Lizards and Turtles and Snakes! Oh, My!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reptile Show Big Success

 About 300 people braved the heat and humidity to take part in the Ohio Reptile and Amphibian Exhibit at the Trailhead Pavilion on Saturday, July 19.  The exhibit is believed to be the biggest one-day show of native reptiles and amphibians ever held in Ohio.  Forty-seven species of reptiles and 39 species of amphibians were on display.  The official attendance count was 140 children and 112 adults.  Attendance included visitors from Ohio, Kentucky, Indians, Pennsylvania and California.

Eric Davenport, ABX Air Environmental Group member and instructor at Southern State Community College, coordinated the show.  Co-sponsors included the Lytle Creek League of Conservators, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Southern State Community College, Caesar Creek State Park, and the US Army Corps of Engineers.  ABX Air, Southern State, and AVI Foods donated materials, including coolers full of iced bottles of water.  The Clinton County Solid Waste Management District provided recycling containers.  The ABX Air Environmental Group arranged the displays and staffed the event.

 

Painting toad houses

The No Child Left Indoors group ran a Kids Corner where kids could make and decorate their own toad house.  “This event proved so popular,” said NCLI chair Lori Williams, “that we ran out of materials by mid-afternoon.  We won’t make that mistake again.”

NCLI Ambassadors provided crowd-pleasing demonstrations, such as Harriet Clark’s American Toad that happily snapped up wax worms in front of enthralled children..

The static displays at the Trailhead Pavilion on Davids Drive enjoyed a brisk business, especially the cage containing the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake.  Experienced handlers Davenport, Don Florea, Bob Thobaben and others supervised hands-on experiences with environmentally friendly snakes, frogs, toads, lizards, and turtles.  The experts emphasized the role of each species in the ecology we live in. 

Sara Morris points out College Farm Conservation Reserve acreage

At half-hourly intervals, special events took place both at the pavilion and along the Greenway.  Sarah Morris, 2004 Wilmington College ag grad now with the Fayette County Natural Resources Conservation Service, led well-attended  walks that pointed out agricultural practices used at the College Farm to conserve soil and water, buffer Lytle Creek from fertilizer and pesticide runoff and provide habitat for wildlife. 

Bob Thobaben, local naturalist and well-known pied piper, set up shop in the beech grove, a gathering spot for Clinton countians for at least a century judging from the carvings on the beech tree there.  Thobaben led discovery walks where children were given the opportunity to find artifacts such as snake skins and turtle shells that he had previously planted.  Thobaben also showed off some of his own specimens, including the highly unusual Black Rat Snake shown in the photo above.  That snake suffers from a genetic deficiency that reduces the amount of dark pigment it produces and accentuates yellow pigment. 

Jim O'Boyle shows off a very comfortable Black Rat Snake

Jim O’Boyle, USACE naturalist at Caesar Creek, capped the afternoon with a demonstration of a Black Rat Snake and anecdotes about his experiences with herps at Caesar Creek

As the sun dropped toward the horizon and the temperatures abated somewhat, Davenport commented, “We’re really thrilled at the reception we’ve got today.  We had great support from a lot of wonderful co-sponsors and we’re already beginning to think about next year’s event.”

Tanya Carey, ABX Air’s Environmental Compliance Supervisor, was equally enthusiastic.   “This event would not have been possible without all the great community support and the exemplary teamwork of Eric Davenport, Don Florea, and Beth Huber and a great venue to have it.  This is just another example of how seriously ABX Air takes its stewardship responsibilities.  This is a great community and we are proud to be a part of it.”

Enlarged photo section at the end of this post.

No Child Left Indoors plans butterfly gala

Great Spangled Fritillary

Our next butterfly gala will be Saturday, August 23 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Lytle Creek Prairie.  We will be taking pre-registrations for up to 25 elementary age children (and their adult escorts, who must stay for the program).  

The educational program will consist of butterfly habitat and lifecycle information.   It will be a very hands-on program with children catching butterflies with nets.  We will be populating a community “pavilion” of butterflies and identifying them as a group.  

The prairie ought to be teeming with butterflies getting ready to spin chrysalises to put their eggs in,” said Bettyanne Short, local lepidopterist.

 

Expected species include:

Tiger Swallowtail
Eastern Black Swallowtail
Cabbage White
Clouded Sulphur
Great Spangled Fritillary
Pearl Crescent
Painted lady
Monarch
Hackberry
Common Wood Nymph
Silver Spotted Skipper

. . . as well as butterfly host and nectar plants. 

To register, call Lori Williams at 382-3682.   Our first butterfly extraganza, held as a part of our Earth Day celebration in April was filled to capacity, so make your reservation today.

-Lori Williams

 

A field guide to NCLI volunteers

The No Child Left Indoors program is part of a grassroots movement based on Richard Louv’s book Last Child in the Woods.  Louv’s message of a generation of children divorced from Nature seems to have hit a chord with parents and teachers all over the country, who have banded together to provide activities for children designed to promote the idea that Nature is natural and we all have a place in it.

Locally, the program has benefited from the leadership of Lytle Creek League vice president Lori Williams.  The program has attracted a great deal of local attention and a very generous grant, but the heart and soul of the program is the work of the volunteers. 

Called Ambassadors, these dedicated women and men bring their enthusiasm and knowledge to young people in events designed to pique their curiosity and ignite their interest.  The Ambassadors can be recognized by their distinctive name tags. 

So far this year, NCLI volunteers have provided two owl walks, a night sky event, an exhibit at the New Vienna Elementary Health Fair, a presentation to the Holmes PTO in conjunction with WC service learning students, as well as the April butterfly extravaganza and the toad house project.

Here is a list of Ambassadors who have contributed to these events.  NCLI chair Lori Williams says there are plenty more name tags for anyone who is interested in helping.

