Western Cuyahoga Audubon Speaker Series 2018-2019 PDF
Presentations are at 7:30 p.m. at the Rocky River Nature Center located in the Rocky River Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks. Guests are always welcome to programs and to introduce them to the Audubon mission. (Programs are subject to change.)
Presentations are at 7:30 p.m. at the Rocky River Nature Center located in the Rocky River Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks. Guests are always welcome to programs and to introduce them to the Audubon mission. (Programs are subject to change.)
Photo: Trail Design by Alice Merkel.
SEPTEMBER PROGRAM
Program: “Vegetation in Northeast Ohio: Two Hundred Years of Changes and Challenges”
Presenter: Kathryn Flinn, Plant Ecologist and Assistant Professor of Biology, Baldwin-Wallace University
Date & Time: Tuesday, September 4, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Rocky River Nature Center, 24000 Valley Pkwy, North Olmsted, OH 44070 Map
Programs are free and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.
Description: What did the forests in Cuyahoga County look like in 1800? How does this compare with current vegetation in the county, in particular, the Cleveland Metroparks? Katie Flinn, Associate Instructor of Biology and Plant Ecologist at Baldwin-Wallace University, will share the research she and her students have done mapping the abundance and distribution of each tree species based on original land surveys of the county around 1800. She will then discuss which tree species have increased or decreased over time and why.
Announcement: Speaker Series 2018-2019: “Vegetation in Northeast Ohio: Two Hundred Years of Changes and Challenges”
Program: “Vegetation in Northeast Ohio: Two Hundred Years of Changes and Challenges”
Presenter: Kathryn Flinn, Plant Ecologist and Assistant Professor of Biology, Baldwin-Wallace University
Date & Time: Tuesday, September 4, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Rocky River Nature Center, 24000 Valley Pkwy, North Olmsted, OH 44070 Map
Programs are free and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.
Description: What did the forests in Cuyahoga County look like in 1800? How does this compare with current vegetation in the county, in particular, the Cleveland Metroparks? Katie Flinn, Associate Instructor of Biology and Plant Ecologist at Baldwin-Wallace University, will share the research she and her students have done mapping the abundance and distribution of each tree species based on original land surveys of the county around 1800. She will then discuss which tree species have increased or decreased over time and why.
Announcement: Speaker Series 2018-2019: “Vegetation in Northeast Ohio: Two Hundred Years of Changes and Challenges”
Photo: Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) by Scott Martin.
OCTOBER PROGRAM
Program: “Careless Whispers? Deciphering the Hidden Vocal Repertoire of a Common Backyard Bird, the Dark-eyed Junco”
Presenter: Dustin G. Reichard, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Zoology, Ohio Wesleyan University
Date & Time: Tuesday, October 2, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Rocky River Nature Center, 24000 Valley Pkwy, North Olmsted, OH 44070 Map
Programs are free and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.
Description: Birders have been fascinated by the diversity of songs and calls produced by birds throughout the year. Vocalizations help us to identify species by ear and the melodic songs produced by songbirds in the spring serves two functions - attract mates and repel rivals. Yet birds also produce quiet, whispered sounds when in close proximity with a mate or rival. Evidence seems to indicate that these “secretive” sounds are an important part of the bird’s ability to survive and reproduce. Let’s welcome Dr. Dustin Reichard of Ohio Wesleyan University, who studies these quieter sounds.
Announcement: Speaker Series 2018-2019: “Careless Whispers? Deciphering the Hidden Vocal Repertoire of a Common Backyard Bird, the Dark-eyed Junco”
Program: “Careless Whispers? Deciphering the Hidden Vocal Repertoire of a Common Backyard Bird, the Dark-eyed Junco”
Presenter: Dustin G. Reichard, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Zoology, Ohio Wesleyan University
Date & Time: Tuesday, October 2, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Rocky River Nature Center, 24000 Valley Pkwy, North Olmsted, OH 44070 Map
Programs are free and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.
Description: Birders have been fascinated by the diversity of songs and calls produced by birds throughout the year. Vocalizations help us to identify species by ear and the melodic songs produced by songbirds in the spring serves two functions - attract mates and repel rivals. Yet birds also produce quiet, whispered sounds when in close proximity with a mate or rival. Evidence seems to indicate that these “secretive” sounds are an important part of the bird’s ability to survive and reproduce. Let’s welcome Dr. Dustin Reichard of Ohio Wesleyan University, who studies these quieter sounds.
Announcement: Speaker Series 2018-2019: “Careless Whispers? Deciphering the Hidden Vocal Repertoire of a Common Backyard Bird, the Dark-eyed Junco”
Photo: Rocky River View by Alice Merkel.
