Wahkeena Nature Preserve
"… to be used for nature study and as a preserve for birds and other wildlife."- Carmen Hambleton Warner
Category: Uncategorized
Spring Happenings Volume 2
Above: marsh marigold While the weather has been wild and variable lately, spring is moving along! It seems as though cold weather is mostly behind us, and the flora and fauna know it. A second round of toads are calling as I write, and… Continue Reading “Spring Happenings Volume 2”
Enter: Broad-headed Skink
In an unexpected act of fortune and happenstance, a new reptile has been added to Wahkeena’s list of animal species! Three summers prior, I visited Wahkeena for the first time, looking to photograph the enchanting and ephemeral pink lady’s slipper. Temps were mild and… Continue Reading “Enter: Broad-headed Skink”
Toad-ally Awesome
While a few stray peepers continue to call, before the temperature dropped this week, it was the American Toad that serenaded the outdoor listener. Dozens of these warty amphibians welcomed us Sunday evening as the waning sun did its best to penetrate the overcast… Continue Reading “Toad-ally Awesome”
Spring Happenings Volume 1
Spring is here, and all around the preserve, wildflowers are taking note. March 29th saw our very first bloodroot and spring beauties open for the sun, but others have been in bloom for some time. Carmen’s vinca, glory of the snow, and many different… Continue Reading “Spring Happenings Volume 1”
Salamander Season
Above: spotted salamander, Ambystoma maculatum. Lizard? Worm? Something in between? Salamanders, like frogs and toads, are amphibians. Despite their mild superficial resemblance to lizards, they aren’t reptiles – though they are cold-blooded. As ectotherms, their activity is limited by temperature; in the winter, they’re… Continue Reading “Salamander Season”
Spring 2024
The wildflowers are reaching their peak, and the native azaleas are coming into bloom, including Flame azalea pictured above. Warbler migration is in progress with new arrivals daily. The woodlands are filled with the sound of Wood Thrush, Kentucky and Hooded warblers, Red-eyed vireo,… Continue Reading “Spring 2024”
Naturalist Notes- A Trembling of Finches
Just as their name implies, Pine Siskins feed on seeds from pines and other conifers. This finch ranges erratically across North America, common in Ohio one winter, then completely absent the next. Watch (and listen) for large flocks of Siskins feeding in conifers, or… Continue Reading “Naturalist Notes- A Trembling of Finches”
Naturalist Notes- You Make My Head Spin!
Hey Valentine! You make my head spin! The Eastern screech is one of Ohio’s most common owls. Heavily reliant on nesting cavities, any habitat with plenty of trees is likely to contain one of these inconspicuous owls. Around this time of year, late February,… Continue Reading “Naturalist Notes- You Make My Head Spin!”
Captured on the Trail Cam
Earlier this summer, Wahkeena’s staff partnered with a grad student from Ohio University who was collecting data on bobcat DNA, and their population numbers in Southeastern Ohio. Although several bobcat sightings have been reported nearby, we have never confirmed a sighting here at Wahkeena.… Continue Reading “Captured on the Trail Cam”
Hey…what’s that white stuff?
The predicted 1-2 inch snow has become 5 inches and counting. This morning saw white-out conditions with visibility at a couple of feet!