Bettyanne Short
Dori Sabino
Theresa Rembert
Bob Thobaben
Terri Thobaben
Harriett Clark
Sue Hanna
Shirley Katter
Carolyn Matthews
Pat Hicks
Sherri Krazl
Cathy Fay
Tanya Carey
Joy Brubaker
Jim O’Boyle
Bobbi Hagen

A message from our leader:  In common cause 

The word “League” can mean.” in common cause” as well as in large numbers, as in Caesar’s legions. Thus, “The Lytle Creek League of Conservators” is an organization aptly named, because, in reality, it is a group of chosen directors who hold the creek in our backyard, and its tree-lined riparian corridor, “in common cause”. These committed persons see their mission as action and education for the preservation of a precious community resource. Their names, past and present, are shown on our masthead. 

Assisting these directors is a slightly larger number of interested citizens who share their cause and volunteer their time and expertise. Many are naturalists, teachers, biologists, parents, or just interested users of the beautiful, spirit-filled, linear park, which the League has helped to bring into being over the past five years. 

Then there is a much larger group of interested people who share in our common cause and who support our activities.  In some ways, this is the most important group of all.

There is nothing exclusive about any of these groups.  If you see this newsletter, you are invited to the next meeting of the board of directors, to be held at twelve noon, in the Lytle Creek Trailhead Pavilion, Tuesday, August 12, with the next one to follow on. September 9. 

 -Roy Joe Stuckey

 

Along the trail . . .

Baby Boom

We are heading into the time of year when bird populations are reaching the peak of their yearly cycles.  The breeding season is coming to its end and the new crop of baby birds have not yet had to face a migration or a winter, both of which are hard enough on the adults, but are especially challenging for the inexperienced youngsters.

 

Juvenile Robin showing spotty breast

Many species have a distinctive juvenile plumage.  Some of those are fleeting, soon replaced by adult plumages, but some are maintained for a considerable length of time.  The robin at right was photographed in July.  It won’t get its robin-red breast until September.

The Ring-billed Gull shown below is almost two years old, yet it is only just now beginning to acquire adult plumage.  Note the feathers covering the wings (the greater coverts).  They are so worn they are almost threadlike.  They have not been molted since the bird left the nest.  They will be replaced during the winter, but the bird will not reach full maturity for another year.  (Yes, we have “sea gulls” in Clinton County.  They can be found at Cowan Lake practically every month of the year.  They are also periodic visitors to large parking lots.)

 

 

Ring-billed Gull in ratty second winter plumage

Juvenile birds can also be distinguished by their behaviors.  Many continue to hang around the nest.  Others follow the adults and exhibit the same begging behaviors they did as nestlings.  The juvenile Common Grackle below is fully grown despite its duller plumage.  Nevertheless, it is still begging from its parent.  What’s more, the parent is complying.  The instinct to feed a begging chick is so strong as to override almost any other behavior.  At least until the hormones subside.

 

Young birds are often awkward and clumsy.  Like human teenagers, they haven’t yet grown into their full-size bodies.  It is comical to watch them take a couple of passes before successfully lighting on a perch. 

 

Fully fledged Common Grackle begging for food

A particularly interesting set of youngsters are now on view at Caesar Creek.  Three young Ospreys were fledged at the location at the end of Mound Road.   Juvenile Ospreys can be distiguished from adults by the smudgy markings on the head and the little white dots on the back and wing coverts.  These spots are formed by the flimsy tips of the new feathers.  The juvenile plumages of all birds are not as well-constructed as the adult plumages, because they must be grown in a matter of days, rather than the months over which an adult plumage is molted.  The white tips will wear off in a few months and the birds will look a lot more like the adults.

These young  Ospreys are still around, even though the parents have migrated. The young birds are faithful to the nest site and can often be seen perched on the nest calling vigorously for their long-gone parents.  In a couple of months, they will get the idea and start moving south.  Their migration route is instinctive.  There is no one to show them the way.

 

Juvenile Osprey calling for its long-gone parents

 

 

 

 

 

                    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Juvenile Pileated Woodpecker (right) being encouraged by the adult (upper left). This youngster had to make two tries before successfully alighting on this tree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kids and Critters- Expanded photo section

 

Harriet Clark demonstrates turtle defensive measures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Small fry loved the turtle barrel, probably because it did not require an adult to hoist them up to see

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Event coordinator Eric Davenport shows off a King Snake, an important predator in controlling rats, mice and other pests

 

 

Bob Thobaben with a Green Frog

 

 

 

 

Calendar

12 Aug, 12:00     Board of Directors Meeting 
                            Trailhead Pavilion
                            Bring your lunch

13 Aug                 Local foods dinner
                             Clinton County Open Lands
                             Contact Laura Curliss for info

23 Aug, 10:00      Butterfly Gala
                             Clinton County Prairie
                             No Child Left Indoors
                             Preregistration required
                             Contact Lori Williams 382-3682

4 Oct                    Annual Lytle Creek Day

 

Credits:  Unless otherwise noted, all text and photos by Bob Powell

 

 

 

Ohio’s biggest reptile show at Pavilion Jul 19

ABX Air will host the Ohio Native Reptile and Amphibian Exhibit on Saturday, July 19, at the Trailhead Pavilion from 10am to 5 pm.  The Lytle Creek league joins ABX Air in sponsoring the event.  Other co-sponsors include the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Southern State Community College. 

Coordinator Eric Davenport of the ABX Air Environmental Group said this exhibition is probably the largest exhibition of live specimens of reptiles and amphibians in the state of Ohio.  “We have 21 species lined up already and I expect we will add many more by show time,” said Davenport.  The specimens include salamanders, toads, frogs, lizards, turtles and snakes.  

 

“We will definitely have an eastern timber rattlesnake and a copperhead,” Davenport said.  “We think it is important for kids to be able to tell poisonous snakes from the harmless species that provide important ecological services.”  It is particularly important to be able to identify a rattlesnake’s warning sound.  “Believe me,” said Davenport, “Once you hear that buzz, you never forget it.”

 

All specimens will be properly enclosed and handled by experts who have volunteered their time for the exhibition. 

The static exhibits will all be in the vicinity of the pavilion, but there will also be activities spaced out along the Greenway trail.  Bob Thobaben is planning exercises showing how herpetologists carry out field work.  Included will be opportunities to check out your identification skills.

