Cincy Hikes!

More about Quail

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:24:10 +0000

With quail numbers being drastically lower after the blizzards an effort was made to trap and relocate quail to areas where they had once been abundant. The initial program began with quail being brought in from Kansas and released in Ohio. This program did not work as the quail populations were not doing as well [...]

Northern Bobwhite Quail and the Blizzard of 1978

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:27:28 +0000

You think it is going to be cold and snowy this weekend? Ha! Way back in 1978, Ohio was in the midst of a massive blizzard. For a history lesson click this link: (http://www.ohiohistory.org/etcetera/exhibits/swio/pages/content/1978_blizzard.htm and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Blizzard_of_1978). Temperatures in most of Ohio reached a balmy negative 60 degrees F when you factor in wind chill. Yes, [...]

Hiking with Snow

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:41:10 +0000

Some of the best hiking I have ever experienced has been with snow on the ground and more falling. Of course, if you go hiking in wintery weather (hopefully we will be getting some soon) you’ll want to make sure you are prepared. Let’s start at your feet. A good pair of insulated boots will [...]

Black Bears in the Buckeye State

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:12:27 +0000

Yes, that’s right…Black bears! It is pretty amazing the changes the state has gone through in the past 200 years. Way back when (early 1800s) Ohio used to be covered with forest and prairie. As it was settled prairies fell to the plow and forests to the ax. Like many animals, black bear were extirpated [...]

Zaleski Backpacking trail

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:55:57 +0000

I recently hiked the Zaleski State Forest Backpacking trail (http://www.ohiodnr.com/forests/zaleski/tabid/5171/Default.aspx). If you come in from the north, you aren’t going to see the official trailhead. Park in the lot and walk south and over the bridge for the road. The Zaleski Backpacking trailhead is immediately after the bridge. The trail meanders through the woods and [...]

No such thing as a squirrel-proof bird feeder

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:43:27 +0000

Head into any store that has bird feeders for sale and you are likely to see a myriad of “squirrel-proof” feeders. I’ll admit there are feeders that impede the squirrel’s fast paced ability of cleaning out all of your feeders but I’ve yet to see one that is squirrel proof. After all, most squirrels figure [...]

Fracking Ohio

admin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:07:34 +0000

One of the things I worry about (I’ve got a long list) is the unknown environmental damages that fracking can cause. (If you are chuckling to yourself that I just said fracking–I’m not using Battlestar Galactica jargon.) You can read more about fracking at The Nature Defense Council’s website. http://www.nrdc.org/search.asp?cof=FORID%3A11&ie=UTF-8&q=ohio+epa+fracking&cx=001024953138106184952%3Alevppyfplwy&hq=-inurl%3Ahttps&t=iframe&sa.x=3&sa.y=9 And you can check-out the [...]

Feeding the Birds

admin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:54:11 +0000

With cold temperatures and snow on the ground providing bird feed not only helps the birds out but it also provides you with a chance to sit in a warm house, sip some piping hot chocolate, and watch the birds. Plus, if you can’t get out because of the weather at least you are getting [...]

Stretch Your Legs along the Wilderness Trail

admin — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 22:21:11 +0000

Wilderness Preserve Want to see trout lilies? How about some spring beauties? The cold springtime doesn’t last long and neither do these delicate flowers. This weekend is the perfect time to go hiking anywhere in Adams County. We went exploring this past weekend. Dressed warm for the brisk weather we went to Adams County to [...]

Woodland Mound — Daffodils

admin — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 15:56:41 +0000

Woodland Mound Spring is definitely here! The daffodils are coming up at Woodland Mound. This past weekend we enjoyed a hike through Woodland Mound. The daffodils along the edges of the trail haven’t bloomed yet. But the buds are coming up. The delicate lacy leaves of spring beauties can be seen on either side of [...]