Posts Tagged ‘birds’
Wildlife Wednesday 12/17/2025
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! ‘Tis the season for the longest running citizen science project in the world, the Christmas Bird Count (CBC). Up through the 19th century, many people in North America participated in a tradition of competitive hunting on Christmas Day, seeing who could kill the most birds. But in December 1900, ornithologist Frank Chapman proposed…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 11/26/2025
Gobble gobble! It’s #WildlifeWednesday and we are celebrating the Wild Turkey! Preferring woodland habitat interspersed with open spaces such as fields, pastures, and orchards, these large heavy-bodied game birds with long necks and small heads feed on the ground, strutting and striding through forests and grasslands. Adult males, or toms, weigh in at 12-25 pounds…
Read MoreNorthern Saw-Whet Owls
“I shall never forget the thrill I experienced when I first met this lovely little owl. … I had never seen so small an owl, or one so beautiful.” Arthur Cleveland Bent, Life Histories of North American Birds of Prey, Part 2, August 8, 1938. Mr. Bent was writing about the northern saw-whet owl. Of…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 11/19/2025
Whooooo’s ready for our upcoming owl prowl? It’s #WildlifeWednesday and we will highlight the 3 owl species we are most likely to encounter on our grounds this time of year. The Eastern Screech-owl is Ohio’s smallest and most common owl, occurring in all 88 counties. This little owl is about the size of an American…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 11/05/2025
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! It’s that time of the year! That time of year when Ohio gets a chill in the air and enjoys the arrival of large flocks of the “snowbird,” also known as the Dark-eyed Junco. These cute sparrows with pink bills and long tails with flashy white outer-tail feathers are an abundant winter visitor…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 10/29/2025
Happy WildlifeWednesday! The Wood Duck is a colorful and ornate species of waterfowl found in North America, considered by many to be among the most beautiful birds. The male is particularly spectacular, with a glossy emerald head, chestnut breast, striking red eyes and bill, and other bold markings. Its stunning plumage includes intricate patterns and…
Read MoreLong-Eared Owls
The long-eared owl is a beautiful nocturnal bird of prey built for hunting at night and being well camouflaged during the day. This owl spends most of its time in the boreal forests of Canada and northern parts of the U.S. Northern Ohio is on the very southern edge of this owls breeding range. However,…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 07/02/25
It’s #WildlifeWednesday and we are celebrating the upcoming Independence Day holiday with our national bird, the Bald Eagle! The Bald Eagle is found throughout Ohio, with the largest concentration of birds located in the marsh regions along Lake Erie. They prefer areas with large old growth trees for nesting near open bodies of water. Primarily…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 06/11/2025
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! Today we are featuring an animal frequently associated with happiness, the Eastern Bluebird! A bluebird sighting is always a treat, the males in particular with their stunning brilliant shade of royal blue on the back and head and brick-red on the chest. Eastern Bluebirds can frequently be spotted in open country, perched on low…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 04/09/2025
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! You may have noticed more than the usual number of large dark birds circling and soaring in the sky overhead lately. Welcome back, Turkey Vultures! While some Turkey Vultures stay in Ohio all year, most migrate for the winter, traveling to the southern USA and even as far as South America. Often associated…
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