OSPREYS ON FIRST NEST IN LAKE COUNTY

Photo (c) Carole Clement

As I drove down the gravel/dirt driveway off Rte 283 yesterday morning, I saw no sign of the Ospreys at the cell tower.  A hundred feet further down, one flew in and perched just in time for its photo opp.

All well and good, but then it got better:  I saw the Osprey mate’s wing fluttering below the perching Osprey (above), meaning it was down to business on the nest on the cell tower platform.

I don’t know how high those towers are, but from the ground, the perching bird looked like a sparrow.

Ospreys first breed when they’re 3-4 years old, mating for life.  Eggs are brooded for 5 weeks, so let’s all keep an eye out for activity around the middle of June.

Ospreys nest near fresh water sources and are also known as Fish Hawks.

Smaller than eagles, they’re about 24” long with a wingspan of almost 6’.   They generally live for 5-7 years.

Directions to the driveway:  From the traffic light at the intersection of Heisley Rd and Rte 283, drive East for 4-500’.  The driveway is on the right/South side of 283 between a brown MAX building and a green roadside mailbox.

The cell towers will be on your left.  You can turn around at the end of the drive, where you’ll find a fence and a No Trespassing sign with the added disincentive of “Trespassers will be shot.”

The only scarier No Trespassing sign I once saw read, “Violators will be violated.”  Sounds like Old Testament ideas.

MENTOR MARSH: MARSH BALD EAGLE LOOKING BEDRAGGLED

Photo © Carole Clement

I took this photo last Tuesday, May 7, 2013, and was surprised by two things:  First, that both Bald Eagles were perched in trees near the nest, rather than on the nest, and second, that this Eagle looked so bedraggled, almost beaten up.

No matter which way it twisted its body, I could see that feathers covering its neck, wings and back gave the bird a disheveled look.  The other Eagle looked fine.

Dunno why it looks so bad or why one or both of them aren’t tending their nest rather than looking at it.

MENTOR MARSH: PLEASE HELP PROTECT THIS GEM OF LAKE COUNTY

The .74 wetlands acre filled in (stories high) at Diamond Center by Shamrock Business Center (SBC) without a permit and for which SBC asks permission to maintain and fill in more acres of wetlands.  Photo (c) Carole Clement.

The Mentor Marsh is a designated Important Birding Area, a designated National Natural Landmark, portions of which are dedicated State of Ohio Nature Preserve, and a City of Mentor Nature Preserve and Marina.

Development is an important component of a community’s long-term health and growth.  Development can exist side by side with healthy ecosystems if planning enacts options that have little or no negative impact on adjacent areas.

As proposed, Phase II of the development of Diamond Center upstream from the Marsh could have deleterious impacts on the Lake Erie/Mentor Marsh watershed. 

There are options, presently not under consideration, that could mitigate impacts of Phase II.

Studies (Rand Corp, 1969; Jones, 1975; Whipple, 1997) document the sensitivity of the Mentor Marsh to activities upstream of the Marsh watershed. 

Shamrock Business Center, Ltd. (SBC), applied to the US Army Engineer Corps (USACE) on April 15, 2013, regarding further development of land adjacent to Diamond Centre Dr and Brookstone Blvd, an area which is the headwaters of Blackbrook Creek and upstream of the Mentor Marsh.

For the sake of the Marsh’s fragile ecosystem, residents and persons concerned about the area need more time to review, understand and comment on the work proposed by SBC’s Application #1997-5010004.

Here are some of SBC’s proposals that can have an impact on areas upstream from Blackbrook Creek, the Mentor Marsh and the entire Lake Erie/Mentor Marsh Watershed:

!.)  SBC seeks authorization to maintain .74 acres of on-site fill (filled between 2004-09 within Wetland 14 without proper Department of the Army authorization).   

2.) SBC seeks permission to fill an additional 14.9 acres of on-site wetlands; to fill 8486 linear feet of the remaining 14, 809 feet of on-site streams; to create a 7501 linear feet long channel along south, east and north sides of the SBC site for stream mitigation,

THE PROBLEM:  Changing the natural drainage system of the area increases the volume and velocity of upstream water flow, Increasing the potential for flooding and adverse alterations in stream form and function.   In the storm of 2006, the modified area of Blackbrook Creek and overflowed into the south end of Headlands State Park, flooding the parking lots.  When the fast-moving waters hit the sandy beach, they ripped a wide, deep channel down to the lake.

