In this IssuePresident’s Message ....................2News Briefs .................................3Hunting, Economics ....................4Reconnecting the Corridor ..........5Boardwalk & Loosestrife ............6Marsh Hike ..................................7 Volunteers & Koalas ............... 8-9Monarch Tagging ................ 10-11

Beaver Creek Wetlands Association

The Spotted TurtleVolume 24, No. 4 Fall 2010

www.beavercreekwetlands.org

Young butterfly surveyors led by BCWA Trustees Mike Zimmerman and Lorie Burger. Full story on page 2. Read about butterfly tagging on pages 10-11.Photo by Chad Whilding

Remember BCWA in Combined Federal Campaign The Combined Federal Campaign is the annual fund-raising drive held each fall by federal employees in their workplace, raising millions of dollars each year and benefiting thousands of non-profit charities. For our members and friends who are federal employees, please note that BCWA’s CFC number is still 72199—for both the Miami Valley Combined Federal Campaign and for the Heart of Ohio Combined Federal Campaign. We also participate in the Cincinnati Metro area Combined Federal Campaign. CFC donations are a significant portion of BCWA’s annual income, and we appreciate the federal employees who contribute annually to our mission.

CFC # 72199

Midwest Native Plant Society donates to BCWAA special thank you goes out to the Midwest Native Plant Society who made a generous donation of $500 to the Beaver Creek Wetlands Associa-tion with the proceeds from their suc-cessful 2nd Annual Midwest Native Plant Conference held Aug 6-8, 2010.

Conference attendees got the unique opportunity to learn from experts about native land-scaping, forests, wetlands, and prairies, together with the diverse wildlife that lives in these native habitats, through lectures, field trips and workshops.

Mark your calendar for the next Midwest Native Plant Conference to be held July 8, 9 & 10, 2011 at the Bergamo Center located on the cam-pus of Mount St. John. For informa-tion go to the Midwest Native Plant Conference website at http://www.cincinnatibirds.com/mwnp/

2 Spotted Turtle—Fall 2010

President’s Message

Red-Spotted Purple Butterfly (top) and Black Swallowtail CaterpillarPhotos by Rob Evans

Something for EveryoneOn a hot July day the Beaver Creek Wetlands Association hosted the 2nd Annual Butterfly Survey at Siebenthaler Fen. Unlike last year, which featured storms right at the time of the walk, this was a beautifully hot and humid day perfect for finding all different kinds of butterflies. As we headed into the wet woods, the butterflies were elusive and could only be found in the upper reaches of the plants, hidden from view from the children attending the event. The adults were happily taking pictures, notifying hike leader Mike Zimmerman of the beautiful Red-spotted Purples and Monarchs they had found. The children were left to probe the depths of the high water around the boardwalk with the handles of the colorful butterfly nets they had brought.

As we cleared the elevated section of the boardwalk, there were squeals of delight as the first of the hundreds of Least Skippers, Summer Azures and Cabbage Whites were spotted by the children. Off they went, splashing through the flooded sections of the boardwalk, picking up tadpoles and running to hidden turns of the path to find more treasure. The children next uncovered a Monarch, recently emerged from its chrysalis, still vulnerable with hemolymph filling the forming wings. With the adults still trying to get down on their hands and knees to get a glimpse at this wonderful new Monarch, the children were off, yelling “another Least Skipper” as they turned the next corner and disappeared with only an occasional glimpse through the Joe-Pye Weed. Later, as the adults finally caught up, the children found a Black Swallowtail caterpillar and were admiring the tiny, orange, snake-tongue looking gland (called the osmeterium) that was being displayed at every touch of the caterpillar’s back.

As the group walked back to the parking lot, the discussion was all about the neat and exciting things that were discovered on this hike, most of which could never have been found without the children peering into the understory of the fen. It was indeed a great event that demonstrates all the wonderful things that can be found by everyone, children and adults.

The Butterfly Survey is one of Beaver Creek Wetlands Association’s many events to showcase different interests, features and locations of the Beaver Creek Wetlands corri-dor. Check the schedule for our planned hikes and special events like the recent “Spirits of the Marsh” at Fairborn Marsh and the “Monarch Tagging” at Koogler Wetland/Prairie Reserve. There is always something for everyone in the Beaver Creek Wetlands.