 

 

 

 Lori Williams said that the No Child Left Indoors group is planning a “toad house” program  for kids.  “We will have all the materials on hand for the kids to make their own toad houses that they can take home with them..” Lori said.  “It’s a great way to get them started on nature study and a general interest in the outdoors.” 

For further information, contact Eric Davenport at 937-366-2493.  Don’t forget sunscreen and water and join us for something completely different.

 

  

No Child Left Indoors receives $10K Grant

Lori Williams recently announced that the No Child Left Indoors program has received an anonymous gift of $10,000 to support its activities.  The grant came as the result of a number of speaking engagements over the winter outlining the ideas of Richard Louv.  

Louv’s book The Last Child in the Woods is the point of departure for what has become a nationwide grass roots movement to get children back into the natural world.  Clinton County’s No Child Left Indoors program, like others all across the country, sprang spontaneously from the passion of local people for Louv’s book.  Louv points out that major societal shifts with respect to children’s activities and education have acted to isolate children from nature.  Consequently, children tend to grow up with the attitude that the natural world is sinister and dangerous. Louv calls this a nature-deficit disorder. 

The No Child Left Indoors program supports activities that promote a personal relationship between the child and the natural world, so the child perceives its environment as, well, natural. 

If you would like to get involved with this program, call Lori Williams at 382-3682.

 

A Message from our leader . . . 

A PATH RUNS ALONG IT
 A great river is a collection of its tributaries.  Some have rail beds along them. A precious few of these can provide an almost continuous corridor of trees, water, and solitude accessible to everyone. They have the potential to form linear parks which can protect a vestige of what once was a vast forest. If realized, these possible recreational areas can increase quality of life for countless people, plants, fishes and animals. 

In such a favored position is Lytle Creek which begins under the old Clinton County Air Base, now the US hub of the DHL world-wide overnight delivery service. The creek then meanders through the Wilmington College Campus and the City of Wilmington to a relatively pristine Todd’s Fork which flows into the State and National Scenic Little Miami River at Morrow, Ohio. Along this twenty-five mile water course, runs the abandoned rail bed of the former Pennsylvania Railroad. This right-of-way is being slowly converted to a bike, horse and nature path by the Clinton County Rails-to-Trails Coalition. This effort is assisted by Clinton County Open Lands, which certifies tax credit conservation easements, and  the Lytle Creek League of Conservators whose mission is to help  obtain environmental designation as an exceptional warm water habitat, as well as a tributary extension of the Little Miami River, a designated State and National Scenic River. Also the League has been working for the past five years to assist county, city, college, and private citizens to dedicate portions of the Lytle Creek corridor to bike paths, equestrian trails or nature foot paths.

 —Roy Joe Stuckey

Board acts to establish annual Lytle Creek Day

The Board of Directors of the Lytle Creek League of Conservators met at the Trailhead Pavilion on June 10.  The principal order of business was to establish the first Saturday in October as the annual Lytle Creek Day.  The board took this action in view of the positive response to the Lytle Creek Day we held last year and to fall activities in previous years.  By setting this weekend as a recurring date, we hope to establish it as a custom in the minds of residents of Wilmington and Clinton County and to facilitate planning. 

Maria Butcher accepted the chairmanship of this year’s event, which will take place on Saturday, October 4, 2008.  If you would like to help out, give Maria a call at 383-2265. 

In other business, the Board recognized the contributions of Kathy Springsteen and Phil Warner, both of whom were very active in the League and have moved out of the community to take advantage of other opportunities.  

The nominating committee offered the following persons for various open positions:  Bob Powell for secretary,  Tanya Carey for treasurer, and Chris Burns-DiBiasio, Terry Habermehl, and Ron Sexton for open positions on the Board of Directors.  All were approved by acclamation and happily all accepted. 

The next meeting of the Board will be Tuesday, 8 July, at noon at the Trailhead Pavilion. 

 

Trees planted

 Chris Hodgson found some nice trees to enhance the area around the Trailhead Pavilion.  Shown here is the intrepid crew from the ABX Air Environmental Group that planted the trees. 

 

         

There is an old saying to the effect that planting a tree is an act of faith.  I suppose that is because the tree almost invariably outlasts the planter.  Despite that, it is comforting to think of our great grandchildren playing in the shade of these trees.

 

Contact Us

We would love to hear from you on just about any topic you can imagine.  Contact our President, Roy Joe Stuckey, at 937-728-9887 or on email at rstuckey1@earthlink.net, or our secretary, Bob Powell, at 382-3557 or rdp1710@gmail.com. We also have a web page at lclc.wordpress.com

The Lytle Creek League of Conservators is a not-for-profit organization.  We do not hold fund-raisers, but gratefully accept donations to further our work.  If you would like to make a donation, send a check to The Clinton Foundation, PO Box 831, Wilmington, OH 45177.  Indicate on the check that you wish the funds to be credited to LCLC.  You may also earmark funds for the No Child Left Indoors program.  Donations are fully tax-deductible.

 

On the trail  . . .

Riotous collection of summer wildflowers: Ox-eye daisies, black-eyed susans and butterfly weed

Summer Wildflowers

The delicate wildflowers of the spring are gone now.  The trilliums, toadshades, jack-in-the-pulpits, Dutchman’s britches, and columbines have completed their cycles.  Now is the time of the robust, sun-loving flowers of summer. Most of them are composites, their flowers composed of many (sometimes thousands) of tiny flowers arranged densely into assemblages we commonly accept as flowers.  Here is a small collection, mostly found and photographed along the 4‑C bike path.

Daisy Fleabane has many branches, each ending in a small flower, less than an inch across.  This is a native species.  It is an early colonizer of waste ground, what ecologists call an “early-successional” species.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contrast the small flower heads of daisy fleabane with the large, robust heads of the ox-eye daisy, often more that two inches across.  This is the classic daisy, form which all the florist-shop daisies are descended.  Ox-eye daisies love full sun (the name is derived from “day’s eye”).