3) In keeping with the law, SBC seeks permission to mitigate their wetland destruction at Diamond Center by creating equal acreage of wetlands off-site in Leroy Township.

THE PROBLEM:  Additional wetlands in Leroy are a net gain for the Grand River watershed but do nothing to mitigate the potential for flooding or erosion in areas downstream of Diamond Center in the Lake Erie/Mentor Marsh watershed. 

To be effective, mitigation should occur on-site, preferably at the north end of SBC’s proposed expansion.  Instead, SBC filled in .74 acre of wetland and seeks permission to fill in an additional 14.9 wetland acres of the area.

Please lend your voice to protect the voiceless, fragile ecosystem of the Mentor Marsh.

Contact the US Army Corps of Engineers at the address below by May 14, 2013, with your comments on SBC’s proposed development plans.

Shamrock Business Center’s application + pertinent maps are at  http://www.lrb.usace.army.mil/Portals/45/docs/regulatory/publicnotices/April2013/PN1997-5010004Oh.pdf

USACE CONTACT INFORMATION:

Michael W. Smith, (716) 879-4262     OR     michael.w.smith@usace.army.mil

OR

Michael W. Smith

US Army Corps of Engineers,                                                           

Buffalo District, Regulatory Branch                                                                

1776 Niagara Street

Buffalo NY 14207-3199

 MUST INCLUDE:  Re. Application #1997-5010004

SUGGESTED INCLUSIONS:

Because a public hearing isn’t a given, please request a public hearing re. the above Application #.

Because the deadline for submitting comments is May 14, 2013, please request an extension of that deadline.

Because some comments slip through the cracks, please state that you want your comments to become part of the public record re. the above Application #.

Neither honey nor vinegar will gain your argument any points, so please talk nicely but firmly and keep your commentary brief and to the point.

 Please direct questions to the Mentor Marsh at 440 257-0777.      

MENTOR MARSH: FLASH!! FIRST OSPREY NEST IN LAKE COUNTY

Stock photo of an Osprey, aka Fish Hawk.  You can tell them from Bald Eagles because Ospreys are smaller and present white undersides when in flight.

This great news just in from an excited Becky Donaldson, Mentor Marsh Naturalist:

Osprey news, in case you haven’t heard: For about the past week, we’ve seen at least one osprey and sometimes two at that cell tower at the SE corner of SR 44 and 283 (Lakeshore Blvd) with nesting material in the tower that’s further NE, too. Woo-hoo! I first saw one carrying a stick last Thursday while on a field trip at the Wake Robin boardwalk. Saw one again on Friday AM on a field trip and scoped the cell phone towers Friday afternoon and saw two birds on the tower and flying around the cell towers.

I spoke with Jason Keller, Lake Co. Wildlife Officer and he says he does think that this is 1st nest (finger crossed that they actually do nest here) in Lake County.

And don’t forget about our Bald Eagle Fest, Sunday, May 5:

All are invited to celebrate the magnificent bald eagle with activities at the Mentor Marsh Nature Center at 5185 Corduroy Road on Sunday, May 5 from 12-5 p.m. Visit mini-stations to learn more about eagles and take part in hands-on and interactive activities –build a mock-eagle nest, hold a replica skull and talons in your hands, learn more about bald eagles and bird biology. Special guests include Smokey Bear and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s live animal ambassadors! No registration is required to attend open house activities at the Nature Center.

Register for one of three guided hikes to overlook the bald eagle nest from our trails at 12:30, 2 and 3:30 p.m. This two mile hike is on a rustic and sometimes muddy trail and is not recommended for young children. Spotting scopes will be provided. Bring your own binoculars or we will also have binoculars to lend. Meet for the hike at the Mentor Marsh Nature Center before your reserved hike time. Registration for hikes is required. Space is limited for hikes, so register soon! For questions or to make a reservation for a bald eagle viewing hike, please contact the Mentor Marsh Nature Center at 440-257-0777 or rdonalds@cmnh.org or on the Mentor Marsh Facebook page.

Becky Donaldson

Mentor Marsh Naturalist

Mentor Marsh Carol H. Sweet Nature Center

5185 Corduroy Road

Mentor, Ohio 44060

(440) 257-0777 Direct

 

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History

1 Wade Oval Drive, University Circle

Cleveland, Ohio 44106-1767

www.cmnh.org

216-231-4600 x3505 Lv. mssg.

