Lake Erie Islands Chapter Black Swamp Conservancy Our Mission: To encourage conservation and Protection of Natural and Agricultural Lands in the Lake Erie Islands for the Benefit of Future Generations. Fall 2013 The fundraiser was a $20,000 SUCCESS! The Lake Erie Islands Nature & Wildlife Center made progress towards our new addition at LEINWC The LEINWC is raising money for more space to provide education for youth and adults that visit the islands as well as the local community. The mission of the Lake Erie Islands Nature and Wildlife Center is to promote conservation and education of the flora, fauna, and lands of the Lake Erie Islands ecosystem. Auction Donors Lisa Brohl Bob Smith Middle Bass Island- $25 gift certifi- The Perry Group Mary Ann Hoover cate to Walleyes, MBI Sweat shirt, Amy and Peter Huston Jet Express Robin Glauser homemade jelly Sandi Glauser OSU Stone Laboratory Celeste Mycoskie- 2 paintings Susan and Mike Byrnes David Holman Rudy & Linda Rence- Star Wars Judy Prinz Bergman's poster, and movies Kate Ptak Sally Duffy Jessie Hill- Hand crafted ring Marc Nemec Topsy Turvey Old Forge Cafe- $25 gift certificate Chocolate Cafe Board Walk Zoe and Brad Titchener- 8 Perry Isola Day Spa The Island Hardware Store plates, Ohio Plate, 2 rectangular David and Laura Stubblebine Brewery- stained glass panels, stain glass plates The Ashley House Mojito Bay Cameo Pizza Blue Luna The $20,000 success of the Hog Roast- Fundraiser for the Lake Erie Islands Nature & Wildlife Center (LEINWC) is a reflection of the increasing dedication and enthusiasm from the volunteers’ and donors that helped to make the event great. We Winter Bird Seed Sale——–Page 6 would like to personally thank everyone for your Donation Box———–——Page 9 What’s recent contribution of time to the LEINWC. This Membership——————Page 11 event would not have been a success without Happening everyone's enthusiastic involvement. MB Bird Banding———–Page 14 LEIC-BSC Annual Meeting At the LEINWC The Project Managers Dina Holman, Jackie Taylor, and Team Leaders Kristin The Lake Erie Islands Chapter of the Black Swamp Conservancy will hold their annual meeting on Sat- Stanford, Lisa Brohl, and Sandi Glauser appreciate urday, September 14th at 3:00pm at Heineman’s the gift of time, energy and generous support which Winery. Join us for a great afternoon! Bring a snack was received. We would like to take this opportunity to share and we will enjoy some fine Lake Erie Wa- to say a heartfelt “Thank You!” We look forward to tersnake Noiret wine. working with everyone again in the future. Special Thanks To The Goat Restaurant for letting the LEINWC host the event on it’s premises Island Band Steve Stapleton, Bruce Miles, Russ Brohl, and Peter Huston ran the sound. Gordon Barr and Rudy Rence helped emcee. Miller Boat Line donated the transportation for the truck for the band. Thanks, Island Band, for keeping everyone entertained with good vibrations . Hog provided by Kristin Stanford Prepared by Rob Hard and Pinky Batt for carving Food donated by Brewery Goat A big thanks to Bob Russell, Roger Wharfside- Topsy Turvey Fulton, Marsha Vanscoy, and Bryan Gilles Marsha Collette for volunteering Marsha Collette many hours at the Lake Erie Is- Peggy Leopold lands Nature and Wildlife Center. Dina Holman Sorry if we forgot anybody-we are Jackie Taylor so grateful for everyone's help Sandi Glauser Put-in-Bay Fire Department for the use of the tables and garbage cans Wyland Gallery & artist Walfrido The Ohio State University Stone Laboratory Volunteers Jessie Green-Hill- Local Artist Gordy Barr John & Peggy Leopold Kate Ptak Laureen Mooney AWSOME SPECIAL THANKS TO THE ISLAND BAND! Amy and Peter Huston Rose Kahler WE KNOW YOU DID IT FOR THE TURTLES!!! Sally Duffy Lianne Genzman Marsha Collette AJ Mason Brad & Zoe Titchener Bryan Gilles Sue and Greg Bixler Dusty Shaffer Article by Jackie Taylor Contributions to the Building Fund Peter and Amy Huston John Leopold Colton W. Plumb Julene Market Kristin Stanford Judy Printz Glenn Cooper Toledo Community Greg and Sue Bixler Foundation/ William E. The Goat Market Family Fund Airborne Designs Doris M. Hubschman Kevin W. Heart John and Paula Ladd Hil and Jody Carstensen Muriel Sneller Lenore Frederick Laura Coviello Russ and Lisa Brohl Janice Williams Linda Parker Zoe and Brad Titchener R Gump Builders 2 Lake Erie Islands Nature and Wildlife Center Road Scholar Programs The following Lake Erie Islands Nature and Wildlife Center Road Scholar programs are open to the public. Come join us! Monday, September 9, 7:15pm Put-in-Bay Town Hall, Lake Erie Water Snakes, Dr. Kristin Stanford. Wednesday, September 11, 7:15 pm Put-in-Bay Town Hall, Geology and the Battle of Lake Erie, Dr. Charles