Presenters: Jim & Sarah Michael

Location: In-person at Lebanon Citizens National Bank (LCNB)

In October of 2024, Jim and Sarah Michael joined a two-week birding trip to Eastern Australia.  They journeyed from Cairns in the north to Bruny Island, Tasmania, in the south, and visited amazing locations in between. The final bird list for the trip includes 317 bird species, plus 21 mammals and nine reptiles. They will give us a glimpse of their experience birding down-under.

Jim Michael is a retired Butler County attorney, while Sarah Michael is a retired teacher of Latin and French. They enjoy traveling to locations near and far to observe birds, as well as other species of fauna and flora, in their native habitats.

Trees, Shrubs and Birds

The mission of Boone County Arboretum is “to create a living museum that enriches the quality of life by providing a place for the appreciation and study of plants and the preservation of the natural environment.” There are currently over 3600 trees and shrubs in the collection on over 121 acres, a variety of annual and perennial flower displays, all connected by a paved 2.2 mile multi-use trail. A 3 acre native Kentucky grassland surrounds a bird blind, which overlooks a small wetland area.

May is a beautiful time to see the many flowering trees and shrubs in addition to many bird migrants.

We will meet at the Abroretum at 9AM.

Meeting Location:
Boone County Arboretum
9190 Camp Ernst Road
Union KY 41091

Carpool information
If you would like to carpool to the location with us, we will meet at 7:30AM in the TJ Maxx parking lot in Oxford.

Celebrate Earth Day at EarthFest, a free festival featuring games, interactive booths and workshops, live music, Oxford Farmer's Market and more. Several organization from Oxford and Miami University will have educational booths and lead interactive activities during this community event.

EarthFest is a collaborative effort between Miami University and the community to come together and promote efforts to teach how natural environments function and how human beings can manage behavior and ecosystems to live sustainably. In addition, the event will spotlight green businesses in the community. Over 15 student groups and Oxford organizations will be there to interact with the community and have fun activities for all ages.

The event promotes a fun, welcoming environment with music, games, hands-on demonstrations, and interactive learning. The event is free to attend!

The event is hosted by: Environmental Professionals Association, EcoReps, GreenHawks Media, Global Education Outreach for Diversifying the Earth Sciences, Leaders of Environmental Awareness and Protection (LEAP), Zero Waste Oxford, and Zoology & Biology Club.

Event Details
Saturday, April 26 from 11am – 1pm
Oxford Memorial Park
 2 East High Street
Oxford, OH 45056

Sharon Edwards spent years creating the EMU Environmental Mobile Unit and bringing lessons that promoted environmental education to children in our local schools. I'll never forget her walking into a Kindergarten classroom wearing her Trash-o-saurus costume! Sharon made learning fun.

She also started the Earth Clubs after-school program in several local grade schools. These clubs engaged children with activities learning about our natural world, getting them outside to plant trees and pollinator gardens, to hike and build birdhouses. 

Our Audubon Miami Valley chapter supported her dedicated work financially and with many volunteers.

Sharon recently passed away, therefore we wanted to acknowledge and honor her decades of dedication to environmental education in the local public schools.

Join us in honoring her memory by the planting of a Swamp Oak tree at the Oxford Community Park (OCP). The dedication will take place April 25th at noon at the OCP. Please join us to honor Sharon.

Event Details
Date: Friday, April 25, 2025
Time: 12pm - 1pm
Location: Oxford Community Park
6801 Fairfield Road
Oxford, OH 45056

Presenter:  Dr. Amanda Brymer

Location: In-person at Lebanon Citizens National Bank (LCNB)

The Silvoor Biological Sanctuary is a 2.5-acre tract of land donated in 1978 to the University by Dr. Robert A. Hefner. Dr. Hefner and his wife, Ilo, spent many years converting this former town dump into a beautiful sanctuary.

