Where do they go? via Zoom
2024-11-13 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | OH
Back by popular demand! Zoom in to hear Dave Tomashefski speak:
Where Do They Go?
We love to watch pollinators visiting our flowers, but as the growing season ends, we may wonder about the pollinators’ lives away from the flowers. Where do they go to find shelter, and how can we modify our gardens to give these insects a home? This presentation explores the garden as though it were a city of pollinators with habitat features that we, the gardeners, can provide. Special emphasis will be given to winter shelter.
Dave Tomashefski, the Director of Education for Meadow City Native Plant Nursery, will speak on the importance of leaving the leaves, to the lives of butterflies, bees and moths – and so much more! By treating fall leaves and stems gently, we can improve the overwintering success of the pollinators we work so hard to attract.
Join the Zoom Presentation
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81271573092?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 812 7157 3092
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Owls of Ohio via Zoom
2024-11-21 19:00 - 20:00 | OH
12 species of owls have been spotted in Ohio. Several are residents, some are migrants, and a few are accidental visitors. Interesting owl trivia will be revealed. Some tips on how, when and where to spot owls will be shared. Presented by Jim Tomko.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZErcO2orT0qHN1qr97C6sA8wDZTB6H-aMey
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Wetland Birds of the Eastern U.S. via Zoom
2024-12-19 19:00 - 20:00 | OH
Wetlands are highly productive ecosystems that support aquatic AND terrestrial plants and animals. They provide nesting habitat for many species in the summer and resting/feeding habitat for migrating waterfowl and passerines in spring and fall. This presentation showcases iconic wetland species like egrets, herons, ibis and rails along with raptors, waterfowl, warblers and more. There is even a bonus section presenting insects, reptiles, amphibians and mammals that make their homes in wetlands.
Presented by Matt Valencic
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZclcOugpzojG9a74F2Wi4WsweXbTh6AXvFt
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Winter Solstice Hike Field Trip
2024-12-20 19:00 - 21:00 | Novak Sanctuary, 382 Townline Road, Mantua, OH, 44202, United States
Have you ever taken a night walk in the winter field and forest? The winter woods are quiet and peaceful if the weather is calm. It will restore and reset your inner peace. We will be celebrating one of the longest nights of the year with this winter night hike. Let us hope that the stars and moon will shine brightly through the cool clear atmosphere and know that we have a chance at hearing an owl or a coyote singing to the moon. Meet at the Novak Sanctuary parking lot on the east side of Townline Road a little less than a mile north of State Route 82 in Aurora.

Winter Sowing via Zoom
2025-01-08 12:00 - 13:00 | OH
Winter sowing is a germination method starting seeds outdoors in an enclosed container in winter. Sowing native seeds in January is a fantastic way to kickstart your spring garden! Winter sowing offers the unique advantage of giving your plants a head start, allowing them to grow and develop faster than those sown in the spring. By planting seeds in an enclosed container, you can place them outdoors where they will benefit from a cozy micro-environment that helps accelerate both germination and growth. This seed sowing presentation will provide you with the knowledge and techniques needed to sow seeds effectively and successfully. Presented by the Natural Resources team at the Nature Center of Shaker Lakes.
Join the Zoom Presentation:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82474073716?pwd=
[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 824 7407 3716
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Nature in My Backyard is a program of the
Audubon Society of Greater Cleveland and the Shaker Lakes Garden Club.