See you in the wetlands!

Rob EvansBCWA President

See this newsletter in full color online at www.beavercreekwetlands.org 3

Get out and VoteMid term elections are upon us. Please exercise your right to vote and let your feelings be known.

End of year givingDon’t forget that tax time is com-ing. Your charitable gifts to the BCWA are welcome and can be used as a deduction.

Upcoming eventsWatch our web page for upcoming volunteer events. We have proj-ects at Koogler Reserve, Fairborn Marsh, Creekside Reserve and Siebenthaler Fen. Info and contacts are on the webpages.

Membership ReportWe are doing well with a slight drop in membership but dues remain about the same as last year.

The program at both events, created and developed by Burger and Simmons who are full-time school teachers, was well-received by the children who excitedly par-ticipated in the interactive format. Burger reflected on the experience: “I’m very pleased that our presenta-tion elicits such good interaction from both the kids and adults.”

Groups or organizations interested in having a program or speaker about the Beaver Creek Wetlands can contact media@beavercreekwetlands.org or the administrator or officers listed on the contact page.

Making a Splash at the LibraryThe Beaver Creek Wetlands Associa-tion partnered with the Beavercreek and Fairborn branches of the Greene County Public Library to present a program on the Beaver Creek Wet-lands in conjunction with the summer children’s reading program “Make a Splash – Read!”

Held on separate days the event first met on July 8 at the Peace Luther-an Church social hall in Beavercreek where BCWA trustees Lorie Burger and Christina Simmons, co-chairwom-en of the Education Committee, were the presenters to 36 registered children plus parents and siblings. Then, on August 19, at the Fairborn branch Burger was joined by BCWA trustee Ann Byrd in presenting the program to 16 children and 8 adults.

In addition to a story about life in a wetland, there was a wetlands’ alphabet quiz with flannel graph, and each child made a “buzzing dragonfly” craft to take home. The children and their families also received handouts and book marks featuring the wet-lands.

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Spotted Turtle Name and Logo: Noted area wildlife artist Charley Harper generously donated the art for our logo in 1988. His work has been adopted by the National Park Service and is appre-ciated worldwide. Our newsletter recog-nizes the Spotted Turtle as an icon for the many rare animals and plants protected in the Beaver Creek Wetlands.

Submissions, Questions, or Comments: We rely on members likeyou to make this newsletter the product

Founded in 1988, the Mission of the Beaver Creek Wetlands Association is to protect the wetland ecosystem in the Beaver Creek watershed through partnerships, community networks, and public education.

of several diverse voices. If you have an article or a picture to include, please send them to admin@beavercreekwetlands.org. Also, we welcome any comments or questions. For submissions, questions, or comments, please include “newsletter” in the subject line of your e-mail. We reserve the right to edit for content or clarity.

Donations of Land/Easements: If you are interested in donating land, placing an easement on property, or re-membering the BCWA in your will, please

don’t hesitate to call the Beaver Creek Wetlands Association at (937) 320-9042.

BCWA Annual Report: Copies are available by request. E-mail the office at admin@beavercreekwetlands.org or call (937) 320-9042.

News Briefs

4 Spotted Turtle—Fall 2010

Economic impacts on conservation and what we can doWe all recognize that the world is going through an economic rough spot but perhaps you have not rec-ognized the impact this is having on the natural world. Locally, federal, state and local sources of revenue for parks have been slashed or sometimes essentially eliminated. While state, county and local park managers have streamlined by laying-off workers, hiring fewer seasonal helpers and put-ting off repairs the public still wants to enjoy the “free” services of these agencies. Yep, there really is “no free lunch”. To get things done, these park

districts and similar organizations are depending on volunteers. Volunteers still need supervision and with reduced staffs these agencies are in need of highly motivated and self starting volunteers. That is where the Beaver Creek Wetlands Association comes in. Since the BCWA is all-volunteer, it can fill in where needed. Our members pay dues, we get grants when they are available and we receive donations that can help defray small but essential expenses that public services can no longer provide. As an example, right now most people doing control of habitat-threatening invasive plants are volunteers.