Herdendorf. Monday, September 16, 7:15p m Put-in-Bay Town Hall, Geology and the Battle of Lake Erie, Dr. Charles Herdendorf. Tuesday, September 17, 7:15 pm Put-in-Bay Town Hall, Lake Erie Water Snakes, Dr. Kristin Stanford. Wednesday, September 18, 7:15 pm Put-in-Bay Town Hall, My Life as a Great Lakes Captain, Captain Russell Brohl. Visiting Sea Cadets By Carmen Lavand The U.S. Navy Sea Cadets paid Put-in-bay a visit this month. On Tuesday July 16th and Friday July 19th they helped mulch the trail at Scheeff East Point Nature Preserve. As the intern for the Lake Erie Chapter of the Black Swamp Conservancy, I try to keep the trail clear and enjoyable for visitors to walk. Recently there has been poison ivy in the trail becoming a problem for guests. {Photo: Maggie Beckford Only humans are allergic to the oil from poison ivy, and not eve- ryone is sensitive. Many animals rely on poison ivy as a food source. It is relatively unknown that poison ivy yields berries that many birds eat; especially during the winter. For a while I have been clipping the plant to keep it back, but Sea Cadets volun- teered their time to mulch the trail to keep the poison ivy out. Sea Cadets are the Department of Defense’s youth organization whose mission is "Through organization and cooperation with the Department of the Navy, to encourage and aid American youth to develop, train them in seagoing skills, and to teach them patriotism, courage, self-reliance and kindred virtues." Three young men from all over Ohio came to help out their envi- ronment from the Naval Cadet Corps. Cadet Stanley and Cadet Zamora will be sophomores in high school this year, and Cadet Hernandez will be starting eighth grade. Our Scheeff East Point {Left to right Cadet Stanley, Cadet Zamora, and Cadet Hernandez Nature Preserve trail is pleasant to walk again thanks to these young men. August Perseid Meteor Shower Program We had a great turnout for the August 11 meteor viewing program at the Scheeff East Point Preserve with Gene Zajac! A good time was had by all and even a few meteors were glimpsed in between the clouds. Gene is a wealth of informa- tion and stories. Thanks again Gene! Gene has now retired and moved to South Bass full time so we look forward to more stargazing this fall and winter. 3 Majestic Monarchs by Jackie Taylor When I came to Stone Laboratory to work during the 2012 season I was excited to learn one of my jobs was going to be tagging Monarch Butterflies, and maintaining the certified Waystation and butterfly garden. The first ques- tion that came to my mind was how in the world do you tag a butterfly, let alone one that is at risk of becoming endan- gered? Keeping the plants healthy in the butterfly garden was what I knew best; participating in Monarchwatch.org’s tagging program is what taught me the importance of tagging, why we need to be a part of this program, and why the Monarch Butterfly is at risk. There are some very simple things that we all can do to help improve the chances for the Monarchs. Everything I have learned makes it obvious that the survival of Monarch Butterflies is important for a number of reasons. In many ways it is surprising that an insect that weighs less than one fifth of an ounce and has a wingspan less than four inches is able to make the 2,000 plus mile journey from Canada to Mexico where they will spend the winter. Every Fall Monarch Butterflies hatch all over Canada and began to eat as fast as they can to store up the energy they will need on their journey to Mexico. The timing of their journey is critical because the Monarchs cannot stand freezing temperatures and cannot even fly if it gets too cold. The trip south is a dangerous one, because it is long, and there are many predators and natural barriers that make it difficult for the Monarchs to survive. In addition, the Monarchs’ bodies are not well suited to the demands of the long flight. In order to conserver their energy they rely on tailwinds, thermals, and geography. The Great Lakes are the first geographic hurdle because the butterflies cannot see across the water, and the wind is constantly shifting. For this reason Monarchs will congregate at the southern tip Pelee Island, Canada waiting for the perfect flight conditions. After they successfully make this crossing we see them as they pass through South Bass Island. This is where we participate in the Monarch Watch butterfly tagging program. As the butterflies continue south to Mexico they face constant threats from predators, weather conditions, and humans but without any great geographical barriers until the very end of their journey when they began to climb the Sierra Madre Mountains in Mexico to the sites where they will spend the winter.