 

 

 

 

 

Next is the familiar Queen Anne’s lace, sometimes called wild carrot or cow parsley.  Queen Anne’s lace is one of the best-known wildflowers of our region.  It is an import from Europe, one of literally hundreds of alien species brought over by the colonists, who apparently did not find our native wildflowers to their taste.  Queen Anne’s lace likes meadows, pastures, and hayfields.  It is not a composite despite its densely packed flower heads.  The individual pictured is bigger than my hand.  Contrast it with similar yarrow, shown below.

 

 

 

 

 

The plant my wife is standing under is a wildflower called water hemlock.  If you’re thinking about Socrates, you’re right: the juice of this plant flavored his last cocktail.  Not all of the members of this family are poison, but it is best not to take chances with any flower that looks like an umbrella.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some more common summer wildflowers that we didn’t have room  for in the print edition:

Yarrow is superficially similar to Queen Anne’s lace, but is much smaller and sits on much shorter stems.  If in doubt look at the highly divided leaves, from which the flower derives its alternate name mille-foil, or “thousand leaves.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black-eyed susans are common and showy, often found with Queen Anne’s lace on road sides and in vacant lots.  These are the first yellow-with-a-dark-center composites to appear in the summer.  Later on, they may be confused with coneflowers and native sunflowers.

 

 

 

Canada thistle is a wide-spread invasive species.  Cabbage white butterflies and American Goldfinches love them, but farmers hate ‘em.  They grow in dense clusters, have fibrous stems, and leathery bristly leaves.  Few animals, wild or domesticated, use it for forage.  In a Scientific American article a couple of years ago, it was hailed as “the perfect weed.”

 

 

Milkweed has large showy flowers at this time of the year, but it is best known for its large seed pods in the fall.  The pods are full of soft, down-like fluff.  During World War II, this down was used as a substitute for kapok, which was not available, in sleeping bags and life vests.  This is a tall, fleshy plant, which oozes thick, noxious sap when wounded

 

 

-Bob Powell

 

Lytle Creek Day – Saturday, October 20, 2007

Clip this schedule and join us for a day of fabulous fall fun

10:30 Fun Run
Starts at Hermann Court and runs to the Lytle Creek Pavilion and back- Call Heather Harmon 937 382 6661 for details.

11:00 Bike Ride
Launch from JW Denver Williams Park to arrive at the 1:00PM ceremonies at Lytle Creek Greenway Pavilion. The ride will be about 20 miles at a comfortable pace with no killer hills. This is a suitable length and pace for beginners and a great way to get into cycling. Experts will be along to give tips and advice.

11:00 Environmental Education Studies
Monte Anderson will be available in Kettering Hall on the Wilmington College to discuss the WC Agriculture Department plans for growth in its environmental programs, which prepares students for careers in this burgeoning area

11:45 Food Tent Opens
Come to the Wilmington College Homecoming tent for a plentiful variety of autumn picnic food. All you care to eat for only $5.00

11:45 Nature Walk
Join Clinton County’s premier naturalist Jim Ramsey at Hazard Arboretum for a leisurely and informative walk along Lytle Creek. The walk will end at the Lytle Creek Greenway Pavilion in time for the 1:00 pm ceremonies. For further information, call Jim and Millie Ramsey at 937 383 1291

12:10 Wagon ride
Hop on the Wilmington College Homecoming Day Wagon at the food tent. Both the first and the current chairs of the Wilmington College agriculture department will proudly comment on the Wilmington College academic farm, the equine center, Tom Stillwell’s world crop museum and the Lytle Creek Greenway. The wagon will be at the Pavilion in time for the 1:00PM ceremonies.

1:00 Lytle Creek Program of honor and appreciation
Meet at the Pavilion on David’s Drive for a 30-minute program by The Lytle Creek League of Conservators honoring an activist, a teacher and a corporation who have made outstanding contributions to the environmental ambiance of our community. Enjoy light refreshments and a social time visiting with the honorees and each other.

1:30 Ceremony adjourns
The formal part of the program ends in time to permit participation in other types of fall fun, including football and nature.

Ceremony and Tour Rain or Shine

A word from our leader

The Long View

I often pause to take a long mental view as I pass the limestone boulder which now marks the trail leading from David’s Drive along the Lytle Creek Greenway, through much of the city of Wilmington, Ohio.

In my mind’s eye I see a connected path, ensconced in soul-strengthening beauty, extending for miles and miles. The bronze plaque on the rock says, “ This spot marks the beginning of the second tributary of Lytle Creek, which flows into Todd’s Fork, to join the National Scenic Little Miami River, twenty-eight miles to the west, at Morrow, Ohio”.

It was presented by the Little Miami River Partnership, one of the several partnering organizations helping The Lytle Creek League of Conservators to preserve the beauty and to promote the usage of one of our community’s most precious places, Lytle Creek, and the corridor through which it flows. Two other partners are Clinton County Open Lands, which purchases land near it for preservation, and, the Clinton County Rails to Trails Coalition, which builds public access paths along it.

As I pause for a few moments, I can visualize the full sweep of recent accomplishment. In my immediate view is the commodious Lytle Creek Trailhead Pavilion, dedicated last autumn; then my mind takes me around the wooded corner, off the main path and across the tributary, where I can see the new bridge donated by ABXAir. Only a few feet further along, I can visualize a new Timbertech trail bench, installed by John Stanforth under a spreading Black Walnut Tree; then across a foot bridge, I can picture a venerable soil-conserving structure built more than sixty years ago by the charter members of the Board of Supervisors of the Clinton County Soil Conservation District, an historic continuing partner in our community effort to preserve Lytle Creek’s purity.

At this spot, my mind surveys the entire Wilmington College academic farm protecting the Creek with buffer strips and fences carefully placed to keep various species of farm animals from ravishing the rapidly emerging linear park. Then, continuing on my mental tour, I pass through the six acre Clinton Country Forest and the four acre native prairie planting, two very different places of educational value, each entrusted to the Clinton County Park Board, dedicated to creating a legacy of nature for our grandchildren.

Then my mind travels on to think of the Hazard Arboretum, the City Park Board’s Southeast Park, its Lytle Creek Nature Reserve, and its Urban Bike Connection to the Luther Warren Peace Path leading to Wilmington’s state-of-the-art solid waste management facility and the area dedicated for a new west side city park. The Wilmington City Park Board is also committed to creating a better community with enhanced natural areas for spiritual rejuvenation and physical exercise.

