Chirp & Chatter

Full Dome Lasers To Light Up Planetarium

noreply@blogger.com (Lake Erie Nature & Science Center) — Wed, 07 May 2008 17:08:00 +0000

We're hearing a lot of good buzz about our all free Astronomy Day coming up this Saturday, May 10. Download a pdf schedule or check out details online and make plans to join us if you can.

Later in the month, we have a dazzling, new planetarium experience for our visitors! Lake Erie Nature & Science Center is excited to bring a limited run of award-winning, full-dome laser light shows to our Bay Village location in late May and June. The programs will feature Skylase laser technology, which combines animated lights, music and/or storytelling to create an experience that appeals to all ages.

Our public schedule of laser shows begins Saturday, May 24. You can visit the website page devoted to the Laser Lights for complete dates, times and details. You’ll note that our tickets will be priced very affordably compared to similar laser experiences available around the country.

One more FYI: if you're considering enrolling your K - 6 child in our June 17 - 20 Summer Space Camp, you're child will be happy to know that Skylase Lights will be on the roster of fun for that camp as well!

Baby Birds Babbling

noreply@blogger.com (Lake Erie Nature & Science Center) — Sun, 04 May 2008 12:50:00 +0000

The chirping sounds that fill the air this time of year are actually baby birds learning to "talk" ... just like human babies "babble" as they learn to communicate. That's the conclusion of new MIT research.
The study looked at the brains of baby zebra finches as they learned the unique song of their species by practicing or babbling almost non-stop. Enjoy the music of babbling baby birds this spring and remember Lake Erie Nature & Science Center is a resource if you have questions about baby wildlife in your backyard. Our most Frequently Asked Questions, including queries about nesting ducks and baby birds can be found on the Wildlife pages of our website.

Thanks for more than 7,000 volunteer hours!

noreply@blogger.com (Lake Erie Nature & Science Center) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:07:00 +0000

Lake Erie Nature & Science Center benefits each and every day from the helping hands of a generous corps of volunteers. More than 260 individuals logged more than 7,000 hours last year serving in a variety of roles around the Center. On any given day, you can find volunteers doing the "dirty work" of cleaning cages and feeding the animals, planning and pulling off spectacular special events, assisting our education staff in classrooms and at camps and scouting events, acting as live animal docents, sprucing up the building and grounds, answering telephones, raising funds and collecting in-kind donations and much, much more.

Our Volunteer Coordinator, Julie Mistur, is planning a week to honor our volunteers, starting Tuesday, April 29. We hope all of our wonderful supporters who give us the precious gift of their time will stop in to pick up a treat and to let us express our gratitude in person.

Thank you Lake Erie Nature & Science Center volunteers!!! We couldn't do it without you!!!

Check Us Out On WJW Fox 8

noreply@blogger.com (Lake Erie Nature & Science Center) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:21:00 +0000

Planetarium Director Jay Reynolds, Wildlife Director Dave Wolf and a variety of our wild animals were featured in a segment on That's Life today. Q104s Jen Toohey was focusing on cool, inexpensive stuff to do with the kids. We qualify on the cool and affordable fronts! You can watch the entire story online on the My Fox Cleveland website. Thanks to the very nice folks at Fox 8 for including us on their "best" list!

Schuele Planetarium Hosts Astronomy Day

noreply@blogger.com (Lake Erie Nature & Science Center) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:09:00 +0000

Come watch as space “chefs” mix together ingredients to whip up a comet on Astronomy Day, Saturday, May 10. You'll also enjoy free star shows in the Schuele Planetarium (first-come, first-served), take-home space crafts, a morning appearance by EVA the Inflatable Astronaut and afternoon insight from NASA on future Project Orion space missions. You can also peak through solar telescopes during the daytime or get nighttime telescope views, both weather permitting. If your own telescope is stuck in the back of the garage because you need some help figuring it out, the Cuyahoga Astronomical Association will host an interactive workshop with tips on using or buying a telescope. Head over to Special Events page at Lake Erie Nature & Science Center's website for the complete schedule of free events. See you May 10th!

Just Ducky!

noreply@blogger.com (Lake Erie Nature & Science Center) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:57:00 +0000

Look for big yellow ducks to spring up around Bay Village as we get closer to our Family Fun Fest and The Great Duck Race. Another outstanding Boy Scout volunteer, Corey Smith, made a number of the bright, duck-shaped signs to promote our annual summer event. All we need to do, is add the June 1 date and time (12 - 4 p.m.) and pound the stakes in the ground. That's Corey's Mom (left) and our Volunteer Coordinator Julie Mistur (right) pictured with Corey.

