November, December, and January Programs

Mark Wiley with Wild Turkey. Photo courtesy of DOW

Western Cuyahoga Audubon is back in person for 2023 and 2024, with the exception of November 2023. Meetings will be held at 7:00 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at the Fairview Park Branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library. 

November Program: “Wild Turkey Management and Monitoring in Ohio”
Presenter: Mark Wiley, ODNR Wildlife Biologist
Date & Time: Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.
Location: Zoom Only, NO in person meeting at the Library
Zoom Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89936595434?pwd=ZzdubEhqdUJvT0dUY01MaTFYSjhVUT09

Description: The restoration of wild turkey in Ohio and across the species’ range is a shining example of wildlife management success in North America. Once extirpated, wild turkeys are now considered common in the Buckeye State and can be found in all 88 counties. The Ohio Division of Wildlife intensively monitors the state’s wild turkey population and frequently conducts in-depth research to ensure wild turkeys and their habitats remain available for sustainable use and appreciation by all. Wildlife biologist Mark Wiley will discuss the history of wild turkey restoration as well as ongoing efforts to learn more about Ohio’s wild turkeys through monitoring and research. Such efforts include an annual citizen science survey reliant on public participation.

December Program: “Christmas Bird Count 2023 … it’s Almost Here!”
Presenter: Nancy Howell, Christmas Bird Count Compiler
Date & Time: Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.
Location: Fairview Park Library, 21255 Lorain Rd, Fairview Park; also via Zoom
Zoom Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87302637202?pwd=RnFOVEUxTzZTYStiamloWm52YlFwdz09
Description: Our annual Christmas Bird Count, being held on Saturday, December 30, is a great way to do some birding, enjoy the winter season with family and friends, and have information you’ve collected used for research by National Audubon and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. No matter if you have participated in the Christmas Bird Count before or if this will be your first one, this program is for YOU! The Christmas Bird Count has some specific ways to collect the bird data for the day. In this presentation, Nancy Howell, CBC Compiler will review how to get involved, what areas are to be covered, how to collect your bird sightings, as well as sending in your bird lists and photos. We’ll also have a short session on winter bird identification of some of the more challenging birds. Join us!

January Program: “Using MOTUS Technology to Track Rehabilitated Birds”
Presenter: Tim Krynak, Cleveland Metroparks Natural Resources Manager and Tim Jasinski, Wildlife Rehabilitation Specialist, Lake Erie Nature and Science Center
Date & Time: Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
Location: Fairview Park Library, 21555 Lorain Rd, Fairview Park; also via Zoom
Zoom Link:
​https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87588379229?pwd=TzMzZm14ZnBBNHN4cEpJOUg2TEp0dz09
Description: This presentation will introduce the Motus Wildlife Tracking System, an international collaborative network of researchers that use automated radio telemetry to simultaneously track hundreds of individuals of numerous species of birds, bats, and insects. The system enables a community of researchers, educators, organizations, and citizens to undertake impactful research and education on the ecology and conservation of migratory animals. We will discuss Cleveland Metroparks and Lake Erie Nature and Science Center involvement in this collaborative project and share some interesting results.