Chirp & Chatter

Mink Almost Ready for Release

2009-07-02T12:19:00.016-04:00

An elusive and beautiful furbearing creature is progressing well in our Wildlife Education & Rehabilitation Program. A young mink was brought suffering from the effects of ringworm. (In the photo below you can still see the circle marks under the fur that are a hallmark of this fungal disease, even though the ringworm is now greatly improved.)

You can also see that the mink looks a lot like the Weasel that we briefly had in rehab intake last week. Mink are excellent swimmers and are found near still and running water in all parts of Ohio. For the wildlife lover, they can be hard to spot in nature since they prefer solitude and are active mostly at night.

The typical diet of this little carnivore includes small mammals, with the muskrat a favorite, as well as birds, frogs, eggs, fish and crayfish. The video below shows our mink "patient" enjoying a fishy meal this morning.
-Amy LeMonds, Wildlife Rehabilitation Specialist

Find more fun facts about the mink from the Ohio Division of Wildlife and at this link to Enchanted Learning where you can download a mink coloring sheet.

Old Cartridges, iPods & Cell Phones Add Up

2009-06-30T13:52:00.008-04:00

Did you know that our non-profit organization can benefit from your old cell phones, PDAs, laptops, iPods and depleted HP and Dell printer cartridges? You can drop these items off at our front desk and we'll not only send them off for recycling/reuse, but we'll convert them into merchandise credits or cash donations for Lake Erie Nature & Science Center. Printer cartridges must be HP or Dell brand.

We'll also be collecting printer cartridges, mobile phones, iPods and laptops at our July 25 Shredding Day. Thanks for recycling and rethinking how easy it is to make a difference to a worthy cause!

Food for thought: more than 1.1 billion inkjet cartridges are used annually around the world - laid end to end this would be 129 times as long as the Great Wall of China!

Children Reading to Adopt Owl

2009-06-29T16:12:00.004-04:00

The potential “adoption” of a Great Horned Owl from Lake Erie Nature & Science Center is motivating children to read this summer. The Bay Village branch of the Cuyahoga County Library kicked off its Summer Reading Program this month, with a variety of incentives to keep kids turning pages over the summer, including the promise of an “Adopt An Animal” certificate in their name.

For every 400 hours the children read, the Bay Friends of the Library group has pledged to donate money to “adopt” the Lake Erie Nature & Science Center’s Great Horned Owl for one month. Librarians are urging the kids to read enough to push the adoption to a year!

Activities to kick off the library’s “Eco Quest” Summer Reading Program, included a June 14 visit from Lake Erie Nature & Science Center Wildlife Director Dave Wolf and a live, Great Horned Owl! We hope a look into those great golden eyes will keep the kids’ eyes focused on lots of great books over the summer! If you missed that bit of inspiration, you can visit our Great Horned Owls during normal operating hours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. , seven days a week! Find out more about our Adopt An Animal program at this link.

NASA Explorer School

2009-06-25T11:08:00.007-04:00

Representatives from schools across the country who’ve been chosen as NASA Explorer schools paid a visit to Lake Erie Nature & Science Center’s Schuele Planetarium this month as part of their enrichment activities.
NASA Explorer Schools program is designed to bring engaging mathematics, science and technology learning to a select group of educators each year. Teams of teachers and education administrators from diverse communities across the country work with education specialists from NASA centers, including NASA Glenn, in an effort to encourage innovative science and mathematics instruction for 4th - 9th graders.

Here at Lake Erie Nature & Science Center, two-dozen Explorer School participants enjoyed an interactive star show and heard first-hand how hands-on, informal science education can make a difference in bringing complex concepts to life. Schuele Planetarium Director Jay Reynolds, Planetarium Specialist Jessica Mazzola and three NASA representatives led the workshop.
For more on how you can enjoy a planetarium program, visit the Schuele Planetarium online. For more information about the Explorer Schools program visit http://explorerschools.nasa.gov/.

Seldom Seen Weasel In & Out Of Rehab

2009-06-24T17:56:00.007-04:00

We had a brief appearance today by an animal we don't often see in our Wildlife Education & Rehabilitation Program. An animal control officer brought us this cute (but strong smelling!) Least Weasel. Seems a homeowner trapped it and thought it was someone's escaped pet Ferret. Turns out, it is from the same animal family, but different species.