My long mental view from the east side rock does not stop at the west side city limits. It extends all the way downstream, to the Little Miami River, part of our National Scenic Rivers System. More than seventy percent of the Little Miami River corridor is now protected by the land trust known as Little Miami Inc. Some day, the path along Lytle Creek will be connected to the one leading to the stately door of the Little Miami Inc. office on the scenic River Trail in the romantic city of Loveland. The Clinton County Rails to Trails Coalition already owns almost seven miles of potential right-of-way.

This is a very long, imaginary view. But I do hope to live to see it become reality. If so, it may be that the Lytle Creek Greenway will have helped to provide the physical and the mental health necessary for me to remain vital that long. In the meantime, I invite all who read these words to observe Lytle Creek Day, October 20, 2007, to promote the League’s new program, “No Child Left Indoors,” and to remember the words of Rachel Carson, mother of the modern environmental movement, who wrote: ”Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts”-.

Roy Joe Stuckey

MINUTES of September Meeting September 11, 2007

Members Present: Roy Joe Stuckey, Maria Butcher, Joy Brubaker, Heather Harmon, Carolyn Matthews, Bob Thobaben, Kathy Springsteen, Lori Williams

Roy Joe Stuckey convened the meeting at 4:30 PM. The directors held a moment of silence and remembered Bob Powell, Mac and Gail McKibbon, and Phil Warner.

Heather Harmon gave a report on progress to date for morning activities on October 20. The horsemen will be unable to participate because they need a year advance to secure insurance. Roy Joe will be speaking with proprietors of Books ‘N’ More this evening to plan for a bike riding event. Heather is organizing a run/walk on the trail for 10 am and Jim Ramsey will lead a senior’s walk. It was noted that the day coincides with Homecoming for Wilmington College and that Kathy Milam will be informing attendees of events.

The minutes of the August meeting were accepted. The treasurer’s reports showed $1190.35 in Board accounts and $53.54 in the endowment fund .

Updates:
• The first two benches are in place. In-kind contributions were received from Lowe’s and John Stanforth to make this possible. Plaques have been placed courtesy of John Stanforth.
• The curb cut is in and there are currently no plans to pave the area.
• The ABX bridge is in. Volunteers from Laurel Oaks still plan to do additional cutting on the circle trail.
• Lori has sent a letter to the county commissioners regarding property. No action from them has taken place so Lori will check on any progress with Mike Curry.
• The latest edition of the newsletter is out and the members present expressed thanks to Bob Powell for his efforts. Several members agreed to proofread future editions prior to publication and will let Bob know of their willingness to do so.
• Bob Tenwolde’s project is going forward.
• Lori continues to work with others (Sue Hanna, Ashley Johnson) on preparing materials for the No Child Left Indoors efforts. She noted that Bob Powell has included some material in the last newsletter.

The Board approved a motion to use materials to make five additional seats (combination of benches with backs and without) and have them in place for October 20.

Planning for Autumn Lytle Creek Day on October 20
• Light snacks are planned for the event according to Carolyn and Maria. Laura Curliss has agreed to donate cider and Maria is planning to bake cookies.
• The event honoring award recipients and special contributions will be held at the Pavilion at 1 PM. Lori is in charge of that program and asked for money for the awards. Amount is not known yet.
• Table decorations of flowers from the greenway will be prepared by Lori and her mother.

The next meeting will be held Tuesday, October 9, 2007, at the Pavilion.

The meeting ended with expressions of thanks to those who are doing good things in support of green space in the community with particular note of the efforts of the ABX Air Environmental Compliance Group.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:20 PM.

Kathy Springsteen

All along the trail . . .

Most folks view autumn as an anticlimax. The passion of spring has resulted in the bounty of summer and as the days grow shorter we tend to hunker down in preparation for the rigors of the deep midwinter. The fields are bare and brown and pretty soon the trees will be nothing more than stark sticks poking up into the horizon. However, if we look closer at the natural world around us, we can see that other forms of life are busy preparing for winter in their own way.

Every species, plant or animal has its own life cycle and at this latitude, the harsh and wildly variable “temperate zone”, winter is the principal hazard. If we observe the world around us closely, we can see all sorts of ingenious adaptations which allow life to continue in spite of the hazards of winter.

Trees drop their leaves, a fact so familiar to us that few of us stop to wonder why. Yet if we are so unlucky as to have an early snow storm, we quickly see the reason. If the leaves are still on the trees, many limbs are lost. The resulting scars often open the tree up to infection, which eventually proves to be lethal. However, if the leaves have been dropped, the trees can easily handle the load of even a heavy snowfall. In the northern latitudes, with our short winter days, there is little sunlight, so the loss of photosynthesis can be offset by reining in growth until the spring.

This is a Blue-headed Vireo, captured and banded at Bob Thobaben’s farm. These birds nest well north of us and then scarper off to tropical climes to avoid the northern winter, just like many other Ohioans. We only see them as they come through in the spring and the fall. The population of birds in Clinton County is greatest in the fall, swelled by the babies produced in the summer and by the numerous migrants coming through. This bird is on its way to Central America. The long migration takes its toll. Only about half of these birds will make it back to their breeding grounds, but vireos live on worms and grubs and a winter on their breeding grounds would present the ecological equivalent of a desert. So they pack on the fat and take to the air.

Here we have another strategy for dodging winter’s bullet. This is a caterpillar. Specifically, it is the larva of a butterfly. It is destroying one of our sweet fennel plants before spinning a cocoon, in which it will spend the winter. It will emerge in the spring transformed into a large and showy Black Swallowtail. The butterfly will spend the summer feeding and mating, the result of which will be lots of eggs, some of which will become caterpillars. And so it goes.

All photos by Bob Powell

Reminder: The next meeting will be held Tuesday, October 9, 2007, at the Trailhead Pavilion.

 

Autumn Lytle Creek Day Set for Oct 20

In a meeting on 7 Aug, the Lytle Creek League of Conservators fixed on Saturday, 20 Oct, for our annual Lytle Creek Day. Carolyn Matthews, Maria Butcher and Lori Williams agreed to serve on the planning committee. Detailed plans will be decided at the next meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, 11 Sep.

