Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Natural History Workshop

Last year, we had a whale of a time up at Killdeer Plains putting on a general natural history workshop for the Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalists and other interested people. It was a great way to learn about a variety of subjects, ranging from birds to plants to butterflies to dragonflies. We even had a nocturnal excursion, which turned up lots of interesting and seldom seen creatures.

Well, we're doing it again and see the bottom of this post for more details. Should be even better than before! You can e-mail directly to register: ambrosia@columbus.rr.com
or contact Rae Johnson at rowdyraej@yahoo.com

A jumbo Cloudless Sulphur butterfly, just one of scores of neat animals that we found in 2009.

Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist workshop
Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, Wyandot County
July 16th – 18th, 2010

The Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalists (OCVN), in collaboration with the Ohio Division of Wildlife, is hosting a natural history workshop from July 16th – 18th. The venue is Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, about an hour north of Columbus. Killdeer Plains protects one of Ohio’s best remaining prairie remnants, and is full of interesting biodiversity.

Experts will present indoor programs each morning in the Sportsmen’s Center, located in the heart of the wildlife area. Afternoons will be devoted to field trips. Programs will focus on botany, birds, beetles, and butterflies, and participants will spend time in the field with each expert. Experts include Dave Brandenburg, author of the newly released Wildflowers of North America field guide, the best and most comprehensive book of its kind to date. The other instructors are Jim Davidson (butterflies), Bob Placier (birds), George Keeney (beetles), and Jim McCormac (wetlands). OCVN members receive credit for participating in this workshop.

There will also be a nocturnal foray on Saturday night, which should produce owls, amphibians, many species of singing insects, moths, and other fauna.

Cost is $60.00 and includes most meals. Inexpensive lodging is available in nearby Upper Sandusky (15 minutes) at either the Comfort Inn or Amerihost Inn.

For additional information and to register, e-mail Rae Johnson at: rowdyraej@yahoo.com

1 comment:

Heather said...

See you there, Jim. I know several folks from the Hocking Hills region class of 2010 will be in attendance. Really looking forward to it!