NOVEMBER PROGRAM
Program: “Conservation Stories of Western Cuyahoga Audubon”
Presenters: WCAS Members, Affiliates, and Friends
Date & Time: Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at 7:30 PM
Location: Rocky River Nature Center, 24000 Valley Pkwy, North Olmsted, OH 44070 Map
Programs are free and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.
Description: Western Cuyahoga Audubon has played an active role in Cleveland habitat conservation from reclaiming the city's Donald Gray Gardens, a gem of the 1936 and 1937 World Fair, to pioneering the formation of the Rocky River Important Bird Area, an iconic northeast Ohio conserved property. Join us for an evening of legendary conservation stories and participatory idea stations to catalyze next generation conservation projects. Support WCAS Giving Day and it’s mission to fund conservation activities. Additional information and giving at http://bit.ly/2QKMZZX
Announcement: Speaker Series 2018-2019: “Conservation Stories of Western Cuyahoga Audubon”
Program: “Conservation Stories of Western Cuyahoga Audubon”
Presenters: WCAS Members, Affiliates, and Friends
Date & Time: Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at 7:30 PM
Location: Rocky River Nature Center, 24000 Valley Pkwy, North Olmsted, OH 44070 Map
Programs are free and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.
Description: Western Cuyahoga Audubon has played an active role in Cleveland habitat conservation from reclaiming the city's Donald Gray Gardens, a gem of the 1936 and 1937 World Fair, to pioneering the formation of the Rocky River Important Bird Area, an iconic northeast Ohio conserved property. Join us for an evening of legendary conservation stories and participatory idea stations to catalyze next generation conservation projects. Support WCAS Giving Day and it’s mission to fund conservation activities. Additional information and giving at http://bit.ly/2QKMZZX
Announcement: Speaker Series 2018-2019: “Conservation Stories of Western Cuyahoga Audubon”
Photo: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by Steven Chase, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
DECEMBER PROGRAM
Program: "To the Edge of the Earth: Nome, Barrow, and Bering Sea Islands"
Presenter: Craig Caldwell, Editor, The Ohio Cardinal
Date & Time: Tuesday, December 4, 2018. Potluck dinner at 6:30 p.m., Program begins at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Rocky River Nature Center, 24000 Valley Pkwy, North Olmsted, OH 44070 Map
Programs are free and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.
Description: The vastness and beauty of the Arctic and the inhabitants of the Arctic, both wildlife and people, will be shared with us by Craig Caldwell, Audubon supporter and Editor of The Ohio Cardinal, a publication of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Join Craig in his journeys to the outer edges of Alaska, as he shares the scenes and birds of Nome, Barrow, and the Bering Sea communities of Adak, St. Paul, and Gambell.
Announcement: Speaker Series 2018-2019: "To the Edge of the Earth: Nome, Barrow, and Bering Sea Islands"
Program: "To the Edge of the Earth: Nome, Barrow, and Bering Sea Islands"
Presenter: Craig Caldwell, Editor, The Ohio Cardinal
Date & Time: Tuesday, December 4, 2018. Potluck dinner at 6:30 p.m., Program begins at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Rocky River Nature Center, 24000 Valley Pkwy, North Olmsted, OH 44070 Map
Programs are free and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.
Description: The vastness and beauty of the Arctic and the inhabitants of the Arctic, both wildlife and people, will be shared with us by Craig Caldwell, Audubon supporter and Editor of The Ohio Cardinal, a publication of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Join Craig in his journeys to the outer edges of Alaska, as he shares the scenes and birds of Nome, Barrow, and the Bering Sea communities of Adak, St. Paul, and Gambell.
Announcement: Speaker Series 2018-2019: "To the Edge of the Earth: Nome, Barrow, and Bering Sea Islands"
Photo: Chimney Swift overhead by Jim McCulloch.
JANUARY PROGRAM
Program: “Chimney Swifts: Our Amazing & Imperiled Avian Insectivores”
Presenter: Judy Semroc, Conservation Specialist, Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Date & Time: Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Rocky River Nature Center, 24000 Valley Pkwy, North Olmsted, OH 44070 Map
Programs are free and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.
Description: Aerial insectivores, birds that catch insects on the wing, such as the Chimney Swift are declining and there may be several reasons for the decline. Naturalist Judy Semroc will share information on the natural history, habits, importance and reasons for decline of the swift, the amazing flying “cigar!” Learn about the importance of creating swift towers to help this species.
Announcement: Speaker Series 2018-2019: “Chimney Swifts: Our Amazing & Imperiled Avian Insectivores”
Program: “Chimney Swifts: Our Amazing & Imperiled Avian Insectivores”
Presenter: Judy Semroc, Conservation Specialist, Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Date & Time: Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Rocky River Nature Center, 24000 Valley Pkwy, North Olmsted, OH 44070 Map
Programs are free and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.