It does not stop just at the local level. On a recent trip to Costa Rica, where a major part of their economy is based on ecotourism we learned that the forecast for ecotourism for the upcoming high season is bleak.

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Hunting Season

Just a reminder. Hunting season is upon us and while trekking, bird-watching and appreciating all those fall flowers please remember that some areas are open to hunting. In the Beaver Creek Wetlands areas owned and managed by the Ohio Depart-ment of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife south of New Germany Trebein Road are open to hunting. Of course many of our parks in the county are bordered by private farm-lands where hunting is by permission of the owners. Generally, hunting is not permitted on lands inside of city boundaries, like Fairborn or Beaver-creek, but just to be safe wear bright colored clothing when you are out and about no matter where you are.

Hunting for most game that is found around the Beaver Creek Wetlands is confined to the periods between September 1st and the end of January. There is a Wild Turkey season April 18 to May 15 as well. Trapping for mink, muskrat and bea-ver in our area can extend to the end of February, so be wary around water where traps may be set. Hunting is an

essential part of management in most natural areas. Without hunting, deer would over-graze vegetation and some of the rare plants we treasure would be at risk.

Hunters, be aware that there are hikers out there. The Division of Wildlife maintains wildlife areas for wildlife watching as well as hunting, trapping and fishing. High traffic areas like the Siebenthaler fen boardwalk pose a significant risk because game can be on the boardwalk or very close to it and because the boardwalk forms a loop you could be firing across the path used by people without knowing it. In addition, there are many private lands adjoining the hunting areas and you will need to be careful not to stray into those areas. Signage on the boundaries is not always visible especially after a strong growth season like the one this summer. Finally, the Division of Wildlife owns property in Fairborn City, all north of New Germany Trebein Road, and that area is a non-hunting area.

See ODNR website: Ohio hunting dates for details on hunting and trap-ping in Ohio.

Ecotourism does not just pay for the tour business and all the hotels and restaurants it also is a primary reason for Costa Rica’s strong environmental programs.

We can all help. What you do as a volunteer, what you give when you donate to conservation organizations is an essential part of the solution. If you are out of work you can’t afford to donate money, but you may be able to donate your time by volunteering (it is a kind of networking that may help find new jobs). If you do have a job, you have more options in both giving and volunteering. Just think about the environment and realize that whatever you are able to do can make an impor-tant difference during this economic bump in the road. —Jim Amon

See this newsletter in full color online at www.beavercreekwetlands.org 5

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Over the last 22 years BCWA has helped conserve 1700 acres along the Beaver Creek and Little Beaver Creek. Though there are still gaps, the majority of the land holdings connect to wetland sites. The more continuity there is along the corridor, the better it is for wildlife and flora—in a very measurable way.

Back in 1967, noted Harvard biologist E. O. Wilson came up with a handy rule of thumb to measure bio-diversity. From his studies of islands he and colleagues found that a tenfold increase in habitat supports double the number of species. Thus our Beaver Creek wetlands have probably been able to protect a growing number of species over the years.

Our wetlands sites don’t exist in a vacuum, and neighboring areas do extend the total habitat available. But those adjacent properties tend to look much different. You can see the sud-den changes in habitat from property

to property by browsing some of the online mapping websites. Google Maps and MapQuest may be the most familiar and easiest sites to use. Take a few minutes to study the corridor from above. Can you find your house in relation to the wetlands?

As properties have been subdivid-ed for different owners, those different users have caused sudden changes along boundaries, turning the terrain into a patchwork quilt. From the sky those abstract patterns may hold some beauty, but the level of plant and animal diversity is at risk from plot to plot.

Using the scale in the corner of Google Maps, I see that the Land Lab next to Beavercreek High School consists of two sections, each roughly 1000 feet to a side. Wikipedia tells me that an acre is a square 200 feet on a side. So I estimate the land lab covers roughly 40-50 acres. But it’s an island of greenery in a sea of housing.

