Hey everyone, if you want to get pumped up to go find and document bees, especially bumblebees, check out Dr. Mitchell's webinar here: https://u.osu.edu/beelab/the-ohio-bee-survey-in-search-of-the-rusty-patched-bumble-bee-with-randy-mitchell/. Some really important information about bumblebees and questions about the disappearance of the rusty-patched bumblebee from Ohio.
We are very excited about all the amazing things people have been seeing outside! As we all continue to enjoy the outdoors, we want to highlight some exciting things to look forward too and awesome places to checkout. To start, we want to encourage people to check out "Firefly Watch." This is another citizen science that maps where fireflies can be found throughout North America.
Do you want to learn to "speak" firefly and help scientists better understand these amazing bioluminescent insects? Project Firefly Watch is a citizen science project that has been mapping where fireflies flash their lights with the help of citizens throughout North America. You can do this anywhere, even your own backyard.
You can find everything you need at their website, including a chart that tells what kinds of fireflies you have based a pattern they follow when they flash. Check out the link here: https://www.massaudubon.org/g…/citizen-science/firefly-watch
Join us for a fungus-focused bioblitz foray on Sunday October 13th from 12:30 - 4:30.
We will meet at Monday Creek Restoration project office, Fungi expert Martha Bishop will lead the charge to a nearby spot on the Athens Unit of Wayne National Forest to explore, collect, and photograph mushrooms on the Wayne National Forest.
Email nessa@ruralaction.org to RSVP or with questions.
Monday Creek Restoration Project office address: 115 Main St. New Straitsville, Ohio 43766
These mushroom observations will contribute data to Rural Action's bioblitz of the WNF's Athens Unit (https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/wayne-national-forest-bioblitz-athens-unit).
Join us for a fungus-focused bioblitz foray on Sunday, August 25th from 12:30-4:30pm. We will meet at Rural Action's office at 19627 Walnut St in Trimble, Ohio 45782 and carpool from there. Fungi expert Martha Bishop will lead the charge to a nearby spot on the Athens Unit of Wayne National Forest. Contact Joe Brehm with questions at joe@ruralaction.org or (740) 767-2225.
Congrats to all-star @mlski for documenting a new insect for Morgan County, the Mocha Emerald dragonfly! Check out her observation at https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/27414197.
Thanks so much, everyone, and keep your eyes peeled out there!
Hey all,
Just a heads up we are doing a fungi-focused hike on the Wayne led by Martha Bishop on Sunday, April 14th from 1-4pm. We will meet at Rural Action's office at 19627 Walnut St. Trimble, OH 45782 and carpool/caravan about 15 minutes to the site. Email brett@ruralaction.org to RSVP or for more info. Thanks!
Happy New Year, everyone, and thank you so much for continuing to submit observations to our bioblitz of WNF's Athens Unit! It has been amazing to see images of our biodiversity and the data has generated so many more questions about the diversity of organisms in this landscape.
In 2019, I am very much looking forward to your photos and learning so much from you all! We are also developing some priorities for the year that will be helpful for the WNF's Forest Revision process. There are a few areas that, if you have the chance, it would be helpful to make observations. The first is the Big Bailey area--the Forest Service and partners are fundraising to build an 88-mile bike path through this area and it would be helpful to come the land for sensitive, threatened, and endangered species. I like to park at Big Bailey wetland off Carr Bailey Rd and wander along the creek or up the hillside. Driving up Utah Ridge Rd is also a great access point to some relatively remote forest.
The WNF is also gathering info for potential Wilderness designation of a couple of areas. Email me at joe@ruralaction.org to learn more about this, but one of the areas is the WNF land east of Wildcat Hollow Backpacking Trailhead. Finding endangered species in the area would help make a case for Wilderness designation.
Lastly, if you find American Ginseng, Goldenseal (aka Yellow Root), or Wild Ramps, please upload these photos but choose the "obscured" geo-privacy option, which will help prevent potential poaching of these valuable plants. Rural Action's Sustainable Forestry program monitors populations of these plants and could find more data about their locations useful.
Thanks to all of you, and especially to Brett Smith for being the architect behind this bioblitz. Don't hesitate to share the project with friends--we can use all of the data we can get!
Joe Brehm
We had an awesome event earlier this week thank to Diane Brooks! Diane was kind enough to let Rural Action host a mothing night on her property while also teaching everyone about the various insects we encountered. Make sure you visit Diane's page to see some incredible pictures of moths and other amazing critters!