We ID'd it as a Least Weasel, based on the size and lack of a black tip of the tail. The Least Weasel has a mostly brown summer coat, which turns all white in the winter to match the snowy surroundings. Because they blend so well, are super quick and most active at night, Least Weasels are rarely spotted.As the smallest carnivores in the world, their sleek bodies allow them to follow mice into burrows but they can also climb trees and swim! As our staff discovered today, these weasels also put out a strong "musk" odor when alarmed!

Regardless of the type of weasel we had on our hands, our advice was to have the officer return this healthy-appearing wild animal back to its' natural habitat. In this case, that meant the "wild" backyard woods of suburban Westlake, where weasels can actually be beneficial in controlling the rodent population.

Register To ReConnect at Our Reunion!

2009-06-23T13:11:00.004-04:00

Has Lake Erie Nature & Science Center played a special part in your life? It doesn’t matter if you volunteered in the era of Elberta Fleming’s VW bus… or worked at the Center in more recent times, we want to invite you to reConnect and reDiscover your place at Lake Erie Nature & Science Center!

We’re making plans to gather up former NAs, volunteers, Board Members, Women’s Board members, curators and staffers for our first-ever Legacy Reunion on Saturday, November 14! We’ll fill you in on details as plans for our legacy celebration evolve.

To receive an invitation, please submit your contact information using Lake Erie Nature & Science Center’s online contact form. Write “Legacy Reunion” in the Comments section. We encourage you to pass along reunion information to others who have a history with Lake Erie Nature & Science Center.
It’s going to be an exciting day of sharing memories and seeing old friends! ReConnect... reDiscover Lake Erie Nature & Science Center!

Celebrating People Power

2009-06-16T12:25:00.012-04:00

Lake Erie Nature & Science Center celebrated the impact of “people power” on Saturday, as we recognized 300 volunteers for an astounding 11,400 service hours in 2008.

A number of volunteers were singled out for special recognition on Saturday including 2008 Adult Volunteer of the Year, Kristi Latham, who served in leadership roles for the Center’s annual Family Fun Fest and for the Center’s Annual Benefit Auction. The 2008 Student Volunteer of the Year, Sean Waitkus, was honored for tireless hours spent as a weekend Naturalist Assistant. Waitkus was also the only volunteer to reach the top, “Gold Level” in The President's Volunteer Service Awards, logging more than 250 hours in a single calendar year.

A number of other teenagers involved in the Naturalist Assistants Program were honored as well, including seven graduating High School Seniors who received scholarships from the Women’s Board and others who achieved Silver and Bronze Level President's Service Awards. Service is acknowledged at three thresholds of annual hours logged, in two age categories.

We know the gift of time is precious, and we appreciate the tremendous contributions our volunteers make to the non profit mission of Lake Erie Nature & Science Center!

Ready to help? We are currently recruiting volunteers to help children at Wild Summer Reading Camp in July and August. The Center's website lists our current volunteer opportunties and you can fill out a volunteer application online as well.

Bay 6th Graders Add To Spring Challenge

2009-06-15T16:18:00.005-04:00

More wonderful area students are fueling the 2009 Spring Appeal to benefit our non-profit organization. Students on the 6th Grade Student Council from the Bay Village Middle School, who raised funds through candy cane sales and "Penny Wars," voted to donate $240 to Lake Erie Nature & Science Center. The amount goes into the growing 2009 Spring Appeal fund kicked off by some other local students from Glenview School, who challenged everyone to follow their charitable example. In fact, this is the second year, the 6th Grade Council from Bay Middle School has donated to our Center.
Thanks to all these terrific young people for leading the way and giving back to their community!

Limited Edition T-shirts On Sale

2009-06-09T14:28:00.009-04:00

We kicked off sales of our official 2009 Lake Erie Nature & Science Center limited edition t-shirt at Family Fun Fest. Sales continue at our front desk with a range of child and adult sizes available. The t-shirt design is based on original art by Bay Middle School student Emily Jaster, who won our art contest earlier this year.

We're selling these 50/50 cotton blend shirts for $10 each. All proceeds benefit our non-profit mission. Stop by and pick one up for everyone in the family and "wear your passion" for wildlife, nature, science and our Center!