Sparrows & Finches of NE Ohio via Zoom
2025-01-16 19:00 - 20:00 | OH
Due to an unexpected scheduling conflict, this program has been changed to: “LBJs: Sparrows & Finches of NE Ohio.”
Little Brown Jobs! That’s how many of us identify sparrows and finches, mostly because they are LBJs! But each of the 28 species we find in NE Ohio has one or more features to help lead to its identity. Through lots of photographs this program introduces you to these small birds, where to find them, when to expect to see them, and how to separate them from similar species. It’s time to put a name to the face! About 1-hour. Presented by Matt Valencic.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIof-2vqjMvHdCOTdNohYmMrHl767MgbzgW
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Winter Track Walk Field Trip
2025-01-18 09:00 - 11:00 | Novak Sanctuary, 382 Townline Road, Mantua, OH, 44202, United States
Our resident wildlife use our trails too! Due to their nocturnal nature or their skittish wariness, we rarely see them but they do leave evidence behind. You may help me discover “who” walked the trail ahead of us. Let’s hope for a thin coating of new fallen snow for them to register their marks on the path. Meet at the Novak Sanctuary parking lot on the east side of Townline Road about a mile north of State Route 82 on the Aurora/Mantua border. Please wear waterproof footwear.

Will it be beautiful? via Zoom
2025-02-12 12:00 - 13:00 | OH
Steve Cagan lives in Cleveland Heights, and shares birding, native plants and vegetable gardening with his wife, Beth. His avian photography and the images from his garden are by-products of a long-standing love of nature and birding. He will present a look through the year at the engaging beauty of his native garden.
Steve has exhibited and published photography on four continents and has published reviews and critical writings in variety of professional journals and books. Major awards include two Fulbright Fellowships, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, and several Ohio Arts Council Fellowships and New Jersey Arts Council Fellowships. Steve taught photography at Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University, 1985-1993.
Register HERE.

Great Backyard Bird Count Field Trip
2025-02-16 08:30 - 11:00 | Aurora Audubon Sanctuary, 896 E. Pioneer Trail, Aurora, OH, 44202, United States
This fun international bird count also helps us achieve our annual winter bird survey and contributes to the statistics managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in collaberation with National Audubon and Birds Canada. All participants are welcomed regardless of experience. We need young acute hearing ability to discover the Brown Creepers, Golden-crowned Kinglets, and Cedar Waxwings. Please dress for the weather with proper footwear for a 2-mile saunter that lasts about 2.5 hours. Meet at the Bretschneider Park parking lot on the north side of Pioneer Trail a few hundred yards east of Page Rd. in Aurora.

A Bird's Eye View via Zoom
2025-02-20 19:00 - 20:00 | OH
A Birds Eye View: The Sensory World of Birds
Did you know that a bird’s eyesight is more than seven times keener than yours? Birds experience the sights, sounds, and smells of the world in a radically different way than we do. Learn about some of the amazing ways birds make sense of their environment.
Presented by Dr. Sarah Mabey.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/EFxS25tMRSS0Ev4bP8zJ2w
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Planting for the Planet 101 via Zoom
2025-03-12 12:00 - 13:00 | OH
Don’t miss our next Brown Bagging it in My Backyard Zoom talk on Wednesday, March 12 at noon. Zoom in to hear Citizen Scientist John Barber’s talk Planting for the Planet 101. As the climate emergency brings awareness that nature exists in our own yards, not only in parks, people are looking for a new way to garden. John Barber will present practical ideas about how to begin, or continue, to increase habitat and reduce lawn in your own green space.
Visit our website at https:natureinmybackyard.clevelandaudubon.org to register.

Insects in the Forest Canopy via Zoom
2025-03-20 19:00 - 20:00 | OH
Insect interactions high in the canopy of a forest have largely remained a mystery. To understand what’s happening in and above the canopy, one must visit it. Here, I focus on how accessing, quantifying, and inferring ecological interactions in and above the forest canopy alters our understanding of forest insect ecology and end with a participatory discussion on a novel project design.
REGISTRATION LINK:
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/vrbQnxE7RumQBq_A2iCU2w
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Waterfowl Wander Field Trip
2025-03-22 08:30 - 12:00 | La Due Reservoir, La Due Reservoir, Akron, OH, United States
Many waterfowl are speeding their way north to breeding grounds with the drakes sporting their spectacular, breeding plumage. Most of them will cause you to gasp in amazement! They are only passing through so now is the time to get out and see them. This is a caravan-style birding tour where we will stop at several favorite lakes and ponds in southern Geauga and northern Portage counties. Make sure to have a full tank of gas because gas stations are not one of our stops. If the group desires, we will stop for lunch at the end of the tour. Meet at the boat ramp parking lot at the end of Washington Street off of St. Rt. 44 in Auburn Corners.