A number of local groups are being contacted about joining our celebrations. Horse groups and cycling groups, school groups, local natural history enthusiasts and others are being sought to conduct activities at the Pavilion, on the Greenway, and along the bike trails . We hope to present an extensive slate of events encompassing a wide range of interests and age groups. Details will be decided at the next meeting and publicized through a mailing and a press release to the Wilmington News-Journal.

Honors to be awarded
In a culminating event at the Trailhead Pavilion in the evening, awards will be presented to two people. One will go to a person who in the view of the directors has compiled an outstanding record as a spokesperson in the local community for natural history and conservation. The other will go to a person recognized as one who has a history of inculcating in children a love or nature and respect for the environment. The intention of the board is to make these awards an annual event.

After much careful consideration, the directors have selected the first two awardees, but do not plan to release the names until the awards are presented on the 25th. Come and join us to show your appreciation for the work and accomplishments of these two fine leaders.

Message from our leader
The Creek in our back yard

The Lytle Creek Greenway with its riparian tributaries is within a healthful hike or bicycle ride of nearly every home in Wilmington. Safe streets, good schools and extended green space are three essential elements of a desirable community.

The Lytle Creek League of Conservators supports all three; but it works, specifically, for the third. It tries to make the beautiful stream that traverses our community, an accessible, perpetually protected, natural resource of ever greater worth.

The mission of the League is to protect and to encourage the responsible enjoyment of Lytle Creek, its tree lined banks, public parks, campuses and other adjoining green spaces.
In this mission the League supports the Wilmington City Park Board, The Clinton County Park Board, The Wilmington College Physical Plant staff, the College Academic Farm staff, the Clinton County Coalition of Rails-to-Trails, Clinton County Open Lands (CCOL), Clinton County Streamkeepers, and both corporate and private citizens as each serve in specialized missions. The League sees its role as a facilitating one; and is pleased with our community’s recent cooperative progress in natural resource development.

At our Autumn Lytle Creek Day, we will encourage usage of existing facilities and showcase works in progress. These include, but are not limited to, the County Prairie, The City Lytle Creek Nature Reserve, The County Forest, The College Hazard Arboretum, 4-C bike and horse path, the future site of a City west side park, the 2.4 acre CCOL mid city Lytle Reserve, the College Farm Trail, the Trailhead Pavilion; and a new bridge and trail system built and installed by ABX air. The involvement of so many private and public entities is indeed encouraging.

Roy Joe Stuckey

White Snakeroot, a common late summer composite along the trail.
(Photo: Bob Powell)

Minutes of August Board of Directors Meeting

August 7, 2007
Lytle Creek Trailhead Pavilion

Members Present: Roy Joe Stuckey, Maria Butcher, Chris Hodgson, Chaley Peelle, Bob Powell, Kathy Springsteen, Lori Williams

Roy Joe Stuckey convened the meeting at 4:30 PM. The directors held a moment of silence.

The minutes of the July meeting were reviewed. After noting several typographical errors (to be corrected in distributed copies), the minutes were approved. The treasurer’s reports showed $1565.29 in Board accounts and $53.54 in the endowment fund (amounts correct as of July 31, 2007).

Updates:
• The boulder at the headwaters of Lytle Creek is in place (gift from Melvin Stone and installed by Randy Gerber). A plaque has been purchased for the stone and will be installed by John Stanforth.

• The new weatherproof sign for the pavilion is in place. Board members approved allocating $365.94 to Waring Office Supply for their work Kathy Springsteen will get a check written and delivered to Waring Office Supply.

• The curb cut is done and will be inspected next week. More stone may be needed in the area.

• Work on the bridge being donated by ABX Air is progressing on the trail and this work should be done in the next two weeks.

• Bob Powell is on target to have the next newsletter out in a few days with another edition coming prior to the next meeting.

Old Business

Fall activity will be entitled “Autumn Lyle Creek Day” and will be scheduled for October 20 if awardees are available that day. Roy Joe will notify horse and bike groups once the date is firm. Carolyn Matthews (awaiting confirmation) and Maria Butcher agreed to serve on the planning committee with assistance from others upon request. Lori Williams will arrange for bridge dedication and awardee events. The event will be held at the Pavilion. Other activities suggested include a run/hike on the trail.

Publicity for the occasion was discussed. We will plan to put a sign on the courthouse lawn again this year. Bob Powell will prepare a special edition of the newsletter and a press release for area distribution. Roy Joe will talk to Randy Sarvis about other possibilities.

Sue Hanna and Lori Williams met to discuss activities for “No Child Left Indoors”. They will be preparing a presentation (Power Point) that can be used when talking to various groups. It will include the rationale for the program and will be able to be customized for the audience. Hopes are to have the presentation ready to premier for Leadership Clinton Education Day. Roy Joe will be meeting with Jody Black of Leadership Clinton next week.

New Business

Roy Joe has been communicating with Dennis Tenwolde of Little Miami River Project concerning a grant that Dennis is willing to write to raise funds for reduction of non-point pollution, benches, signs, and general education for the trail area. A minute of support from the Board was requested and approved.

Lori Williams suggested that the Board plan to update Wilmington City Council yearly on progress made relating to their Resolution 1936. As the resolution passed in February, this month was suggested as appropriate for the yearly report. Members agreed and will discuss this report at the October meeting.

The next meeting will be held Tuesday, September 11, 2007, at the Pavilion.

The meeting ended with expressions of thanks to Bob Powell for his work on the newsletter, Chaley Peele for fund raising, Chris for her continuing interest and work, and Lori for her support and work.

Kathy Springsteen

No Child Left Indoors
Tips for Parents

The following material was adapted by Lori Williams from the Jane Goodall Institute “Roots and Shoots” youth program. We believe it fits in very well with the LCLC “No Child Left Indoors” initiative. “No Child Left Indoors” takes its theme from the Richard Louv book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. Louv argues persuasively that modern children deprived of unstructured contact with the natural world grow up thinking of nature as hostile and dangerous. LLC supports activities and opportunities for children to experience the natural world as, well, natural. Here are some ways parents can help foster healthy attitudes toward the environment their children live in.