By contrast, the wetlands corridor is a snaking line of habitat 500-1000 feet wide in most places. That habitat does vary quite a bit, but it tends to do so in long bands bordering the water-ways, whose boundaries ebb and flow with water levels and the seasons. So at least in theory, the corridor should hold many more species than the Land Lab.

Wilson’s rule of biodiversity means that as our wetlands corridor is restored, year by year it grows able to support more unique species. It also can support more individuals within a particular species. And as additional properties are included under the wetlands umbrella, we add even more biodiversity back into our area.

There’s plenty of room for im-provement. More nearby properties could be given conservation easements so those lands get treated consistently with the rest of the corridor. Proper-ties already under protection can be restored further, and areas already restored can grow in health and resil-ience over time. —Mark Martel

The value of reconnecting our wetlands corridor

Farms, houses, roads, businesses and more divide the landscape in a patchwork. Compared to the isolated BHS Land Lab, the greater continuity of our wetlands corridor helps reconnect natural habitats for most of its length. Light colored areas along the Little Beaver Creek mark the recent stream restoration work.Photo by Greene County GIS

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6 Spotted Turtle—Fall 2010

With beaver flooding the Siebenthaler boardwalk we needed to do something to get the slippery boardwalk back above water level. Some parts needed to be jacked up. Jim Amon found an old bumper jack at a local junk yard and that helped start the process but we needed to drive in some pilings and that turned out to be a real task. Richard Swigart used his connections (see Volunteer Report) to fashion a post driver that has been just what we needed. At Koogler Reserve a NEW

boardwalk is under construction and well on its way to providing a dry way to see the meadow where you would otherwise sink to your knees. Watch for updates on progress there.

The wet June weather produced prodigious growth around the Sieben-thaler boardwalk and crews have been out several times to keep vegetation from totally swamping the walkway. Winds earlier this year took down a couple of large trees onto the board-walk. One did some serious damage

and we plan to fix that whenever the beaver flood allows us to get under the walkway for repair. Vol-unteers also got into the water chest deep at the bridge to raise it up above the flood. Wow, what a fun time out there! Every time we have been out there, hikers pass by and say thanks for keeping this place great. We really appreciate that! —Jim Amon

Boardwalk Adventures

Can you find the beaver in this picture? (See above right.)

Purple Loosestrife ReportAlthough we have begun to use purple loosestrife-eating beetles to control the purple monster we are not there yet. So, this spring and summer have been used to actively use herbicides to control small isolated patches. At the beetle release site we have applied low concentrations of herbicide that will prevent seed formation without harm-ing the plants the beetles eat and will

Photo by Deb Adams

not harm the beetles. It will take up to five years to get the beetle-based bio-control effort established so, up until then we are stuck with the herbicide. We will probably have to go out and collect seeds from isolated patches of this weed this fall to prevent spread to adjacent areas and downstream sites.

Photo by Jim Amon

See this newsletter in full color online at www.beavercreekwetlands.org 7

Summer is winding down and some of the tasks that the Beaver Creek Wetlands Association has been working on all spring and sum-mer are starting to bear fruit. At Creekside Reserve we have planted over 1000 shrubs and trees. Trails have been cleared and widened at Koogler Reserve and Fairborn Marsh. A boardwalk has been lifted from the water at Siebenthaler Fen and another boardwalk is being cre-ated at Koogler Reserve. Through all of this, one task has always been present….the control of invasive plants that are a constant threat to diversity of the wetlands.

The fall is ideal for controlling certain invasive plants and to start making plans for keeping up the pressure on these invasives in to the spring. There are victories: thriving stands of Dogwoods liberated from Bush Honeysuckle, a marsh with no Purple Loosestrife nor Reed Canary Grass, the replacement of acres of Sweet-Flag with native plants.

This hike was a little different than most. We met at the Fairborn Marsh northern entrance at the end of Deer-creek Drive (Fawn Ridge community in Fairborn) at 7:30 PM when most people would be heading indoors to avoid the evening mosquitoes. The idea was to see what wetlands are like as dusk falls and perhaps see a few of the crepuscular (twilight ac-tive) animals.