Dr. Brymer will discuss the establishment of the Silvoor Biological Sanctuary and the management challenges that it presents . She will also discuss recent projects that are driving the compilation of comprehensive Silvoor dataset. Dr. Brymer will also highlight restoration opportunities, including new wildflower plantings with help from Campus Compact EnviroCorps.

Amanda Bentley Brymer is an interdisciplinary collaborator working to improve natural resource management, food system stewardship, and rural community well-being amidst rapid environmental and landscape change.

As Assistant Director of the Institute for the Environment and Sustainability at Miami University, Amanda recruits clients and advises graduate student teams for their Master's level Professional Service Projects; she coordinates activities to support student engagement at the Miami University Farm; and she connects with a diverse range of departments and offices across Miami's campus to design interdisciplinary programs that solve environmental problems and promote a more sustainable society. To this role Amanda brings relationships built through a decade of work on environmental problems in southwest Ohio, plus a decade of experience in academic research across the United States.

At home, Amanda volunteers with Miami University Natural Areas as Curator for Silvoor Biological Sanctuary. This five-acre wildflower preserve comprises a mosaic of university and privately-owned properties that require a unique approach to collaborative management, including partnerships with local organizations like Three Valley Conservation Trust and Butler County Soil & Water Conservation District. Amanda enjoys working with local landowners and communities to conserve and sustain healthy waterways, woodland habitat, and working landscapes.

The City of Oxford is bringing the community together to celebrate our pollinator pals with a full day of fun, music, and activities! The event will feature local vendors, educational displays, and family-friendly fun. Bring your picnic blankets and your love for nature. View http://www.oxfordbeefestival.com for more details.

Event Details
Date: Saturday, April 12, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: Oxford Memorial Park
1 North Main Street
Oxford, Ohio

THIS FIELD TRIP HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO THE FORECASTED SEVERE WEATHER.

Spring Wildflower Walk - As spring approaches and nature brings back new life to our landscapes, most of us will be ready for a hike or two. Two wildflower preserves have been restored by the Western Wildlife Corridor, an organization with a mission to protect, restore and preserve natural habitats. We could see Cut Leaved Toothwort, Sessile and Drooping Trillium. Wild Ginger, Woodland Poppy, Blue-Eyed Mary, Greek Valerian, Dutchman’s Breeches, Wild Hyacinth, Miami Mist, Fernleaf Phacelia and many more. In addition to wildflower, our native trees and shrubs will be leafing out among an abundance of wildlife. You may even spot a migrating warbler or two!

Delshire Preserve is a 13.4 acre wildflower preserve created in 1996 and owned by the Western Wildlife Corridor – home to some of the most spectacular wildflowers in the WWC network of preserves.

We will meet at the Delshire Preserve at 10AM.

Meeting Location:
Delshire Preserve
202 Felicia Dr.
Cincinnati, OH 45238 United States
Google Map link

Primary access is from the corner of Felicia Drive and Feist Manor Drive near the Delhi Swim Club. Reach Felicia from Mt Alverno by turning south onto old Avenue and then left onto Felicia. PARKING IS LIMITED, SO CAR POOLING IS ENCOURAGED.

Carpool information
If you would like to carpool to the location with us, we will meet at 8:30AM in the TJ Maxx parking lot in Oxford.

We will travel to Bender Mountain after the Delshire Preserve walk is finished. Parking at the dead end of Delhi Ave (east side of the preserve) gives easy access to the Sister’s Hill Trail. Park at the guard rail barricade and be sure not to block adjacent driveway

Bender Mountain Nature Preserve is more than 130 contiguous acres of protected nature preserve between Bender and Hillside Avenue. It has over 3 miles officing trails, some with fantastic views of the Ohio River. It has been described as the “best place in Hamilton County to observe native wildflowers” by Dr Denis Conover, botanist with the University of Cincinnati.

Spring Waterfowl Migration

March in the Oxbow means ducks, as spring waterfowl migration peaks during this month. The Oxbow has historically been a magnet for migrating birds, but especially for waterfowl. Other species of birds will also be seen but it would be difficult to ignore the waterfowl during any March visit to the Oxbow area.

