Once the pretty summer songbirds have departed for points south, what do birders do?  They put on another layer of cloths and go looking for waterfowl – Ducks, Geese, Swans, Loons, Grebes & Gulls.  This presentation showcases these hardy visitors along with Hawks, Owls and smaller birds like Snow Buntings, Larkspurs and Kinglets.  If you don’t like cold weather, ask about ‘car birding,” a favorite alternative to walking when wind chills plummet! 

Matt Valencic has been interested in birds and other wildlife most of his life but did not start photographing them until 2006.  He retired in 2015 and shortly thereafter met some members of the Audubon Society of Greater Cleveland at an event.  He felt an immediate bond with them and their mission of education and land stewardship. His catalog of bird pictures soon became the content of several presentations about the birds of NE Ohio and their habitats. 

Today Matt helps direct the education outreach of this chapter and is a member of the Sanctuary Committee and the Board of Trustees.  His favorite pastime is pursuing and photographing birds in Geauga County, in the hope of better pictures for his talks.  He and his wife Patti live on an 8-acre ‘hobby farm’ in Geauga County with their two horses and a large vegetable garden.  They have 3 adult children and 9 grandchildren, and he is always grooming those grandkids into future bird watchers, gardeners and nature nerds.

Ms. Uhrig will focus on the current population status of American kestrels, discuss several research projects conducted a The Wilds by staff and university researchers, trends in nesting success and what we can do to help conserve this declining species.

Genelle Uhrig, M.Sc. is the Director of Ecology at The Wilds. Ms. Uhrig is a Conservation Biologist with 8 years of experience in field ecology and conservation genetics, specializing in on-invasive genetic studies utilizing scat and environmental DNA (eDNA) for species and individual ID, genetic diversity, gene flow, and parentage analyses. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Fisheries and Wildlife from Michigan State University and a Master of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. Ms. Uhrig has worked with a variety of aquatic and terrestrial wildlife species and currently works with native species reintroduction efforts at The Wilds, including Eastern hellbenders and the federally threatened, state endangered American burying beetle. In addition to working with native Ohio wildlife species, mis. Uhrig also oversees restoration efforts at The Wilds.

The Wilds has been involved in American kestrel conservation in SE Ohio for over a decade with the initial installation of several nest boxes on and around the property. Efforts were expanded in 2020 with the addition of 9 new boxes and again in 2024 with an additional 3 new nest boxes. The Wilds has worked with several Ohio bird conservation groups on these efforts including the Ohio Ornithological Society, Ohio Bluebird Society, several chapters of the Audubon Society, and Kirtland Bird Club, to name a few. The Wilds has also partnered with university professors from Muskingum University and Ohio University on several American kestrel research projects. With almost 10,000 acres of protected land of which over 700 have been restored to tall-grass prairie, The Wilds is prime habitat for this declining species.

Doors Open: 5:30

Executive Director’s Welcome: 6:00

Dinner: 6:15

Speaker- Gary Gerrone: Naturalist and Author

“I was supposed to play baseball…simple as that.  So, naturally, I went to a ‘baseball school’ where they took baseball really, really, seriously.  I did hangout until the last cut, but I was told that maybe studying might serve me best.  I tried just about every major until settling on biology. What could be more important than studying ‘life’?  After acquiring my B.S., a small problem emerged…I wasn’t qualified to do anything.  Fate lined me up with a Naturalist interview with Lorain County Metro Parks…and I was very excited.  Not so much to work, but to find out what the heck a Naturalist was.  Well…I got the job…and I loved the job…and I stuck around for about three decades expounding on the attributes and importance of nature.  Somewhere in the middle, hikes and talks were joined by writing about nature.  Not wanting to be like every other nature writer, I developed a unique style…and a level of acceptance.  …and until someone tells me to stop, I am just going to keep on writing. 

In this presentation, I will talk about my process, and my growth through dozens of examples of my over 500 published works.

Dinner: Roast Beef (GF), Chicken Cordon Bleu, Lasagna, Rigatoni Marinara (VEG); Mashed Potatoes (GF), Macaroni and Cheese; Green Beans Almondine (VEG/GF), California Vegetable Medley (VEG/GF); Salad (VEG/GF), rolls and Cake.

(GF=gluten free, VEG=vegetarian)

Coffee, Water, Tea

Chance Raffles, Silent Auction Items, 50/50, Spin to Win Wheel and more…

Registration Required (Reg. will open Nov 1, 2025)

Cost

$25 for Members, $35 for non-members

If you are a member, those living in your household are a part of your membership. How do you know if you’re a member? Members receive our Wingtips newsletter in the mail Sept-May. If you don’t receive that, you are not a member- unless there is a glitch. If you do not receive Wingtips but you think you are a current member, contact us at blackriveraudubon@gmail.com

Birding has the power to connect people to place—and few places are as vibrant, vital, and bird-rich as Ohio’s Lake Erie shoreline. Originally launched in 2014, the Lake Erie Birding Trail program received a major refresh, with 90 featured hotspots, a brand-new guidebook, an app, and a whole lot of heart.

Join Jamey Emmert of the Ohio Division of Wildlife for a behind-the-scenes look at the revitalization of this beloved trail—from big-picture conservation goals to quirky bird-nerd side quests. Learn about hidden gems along the route, discover how the trail supports communities and conservation, and hear what’s next as the trail program soars into the future. Whether you’ve birded the trail for years or are just hearing about it for the first time, you’ll leave inspired to explore—and share—this iconic Ohio birding experience.

Jamey Emmert is the Avian Education Coordinator for the Ohio Division of Wildlife. Since earning her Wildlife Management degree from Hocking College in 2003, she’s been passionately driving conservation and educational initiatives—most notably, the revitalized Lake Erie Birding Trail program. When she’s not leading workshops or collaborating on conservation projects, Jamey is out birding, traveling, hunting, fishing, artifact hunting, and gardening with native plants—often with her husband Greg and their two canine birders.

Join us for a game of bird jeopardy. We will have snacks on the tables and prizes for the winners. Each table will be a team. This is a great program built by Steve Waller from a birding group in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Tim Fairweather, retired naturalist from Sandy Ridge, will be our host- who needs Ken Jennings.

The Kirtland’s warbler is an iconic species in Michigan, nesting primarily in the jack pine forests of the northern Lower Peninsula.

As recently as 1987 there were fewer than 400 birds in the entire population. Today, there are more than 4,000 birds. In October 2019, the Kirtland’s warbler was removed from the Endangered Species List.

That’s a reason to celebrate, but it doesn’t mean we can wash our hands and walk away because conservation of the Kirtland’s warbler has special challenges. Unlike every other animal that has been removed from the Endangered Species List, the Kirtland’s warbler will require continued human intervention to ensure its survival.

William Rapai is the author of three books, including The Kirtland’s Warbler: The story of a bird’s fight for survival and the people who saved it and is the executive director of the Kirtland’s warbler alliance, a nonprofit created to support Kirtland’s Warbler conservation.

 Wetlands are highly productive ecosystems that support aquatic AND terrestrial plants and animals.  They provide nesting habitat for many species in the summer and resting/feeding habitat for migrating waterfowl and passerines in spring and fall.  This presentation showcases iconic wetland species like Egrets, Herons, Ibis and Rails along with raptors, waterfowl, warblers and more.  There is even a bonus section presenting insects, reptiles, amphibians and mammals that make their homes in wetlands. 

Matt Valencic has been interested in birds and other wildlife most of his life but did not start photographing them until 2006. He retired in 2015and shortly thereafter met some members of the Audubon Society of Greater Cleveland. He felt an immediate bond with them and their mission of education and land stewardship. His catalog of bird pictures soon became the content of several presentations about the birds of NE Ohio and their habitats.

Matt helps direct the education outreach of this chapter and is a member of the Sanctuary Committee and the Board of Trustees. His favorite pastime is pursuing and photographing birds in Geauga County, in the hope of better pictures for his talks. He and his wife Patti live on an 8 acre “hobby” farm in Geauga County with their two horses and a large vegetable garden. They have 3 adult children and 9 grandchildren, and he is always grooming those grandkids into future bird watchers, gardeners and nature nerds.

Dr. Joe Blanda will present his exciting adventures from his 2016 birding journey that led to much more than a long list of birds. From this presentation you might learn about some interesting destinations and unusual birds but most importantly, you might gain a better appreciation for a mindful approach to birding.

Dr. Joe Blanda is a reecetly retired orthopedic surgeon. His interest in birds has led him to many exciting destinations and has made him an avid backyard birder. In addition to birding, he enjoys managing a pollinator garden in his yard and helping with a few bluebird trails. Dr. Blanda enjoys introducing marginalized populations to birding through a nature prescription program.