We made a short trip to the large beaver pond at the northern end of the trail and stood on the beaver dam as a few brave souls walked knee deep into the mucky bottom pond to collect natural gas as it bubbled out of the decaying vegetation. Plastic peanut butter jars were filled with the gas for later examination. We looked for the beaver but saw mostly frogs, a couple of wood ducks, a great blue heron and some cedar waxwings. Geese coming in to spend the night honked and swallows flew about gobbling up the few mosquitoes and other insects. Although most people used DEET to ward off expected mosquitoes, we did not see or hear more than just a few of these wee beasts. We went back up toward the prairie and stopped in a dark wooded area. We slowly opened the peanut butter jars to let the swamp gases escape, mostly methane, and ignited them with a lighter. Woosh! a fireball jumped out of each jar and some-times lingered in its depths. I always wondered if a meteorological situ-ation might happen where methane might accumulate in a layer over the surface of the marsh and ignite with some stray spark? Of course dragons of yonder years had the methane thing down to a science—you know, methane generated in their rumens and pieces of flint and iron in their teeth—belch, grind their teeth and flame is produced. You didn’t know that? Another story for another time!

After our adolescent minor explosions we took the trail along

the marsh stopping by the fens that encircle the marsh and open water. Well, it used to be open water. Bea-vers that so nicely made that great pond robbed the marsh of water so that in the dry summer we have had, the standing water has all but disappeared. Mudflats have appeared and now are covered with green and beginning to show the bright yel-low blossoms of the nodding burr-marigold. We ended the hike with a walk through the upland prairie as the sky changed to shades of red and grew dark.

Watch our website for more hikes into the many paths and a few of the wilder places in the Beaver Creek Wetlands.

Read all over and in more colors too

Don’t forget—read the Newsletter on-line and in color. Save paper and mailing costs by letting us know you wish to receive your newsletter electronically. Email Bob at admin@beavercreekwetlands.org

We rely on our amazing volun-teers for the labor in removing these invasive plants and our generous members for the means to purchase the essential supplies to be used by these volunteers. We work together with other local and government organizations on the regional issue of invasive plants but many of these organizations have been impacted by budget restraints and are unable to maintain their full efforts.

Please give generously to keep up the pressure and ensure the continued health of your Beaver Creek Wetlands. BCWA is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. Your contri-butions are tax deductible.

Spirits of the Marsh Hike

Keeping up the pressure

8 Spotted Turtle—Fall 2010

Volunteer Activity Updates

Creekside/Hershner Reserves: There has been a season-long

planting party at Creekside Reserve! Even more trees and shrubs have been planted in three large areas impacted by the Little Beaver Creek restora-tion project. At two of these sites, the woodland edge was restored using a most satisfying method. A chainsaw-wielding volunteer led the way and took down the large honeysuckle shrubs along the woodland edge, followed by a couple more volunteers with loppers to remove the smaller shrubs. This crew was immediately followed by the remaining volunteers, who planted native gray dogwoods, bladdernuts, and spicebushes along the cleared edge. Voila! Instant results! Planting wound down in mid-July and maintenance activities resumed, with manual control of teasel and sweet flag at Hershner Reserve, and removal of honeysuckle, autumn olive, and Callery pear at Creekside. Volunteer crew under the direction of Don Geiger: Deb Adams, Skip Beehler, Ann Byrd, Bill Byrd, Jim Byrd, Aaron Deckard, Rob Evans, Debbie Karr, Jim Schneider, Richard Swigart with assistance from three Greene County Parks employees

Koogler Wetland/Prairie Reserve:

Several attempts were made to prepare the southern part of the trail for boardwalk construction this summer, but the area was found to be flooded from logjams and “trash jams” blocking the creek in multiple places. Attention was diverted from the intended task to clear trash from the creek. So plans were changed, and boardwalk construction is now underway on the northern part of the trail, with the first posts set. One crew

concentrated on setting posts, while another crew worked on clearing the prairie of woody invasive plants, such as honeysuckle, autumn olive, and Callery pear. Volunteers under the

direction of Rob Evans: Deb Adams, Jim Amon, Skip Beehler, Bill Byrd, Lois Gschwender, Debbie Karr, Sue Rytel, Jim Schneider, Dave Scott, Richard Swigart