Family Fun Fest

2009-06-08T14:33:00.014-04:00

Thank you to everyone who turned out to support Family Fun Fest and The Great Duck Race on Sunday! A special thanks goes out to our sponsors and donors. If you love our Center and our mission, please show your gratitude to the community-minded businesses that donated Duck Race prizes and to this year's corporate sponsors: Hyland Software, Faber-Castell/Creativity for Kids, Bay Furnace, Orthodontist Charles P Canepa, D.D.S., M.S., Huntington Bank and Meritech, plus our media sponsor, Mimi Vanderhaven.

This event is not possible without a host of volunteers, led by event chair Courtney McGurer. Follow this YouTube Link to see video of the start of The Great Duck Race, chaired by Becca Huntington. Thanks to again to all our committee chairs, volunteers, sponsors, donors and guests! See you at the 2010 Family Fun Fest!

Countdown to Family Fun Fest

2009-06-05T11:20:00.005-04:00

Hey, did you catch us "Kickin' It With Kenny" on Fox 8 TV this morning? We took our beautiful Barred Owl, rubber duck racers, cool crafts and more this morning to Kenny Crumpton's live broadcast from the Rock Hall. We were only able to share just a little taste of all that we have going on Sunday at Family Fun Fest. You won't want to miss it.

We're setting up tents and finalizing all the details for our big event today! Find Family Fun Fest details here. Buy activity tickets any time from now through the event. Duck sponsorships on sale until 1:30 p.m. of race day or until they sell out!See you Sunday!

Injured Baby Hawk Re-Nested

2009-06-04T13:17:00.011-04:00

An injured baby Red-Shouldered Hawk, hurt in a fall out of a high nest in Berea, was returned to its “treehouse” and the care of its natural mom with the aid of a bucket lift on Friday. A group of maintenance workers found the injured baby below a big tree last week. The bird was very weak and flies had laid eggs in its feathers.
Staffers from the Kenneth A. Scott Wildlif e Education & Rehabilitation Program cleaned the feathers up, rehydrated and fed it a few times, quickly enabling the young hawk to regain its strength. The best option for this baby was to return to the wild to continue growing up in the wild under its parents care.

For Lake Erie Nature & Science Center Wildlife Director, Dave Wolf, that meant donning a hard hat, joining one of the rescuers in a bucket lift and after some maneuvering, getting just close enough to place the bird safely and gently back into the nest. You can watch a short video clip of the final hand-off below.
One of our wildlife volunteers has since been back to Berea to check and she observed both mom and dad at the nest! That said, Wildlife Rehab does not offer guarantees, but we do our best to give injured wildlife a chance at survival back in the wild. We're glad this situation appears to be working out beautifully!

Erie Midges Are Back!

2009-05-30T17:53:00.005-04:00

Lake Erie Nature & Science Center Widlife Director Dave Wolf helped explain the annual spring return of midges in this report that aired Friday on WKYC-TV Channel 3. Over on WEWS-TV, our good friend and and office-mate, Ohio Sea Grant Fisheries Extension Program Coordinator, Tory Gabriel, explained the spring midge phenomenon to reporter Channel 5 Joy Benedict. And in a TV trifecta, Dave also appeared on WJW Fox-8's "Thats Life" Friday to share some expertise (and live snakes) with host Robin Swoboda.

See Space Station Tonight Over NE Ohio

2009-05-25T10:51:00.004-04:00

As long as the cloud layer doesn't thicken up much more, The International Space Station should be visible tonight. We have even better passes later this week, but the weather looks poor for those.

This week will be the LAST of the EVENING passes until EARLY JULY.

This is a time correction for ISS tonight - Please forgive the incorrect hours listed in earlier post and email:

Correct times for tonights pass are:

10:04 From the North West

10:07 ISS passes nearly directly over North Eastern Ohio 71 degrees (nearly as high as our Sun is on a hot Summer day)

10:08 Moving towards the South East

- Schuele Planetarium Director Jay Reynolds

Baby Birds Leave the Nest

2009-05-24T19:13:00.009-04:00

The baby Robins that called my backyard home have left the nest. I got these photos showing their rapid development -- from pink, featherless little blobs... to hungry young birds -- about ten days apart.

