Akron author Ann McClain Roher has spent 10 years observing the black-capped chickadee, including a nearly four-year span with an individual alpha male she came to know as Mr. Picky. Her book, “Mr. Picky and Me,” is a detailed account of the chickadee’s life and behavior. The program she will present, “Lessons From a Master Chickadee,” will relate little known facts about the black-capped chickadee from the perspective of the flock.  Come and learn about one of your favorite feeder visitors.

What do you think about when someone says ANTS?  Picnics? Ants in the pants? Getting out the bug spray? Believe it or not ants are a tremendously important part of an ecosystem.  Kal Ivanov, from Cleveland State University, is working on an ant survey in the Metroparks and will enlighten us on what he has found, along with information on how an ant survey is done and some fascinating ant facts. So bring your aunt, uncle and the rest of the gang to the program, “Ants in Our Backyard.” 

Non-native parrots in part of a San Francisco neighborhood. People who want the birds to stay and others who want them removed … all add up in the film, “The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill”. Winner of the “Best Independent Film” Award from the International Wildlife Film Festival and the Genesis Award for “Outstanding Documentary Feature” from the Humane Society of the United States, the film reveals a mix of emotions about the parrots, cherry-headed conures, and people. Whether two-winged or two legged, each character in the movie has its own personality.  Reviewers say it is a “must see!” 

2008 is the Year of the Frog or will it be the year of the frog’s disappearance?  Join Katherine Krynak, Cleveland Metropark’s Zoo Rainforest amphibian caretaker, on her journeys to save amphibians.  Her program, “Is the Global Amphibian Crisis a Global Warning?”, will inform us about the rapid extinctions of amphibians, how these extinctions affect our lives and what every individual can do to help change the course.  We all can make a difference.

The “Lake-to-Lake” All Purpose Trail is a unique opportunity to connect two of the most important wetland resources in the Metroparks or anywhere in Cuyahoga Co., Lake Abram and Lake Isaac.  Metroparks’ Senior Park Planner, James Kastelic, will present the program, “Cleveland Metropark’s Lake to Lake Trail”, to share information on how this 1.6 mile trail will bring together geologic, natural and cultural features as well as potential for linking the neighborhoods, academic and health facilities.  Plus it is an important component of the Rocky River watershed 

The Rocky River Important Bird Area project has been underway for two years.  Bird surveys began the first year with many WCAS volunteers, now vegetation surveys, vernal pool monitoring and more has been happening to assess the health of the Rocky River watershed’s habitats.  Tom Romito, president of WCAS and champion of the project, will update us on what has been found thus far, how everyone in the Rocky River watershed can be involved AND plans for the 2008 season in the program, “The Rocky River: It’s for the Birds”.

Professor Sharon Lynn of the Biology Dept. of The College of Wooster shares this bluebird evening with Dean Sheldon (OBS/Firelands Audubon member from Greenwich).  The program, “Blue COWS”, considers the use of Eastern Bluebird trail monitoring in giving Wooster biology students insights into standard scientific research techniques.  Well over 80 nest boxes in southern Huron and northwestern Ashland counties have been utilized in these studies since mid-summer 2006.  Be prepared for a delightful, illustrated presentation dealing with “summer school for bluebirds.”