At least 34 species of waterfowl have been recorded in the Oxbow over the years and about 25 of those occur regularly. Many other signs of spring should be noticeable. It has become common to see Bald Eagles in the Oxbow area during any month of the year and on any given day. That said, March still represents the peak of spring migration for Bald Eagles. Sandhill Cranes and large concentrations of gulls could also be seen. When you add these migrants with lingering winter visitors and the local residents, a great diversity of species, some in large numbers, can be found during this month.

Our plan will probably be to move around to several locations in the Oxbow area to better our chances of finding a wide variety of species. March also brings rain and potential flooding to the Oxbow bottoms, so some areas can be inaccessible. However, flood waters open up new and temporary areas where waterfowl and other water birds can forage, so we will adjust plans on the day of the trip. Expect a little driving from spot to spot interspersed with some light walking.

Dress for late winter and expect some mud on your shoes. This morning trip that will end around noon. There are no restrooms available in the Oxbow but there are many nearby businesses open to the public.

We will meet at the Oxbow at 8AM

Where to meet
Upper parking lot at the main entrance to the Oxbow
17160 Reardon Drive
Lawrenceburg, IN 47025

You can search for “Oxbow Nature Conservancy” on Google maps (or other navigation application) for directions.

Carpool information
If you would like to carpool to the location with us, we will meet at 6:30AM in the TJ Maxx parking lot in Oxford.

Audubon Miami Valley’s 11th Annual Bird Art Exhibition and Festival

Our Annual Bird Exhibition and Festival seeks to educate students on birds of the Midwest, birds of the Mississippi Flyway and how Climate Change is affecting bird populations and behaviors. In addition to artwork, there will be hands-on children’s activities, refreshments, and a naturalist from Hueston Woods State Park will have live birds.

We welcome young artists and birders to enter art works for the exhibition. Artists submitting work will receive a gift and all submissions will be exhibited.

Artwork Submission Rules:

• Students are required to research one bird species (eating habits, habitats, vocalization, colors, size, nesting, etc.)

• The submitted artwork can be either a realistic or graphic representation of the bird.

• The artwork may be made using any 2-dimensional art material.

• Those submitting artwork must be in grades K-12 and from a school district within a 30 mile radius of Oxford.

Event Details

• The main event will run from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM on Saturday, March 15, 2025. Family, artists, friends and the general public are invited to attend.

• The event will take place at:
  Oxford Community Arts Center (OCAC)
  10 South College Ave.
  Oxford, Ohio

• Students, parents and friends, art teachers, community officials and leaders are invited to view the exhibition which will be installed at the Oxford Community Arts Center from Saturday March 15 at 10:00am through March 21, 2025.

• Art work will be displayed in the north parlor at the Oxford Community Arts Center.

How to Participate

• Those interested in participating should contact Libby Birch at ebirch479@gmail.com

• Teachers can print artwork labels here

Artwork Drop off
Artwork can be dropped off at the Art Ed. Room of the Oxford Community Arts Center on the following dates:
March 8 from 11:00am - 2:00pm
March 10 from 4:00pm - 7:00pm

Artwork Pick up
Artwork can be picked up at the Oxford Community Arts Center on the following dates:
March 22 from 11:00am - 2:00pm
March 24 from 4:00pm - 7:00pm

Arrangements can be made for other times if necessary.

Presenter: Michael Wright

Location: In-person at Lebanon Citizens National Bank (LCNB)

Our presenter Michael Wright will talk about the intersection of science and art as it has played out in his life and career. He will relate stories about his experiences as a naturalist, especially concerning the wild animals with which he has had close contact (especially those in the animal rehabilitation program at Hueston Woods State Park). Michael hopes to weave into the talk the ways in which his artistic endeavors were informed by his passion for Nature, and his equal passion to share with others what he has learned about the natural world and its animal inhabitants.