Description: Aerial insectivores, birds that catch insects on the wing, such as the Chimney Swift are declining and there may be several reasons for the decline. Naturalist Judy Semroc will share information on the natural history, habits, importance and reasons for decline of the swift, the amazing flying “cigar!” Learn about the importance of creating swift towers to help this species.
Announcement: Speaker Series 2018-2019: “Chimney Swifts: Our Amazing & Imperiled Avian Insectivores”
Photo: Break Wall by Alice Merkel.
FEBRUARY PROGRAM
Program: “One Green Space for All: Areas Significant for Migratory and Breeding Birds"
Presenter: Jen Brumfield, Naturalist and Scientific Illustrator, Cleveland Metroparks
Date & Time: Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Rocky River Nature Center, 24000 Valley Pkwy, North Olmsted, OH 44070 Map
Programs are free and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.
Description: When people think of birding they think of heading out to acres of forests, wetlands or grasslands, but it does not need to be so. Even in a city the smallest of places or any “vacant lot” can be a haven for wildlife. Follow a set of railroad tracks, walk near abandoned industrial sites, check out an old cemetery … birds love these areas and many would be surprised how areas such as these are being used by birds while on migration as a resting/feeding stop, or for nesting. Jen Brumfield will share with us some of the places to look for birds in the city … and then some.
Announcement: Speaker Series 2018-2019: “One Green Space for All: Areas Significant for Migratory and Breeding Birds"
Program: “One Green Space for All: Areas Significant for Migratory and Breeding Birds"
Presenter: Jen Brumfield, Naturalist and Scientific Illustrator, Cleveland Metroparks
Date & Time: Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Rocky River Nature Center, 24000 Valley Pkwy, North Olmsted, OH 44070 Map
Programs are free and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.
Description: When people think of birding they think of heading out to acres of forests, wetlands or grasslands, but it does not need to be so. Even in a city the smallest of places or any “vacant lot” can be a haven for wildlife. Follow a set of railroad tracks, walk near abandoned industrial sites, check out an old cemetery … birds love these areas and many would be surprised how areas such as these are being used by birds while on migration as a resting/feeding stop, or for nesting. Jen Brumfield will share with us some of the places to look for birds in the city … and then some.
Announcement: Speaker Series 2018-2019: “One Green Space for All: Areas Significant for Migratory and Breeding Birds"
Photo: American Woodcocks (Scolopax minor) by Tom Fishburn.
MARCH PROGRAM
Program: “The Life and Times of the American Woodcock”
Presenter: Heather Shaw, Regional Wildlife Biologist, Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society
Date & Time: Tuesday, March 5, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Rocky River Nature Center, 24000 Valley Pkwy, North Olmsted, OH 44070 Map
Programs are free and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.
Description: The American Woodcock is not your typical shorebird. Rather than running on a sand beach or probing a mudflat, the woodcock haunts early successional forests and thickets especially. Many of us are familiar with or have watched the spring “sky dance” of the woodcock, but what about the rest of its life through the year? Biologist, Heather Shaw, will share with us a year in the life of the American Woodcock.
Announcement: Speaker Series 2018-2019: “The Life and Times of the American Woodcock"
Program: “The Life and Times of the American Woodcock”
Presenter: Heather Shaw, Regional Wildlife Biologist, Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society
Date & Time: Tuesday, March 5, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Rocky River Nature Center, 24000 Valley Pkwy, North Olmsted, OH 44070 Map
Programs are free and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.
Description: The American Woodcock is not your typical shorebird. Rather than running on a sand beach or probing a mudflat, the woodcock haunts early successional forests and thickets especially. Many of us are familiar with or have watched the spring “sky dance” of the woodcock, but what about the rest of its life through the year? Biologist, Heather Shaw, will share with us a year in the life of the American Woodcock.
Announcement: Speaker Series 2018-2019: “The Life and Times of the American Woodcock"
Photo: Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) by Kathy Murphy.
APRIL PROGRAM
Program: “Warbler Warm-up”
Presenters: Matt Valencic and Kelly Koslowski
Date & Time: Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Rocky River Nature Center, 24000 Valley Pkwy, North Olmsted, OH 44070 Map
Programs are free and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.
Description: Spring migration is one of the best times to be in NE Ohio for warblers. Many species pass through the area on their way north, but some remain in Ohio to nest. Because we only see them for a short time every year we sometimes forget how to identify them. This presentation uses photographs to help group warblers by appearance, preferred habitat, and behaviors, such as tail wagging, which helps with identification. In addition, songs and ways to remember songs will be provided. This should get us prepared for migration!
Announcement: Speaker Series 2018-2019: “Warbler Warm-up”
Program: “Warbler Warm-up”
Presenters: Matt Valencic and Kelly Koslowski
Date & Time: Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Rocky River Nature Center, 24000 Valley Pkwy, North Olmsted, OH 44070 Map
Programs are free and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.