800-317-9155 x3505 Lv. mssg.

Check us out on Facebook!

 

 

MENTOR MARSH BALD EAGLE FESTIVAL, MAY 5, 2013

Mentor Marsh Bald Eagle, 2012  © Carole Clement

Mentor, OH–All are invited to celebrate the magnificent bald eagle with activities at the Mentor Marsh Nature Center at 5185 Corduroy Road on Sunday, May 5 from 12-5 p.m. Visit mini-stations to learn more about eagles and take part in hands-on and interactive activities –build a mock-eagle nest, hold a replica skull and talons in your hands, learn more about bald eagles and bird biology. Special guests include Smokey Bear and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s live animal ambassadors! No registration is required to attend open house activities at the Nature Center.

Register for one of three guided hikes to overlook the bald eagle nest from our trails at 12:30, 2 and 3:30 p.m. This two mile hike is on a rustic and sometimes muddy trail and is not recommended for young children. Spotting scopes will be provided. Bring your own binoculars or we will also have binoculars to lend. Meet for the hike at the Mentor Marsh Nature Center before your reserved hike time. Registration for hikes is required. Space is limited for hikes, so register soon! For questions or to make a reservation for a bald eagle viewing hike, please contact the Mentor Marsh Nature Center at 440-257-0777 or rdonalds@cmnh.org or on the Mentor Marsh Facebook page.

The Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve’s mission promotes stewardship of Mentor Marsh for its environmental and aesthetic value and provides educational, scientific and recreational opportunities for visitors to the unique ecosystem and interactive nature preserve. Visit the Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve web site at www.cmnh.org, search for Mentor Marsh.

–Becky Donaldson

Mentor Marsh Naturalist

Mentor Marsh Carol H. Sweet Nature Center

5185 Corduroy Road

Mentor, Ohio 44060

(440) 257-0777 Direct

 

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History

1 Wade Oval Drive, University Circle

Cleveland, Ohio 44106-1767

www.cmnh.org

216-231-4600 x3505 Lv. mssg.

800-317-9155 x3505 Lv. mssg.

Check us out on Facebook!

 

MENTOR MARSH EAGLES RETURN, SAFE AND SOUND, 2013

Photo taken yesterday of Marsh eagle keeping—what else?–an eagle-eye on its aerie a couple of trees south of him. 

All’s well with the pair of eagles who’ve adopted the Mentor Marsh as their nursery, which soon may became actively occupied—Marsh Naturalist, Becky Donaldson, saw them copulating a couple weeks ago.

Becky will lead 4 hikes next month; registration and location information is below.

Upcoming Sunday hike/programs.  All four programs will likely scope out the Bald Eagle nest. All programs meet at the Marsh house at 2:00 pm.

April 7  Spring Surprise; 

April 14 Vernal pool hike;

April 21 Migratory bird hike (Bald Eagle); 

April 28 Wildflower hike. 

Photo © Carole Clement

Mentor Marsh Nature Center programs are family friendly and all are invited. Activities will be held rain/snow or shine. Trails may be muddy this time of year, so please prepare and dress for the conditions. Reservations are requested. For questions or to make a reservation, please contact the Mentor Marsh Nature Center at 440-257-0777 or rdonalds@cmnh.org.

The Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve’s mission promotes stewardship of Mentor Marsh for its environmental and aesthetic value and provides educational, scientific and recreational opportunities for visitors to the unique ecosystem and interactive nature preserve. Visit the Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve web site at http://www.cmnh.org, search for Mentor Marsh.

Becky Donaldson, Mentor Marsh Naturalist Mentor Marsh Carol H. Sweet Nature Center 5185 Corduroy Road Mentor, Ohio 44060 (440) 257-0777 Direct

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 1 Wade Oval Drive, University Circle Cleveland, Ohio 44106-1767 http://www.cmnh.org 216-231-4600 x3505 Lv. mssg. 800-317-9155 x3505 Lv. mssg.

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History,  1 Wade Oval Drive, University Circle Cleveland, Ohio 44106-1767 http://www.cmnh.org 216-231-4600 x3505 Lv. mssg. 800-317-9155 x3505 Lv. mssg.