BCWA President Rob Evans takes his turn with the post driver to install a new boardwalk at the Koogler Wetland/Prairie Reserve as Bill Byrd (left) and Skip Beehler (right) monitor the progress.Photo by Richard Swigart

See this newsletter in full color online at www.beavercreekwetlands.org 9

Siebenthaler Fen: Many portions of the loop board-

walk (including the bridge) have been submerged since winter. This is due to water backed up by a large beaver dam on the main channel of the Beaver Creek about 300’ north of Fairground Road. With much effort on the part of the wet and muddy volunteer crew, the largest submerged sections and the bridge have been elevated above the water level. The rest of the volunteers worked to keep the boardwalk cleared of encroaching lush growth of the fen vegetation. Volunteers under the direction of Jim Amon: Deb Adams, Skip Beehler, Rob Evans, Bill Gruner, Jeremy Heath, Matt Hunt, Debbie Karr, Jim Schneider, Dave Scott, Susie Scott, Richard Swigart, Chad Whild-ing.

Special thanks go to Dave Lu-becki, who volunteered his time and expertise to craft a 4”x4” post driver from materials provided by BCWA. This custom-made post driver, weigh-ing 42 pounds, is being used for board-walk projects at both Siebenthaler Fen and Koogler Wetland/Prairie Reserve.

Festivals: Thanks to the following people

for working in our tent at the Fairborn Sweet Corn Festival and at the Beaver-creek Popcorn Festival. Bruce Ford; Susie Scott; Sue Rytel; Dave & Mary Townsley; David Shumway; Mike Zimmerman; Jim & Carol Amon; Mark Martel; Ann Byrd; Jim Maley; Lynn Reily; Debbie Karr; Jim Sch-neider; Deb Adams; Lois Gschwender; Rob Evans; Richard Swigart; Chad Whilding; Lorie Burger; Chris Sim-mons; Carol Graff; Doug Hull; Chris Martin; Sarah Workman.

A Native KoalaVolunteering has a lot of perks. Some are obvious, such as a sense of accomplishment and meeting some interesting and good people. The not so obvious ones include going places and seeing things that most people don’t get to experience. Working on various projects in different parks and preserves can, at times, lead to some interesting and different photo opportunities.

Leaving the woods at Koogler Wetland/Prairie Reserve after a day of attempting to establish a trail led to one such opportunity. As we were exiting the trail, one of the volun-teers, Debbie, noticed something that she had to share with the rest of the group. She was standing there, star-ing into a tree and giggling.

Most people are used to see-ing squirrels in trees but not Ohio’s largest ground squirrel. But there, approximately twelve feet above the ground, was a groundhog, sitting in a mulberry tree, eating mulberries and staring back at us. We all had to chuckle along with Debbie and, by mutual agreement, realized we were looking at the Ohio equivalent of the koala.

Having been raised in the country, I knew from first hand observation that ground hogs (Marmota monax, also known as woodchucks and whistlepigs) could climb, especially small trees and fences. Although I have to admit that I have never seen one that high in a tree before, and after years of getting strange looks from people when I would mention groundhogs in trees, I now had what I needed. I had pho-tographic proof that was obtained thanks to a day of volunteering in the woods with some interesting and observant people.—Richard Swigart

This groundhog really looks like a koala. At least a man on a galloping horse couldn’t tell the difference!Photo by Richard Swigart

> Volunteer Activities continued

10 Spotted Turtle—Fall 2010

‹Join the BCWA Today!

Choose your member level: $5 Student $10 Senior (60+) $15 Individual $25 Family

Please make your check payable to BCWA andmail to: BCWA, P.O. Box 42, Alpha, OH 45301

Name

Address

Phone

Email

Help reclaim our local wetlands corridor and restore it’s natural beauty and function. Your member dues fund land acquisition, education programs, habitat restoration and management of our preserve.

$35 Contributing $50 Supporting $100 Patron $1,000 Life

A 501(c)(3) land trust organization. Your donation is tax deductible.