Watching nature sure is fascinating. Stop by Lake Erie Nature & Science Center to observe more than 100 live animals up close!
-Shawn Smith Salamone

Ripples On a Pond

2009-05-19T15:12:00.009-04:00

Like ripples on a pond, the teaching and inspiration that happen at Lake Erie Nature & Science Center are carried out into the wider community. That's never been more true in the Internet age, when everyone is able to share their experiences on the web. We've recently noticed a number of bloggers passing along information from our Wildlife Education & Rehabilitation Program staff or just posting pictures from a fun visit to our Center.

One blog post that caught our eye involved the story of a nesting goose right outside the door of the at the Cuyahoga County Public Library Parma-South Branch. Take a look at the photos and story posted by the library's Susannah Hamm, Science & Technology Specialist in what she titled, Make Way for The Goslings. Looks like our good advice resulted in a healthy goose family!

Links to other recent blog post we like:

Amy, of the Writer's Closet, blogged about nesting mallards and our advice.
Elaine Kuhl, on her Cleveland Children's Examiner, wrote about A Day At Lake Erie Nature & Science Center.
School teacher, "Mr. Moore" looked back on a class field trip here.

Thanks for helping us spread the word!

Happy Trails to Larry D. Richardson

2009-05-19T14:24:00.004-04:00

Thanks to everyone who turned out to express gratitude and best wishes to Lake Erie Nature & Science Center's outgoing Executive Director Larry D. Richardson on Thursday evening. Bay Village Mayor Debbie Sutherland was on hand with a special proclamation recognizing Larry's 21 years of service to our non-profit organization and to the entire community! As the cake said, Happy Trails Larry! We wish you well. (And, keep building that life list!)
-photo by Jay Reynolds

What Works In Northeast Ohio?

2009-05-18T09:20:00.002-04:00

Lake Erie Nature & Science Center does! Watch WKYC-TV, Channel 3's "What Works" segment from Sunday, May 17 at this link. Don't forget that our Center "works" because of YOUR support! Thanks!!

The Buzz On Our New Beehive

2009-05-15T13:49:00.021-04:00

The honeybees have a arrived at Lake Erie Nature & Science Center! One of nature’s live “honey factories” is now on display in the Exhibit Hallway, thanks to a generous contribution from the Stickney family.

Wildlife Specialist Derek Skapes spearheaded our beehive effort, enlisting local Beekeeper Scott Danniger to supply workers, drones and a single queen (in the close-up photo below, she’s in the center with the shiny greenish marking on her back.) Scott and his assistant/son, Ethan, donned the familiar beekeeper’s protective headgear, calmed the bees with smoke, and then lifted the insect-covered frames into our newly constructed display.
A group of lucky Log Cabin Explorer’s got to witness the transfer process through our front door windows.

A small clear tube connects the hive to the outdoors, where the workers can gather nectar to create the honey. Honeybees are one of humans’ most valuable insects; not only for the honey and beeswax they produce but even more so for the way they pollinate our plants and crops. A large honeybee population can quadruple the growth of a field!

If you want to read and see more about these fascinating creatures before you visit the Center's new Stickney Honeybee Exhibit, the PBS program, Nova, has great honeybee information at this web address. The Stickney's gift also funded a colorful display full of fun facts right by the hive as well! Hope you'll buzz by to explore the hive soon!

P.S. You'll find more photos on our Facebook Page.

Key Red Shirts To the Rescue!

2009-05-14T09:41:00.010-04:00

Just like your backyard, the grounds around Lake Erie Nature & Science Center are greening up and giving way to warmer weather. Those outdoor areas also need spring maintenance, which can be an overwhelming task for our small non-profit staff.

However, we got a great start on a much-needed dose of spring spruce-up with the help of a group of volunteers from KeyBank. Two teams of the red-shirted helpers were here last week as part of KeyBank's Neighbors Make the Difference program. The hard-working corps got two huge projects done for us --painting the railings in places like our backyard Wildlife Gardens and weeding and mulching the front and backyard. Our jobs were just two of many projects that KeyBank volunteers tackled on May 5. In fact, beginning this year, the company has designated the entire month of May as "Key Community Month." Thanks KeyBank!