Warbler Warm-up Various
2025-04-11 13:00 - 14:00 | OH
Warbler Warm Up
Gates Mills Library April 11 @ 1:00pm
West Wood Nature Center April 13 @ 2:00pm
Some of the prettiest birds on the planet are in NE Ohio from April through October. Most just pass-through during May on their way north, but some stay here to have their babies. Because we only see them for a short time every year, we forget how to quickly identify them. This presentation uses actual photographs to help group birds by appearance, behaviors and preferred habitat. About 1 ¼ hours in length.
(Gates Mills Library, 1491 Chagrin River Road, Gates Mills, OH)
(West Woods Nature Center, 9465 Kinsman Road (Rt. 87), Novelty, OH)

Native Plants for Birds, Insects & Biodiversity Program
2025-04-11 13:00 - 14:00 | The Wilderness Center, 9877 Alabama Ave. SW, Wilmot, OH, 44689
April 11, 2025 @ 1:00pm
Native Plants for Birds, Insects and Biodiversity
The Wilderness Center, Wilmot, OH
Birds, insects and native plants are inextricably linked in nature. Whatever happens to one will have an effect on the others. This talk explains those relationships, then shows you ways to enhance your personal landscape for birds, insects, or just for the beauty of native plants. Lots of pictures of birds, insects and native plants (flowering plants, trees and shrubs). Directions provided to download handouts from our website. About 1-hour in length.

Woodcock Watch Field Trip
2025-04-12 19:30 - 21:30 | Novak Sanctuary, 382 Townline Road, Mantua, OH, 44202, United States
Take an evening to be amazed at the courtship ritual of the Timberdoodle. These upland shorebirds are some of the earliest breeders and the males do a wonderful dance followed by a fantastic flight display to woo the females just as darkness falls. Dress for the weather with footgear able to withstand wet meadow terrain and meet at the Novak Sanctuary Parking lot on the east side of Townline Road about a mile north of State Route 82 on the Aurora/Mantua border.

Birds of NE Ohio Various
2025-04-14 18:30 - 19:30 | OH
Birds of NE Ohio
Mentor Public Library April 14 @ 6:30pm
North Royalton Library April 15 @ 7:00pm
Over 230 species of birds can be found in NE Ohio in a typical year. Some are year-round residents and others just pass through on their way to the Boreal Forests of Canada. Others fly across the Gulf of Mexico non-stop to have their babies in our back yards! Get a close look at 100 of the most common residents, migrants and breeding birds of NE Ohio and learn where and when to find them. Approximately 1 hour in length.
(Mentor Public Library, 8215 Mentor Avenue, Mentor, OH)
(North Royalton Library, 5071 Wallings Road, North Royalton, OH)

Warbler Warm-up via Zoom
2025-04-17 19:00 - 20:00 | OH
The prettiest birds on the planet will be arriving in Ohio during April and May. Whether you are a new birder or a veteran, join us to polish your I.D. skills or to just enjoy the beautiful pictures. Many tips on separating similar species. Handouts on our website after the program.
REGISTRATION LINK:
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/54k2GQNRSGm8zc_hygwCNQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Annual Series Spring Bird Walks Field Trip
2025-05-04 07:30 - 09:30 | Aurora Audubon Sanctuary, 896 E. Pioneer Trail, Aurora, OH, 44202, United States
These are fun walks where novices and seasoned veterans share techniques and advice on birding (my advice is to wear mud boots!). I hope you can join in on one of the many walks this spring in the Cleveland/Akron area. The last one in this series is Sunday May 18th at 7:30 A.M. Check out our website for a complete list of locations.