Our Endowment Fund has grown to nearly $100,000 in little over two years. A recent bequest was left in the form of a life annuity. Such planned giving can result in tax savings and/or income to you, while leaving a legacy of conservation. The BCWA Endowment Fund is a permanent savings plan to help en-sure that BCWA continues to protect wetlands for future generations. The BCWA Endowment Fund may accept many types of planned, deferred, and outright gifts that can actually increase the value of your estate, enabling you to do more with what you leave for others. Spotted Turtle Society members include anyone who has made a gift to the Beaver Creek Wetlands Asso-ciation Endowment Fund.

I would like to learn more about gift options to help grow the Beaver Creek Wetlands Endowment Fund. Please contact me about planned giving.

I have already included BCWA in my estate planning. I would like to become a member of the Spotted Turtle Society.

I wish to make an outright gift payable to ‘”BCWA Endowment Fund”.

Please return to:Beaver Creek Wetlands AssociationAttn: Endowment CommitteeP.O.Box 42, Alpha, Ohio 45301

Endowment growth nurtured by bequests

For information on a variety of planned giving options, call or write to us, or contact The Dayton Foundation directly.

Name

Address

Phone

Email

Butterfly Tagging EventBCWA purchased 100 tags from Mon-arch Watch, based at the University of Kansas.

Data recorded for Monarch Watch included serial number from tag, date, whether the Monarch was wild or reared, whether the Monarch was male or female, and tagging location (city, state, zip code).

For tracking purposes, the tag-ger name for this program is “Beaver Creek Wetlands Association.” Data recorded will be posted on the website www.monarchwatch.org.

On the afternoon of the public pro-gram, 17 Monarchs were tagged and released; 6 female, 11 male. Tagging continued for a week after the public program until all tags had been used.

Totals:• 100 Monarchs were tagged• 99 “wild” Monarchs tagged at

Koogler + 1 “reared” Monarch tagged & released nearby

• 61 males, 39 females

Numbers tagged by date (those prior to the public event were for practice!)• 9/12 3• 9/15 6 • 9/18 17

(public program 2:30p-5p)• 9/19 12 (afternoon/early evening)• 9/20 13 (6p-7p)• 9/23 12 (6p-7p) (with assistance

from several BCWA trustees/admin/members)

• 9/24 7 (6p-7p) (overcast, with rain in area) (with assistance from BCWA trustees)

• 9/25 30 (2:30p-4:30p) (with assistance from a family of 4 who stopped to go for a walk!)

—Debbie Karr

P.S. After this was submitted Debbie and others brought the total to 100 butterflies tagged.

See this newsletter in full color online at www.beavercreekwetlands.org 11

Monarch Tagging!

On September 18 between 75 and 100 children and adults visited the Koogler Wetland/Prairie Reserve to capture, tag and release Monarch butterflies. Monarchs are the only butterflies to migrate to Mexico and tagging helps us better understand that trip. The bottom photo shows two similar but-terflies. A Viceroy butterfly on the left is identified by an extra stripe curving downward. Monarch butterfly, without the stripe, to its right, was the one we were looking for. The photo at right shows a tag applied to the wing of a Monarch just before release. Photos by Richard Swigart

PublisherOregon Printingwww.oregonprinting.com

WebmasterRob Evans

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U.S. POSTAGE PAIDALPHA, OHIO 45301PERMIT NUMBER 76

The Spotted Turtle | Volume 24, No. 4 | Fall 2010

OfficersRob Evans, PresidentSue Rytel, Vice PresidentDeborah Karr, SecretaryDoug Hull, Treasurer

TrusteesDeborah KarrEd PhillipsSusie ScottRichard SwigartSue RytelMike ZimmermanJim AmonLorie BurgerRob EvansMark MartelChristina SimmonsDeborrah Adams Ann Byrd Jim SchneiderSpotted Turtle EditorsJim and Carol AmonMark Martel

P.O. BOX 42ALPHA, OH 45301Return Service Requested

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Watch Your Mail!

Our Fall Fundraiser will be in your mail-box soon so please keep an eye out for it. The end of the year is a good time for many to make their tax-deductible charitable contributions. The economic downturn was also a downturn for our budget so we appreciate anything you can spare!