Make Way For the Wild Ducklings

2009-05-13T14:48:00.004-04:00

Our Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Program staff is sometimes hesitant to share adorable “baby pictures,” because we know that pictures like these can convey the wrong message. So, while you ooh and aah over the baby ducklings that recently came into our rehab care, please keep in mind that it is always imperative to return babies to their mother if at all possible.
In this case, there was concrete evidence that the mother had been hit by a car and killed, so we took care of them until we could place them in a more appropriate setting to be raised and returned to the wild. In most other cases, the “rescuer” falsely assumes the baby wildlife are orphaned, when in fact mom is hiding nearby and waiting for the humans to go away!
Wild babies are everywhere around us this time of year, and in most cases, they need to stay right where they are to have a chance to grow up in nature.
This week, we transferred these ducklings to a facility that maintains other wild ducks. This will allow these babies to have a chance at growing up "wild."

Killdeer Nest Draws Unwanted Attention

2009-05-09T11:13:00.013-04:00

Our Wildlife Education & Rehabilitation Program staff fielded a number of phone calls recently about a possible injured bird hopping around at a busy intersection in Bay Village. The Bay Police were receiving the same calls. Turns out, the bird wasn't injured at all. It was a Killdeer, which naturally nests on the ground, often in vulnerable areas such as this one.
After conferring with the Police Department, our Wildlife staff decided to place stakes around the nest site with a sign asking passers-by not to disturb it. Since the city grooms that particular spot of grass with large mowers, there was also concern that workers might not notice the nest without a warning.
Killdeer incubate their eggs for about 25 days; then raise their young at the nest site for about a month. Although it is normally unnecessary to protect nesting birds, this nest drew so much attention, we decided to alert the passing public about the natural process that is occurring and to encourage everyone to keep a respectful distance.

Baby Robins Have Arrived

2009-05-07T13:01:00.007-04:00

Less than two weeks ago in this space, I told you I'd keep you posted about the Robin's nest within reach of my sunroom window. Well, the babies have arrived! I got these photos and a snippet of video this morning through the blinds before "mom" assertively covered the babies from prying eyes. I promptly removed the camera lens and left the nesting family in peace. I think there's still one sky blue egg that hasn't yet hatched out.

-Shawn Smith Salamone, Community Relations Coordinator

Nature In The Neighborhood

2009-05-06T09:34:00.004-04:00

As a partner in the Dike 14 Environmental Education Collaborative, Lake Erie Nature & Science Center wants to alert you to a cool opportunity for you and your family to see one of Cleveland's hidden treasures, The Dike 14 Nature Preserve along the shores of Lake Erie. On Saturday, May 16, renowned Northeast Ohio Naturalists will lead walking tours of the Preserve at 7:30, 8:30, 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. Regional experts will also share information about the animals, plants, history and geography of the Preserve at stops along the trail. You can take a self-guided hike from noon - 3 p.m.

This "open house" event only occurs once every two years, so make plans to take advantage of the chance to see the extraordinary wildlife haven that sprung up in this 88-acre former dredge disposal site. You can download an event flyer with directions here. To find out more about Dike 14, visit http://www.dike14.org/. (The photos we've posted here were taken duiring a special, 2008 guided visit for our Junior Naturalists and their families).

Environmental Extravaganza May 23

2009-05-05T12:23:00.005-04:00

We have a late addition to our roster of family-friendly programs coming up later this month. Members of the Lee Burneson Middle School Environmental Club in Westlake will bring their lively “LBMS Environmental Extravaganza” to Lake Erie Nature & Science Center on Saturday, May 23 at 7 p.m.

The public performance will feature students in grades 7 and 8, who have spent the entire school year writing, rehearsing and recording music, choreographing dance and creating short plays – all with a “green theme.” The program also includes a mini fashion show featuring handmade accessories and clothing constructed from pop tabs and other recycled materials.

Students will also screen an inspiring, short video and share readings from creative student authors. The club's award-winning director, Daniel Grigson, will cap off the performances with his own captivating, live music.

You are encouraged to bring the whole family -- or at least those who will enjoy a fun 1-hour and 30-minute performance -- to see what this amazing group of young people has accomplished! The club recently received national recognition for their efforts, winning a 2009 Sea World/Busch Gardens Environmental Excellence Award. Mr. Grigson and a group of students went to Florida on May 1 to accept the award, which came with a $10,000 grant.

Tickets are $7 and include a reception with refreshments following the performances. Lake Erie Nature & Science Center will accept walk-in or phone registration between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. Call 440-871-2900 for more information or to sign up. Seating is limited so reserve your space early! The Center is located at 28728 Wolf Road in Bay Village.