Save the World! via Zoom
2025-05-15 19:00 - 20:00 | OH
If you’ve ever felt there is nothing you can do to help solve some of our world’s environmental realities, this talk is for you. Harvey Webster shows us how beautifying our personal landscapes with more native trees, shrubs, grasses and flowering plants helps restore habitat for the multitude of creatures that live there and contribute to increasing biological biodiversity in our communities and ultimately the world.
REGISTRATION LINK:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/m8Itca5ERp2aZBB1YopdEg
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

A conversation with... via Zoom
2025-06-11 12:00 - 13:00 | OH
A Conversation with Ginger Woolridge and Harvey Webster
Ginger and Harvey will engage in a wide-ranging conversation about native trees and shrubs and their importance, sustainability, conservation at home and how to support native biodiversity in your yards and communities. You won’t want to miss it.
Ginger Woolridge is an author, speaker and landscape consultant with a long-held focus on the health of our environment. In 2018, she and Tony Dove, a retired Smithsonian Institution horticulturist, published Essential Native Trees and Shrubs for the Eastern United States. The book provides a useful guide to many of the native woody plants that support our diminishing insect and bird populations.
Ms. Woolridge earned a BS in Landscape Architecture from the Penn State University and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She is a Master Naturalist and served for 10 years on the board of a Maryland-based Smart Growth Advocacy group. A current focus is the protection of native flora, especially our canopy trees. These plants are threatened by out of balance deer populations and an epidemic of invasive plants, some of which continue to be sold in garden centers. To this end, in 2023, she cofounded the Annapolis based non-profit, Save Our Trees. www.saveourtreestogether.org Through action, education and advocacy, the group helps our city, county, communities and individuals save our woodlands from fatal vine infestations.
Nature in my Backyard is a program of the Audubon Society of Greater Cleveland, the Shaker Lakes Garden Club and the Master Gardeners of Cuyahoga County.
To join the Zoom presentation please visit
www.natureinmybackyard.clevelandaudubon.org/programs

Annual Dinner & Meeting Program
2025-06-14 15:00 - 19:00 | Veterans Legacy Woods, 14085 Ravenna Rd, Newbury Township, OH, 44065, United States
On June 14th, we will celebrate our members and volunteers at our Annual Dinner and Meeting at the beautiful Veteran’s Legacy Woods in Geauga County
(14085 Ravenna Road in Newbury).
We will enjoy a wonderful walk in the woods starting at 3pm, followed by fellowship and a short business meeting.
Dinner will be served at about 5:30pm.
T h e evening will be topped off with renowned naturalist and fabulous speaker, Judy Semroc! She will entertain us with tales of the amazing chimney swifts and other fascinating
observations through an expert naturalist’s eye.
Please make your reservations today! $35 per person.
Mail a check and the names of everyone
in your party to:
ASGC Annual Dinner P.O. Box 391037, Solon, OH 44139
Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Good Bug - Bad Bug via Zoom
2025-07-09 12:00 - 13:00 | OH
Learn about increasing biodiversity in our landscapes to attract more beneficial insects and help control insect pests. We achieve these goals by removing non-native invasive plants, and adding a variety of native flowers, shrubs and trees that beautify our yards throughout the growing season. More native plants will also attract more butterflies and birds for you to enjoy.
You decide what you want it to look like and what plants you prefer. A list of resources will be provided, or you can invite the team at Nature in My Backyard to help.
Matt Valencic is a Master Gardener of Geauga County and Chair of the Education Committee of the Audubon Society of Greater Cleveland.
To join the Zoom presentation please visit
www.natureinmybackyard.clevelandaudubon.org/programs

Twilight Hike Field Trip
2025-07-25 19:30 - 21:00 | Aurora Audubon Sanctuary, 896 E. Pioneer Trail, Aurora, OH, 44202, United States
As the summer heat wanes the evening creatures begin to stir and make their appearance. Day-time creatures seek a place to roost or spend the night. Owls may call, raccoons may argue, fox may bark and coyotes may howl. Let’s see what we can turn up! Meet at the Aurora Sanctuary/Brettschneider Park parking lot located on the north side of Pioneer trail few hundred yards east of Page Road in Aurora. (896 East Pioneer Trail Aurora, OH 44202)