Surprising "Road Kill" Study From Indiana

noreply@blogger.com (Lake Erie Nature & Science Center) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 21:15:00 +0000

A study by scientists in Indiana turned up some surprising results according to an article about the "road kill" research posted on Discovery Channel news. Reporter Jennifer Viegas writes that the study "suggests some species, particularly amphibians, are so often victims of motorists that the phenomenon may help explain the decline of entire populations."
That observation is especially interesting during this "Year of the Frog." Lake Erie Nature & Science Center is partnering with wildlife and conservation organizations from all over Northeast Ohio on the Year of the Frog - Leap Into Action campaign, highlighting the plight of endangered amphibians and their shrinking habitat. You can read more about Leap Into Action (LIA) on a special website set up by the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Get your LIA passport stamped at our Family Fun Fest on June 1.

Kudos In Columbus

noreply@blogger.com (Lake Erie Nature & Science Center) — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:52:00 +0000

A delegation from Lake Erie Nature & Science Center was recognized on the floor of the Ohio Senate yesterday. Board President Patrick Mazur, Executive Director Larry Richardson, and Director of Fundraising and Community Relations, Renee Burslem were in Columbus for the day visiting with lawmakers. Head over to The Ohio Channel and click on the Ohio Senate video archives to play a recording of the Senate Session for Wednesday, April 16. The Center appreciates the welcome and support from our state lawmakers!

Learn More About Wildlife Babies

noreply@blogger.com (Lake Erie Nature & Science Center) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:30:00 +0000

It's spring wildlife baby season and that means our Wildlife Rehabilitation Department is at its busiest. Rehab Coordinator Megan Tadiello will take time to help teach your family about rehab and what to do if you encounter an animal baby in the wild at a special Meet An Animal program at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 26. This free, family friendly program, The Ins and Outs of Wildlife Rehab, will feature some of our resident wild animals that are unreleasable, former rehab patients.
You can also check out our flyer, "I found baby wildlife - does it need help" here. By the way, the answer that question is often, "no, it doesn't need your help." Our advice is always to call us first before intervening. Our rehabbers can be reached at 440-871-2900, ext. 204 between the hours of of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
One more tip on wild babies: a safe and fun way to experience wildlife babies up close is through live streaming video available online through reputable organizations. The Nature Conservancy has a cool live eagle's nest cam with two baby eaglets recently hatched in a preserve on Santa Cruz Island in California. Happy viewing!

That's Life At Lake Erie Nature & Science Center

noreply@blogger.com (Lake Erie Nature & Science Center) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:31:00 +0000

A crew from Fox 8, WJW-TV taped a segment for That's Life at Lake Erie Nature & Science Center this week. Q104's Jen Toohey talked to Planetarium Director Jay Reynolds and Wildlife Director Dave Wolf for her piece on great, low-cost destinations for families in greater Cleveland. That's Life, hosted by Robin Swoboda, is broadcast weekdays at 10 a.m. We'll try to let you know here when the story on Lake Erie Nature & Science Center is scheduled to air.
UPDATE: Word from Fox 8 that the story is set to air Thursday, April 24.

Announcing Our T-Shirt Art Contest Winner

noreply@blogger.com (Lake Erie Nature & Science Center) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:48:00 +0000

A Westlake High School student has claimed the top prize in Lake Erie Nature & Science Center’s 2008 T-shirt Art Design Contest. AJ Suever’s winning design will be featured on the Center’s 2008 Limited Edition T-shirt, which goes on sale at Family Fun Fest, June 1, from Noon - 4 p.m.
AJ’s colorful, kid-friendly artwork was chosen from among 14 finalists and more than 100 entries from artists of all ages. Her winning design, as well as the 13 other finalists, are posted in the Kids Corner Nature Gallery of the Center's website. Visitors to the website, this blog and to the Center in Bay Village helped select the winner by submitting votes for their favorites. For her efforts, AJ will take home a $100 cash prize and a T-shirt featuring her design. Thanks to everyone who entered and voted!
That's our Center Director of Community Relations & Fundraising Renee Burslem (left) and Community Relations and Fundraising Specialist Barb Caskey flanking AJ in the photo.

Barred Owl Released!

noreply@blogger.com (megan) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 18:21:00 +0000

The Barred Owl was in a flight cage for about 2 weeks hunting, and doing fantastic. It was taken back to Maple Heights, where it was found, and released on April 6, 2008.