 Give your children unstructured time outside. Children benefit from casual playtime in nature, when they can interact freely with the natural world. These experiences build their curiosity and confidence.

 Spend time with your children outside. Research shows that videos, films, photos and other media cannot take the place of direct experience. Get your child out into the parks and local natural areas.

 Enjoy nature in your neighborhood. Planting a garden, watching birds and climbing trees with your kids can launch a life-long love of plants, insects and animals.

 Let your children take the lead. Instincts can be their most valuable guide when discovering nature. With their natural curiosity, your kids will quickly find something for the family to explore.

 Hold a scavenger hunt in the backyard. Ask kids to check off items on a list that could include flowers, bird tracks, squirrels, something that makes noise, colors in nature, worms and insects in the soil.

 Play games to encourage looking, such as “I see something you don’t see and its color is….” Use yes-and-no questions to give your kids clues.

 Direct your children’s attention — and join in their fun. Research shows that children learn more when someone participates in an experience with them. It’s as simple as pointing out trees or touching a leaf with your child; encouraging her or him listen for birds, smell the

flowers, or feel the wind or soil. Use all of your senses.

 Don’t be afraid of not knowing the answers. You don’t have to know everything about plants and animals to help your children enjoy them; half the fun is asking questions and building a sense of curiosity and wonder. There are lots of resources that can help you find the answers.

 Remember to support the institutions and organizations that provide those important outdoor experiences to the public. Let your elected officials know they deserve support as well!

Bob Thobaben shows a young birder the construction of the wing of a newly banded Wilson’s Snipe. (Photo: Bob Powell)

ABX Air seen as good steward of wildlife

Right at the top of the Lytle Creek watershed sits the nation’s largest private airport, owned by DHL and operated by ABX Air. ABX Air includes an office of environmental compliance, headed by Tanya Carey. Tanya and her staff undertake a number of programs and initiatives that reflect a proactive attitude toward the company’s environmental obligations

Hop to it, ABX Air!

This imaginatively named program is the brainchild of Eric Davenport, ABX Air environmental compliance assistant. It denotes the first in a series of frog and toad surveys of streams and wetlands on ABX Air property. The surveys are themselves part of a pilot study of the biodiversity of the airdrome.

Eric conducted the surveys using protocols approved by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio Biological Survey. Four monthly surveys were carried out from March to June 2007. Included in the surveys were waters of Lytle Creek and Indian Run Creek, a tributary of Cowan Creek. Both areas are typical of amphibian habitats in Southwest Ohio.

Plans are now being made for the 2008 edition of the survey and volunteers are being sought. It is a great chance to get involved with genuine science right here in our own back yard. If you are interested, you can contact Eric at

Western Chorus Frog. (Photo: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources)

American Avocet stopover

Eric Davenport found an American Avocet at the ABX Air wastewater treatment plant on 29 Aug. Eric got the word out and shortly afterward, he, Tanya Carey, Bob Thobaben and Bob Powell assembled at the plant on Jenkins Road to validate the find.

The American Avocet is a tall (18”), elegant shorebird, mostly white with boldly patterned black and white wings and long, bright blue legs. It has a distinctively recurved bill, which it swishes back and forth in the mud to stir up food.

Avocets nest mainly on the western Great Plains and winter mostly along the Pacific coast. Some, however, winter along the coasts of the southeastern US. This bird was a female that was probably on its way to the Gulf coast.

Avocets occur only every four or five years in our area, usually at Caesar Creek. This is the first sighting we know of in Clinton County.

(Photo: Bob Powell)

Reminder: Next meeting is 4:30 pm, 11 Sep at the Trailhead Pavilion.

Contact the editor: Bob Powell, (937) 382-3557, rdp1710@gmail.com.

 

All along the trail – Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas II

 The Ohio Division of Wildlife, Ohio State and the Ohio Ornithological Society are combining forces to map out an atlas of breeding birds in the state.  The effort is in the second year of its five-year program.  The goal is to survey each of over 3,300 eight-square-mile blocks. 

Most of Lytle Creek lies in just one of those blocks.  Larry Gara and Bob Powell have invested over 40 hours in this block, mostly along the two bike paths.  To date, nine possible breeding species, 29 probable breeders and 24 confirmed breeders have been found for a total of 62 species.  This is a respectable total for a block that is largely urban. 

Our region contains 84 blocks, 51 of which are still “unowned”  Anyone with even rudimentary birding skills can make a meaningful contribution.  We can help train you, too.  If you are interested, call Bob Thobaben at 382-4739 or Bob Powell at 382-3557.

(Above, a portion of the Luther Warren Peace Path, a surprisingly productive area for birds despite its high usage by walkers, runners, bikers, and dog lovers.  Photo:  Bob Powell)

 

“No Child Left Inside” Movement Sweeps Country

Sometimes there is nothing more subversive than a book. Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, is a case in point.  Louv’s writes about the contrast between his childhood memories of happy times in natural environments and the closely regulated lives that modern children experience, where most activities take place indoors and all outdoor activities take place in manicured venues and are closely supervised by adults. Louv maintains that such a life disconnects children from the natural world and leads to what he calls “nature deficit disorder.”

Louv’s book has hit a responsive chord with a mushrooming number of teachers, conservationists, and outdoor educators.  A Google search on “No Child Left Inside” yields almost 83,000 hits.  The state of Connecticut has adopted Louv’s ideas as the foundation for a major program in its state parks.  The Economist recently profiled the astonishing growth of this “literal and figurative grass-roots movement.”  According to a recent USA Today report, the US Forest Service is launching a pilot program along the same lines.

Louv’s book is slender, readable, contagious and cheap.  LCLC is urging Books & More to stock it.  In any case, they will be glad to order it for you.  The Amazon.com information page is here.  Anyone wishing more information can contact Lori Williams, who will fill your ear.