Gardening for a Concert via Zoom
2025-08-13 12:00 - 13:00 | OH
From bird songs in the spring and summer to an evening chorus of
crickets and katydids in late summer into fall, we can invite and
welcome nature’s chorus into our yards and gardens. A large park may
have a full-sized orchestra, but the intimacy of a chamber ensemble
singing close to our homes is also very rewarding. If we know what
the performers need to create their music, we can begin to provide a
setting in which they will thrive.
Lisa Rainsong holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition from
the Cleveland Institute of Music and is a member of CIM’s music
theory faculty. A soprano as well as a teacher and composer, she also
earned a Naturalist Certificate from the Cleveland Museum of Natural
History, where her study focused on field experience. She now teaches
birdsong, amphibian song, and insect song classes across the state
and does field recording of bird songs and insect songs. In addition,
she does field research on crickets and katydids – research work that
is done primarily by ear. Her recordings and photos can be found on her
blog, Listening in Nature at http://listeninginnature.blogspot.com
To join the Zoom presentation please visit
www.natureinmybackyard.clevelandaudubon.org/programs

Birding Workshop Program
2025-08-23 09:00 - 12:00 | Novak Education Center, 382 Townline Road, Aurora, OH, 44202, United States
The Chagrin River Bird Quest’s pre-event Birding Workshop! Update your skills or learn new ones in preparation for the upcoming Bird Quest on Sept 5-6. An hour presentation (approximately) will be followed by a bird walk in the Novak Sanctuary to practice what you learned.
Please register on-line for this event.

High Summer Hike Field Trip
2025-08-23 13:30 - 15:00 | Novak Sanctuary, 382 Townline Road, Mantua, OH, 44202, United States
Come and enjoy the progress of the “Invasive Species Warriors” work on reclaiming our fields and forest. Thanks to the beaver the marsh is successfully holding water allowing it to progress to its former character of years ago. Join us to observe the changes. Meet at the Novak Sanctuary Parking lot on the east side of Townline Rd. almost a mile north of Route 82 in Aurora. (382 Townline Rd. Aurora, OH 44202)

Bird Quest 2025
2025-09-05 16:00 - 2025-09-06 19:00 | The Rookery, 10110 Cedar Road, Munson Township, OH, 44026, United States
Save the date for this year’s Bird Quest, coming September 5 – 6! Our base of operations will be at The Rookery in Geauga County, same as last year. Please plan on joining us.
Registration now open!

Rooted for Success via Zoom
2025-09-10 12:00 - 13:00 | OH
Rooted for Success:
Tree Planting Best Practices
Tune in for Chad’s advice about proper tree-planting. Chad will walk you through best practices for selecting the right tree for your spot, choosing the healthiest nursery stock, and using proper planting techniques. You’ll also learn key tips for transplanting and how to give young trees the early care they need to thrive. Join us to grow your tree-planting know-how from the ground up!
Chad is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist and an ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist. He is also a Municipal Specialist and Tree Risk Assessment Qualified with the ISA, and an Ohio Licensed Commercial Applicator. Chad is passionate about providing high quality tree and shrub care with a goal towards preservation. He enjoys putting his expertise to use advising his clients about maintaining their landscapes.
To join the Zoom presentation please visit
www.natureinmybackyard.clevelandaudubon.org/programs

Confusing Fall Warblers via Zoom
2025-09-18 19:00 - 20:00 | OH
Many of our ‘Summer Birds’ molt before starting the long journey to their winter territories in Central and South America. Some of them look quite different in their ‘basic plumage’ while others look surprisingly similar. The young-of-the-year can also be confusing, often appearing like adult females. This talk will explore some of the differences with clues for recognizing birds that you might mistake for new species. Presented by Matt Valencic. About 1-hour in length.
Register in advance for this meeting.
When: Sep 18, 2025 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ifaqfYaCTQWEghyNhx4wzQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
