Project FeederWatch 2009-2010!

It's on!

Project FeederWatch has begun for the 2009-2010 season and after just one day of counting, Darke County Parks has already logged 18 species and more than 60 individuals at our feeders!

Project FeederWatch is a citizen science program managed by Cornell University in which they study the winter populations of feeder-birds across the US. This is a great program that allows anyone who is interested in birds to spend a few minutes a day watching birds and helping scientists!

Feel free to join us each and every Tuesday and Wednesday from 9:30-11:30am at the Nature Center as we sharpen your birding skills while enjoying some fresh coffee, snacks and plenty of birds!

Fall Colors are Popping!

The autumn colors are at peak at Shawnee Prairie Preserve. With the rain today, many have fallen, but many more are still providing simply stunning displays of colors.

NOW is the time to take a quick hike and see this in person. So, without further delay, grab your camera, grab friends/family and head on out to your favorite Darke County Park!

Golden-red Sugar Maple Leaves

Blazing red-orange Oak Leaves

Views of the Log House

Come on now... shut down that computer and get to a Park. =)

Just a few upcoming programs to remind you about:

Habitat Healing with the Junior Naturalists

Saturday, Oct. 24th, 1-3:30pm

Do you know a 10-12 year old that loves the outdoors? Does he or she spend time wandering your woods or exploring your backyard? If you know a little nature lover, then Darke County Parks has a great opportunity available. Junior Naturalists is a series of monthly programs designed to give children a hands-on introduction to natural resource management.

Pre-register your child today for October’s Junior Naturalist program. Join us, Saturday October 24 from 1-3:30pm. The focus this month is “Habitat Healers”. The participants will learn about invasive plants and then head outside to do some habitat healing. Under Naturalist direction and supervision, the children will be removing plants that are not native to Ohio and clear a path for native plants to thrive. A materials fee of $4 is charged for each program and pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, contact Darke County Parks at 937-548-0165.

Park Explorations

Saturday, Nov. 7th 10a-4p

Grab a seat in the ‘great white van’ and let’s hit the trails. Darke County Parks invites you to join Naturalists for an Exploration of the Parks on Saturday November 7 from 10am-4pm. We’ll start at Shawnee Prairie Preserve and tour the county stopping at every Darke County Park along the way. Wear comfortable hiking shoes, bring a sack lunch, your camera and water; it’s going to be a busy and exciting day spent in the out of doors! Pre-registration is required as seating is limited. For more information or to register contact Darke County Parks at 937-548-0165

The Fungus Among Us

Feel like a fall walk in the woods? Look forward to joining Darke County Parks Naturalists for a Fungus Hike at Routzong Preserve on Thursday October 8 at 5:30pm. We will scour the trails at Routzong in search of fall mushrooms dotting the woodland floor. Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of fungus and can be colorful and quite beautiful to identify. From sponges to gills, mushrooms are as fascinating as their names imply! Routzong Preserve is located on Routzong Road east of Greenville. For more information, please contact Darke County Parks at 937-548-0165.

Prairie Days 2009!

PRAIRIE DAYS 2009

IS THIS

WEEKEND!!!

Prairie Days, held on September 26 & 27 is the BIGGEST event of the year for Darke County Parks! In years past we've had over 3,000 people visit this FREE family fun event held at Shawnee Prairie Preserve. There will be foods, crafts, games for the kids, vendors and demonstrations scattered around the Log House all which will give you and your family a glimpse of Pioneer Life in the 1790's!

Hours will be Saturday 10am-4pm and Sunday 12pm-4pm. A schedule of events will be online at our website. The current updated forecast from weather.com is showing highs in the low 70's and only a 20% chance of precipitation! PERFECT weather for a festival!

Start the fall season off with a bang and head on out to Shawnee Prairie Preserve, located just outside of Greenville on OH-502 for this fun-filled event! Did we mention that Parking and Admission are FREE?!

For more info on Prairie Days 2009,

check out our Facebook (here).

9/15/09 Early Morning Discovery Hike 'Report'

Good morning!

September 15th's Early Morning Discovery Hike was a wonderful morning for a hike! The weather was nice and cool, the sun was shining, fall colors were abundant and the birds were singing. Ah, what a day for a hike!

As usual, we started off the hike with binoculars turned to the sky in search of feathered-friends. Without trying too hard, we had several species on our list even before we left the parking lot! The Red-tailed Hawk was perched in the dead branches of the maple at the top of the hill. This perch has apparently become a favorite, as he has been seen here 3 of the past 4 hikes, much to the smaller bird population's dis-pleasure! We also spotted lots of movement in the cedar trees and discovered a large flock of Cedar Waxwings! This flock was around 35 individuals and provided many good looks prior to their departure. Mixed in with the waxwings, we also spotted several House Finches and a lone female Rose-breasted Grosbeak (female picture). This grosbeak provided several glimpses of the yellowish underwings as she flitted from branch to branch and finally as she departed overhead.

As we made our way up the hill, our attention turned from the pair of Eastern Bluebirds to the autumn colors that are creeping into the landscape. A few of the "early changer" trees are beginning to show their fall colors with splashes of yellows and golds. Several species of Asters are blooming throughout the landscape. The Ohio Buckeye has dropped nearly all of it's leaves, and the rest are mostly brown. All around us nature is progressing towards the upcoming season! Check out some fall pictures from Shawnee Prairie Preserve HERE.

Don't be fooled by the chilly mornings... there are still plenty of opportunities for wonderful hikes providing plenty of autumn colors and sounds. We hope to see you at the next Early Morning Discovery Hike, Tuesdays at 8am at Shawnee Prairie Nature Center!

Also, don't forget...

PRAIRIE DAYS

September 26: 10a-4p

September 27: 12p-4p

The biggest event of Darke County Parks' year is right around the corner! If you've never been before, you've been missing out and if you have, come on back! We have been growing this event each year and once again we hope to grow with new games for the children, new crafts, new vendors and plenty of apple butter, Farmer Brown's and Downing Fruit Farm! For an idea at what else goes on and to get a brief "feel" for this wonderful weekend on the Prairie, check out our pics from last year's Prairie Days on Flickr HERE. We hope to see you there and remember...

Parking and Admission are FREE!

Apple Butter cooking over the fire; Pioneers in and around the Log House; Vendors displaying their wares; Tall-tales being told; Crafts to make; and the wonderful smell of Farmer Browns' and Downing Fruit Farm wafting through the air... must be time for Prairie Days 2009!
Stirring the Apple Butter kettle...

Bringing over 3,000 people to the park, this is THE EVENT of the year with Darke County Parks. Not only will there something for everyone in your party to enjoy, but admission and parking is FREE! Held the last weekend in September, this event focuses on the prairie way of life in the 1790's and will feature many crafts, games, vendors and trades of the time period.

Observing the Pioneer Garden

Be sure to join us Saturday, September 26th from 10am-4p and Sunday, September 27th from 12p-4p for the festivities!

For more information, please call the Nature Center at 937.548.0165 Also: We're still recruiting volunteers... give Laura a call at the number above and sign up today!