WestLIFE Columnist Touts Lake Erie Nature & Science Center As Top Cabin Fever Cure

noreply@blogger.com (Lake Erie Nature & Science Center) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 02:33:00 +0000

Thanks to WeSTLIFE Gardening columnist, Thea Steinmetz, for including Lake Erie Nature & Science Center at the top of her recent list of cabin fever cures. In the April 2 edition of WeSTLIFE, Thea wrote:

For parents and grandparents there is always the Lake Erie Nature & Science Center in Bay Village. Our grandchildren, when they are visiting, love that place. They don't have to be prompted to go there; they ask to be taken there. It seems that animals speak to children. This has become a half day tradition whenever they spend a few days with us.

Nature & wildlife do indeed have a way of talking to the child in all of us. In the same issue of WeSTLIFE, photographer Larry Bennet captured some great shots of Wildlife Director Dave Wolf putting on one his wonderful, interactive Meet An Animal programs.

Hope to see at the Center soon!

Great Family Entertainment on a Shoestring

noreply@blogger.com (Lake Erie Nature & Science Center) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:36:00 +0000

Under the headline, Break Free: A completely shameless guide to entertaining the kids for nothing during spring vacation, Cleveland Plain Dealer reporter, John Campanelli, highlighted the unique appeal of Lake Erie Nature & Science Center in Monday's pdQ cover story. The article mapped out a week of spring break family fun, without the high cost of travel outside the region. His itinerary for Thursday included this high praise for our Center: "Stay west and head to the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center in Bay Village. Perhaps the best no-admission place to take a child in Northeast Ohio, this gem offers an impressive collection of exhibits and rescued live animals and exhibits for up-close viewing, including a bald eagle, a turtle pond and a deer barn."
If you don't already know what John is talking about, come see us! We're open seven days a week from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Hope to see you soon!

20 Years of Growth, Change, Birds and Memories

noreply@blogger.com (Lake Erie Nature & Science Center) — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:28:00 +0000

Lake Erie Nature & Science Center's Executive Director, Larry Richardson is marking a milestone this month: 20 years at the helm of our Bay Village organization. The Lake Erie Nature & Science Center Board of Trustees made a special presentation to Larry last night, recognizing his two decades of service.

Larry has presided over an expanding operation during the most recent third of the Center’s 60-year history. When he came to the Center in 1988, it was a treasured but small community organization, conducting about 250 programs a year. Today it's truly a regional center of excellence; with more than 2,400 programs each year and expanded facilities that include more than 100 live animals on exhibit.

Larry says,“I never wanted to change the basic philosophy of the place. Our founder, Bert Fleming’s original idea that children learn best through hands-on discovery still works. In fact, our children and families need the very real connection to nature we provide today more than ever.”
Larry’s trademark cowboy hat and mustache make him a recognizable and down-to-earth figure to people who have enjoyed the Center’s programs over the years. An avid birder, whose "life list" (of different bird species sighted) is 1,884, Larry has led groups from Northeast Ohio on birding expeditions to 15 destinations all over the world. (He just returned from Costa Rica earlier this year, where he added to that list!)

Two decades and hundreds of thousands of visitors, program participants, members, supporters, staffers and fellow-birders equal a lot of memories. You're welcome to add your favorite memory from the past 20 years in the comments below.

Happy Anniversary, Larry ... and many more!

New Touch Boxes To Explore

noreply@blogger.com (Lake Erie Nature & Science Center) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:51:00 +0000

Lake Erie Nature & Science Center and its visitors are the beneficiary of another wonderful Eagle Scout project. Stop by and see (and touch!) the creations by Geoffrey Mauer, a Boy Scout from Troop 194 in Rocky River. Each box contains something fun from nature to explore with the sense of touch. Can't guess what it is? Open the back and peek to see! Generous In-Kind Donations of all kinds help support the non-profit work of our Center, from Wildlife Rehab to Education. Thanks to all of our in-kind donors, including Geoffrey, who's pictured here with Volunteer Coordinator Julie Mistur.

Bats Hibernating In Fridge

noreply@blogger.com (Lake Erie Nature & Science Center) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:46:00 +0000

WEWS-TV, WTAM-radio and Cleveland Plain Dealer Animals in the News columnist Donna Miller helped spread the word about the bats we have hibernating in our rehab refrigerators this winter. Miller posted on her blog at Cleveland.com. New Channel 5 aired the story at 6 p.m. and posted a cool bat slideshow and an online story of the big brown bats and silver haired bats who came to Lake Erie Nature & Science Center after their hibernation was disturbed. WTAM News Director, Darren Toms also did some bat blogging at Newsradio 1100's website.

