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Check out upcoming birding programs in our area:
Northeast Ohio REGIONAL BIRD CALENDAR 
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Wednesday, October 5th at 7:00 PM
in person at the South Euclid Public Library, 1876 South Green Rd, and on Zoom (see below)
Mentor Marsh: History, Tragedy, Recovery
Speaker: David Kriska, Biodiversity Coordinator, Cleveland Museum of Natural History
KBC members automatically receive the Zoom link. Non-members who wish to attend on Zoom please register on eventbrite HERE.
Click HERE to read about our upcoming field trip to Mentor Marsh.
in person at the South Euclid Public Library, 1876 South Green Rd, and on Zoom (see below)
Mentor Marsh: History, Tragedy, Recovery
Speaker: David Kriska, Biodiversity Coordinator, Cleveland Museum of Natural History
KBC members automatically receive the Zoom link. Non-members who wish to attend on Zoom please register on eventbrite HERE.
Click HERE to read about our upcoming field trip to Mentor Marsh.
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As one of the most species-rich sites on the Great Lakes shoreline, Mentor Marsh is a National Park Service-designated National Natural Landmark (1966). The Marsh was named Ohio’s first State Nature Preserve in 1971 and is a National Audubon Society Important Birding Area. This 806-acre wetland suffered dramatically in 1966 when salt-mine tailings leached into Blackbrook Creek. By 1973 most of the swamp forest trees and marsh plants had died, and the 4-mile-long wetland basin was overtaken by reed grass (Phragmites australis), a 15’ to 24’ tall nonnative invasive plant from Eurasia.
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The Cleveland Museum of Natural History began the large-scale restoration of Mentor Marsh in 2015. Guided by Museum restoration ecologists, the Phragmites monoculture was sprayed with an aquatic-safe herbicide and then physically mashed flat to allow native plants to grow. Over 180 species of native plant species have been documented sprouting from the soil seed bank, including 3 state-listed plants. Rare marsh birds—such as American and Least Bitterns, and Virginia, King and Sora Rails are nesting, and wading birds and waterfowl are now abundant. Yellow Perch fingerlings are now using the Marsh as a nursery and Northern Pike are spawning. We will discuss recent restoration updates and the challenges of working "waist deep in the muck"!
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David Kriska joined the Museum in 2003 working for the Natural Areas Division. He specializes in rare plant and animal surveys, community ecology, and habitat restoration.
Since 2008 he’s helped the Natural Areas Division acquire nearly 2,000 acres of critical habitat- the Museum currently has 66 scientific natural areas spread across 12,000 acres that contain unique natural communities, such as old growth forests, marshes, bogs, swamps and fens. These high-quality habitats, many of which are globally rare, together protect 250 different kinds of endangered, threatened, or rare plant and animal species, and represent the remarkable biological diversity that was once widespread throughout the region. |
Fall KBC News
- THE FUTURE OF HORSESHOE LAKE in the Heights (between Shaker & Cleveland Heights) Northeast Ohio Sewer District is seeking feedback on their restoration plan to convert Horseshoe Lake into a more natural state - with a meandering creeks and wet areas that will absorb storm water. The plan has opponents who would like to see Horseshoe Lake stay a lake. NEORSD has asked for feedback on how people use the park and what they would like to see there. Click HERE to read about the project. Click HERE then scroll down to complete the survey. SPEAK UP FOR BIRDS!
- Kirtland Bird Club fielded 2 teams for the 8th annual Chagrin River Watershed Bird Quest, which took place for 24 hours between Friday, September 9th and 4 PM and Saturday, September 10th at 4 PM. One of our teams recorded 62 species of birds. The winning team saw 84 species! Good fun was had by all! It was a great opportunity to see Fall migrants - consider joining the Quest next year!
- LIGHTS OUT CLEVELAND is up and running again - literally! Kirtland Bird Club Board member Anna Kozlenko is up before the sun and almost running (as she says) 6-7 miles every Tuesday morning during Fall migration collecting dead and injured birds. She does this Tuesdays with 5 other volunteers. Other days there are other volunteers. Some volunteers go this 2-3 times a week, but there is still a need for more volunteers! Injured birds are taken to Lake Erie Nature and Science Center to try to save them. Dead birds are taken to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History for further study. Learn about Lights Out Cleveland HERE or watch the video in the next section of this page below.
- KBC members Julie West and Patty Kellner staffed a table at the Summer "Family Reunion" Cookout of our allies at Black Environmental Leaders! The event took place Saturday, September 3rd at Edgewater Park. We continue look for opportunities to support organizations making birding opportunities accessible and welcoming to marginalized communities.
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Reminders from the American Birding Association: |
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WELCOME! KBC welcomes all people interested in birds - regardless of gender identity, sexual preference, ethnicity, skin color, age, or skill level. All of our regular programs are free. |
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ABOUT KBC
Kirtland Bird Club was founded in 1940 and named after Dr. Jared Kirtland who is the namesake for Kirtland Warbler.
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JOIN KBC $20 Single Membership
$30 Family Membership $10 Student Membership |
DONATE TO KBC
KBC is a 501c3 nonprofit member-based organization. Donations and memberships are fully tax-deductible.
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