) generations, humans harvest about a half million I do not wish to be a Friend of Blackbrook, of them from the beaches, take them to labs run but would like to donate $ ______. by three different companies and extract about Make checks payable to Blackbrook Audubon Society 1/3 of their blood. The ones who survive this are Mail to: Friends of Blackbrook Audubon returned, but estimates show 10-15% mortality, P. O. Box 1306 Mentor, OH 44061-1306 even up to 30%. Commercial fisheries also use them as bait for American eel, conch and whelk Thank You! pots. Biomedical and bait uses are regulated, BLACKBROOK AUDUBON SOCIETY P. O. Box 1306 Mentor, OH 44061-1306

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Trevor Wearstler - President Laurie White - Editor

April 30 – May 3 Take photos of wild plants and animals. Upload to iNaturalist. May 4 – 9 Identify what’s in photos, collaborate. Get Vitamin N, document urban biodiversity. Send your checklist to eBird for Global Big Day.

Join us for a Conservation Project 9:00 a.m. Sunday, May 8 at the Shipman Pond parking lot 9600 Headlands Road. We’ll pull garlic mustard and pick up trash along the route of our Annual Spring Bird Walks, which were canceled area wide. Wear sturdy footwear and bring work gloves.

https://www.migratorybirdday.org /