 

Use and Enjoy, the Human Mission

Chris Hodgson and members of the tree committee discuss eradication
of bush honeysuckle in the county forest area.  Fall 2006.
(Photo:  Lori Williams)

The mission of the Lytle Creek League of Conservators is to assist our community to identify and to protect the natural resources of the Creek in its backyard; and to create a useful path for all to use and to enjoy, along its tree lined Greenway.

Through uncommon cooperation of county, city, college and corporate citizenry; much of the initial work of physical creation has been accomplished: and the mission of the League, and those other organizations with similar objectives, now moves to the human one of encouraging regular usage and full enjoyment.

The Luther Warren and 4-C Trails are well used while the City Nature Reserve, County Prairie, County Forest, College Trailhead Pavilion and Clinton County Open Lands Reserve are just beginning to be enjoyed by increasing numbers.

Through remarkable cooperation, these and more elements of beautiful, useful infrastructure are now available to all persons, including especially children who need the outdoors to develop strong bodies and healthy personalities.

Thus the League is considering a new program which we think has much potential. We are calling it, “No Child Left Inside”, based on the philosophy of a recent, award winning, best selling book that advances the idea that our children are suffering from a “nature deficit disorder” that reflects the degree to which 21^st century children are being disconnected from the natural world.  Look for more information elsewhere in this and future newsletters.

- Roy Joe Stuckey.

 

 

Minutes of the June 2007 Meeting

Lytle Creek Pavilion, Wilmington, June 12, 2007 Members Present:  Roy Joe Stuckey, Lori Williams, Kathy Springsteen, Carolyn Matthews, Bob Powell The minutes of April 16, 2007, were approved.  The treasurer’s reported showed balances of $1556.25 in the Conservators Fund, $53.23 in the general fund, and $934.23 in the Pavilion Fund.   Reports of Recent ActivityRoy Joe Stuckey and Lori Williams attended a meeting on June 11 to discuss progress on a transfer of land from Clinton County to the Park Board.  Attendees walked the trail, saw activity, and heard about future plans.   Members who had attended various Earth Day events reported that all were of good quality but attendance was less than desired at some events.  Lori reported that the League did receive $40.00 from the silent auction and donated this money to Clinton County Open Lands per motion of April 16. Work is continuing on the bridge being built on the property. Flags have been placed at the proposed location, drawings and some materials are available.  ABX will continue their efforts on this project.  Students from Laurel Oaks and Wilmington College have cleared a trail around an approximately 6 acre lot.  An informal survey of the site indicated the presence of beech, paw paw, and a possible past home site.   Members approved a motion to purchase a plaque to honor the $1000 donation from PC Connection made after the fall dedication.   Roy Joe reported that Terry Johnson and Monte Anderson (from Wilmington College) have approved the curb cut for the site.  Town regulations state that new cuts should be made opposite existing ones if possible.  A plaque given to the League from the Little Miami River Project needs to be mounted at the site.  Several suggestions were made for getting this done and Roy Joe agreed to follow up. Roy Joe reported that the League still had some unused material at Martin Woodworking.  Members suggested that a bench for a location on the trail would be appropriate.  Lori suggested that modifications be made to an existing table to provide for wheelchair access in the pavilion.  All agreed that this should be done.  Roy Joe will follow up on this item. Lori Williams reported on progress toward building a water garden at the source of the creek and stated that the first step was to have the water tested.  She will follow up on this item. New Business
Bob Powell suggested that the League consider production of a newsletter and has agreed to author this.  Members were in favor of the idea and had several suggestions for proceeding.  Ideas for issues included a “what’s new along the trail” column, natural, social and cultural history of the trail, pertinent city legislation that supports the trail and its future, and information about coming events.    Bob will also develop a blog style web presence for the League.  In additional discussion of activities and potential publicity, members discussed: ·      Asking Jim Ramsey to plug the trail in his newspaper column. 

·      Promoting the activities of the summer Fitness Day being organized by Heather Harman and the Friends of the Parks.

·      Commitment to a fall event, perhaps a Greenway Day.   Last minute announcements and items:Lori stated that the Service Learning group at Wilmington College had their end of the year activity at the Pavilion with 84 people in attendance.On July 13, Wilmington College incoming freshman leadership students will provide service at the site.  Roy Joe is working on refurbishing the sign in the Pavilion. The next meeting will be Tuesday, July 10, 2007, at the Pavilion, at 4:30 PM.  —Kathy Springsteen, Secretary

 

LCLC Newsletter Makes Debut

 Thousands Cheer

This marks the inauguration of the newsletter of the Lytle Creek League of Conservators.  We anticipate that the newsletter will appear monthly.  The purpose of the newsletter is to inform interested parties of the planning underway in the League and the programs we undertake. 

We view the newsletter as a community organ.  Input is solicited from any interested party on any subject within the League’s mission.  Indeed, this issue contains contributions from at least four persons. We are looking not only for written contributions, but for photos and other graphics, as well.

Please direct submissions, as well as comments and criticisms to the editor, Bob Powell, at rdp1710@gmail.com.  If you insist on using snail mail, write to us at 1217 N State Route 134, Wilmington, OH 45177.

Newsletter available online

LCLC has both feet firmly in the 21^st century and as such, we have taken steps to establish a web presence.  The newsletter is being published simultaneously on the World Wide Web at lclc.wordpress.com. This is essentially a blog format, but it offers sufficient flexibility to do most of the things we want to do and the price is right; i.e., free. 

We will never be able to sell stuff through this site or to host clever Java applets, but for the time being at least, it should meet our communication needs quite admirably. 

In fact, the online version of the newsletter offers several advantages to the hard copy version.  We can afford to do color, and we can use more photos.  We can also include live links to other sites of interest and links to interactive maps.

It is possible to configure the web site so that multiple contributors can have direct access.  If you foresee making regular contributions, you may want to take advantage of this and avoid having the editor make a hash out of your piece.

Opting for web-only access 

We encourage our readers to choose to read the newsletter on the web.  This will mean a substantial savings in materials, copy fees, and postage.  If you agree to do this, let us know by e-mail at the address given at left, and we will drop you from the newsletter mailing list.  You may continue to receive other important mailings from the board in the future, but even most of that information will also appear on the web site.