VALENTINE DAY GREETINGS FROM SANTOLI POND AND VETERANS PARK

Santoli’s Great Blue Heron opens his heart for you

Two hearts beat as one at Veterans Park

Photos © Carole Clement

SANTOLI POND: PATIENCE OF GREAT BLUE HERON REWARDED

I first noticed this cold, tired and hungry heron about 8:30 AM Friday.  I checked on him periodically as his hunting vigil stretched on and on, wishing all the while I could offer him a pair of warm boots.

Around 10:30 AM, he perked up and made his move.

And was rewarded with something wiggly.  If you click on the photo to enlarge it,

you’ll see the toothsome brunch he glommed onto.

Buon appetito, big guy.  You’ve earned it.

Footnote–He was back this afternoon at 4:00 and was still there at 6:30, which is the last time there was sufficient light for me to distinguish his silhouette.

Photos © Carole Clement

MENTOR’S DEER POPULATION: DEER EXCLOSURE AND PELLET COUNTS AT VETERANS PARK

Mark Welch, Metroparks District Park Manager and Larry Burnett, Veterans Park Manager, admire the newly constructed deer exclosure.

The purpose of a deer exclosure is to demonstrate the health of an ecosystem.  Because deer are prevented from browsing within the fencing, the prevalence of plants, seedlings, saplings and trees within as compared to outside the fencing is a good measure of the effect deer have on forest vegetation.

Mentor’s Park and Recreation Department is fortunate to have a candidate for his Eagle Scout Badge who will give nature a little jump-start by planting within the exclosure a few colonies of plants native to the park but which have been browsed to the point of apparent extinction.

The Scout will also plant a couple of samples of the plants on the area outside the fencing.

I’ve said “apparent extinction” because we can expect to see a number of the plants sprout on their own within the exclosure.  Though browsing and invasive plant species can prevent native plants from growing, the seed bank under the soil has a strong will to survive—and will, once the browsing animals and invasive plants are removed.

Below is a photograph of one of the deer exclosures at Mentor Marsh that had been up about 10 years when I took the photo.

The only plants growing outside of the exclosure are blankets of ramps.  Evidently, the deer don’t want to have onion-breath, so leave the ramps unmolested.

None of the plants or saplings growing inside had been there when the exclosure was erected by the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

None of those plants or saplings was planted by man.

Nature heals itself, if given half a chance.  And that’s the gift being given at Veterans Park.

You’ll find a number of these vividly colored pegs throughout the park.  They mark the spot where deer density estimations by deer pellet group count will take place.

It sounds like exactly what it is:  workers will count the number of piles of deer pellets within a radius of x number of feet of the pegs, knowing that deer deposit on average 25 pellet groups per day.

Counts are taken within a deer’s home range, which is one square mile, and are taken only in the spring after snow melt and after the previous autumn’s leaf fall is complete.

After computing the samples found in one square mile, the result is a fairly accurate estimate of the number of deer per square mile.

Photos © Carole Clement

CAROLE HATCHES A SNAPPING TURTLE AT SANTOLI POND

A not-quite-formed Snapping Turtle.  It’s a little over an inch long; for scale, the leaves in the lower left corner are Myrtle.

I hatched the little critter quite by accident this morning, I assure you.

I’m preparing some soil for grass behind my place and exposed what I thought were several pieces of molded foam buried by the builder along with other building detritus I’d uncovered.  I moved a few pieces to the pile where I was putting non-biodegradable debris, and then noticed that my shovel had split open one of the white objects.

When I picked it up, I found a teal blue shell with a turtle head sticking out.  Turning the hatchling over, I saw that its undershell was only partially formed and that the turtle was still connected to a yolk sack about half the size of the tip of my little finger.  It retracted its head, and I carefully reassembled it and put it back in the hole I’d dug, along with the other eggs I’d mistaken for debris.

Much of the area I’ve been digging is such heavy clay and so interlaced with Black Locust roots that I’ve had to first attack the ground with a pickax and a regular ax and then loppers before I could sink a shovel into it.  I’m grateful that I hadn’t pickaxed or axed the area of the nest because I would have damaged more than the one egg.

I was reminded of a series of photos I’d taken three years ago of the Snapping Turtles mating in Santoli Pond.   I was astonished both by the enthusiasm and the endurance of the mating couple, as their thrashing and splashing lasted close to an hour’s time.  I think some of the stuff they did might be illegal in a few states.

Here are some photos of the romantic, rambunctious reptiles making little turtles:

Who knew Snapping Turtles could have that much fun?

Photos © Carole Clement