Description: Spring migration is one of the best times to be in NE Ohio for warblers. Many species pass through the area on their way north, but some remain in Ohio to nest. Because we only see them for a short time every year we sometimes forget how to identify them. This presentation uses photographs to help group warblers by appearance, preferred habitat, and behaviors, such as tail wagging, which helps with identification. In addition, songs and ways to remember songs will be provided. This should get us prepared for migration!
Announcement: Speaker Series 2018-2019: “Warbler Warm-up”
Photo: Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) with Kill by Will Mayall [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons
MAY PROGRAM
Program: “Peregrine Falcons: Predators of Urban Canyons”
Presenters: Chad and Chris Saladin
Date & Time: Tuesday, May 7, 2019 at 7:30 PM
Location: Rocky River Nature Center, 24000 Valley Pkwy, North Olmsted, OH 44070 Map
Programs are free and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.
Description: One of the biggest success stories in conservation was the reintroduction of the Peregrine Falcon to the eastern U.S. In Ohio, cities, such as Columbus, Toledo, Cleveland and other “urban mountains” became the stronghold of the falcons. Chad and Chris Saladin have been falcon watchers and trackers for a long time and know the history of many of the pairs of birds in and around northeast Ohio. Find out how the falcons are faring on the bridges and buildings of the urban canyons.
Announcement: Speaker Series 2018-2019: “Peregrine Falcons: Predators of Urban Canyons”
Program: “Peregrine Falcons: Predators of Urban Canyons”
Presenters: Chad and Chris Saladin
Date & Time: Tuesday, May 7, 2019 at 7:30 PM
Location: Rocky River Nature Center, 24000 Valley Pkwy, North Olmsted, OH 44070 Map
Programs are free and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.
Description: One of the biggest success stories in conservation was the reintroduction of the Peregrine Falcon to the eastern U.S. In Ohio, cities, such as Columbus, Toledo, Cleveland and other “urban mountains” became the stronghold of the falcons. Chad and Chris Saladin have been falcon watchers and trackers for a long time and know the history of many of the pairs of birds in and around northeast Ohio. Find out how the falcons are faring on the bridges and buildings of the urban canyons.
Announcement: Speaker Series 2018-2019: “Peregrine Falcons: Predators of Urban Canyons”
Photo: Adoptable Plants by Penny O'Connor.
JUNE PROGRAM
Program: Annual Picnic, Plant Exchange, and Bird Walk
Presenter: WCAS members and guests
Date & Time: Tuesday, June 4, 2019 at 6:00 p.m.
Location: Lagoon Picnic Area, Valley Pkwy, Brook Park, OH 44138, USA Map
Description: The final program meeting of the 2018 - 2019 program season is the Picnic and Plant Exchange. Join us a the shelter of the Lagoon Picnic Area in the Rocky River Reservation. Bring your tablecloth, place settings and picnic dinner as we dine and chat with other WCAS members and friends. A grill will be available for those who would like to cook or heat their food. After dinner we will take an easy bird walk around the picnic area to the river and lagoon. We have had some exciting and interesting happenings the past couple of years. But wait, there’s more! Bring any plants - seeds of flowers and vegetables, bulbs, outdoor plants or indoor plants to share and exchange with others. Don’t have plants to share … that’s okay, come for dinner and the walk AND take plants to add to your garden, yard or home.
Announcement: Annual Picnic, Plant Exchange, and Bird Walk
Program: Annual Picnic, Plant Exchange, and Bird Walk
Presenter: WCAS members and guests
Date & Time: Tuesday, June 4, 2019 at 6:00 p.m.
Location: Lagoon Picnic Area, Valley Pkwy, Brook Park, OH 44138, USA Map
Description: The final program meeting of the 2018 - 2019 program season is the Picnic and Plant Exchange. Join us a the shelter of the Lagoon Picnic Area in the Rocky River Reservation. Bring your tablecloth, place settings and picnic dinner as we dine and chat with other WCAS members and friends. A grill will be available for those who would like to cook or heat their food. After dinner we will take an easy bird walk around the picnic area to the river and lagoon. We have had some exciting and interesting happenings the past couple of years. But wait, there’s more! Bring any plants - seeds of flowers and vegetables, bulbs, outdoor plants or indoor plants to share and exchange with others. Don’t have plants to share … that’s okay, come for dinner and the walk AND take plants to add to your garden, yard or home.
Announcement: Annual Picnic, Plant Exchange, and Bird Walk
Make A Donation to Western Cuyahoga Audubon
Your gifts guarantee chapter activities, programs and research continues to reach members and connect birding conservationists around the world. Use our safe and secure PayPal payment button below to make a donation of any amount you choose. All donations are gratefully received.
Your gifts guarantee chapter activities, programs and research continues to reach members and connect birding conservationists around the world. Use our safe and secure PayPal payment button below to make a donation of any amount you choose. All donations are gratefully received.
