Fossil Park will be closed this week for the Sylvania Fireworks. All Fossil Park facilities, including the section of the Quarry Ridge Bike Trail north of Brint Road, will be closed July 2 through July 5 for the set up, launch and clean up of the July 3rd fireworks. It is imperative for your safety that you stay … Continue reading Fossil Park and part of Quarry Ridge Bike Trail CLOSED July 2-5
Youth Conservation Corps – Week 2 Roundup
Week 2 of the Youth Conservation Corps is complete! We had a fun-filled learning experience, packed with adventures in Wildwood Metropark, Irwin Prairie State Nature Preserve, and Kitty Todd Nature Preserve. On Tuesday we took a geology field trip at Wildwood Metropark with Dr. Timothy Fisher of the University of Toledo. Ryan Schroeder, the local district preserve … Continue reading Youth Conservation Corps – Week 2 Roundup
Youth Conservation Corps – Week 1 Complete!
The Olander Park System’s Youth Conservation Corps is underway! This program runs for 4 weeks from June 17th to July 10th. It aims to teach middle school children about environmental conservation and increase their awareness of the Oak Openings Region. Here are some photos from the first week of activities. More to come! Next to come: Adventures during Week … Continue reading Youth Conservation Corps – Week 1 Complete!
Word of the Day: Bioturbation
From Wikipedia: Bioturbation is the reworking of soils and sediments by animals or plants.[1] Its effects include changing texture of sediments (diagenetic), bioirrigation and displacement of microorganisms and non-living particles. Activities, such as burrowing, ingestion and defecation of sediment grains, construction and maintenance of galleries, and infilling of abandoned dwellings, displace sediment grains and mix the sediment matrix. In modern ecological … Continue reading Word of the Day: Bioturbation
Ground Nesting Birds
We’ve been seeing lots of bird nests at Sylvan Prairie this week.
Birding the Warbler Capital – Saturday, May 10th
Ohio Young Birders – Birding at the Warbler Capital During The Biggest Week In American Birding Date: Saturday, May 10th Location: Magee Marsh Wildlife Area Time: 9 AM to Noon-ish *Meet at the EAST end of the Magee Marsh boardwalk Ohio Young Birders will celebrate International Migratory Bird Day by birding along the southwest Lake Erie shore at Magee Marsh … Continue reading Birding the Warbler Capital – Saturday, May 10th
Salamanders at Sylvan Prairie Park!
The Olander Park System’s Conservation Crew found several salamander larvae (aka salamander tadpoles) in a small wetland at Sylvan Prairie Park! This is exciting because we have never seen salamanders at Sylvan Prairie before! They are an encouraging sign that our restoration efforts are creating good wildlife habitat. Salamanders lay eggs in wetlands, and their … Continue reading Salamanders at Sylvan Prairie Park!
Loon & Horned Grebe
There is again a Common Loon swimming around on Lake Olander! We also saw a Horned Grebe on the Lake today! That’s the first time we’ve seen one of those here!
Frog Surveys at Sylvan Prairie
The sounds of frogs calling is a part of spring. We document the frogs and toads at Sylvan Prairie Park four times each spring, in late March, late April, late May and late June. We go out just after sunset and listen at six different locations around the park. In late March we heard a … Continue reading Frog Surveys at Sylvan Prairie
OYBC NW Chapter Kick Off event
The NW Chapter Kick off event was enjoyed by all! We had several families come out to Olander to learn more about the NW Chapter Ohio Young Birders Club. We made plans for summer field trips. Nature’s Nursery provided us with the wonderful opportunity to see raptors up close! In the photo is a beautiful Barn Owl, we also saw a Barred … Continue reading OYBC NW Chapter Kick Off event