During its regular "awake time" for feeding, we also snapped the photo above of the Big Brown Bat eating mealworms, as well as one of the same bat being hydrated by Lake Erie Nature & Science Center Wildlife Rehabilitation Coordinator Megan Tadiello. A Silver Haired is pictured below. After three days of chowing down and drinking, the bats will be back in the fridge for three weeks. We'll repeat the cycle until the bats natural food source (bugs!) returns outdoors and they can be released (probably April or early May.)

Check out Megan's original blog entry about the hibernating bats here.

Barred Owl Loses Sight?

noreply@blogger.com (megan) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 20:02:00 +0000

This Barred Owl was brought to us on March 11, 2008 suffering from head trauma. The owl was most likely hit by a car. There is blood in both eyes so the owl is being treated with steroids. The eyes will be re-evaluated in about a week.

Oiled Mallard Released!

noreply@blogger.com (megan) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:43:00 +0000

After 5 days of bathing, the mallard had regained all its waterproofing. The bird was released back where it came from in Avon Lake.

Goose with fishing line released!

noreply@blogger.com (megan) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:42:00 +0000

The goose was released on March 7 right back where it came from. Hopefully it’s short stay in rehab will allow it to find it’s mate(if it had one) and it can continue on with its life.

Teachers: Come Fool Around With Science!

noreply@blogger.com (Lake Erie Nature & Science Center) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 16:22:00 +0000

Science teachers will get great new ideas and inspiration as well as a chance to network with new and old colleagues when the Cleveland Regional Council of Science Teachers presents its Annual Spring Symposium, Foolin' Around With Science, Tuesday, April 1, 2008 from 4 — 7 p .m. at Lake Erie Nature and Science Center. Join your fellow science educators for an evening of fun, learning, and networking. Travel out-of-this-world in the Schuele Planetarium with Lake Erie Nature and Science Center astronomers. Learn about Plant and Animal Interactions, Soil Scientists, Wild Animal Math, and States of Matter during concurrent sessions put on by other members of the Regional Alliance for Informal Science Education (RAISE): Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Lake Metroparks and Ceveland Botanical Garden. Exhibitors will be on hand as you enjoy a light dinner and networking. Bring a new teacher or student teacher from your building and help them to begin to build their professional network.
Register by March 15 for an Early Bird Discount. Download an Event Registration Form. and/or Download an Event Schedule.
This event is for members of CRCST or CRABS (Cleveland Regional Association of Biologists) only.

Center CLOSED Saturday, March 8 , 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Lake Erie Nature & Science Center) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 14:17:00 +0000

Lake Erie Nature & Science Center is CLOSED Saturday, March 8, 2008 due to extreme winter weather conditions. Stay safe and warm! We'll see you soon.

Weekend Explorers Canceled

noreply@blogger.com (Lake Erie Nature & Science Center) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 23:54:00 +0000

Weekend Explorers Classes for Saturday, March 8, 2008 are canceled due to the winter weather conditions and the forecast for continuing snowfall. Thanks for your understanding. Stay safe and warm!

Art Design Contest Finalists

noreply@blogger.com (Lake Erie Nature & Science Center) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 21:28:00 +0000

Lake Erie Nature & Science Center is proud to announce 14 finalists in our 2008 Limited Edition T-shirt Art Design Contest. We received more than 100 wonderful and creative entries from children as young as 5 all the way up to adults. Our finalists were chosen to represent a cross section of ages and artistic experience and styles. The finalists are posted in our Kids Corner -Nature Gallery and will be on display at the Center. Please be patient as we work to make sure the art displays properly in most browsers.
Lake Erie Nature & Science Center wishes to thank everyone who entered. To help us choose the winner, stop by the Center and vote, send an email to info@lensc.org or leave a comment on this blog post. Comments are moderated.
Thanks again to all who entered. The winner will be announced by the end of March and our Limited Edition T-shirt will be on sale at our June 1 Family Fun Fest.

Breathtaking, Beautiful Nature

noreply@blogger.com (Lake Erie Nature & Science Center) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:28:00 +0000

We're back in business today after closing our doors for the ice storm yesterday. Although it was tough sledding on the roads, wasn't it beautiful to look at the sunlight sparkling through the glazed tree branches? Hope you were able to snap some pictures to preserve the memory.
Another great nature-inspired photography contest is up on the National Widlife Federation's website. If nature's gray side is getting on your nerves, check out the breaktaking beauty of nature for a lift! Photographers in the contest captured some especially stunning photos of wildlife and/or their habitat, like this picture from further north in Canada.