Natural Balance Coloring Book

This coloring book was created with the purpose that it would provide an entertaining and engaging way for people to learn about endangered native species, and the invaders that threaten them. All works are originals by Ohio artists Anne Whitfield, Bella Donoghue, and Eric Yeager. The research is drawn solely from reliable sources. Ecosystems are delicate and we must be aware of the harm we create, and do our best to restore our environment’s Natural Balance.

Bluehearts - Buchnera americana (Threatened)

A native Ohio species, Bluehearts live in sunny, rocky spots and bloom from June through September.

They are put at risk by overshading from nearby plants and trampling.

Bluehearts can be found in prairies, openings and woodlands, pastures, roadbanks, and occasionally even severely eroded slopes.

Small Whorled Pogonia -Isotria medeoloides (Threatened)

This pogonia prefers dry, wooded areas, with an open understory.

It can be found on slopes or near streams, populations are typically found to be 20 plants or less in an area.

The orchid only blooms for a few days, and then not even every year, producing 1-2 flowers per plant

They lose a great deal of habitat to urban development, and can also be damaged by trampling from human foot traffic.

Lakeside Daisy - Hymenoxys herbacea (Threatened)

These flowers need an open area with lots of sun and proximity to limestone to thrive.

Look for them in prairies and limestone crevasses; they are most at home in quarries along Lake Erie.

It is believed they once spanned most of midwest America but can now only be found in Ohio, Ontario, and Illinois.

Limestone quarrying and shoreline development are among the threats they face.

Buckthorn - Rhamnus cathartica (Invasive)

Common Buckthorn (or European Buckthorn) first brought to North America in the mid-1800s.

It can easily be found in fields, neglected areas, or climbing up fences or homes.

It grows and reproduces fast, often choking out native species, and its tough constitution makes it hard to remove.

In the wild plants can get up to 15 feet tall and the same wide.

Zebra Mussels - Dreissena polymorpha (Invasive)

The mussels’ ability to survive out of water for days at a time combined with the way they can firmly attach themselves to most surfaces ensures that they can cross the country on the bottoms of speed boats or even in piping.

Since their arrival in 1988 the Zebra mussel has invaded over 600 lakes and reservoirs in 30 different states.

They will even attach to other mussels, keeping them from eating and eventually killing them.

Round Goby - Neogobius melanostomus (Invasive)

Since its invasion in the mid-1900’s this goby has been rapidly growing in population — due mostly to its ability to reproduce multiple times a season — and beating out native fish for habitat and resources.

The Round Goby comes from the Black and Caspian seas and was brought to America in water ballast on trans-Atlantic ships.

They thrive in rocky areas and have been known to eat the eggs of native fish.

Sea Lamprey - Petromyzon marinus (Invasive)

Sea Lamprey are the only non-native lamprey species in Ohio, as well as the only one that poses a threat to native fish.

They are parasitic, and feed off living fish all their adult lives.

They require free flowing water and access to plant material when in larval stages.

In Ohio they can only be found in Lake Erie and its tributaries, but have done damage on the other Great Lakes.

Piping Plover - Charadrius melodus (Endangered)

The plovers prefer the shorelines of the Great Lakes, though they are seldom seen, due to a dwindling population.

In 2008 there were only 126 alive in the wild, which is 63 breeding pairs.

Increased human activity on beaches have dealt a serious blow to these shore-loving birds, and irregular water release from dams often destroy nests.

The shown bird is a chick; as it grows the feathers smooth out.

Karner Blue - Lycaeides melissa samuelis (Endangered)

In 1988 this vivid butterfly was actually extinct in Ohio until the Toledo zoo bred populations and re-released them into the Kitty Todd Nature Preserve, just barely saving Ohio populations.

Karner blue butterflies prefer oak savannas with lots of Blue Lupine, which is the only thing they can eat as caterpillars.

The loss of this host plant is the main cause of their endangerment, and they can only be found in Lucas County.

Massasauga - Sistrurus catenatus catenatus (Endangered)

The name Massasauga comes from the native Chippewa people and means “great river mouth”, due to its preference for swampy environments.

They are a type of rattlesnake and prey on small mammals.

Their decrease in numbers is mainly due to habitats being converted into farmland as well as other human disturbances.

Kirtland’s Warbler - Setophaga kirtlandii (Endangered)

This small Ohio songbird is often best identified by its bright yellow breast and lovely song; a song that has been heard less and less frequently over the years, as they drop rapidly in population.

Conservationists are using methods like controlled burning to increase the number of young Jack Pines, the tree on which the Warbler relies. They are also threatened by cowbirds, a common brood parasite.

Prickly Pear - Opuntia humifusa (Least Concern)

This flowering cactus may not seem like a likely candidate to be an Ohio native, but it can be found in the sandy areas of the northeast, as well as some southern pockets. So long as the soil has drainage, the cactus is happy.

It’s not called the Prickly Pear for no reason; if you can manage to skin it, both the fruit and the pads are edible. Some say it tastes like a cross between bubble gum and watermelon.

All artwork in this book is original work copyright(©) protected 2019.

Artists are Anne Whitfield, Bella Donoghue, and Eric Yeager.

Natural Balance Coloring Book

The research, design, publication, and donation of this coloring book were part of a Girl Scout Gold Award project and a capstone research project for the Delaware Area Career Center and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s joint Zoo School program, by Anne Whitfield, 2018-2019, Girl Scout Ambassador, Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland.