Please keep an eye out for a macaw that may wander into the area. Forwarded message below:

A macaw got loose today (Thurs 3/18) from the Bethel Rd. area. Could possibly end up in our area. It would most likely be very terrified.

He is homed in the Bethel Road area, he flew out the door headed North. Not saying he will stay that way. Please please if you spot, or hear anything please contact me ASAP 614-207-8326

He is not by nature a mean bird but he is slick so of course if you can get him please do so. But if you spot him or he is high please make a call to me so we can track his route.

Thanks
614-207-8326

UPDATED: The macaw was found and rescued with help from the fire department.

From Dave Anderson:

 I rescued a lost cat from the ravine March 8 in the afternoon near Overbrook and High St. A homeless man saved it from High street motorists and handed it off to me. He and the cat were sitting on the stairway at the turn in the road. The cat is young, male, immaculate, and very beautiful. I won’t offer a description but if someone phones with an accurate description of markings, etc then we return the cat to its owner. THIS IS A VERY BEAUTIFUL AND GENTLE CAT. I’m sure there’s a heartbroken cat owner looking for a lost kitty. My guess is that it lives on Ceramic, Westwood, or Glenmont. It seemed very confused and lost but allowed me to carry it home. Normally I would let the cat find its way back but this animal seemed totally clueless. It is definitely a house cat and probably lived confined in a one-story environment because it doesn’t navigate stairs very well. Lost cat owners can call me at 306-2172 or e-mail me at greenman@copper.net. Thanks, Dave Anderson.

Hi from National Wildlife Federation Habitat Ambassadors!

It’s rewarding to see what creatures have found benefits from your yard. I watch for tracks in fresh snow before I step. Some common Ohio tracks can be seen at Ohio Dept of Natural Resources track examples. Scroll down to the second page and the answers are upside down.

What difference does your yard make? Read this short 2-page article called Gardening for Wildlife by Douglas Tallamy, who will be speaking at the Ohio Botanical Symposium (See ‘Nature Stuff’ below for details on that event)

The Annual Franklin County Soil And Water Conservation District Tree, Fish and Wildflower Sale. Orders need to be in by 3/26. order by mail or online using the link.

Curious about organic lawn care? Try to find books at the library, such as The Organic Lawn Care Manual by Paul Tuckey. This flyer has some information on the left (corn gluten is organic): Environmentally Friendly Lawn and Garden Care. Google the web for organic lawn care, here’s a start: Ohioline OSU Extension Fact Sheet

Thanks for helping backyard wildlife!

- Toni, www.backyardhabitat.info

Toni’s latest nature article:

‘Help Robins in your yard‘ – select Jan. 2010 and go to page 3 in the bottom right corner, Help Robins In Your Yard

Nature ‘Stuff’

• NWF’s Schoolyard Habitat Guide and Lesson Plans are now free online! Schoolyard Habitat Materials
• National Wildlife Federation’s CEO, Larry Schweiger, book “Last Chance” takes you on a journey of climate change discovery across the world from his perspective as a grandfather and a conservationist.

Nature Events

• Sat, 2/13, 10AM, Mud, Dirt or Soil?, Dr. David Barker, Inniswood Metro Park, Westerville, Scroll down at http://www.for-wild.org/chapters/columbus
• Thurs, 2/18, Ohio Invasive Plants Research Conference, Connecting Research and Land Management, Indoor Adventure Center, Franklin Park, Columbus www.oipc.info
• Thurs, 3/11, Central Ohio Stormwater & Erosion Control Expo, Longaberger Alumni House, OSU Campus, Columbus. Contact the Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District at 614-486-9613 for information.
• Fri, 3/26, 8-4, Ohio Botanical Symposium, Keynote Speaker: Dr. Doug Tallamy, author of ‘Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens’, Villa Milano, 16730 Schrock Rd, Columbus. Register online at Symposium Registration before 3/22

Hi from Toni & Marc, National Wildlife Federation Habitat Ambassadors!

What do you see when you look at a flowerbed that has gone to seed?  I see beautiful songbirds, natural mulch that retains water, tiny leaf-litter animals improving soil, materials for next year’s native bird nests, and cover for bugs that are a critical part of our food chain.  Leaf litter is much different than most human litter. It is used and recycled by the soil food chain.

Being a neat freak in the yard not only destroys habitat value, but it’s important to us too. “Perhaps solid waste landfills … are the single largest man-made source of methane in the United States” says Janet Marinelli in an article from the National Wildlife Magazine at www.nwf.org/NationalWildlife/printerFriendly.cfm?issueID=124&articleID=1646

Watch for Chimney Swifts gathering for migration at very large, uncapped chimneys.  They look like smoke going into the chimney – what a show! 
Here are directions to one site in Columbus:  http://columbusoh.wbu.com/content/show/25766

Migration is here.  See approximate fall migration timetable from birdnature:   http://www.birdnature.com/falloh.html

Cricket weathermen!  Count the cricket chirps in 13 seconds and add 40 to get the approximate current temperature. Only males chirp for courting and this only works down to about 55 degrees.  Below that it’s too cold to court.  http://www.snopes.com/science/cricket.asp

Take time out each day to look in your yard and enjoy! 

– Toni, www.backyardhabitat.info

+ Nature ‘Stuff’
- Weds, 9/9, 8:45-3:15, Invasive Plants in Southeast
Ohio, 710 Collegiate Dr, Marietta, see: www.oipc.info for more information
- Sat, 9/12, 10AM, Growing Native Trees in Pots, Inniswood Metro Park,Westerville,  Scroll down at http://www.for-wild.org/chapters/columbus
- Sun, 9/13, 2-5pm, Green Family Fun event, in front of wind turbine and solar panels at Glacier Ridge Metro Park
- Sept 11, 12 or 13, A Swift’s Night Out, 30 minutes before dusk. 1919 West Bridge Street in Dublin. If you’d like to count them and report your tally see http://www.chimneyswifts.org/
- Sat,9/19, 9am-6pm, Scioto Gardens’ Fall Equinox Festival, page down to special events at Scioto Gardens here http://www.sciotogardens.com/events.html
- Sat, 10/3, Wildlfest, Ohio Wildlife Center, http://ohiowildlifecenter.org/ click on Events
- Tues, 10/6, MORPC Summit at COSI, 8am-6pm, www.greenregion.org/

Last evening Rick Tilton of the Columbus Department of Public Service asked me to share this information regarding the closing of Cooke Road.

Beginning Monday, July 6, Cooke Road will be closed from Indianola to High Street so that the bridge over Adena Brook may be rehabilitated. The City of Columbus is cooperating with the Franklin County Engineer to do this project. The work should take 5-6 weeks. Cooke Road is expected to reopen by the beginning of school at Watterson High School.

A week prior to the closing, changeable message boards will be placed at High and Indianola to inform the public of the closing.

Should you have additional questions about this road work, please contact Rick Titlon at rctitlon@columbus.gov.

D Searcy
Chair
Clintonville Area Commission

I wanted to let you know that Decker ran away tonight, and does not have his tags on. We just moved to 171 Fallis Rd in Clintonville, about 2 blocks south of Park of Roses between High and Indianola. Decker is black and white, about 70 lbs. I can be reached on cell (614-638-5206). THANK YOU!

Judy Beaumier

OLDER DOG STILL MISSING – Curly is a 12 year old German Wire Hair Pointer – she looks like an Irish Wolfhound.
She is friendly and spayed and microchipped. She has on a green collar but not her tags. She is slow. She weighs about 90 pounds. She has wiry fur.

Lynne

If you have seen her – please call Lynne at 614-648-1988
Email is fortylove@columbus.rr.com

Deb Lanata writes:

Susan

Dad found Chester this AM. As I was hoping, the best possible case scenario panned out. He was stuck in a nwighbor’s garage. As I mentioned, Chester is quite vocal about being kept inside! Dad apparently heard Chester this AM and awoke the neighbor who opened the door. Chester ran straight home for dinner AND breakfast. He’s also not used to the idea of skipping meals. Or snacks. Or treats. Or any reason at all to get a bite.

Thanks! We are so happy to have him home!

Deb Lanata
On behalf of Ann, Tony and.Chester (aka Tank) Lanata @ 120 Overbrook

Susan,

My parents live at 120 Overbrook Ravine (Ann and Tony Lanata). Tonight they were unable to find their cat. Chester (aka Tank) usually comes in around 6 or 7pm nightly. They are aware of the coyote situation and make sure Chester comes in every night before dark. They would like for him to be an indoor cat, but it would be a vast understatement to say he is vocal about wanting out, so the compromise for now is he goes out during daylight hours and stays in at night. Until tonight, when we called and called and walked the neighborhood looking for him with no luck. He was last seen at 120 Overbrook around 3pm today (Saturday). We are extremely worried about him and want him home safe ASAP. Can you please post the info to the list so everyone can be on the lookout for him? We’d appreciate the help! I’ve also attached pictures of Chester if you can pass them along as well.

We’re hoping since Saturday was a nice day, maybe he wandered into someone’s garage or shed while they were working in their yard and he got locked in by accident. Please, please, please, ask people to look in their sheds or garages for Chester.

Here is his info:

Chester (aka Tank) is a large (approximately 15 pounds) male cat. He’s not so much fat as he is big. His paws are very large. He is smokey grey in color with a thick coat and sometimes his eyes can appear to be crosseyed. He is extremely friendly and playful and curious. He is approximately 3 to 4 years of age. He is neutered and has been declawed in the front (he does have rear claws). He should be wearing a red collar with a red metal heart shaped tag that has both his names (Chester and Tank) and my dad’s cell phone number on it. Anyone with info or who may find him can also call me on my cell anytime of the day or night (literally, I’m that concerned) at 614-323-7422. This cat means the world to all of us!!!

Thanks,
Deb Lanata

Thanks for forwarding, Susan:

If you find a BLACK CAT (1 year old), please call 267-2963.

He is our daughter’s beloved indoor cat.  He had a new black striped (?) collar with pink heart name tag and bell on it. It’s a break away collar so it might have fallen off.  Last seen yesterday afternoon in the woods between Glenmont & Yaronia and Indianola & Wynding.  He does not come when called, but is very friendly.

THANK YOU!

Here are some notes I took at the City Council meeting when SWACO Director Mills presented: 

Columbus has one of the largest landfills in the country. 3, 500 tons of trash goes into it everyday.

On average, 35% of US citizens recycle compared to Columbus’ 12%. The Clintonville neighborhood is one of largest participants.

SWACO is currently studying the trash and recycling options for Columbus and all the communities of Franklin County. This study will determine the carbon footprint of current and potential methods of trash hauling and recycling locally as well as their financial impact

Around 60% of what is sent to SWACO’s Franklin County landfill is from businesses. Much of it is recyclable paper and cardboard. SWACO has begun a new initiative to work with large categories of businesses in hopes of grouping them together to take advantage of group pricing for trash hauling and recycling.

The Columbus landfill has 25 years left. Then we need a new landfill. The average time it takes to plan, design, and put systems in place for a new landfill averages 10 years. 

If you haven’t signed up for curbside and like the convenience, call Rumpke at 740-474-9790 or 800-828-8171. The cost is $8.25/month. Or choose drop off recycling.  

The real success of a recycling program depends on the citizens.