Michael Wright has a Bachelors and Masters degree in zoology from Miami University.  His first job was as an interpretive naturalist for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.  He also worked for a period of time at the Hefner Museum of Natural History at Miami U.  But most of his career was spent teaching various biology courses at Miami on the Regional Campuses as well as the Oxford campus. He is now retired from Miami U., but he continues to work during the summer on projects aimed at protecting endangered reptiles and amphibians, especially timber rattlesnakes.

THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO THE PRESENTER HAVING AN ILLNESS.

Presenter: Lisa Portwood

Location: In-person at Lebanon Citizens National Bank (LCNB)

Lisa will introduce the group to Nature Journaling by sharing what it is and why you might want to start one.  She will share the benefits of keeping one, show some examples and provide some ideas to help folks get started.  She will also share the simple tools you’ll need and provide some resources for folks to explore after the talk if they want to learn more.

Lisa Portwood is a self-taught artist, an avid birder, and advocate for nature.  She has had a passion for nature and art since she was a child growing up in rural Indiana.  In 2020, when she discovered nature journaling and the work of John Muir Laws, she was thrilled to find something that combined these two things.  Her passion for nature led to her to complete the Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist program in spring of 2022 and achieving certification.  In June of 2023, she was an invited artist and scholarship recipient at the Northern Rockies Nature Journaling Conference in Charlo, Montana.  She is also a member of Audubon Miami Valley, Naturalists with Brushes, and the Nature Journal Club.  She seeks to inspire others to appreciate the beauty of nature through curiosity and observing the world around us.

Audubon Miami Valley is excited to offer this field trip to Miami University's Hefner Museum of Natural History.

The Robert A. Hefner Museum of Natural History uses exhibits, collections and specimens, and interactive programs to teach visitors of all ages about animal biodiversity, conservation, and ecology. More than 60 years ago, Robert A. Hefner, Chair of the Department of Zoology at Miami University, established a museum to display the department's many specimens and artifacts. Before long, the museum became an integral part of many college courses, a favorite field trip for area school children, and an inviting destination for Oxford families. Today, it is a local fixture, having served generations of Miami students, faculty, and area residents. And while it houses more than 53,000 specimens, the Hefner Museum of Natural History is far more than the sum of its collections. It is an archive of experiences, a repository of memories, a keeper of stories. Learn more about the museum by visiting their website.

Meet at the museum entrance no later than 9:55AM. A formal guided tour will begin at 10AM.

Meeting Location:
Hefner Museum of Natural History
Miami University
100 Upham Hall
Oxford, OH 45056

Join us for AMV's Annual Christmas Bird Count

This the largest citizen science project in the world. The data collected from this count, combined with other surveys, provide a picture of how bird populations have changed over the years. Local trends can provide strategies for protecting birds and their habitats.

Participants will be assigned areas to hike & count and may meet directly at their designated area. Volunteers who joined us in the past will be given preference to cover the same areas they had last year. Everyone is welcome to participate, regardless of experience. New participants can join groups led by experts covering a portion of the count area. Anyone wishing to participate in the count should contact Larry Gersbach at 513-310-0195 or larrygers@aol.com

We are also asking those who do not wish to venture out that day to observe the bird activity around their home bird feeders and yards. This information can be forwarded to Larry Gersbach at larrygers@aol.com and would be greatly appreciated.

Please consider joining us for this important citizen science event. No matter if you are a beginner or an accomplished birder, an enjoyable walk outside with nature looking for birds will refresh the soul.

Join us for a potluck luncheon at noon after the morning count.  It will be held at the Miami University Ecological Center located at 5806 Somerville Road in Oxford.

Presenter: Steve Eshbaugh

Location: In-person at Lebanon Citizens National Bank (LCNB)

This program will focus on the San Gerardo Biological Station (elevation 4,000 feet) and species composition changes over time. What birds can you expect to see in a mid-elevation (pre-montane) cloud forest? Have bird sightings changed in the last 30 years? What are the implications for the future? What can be done to make a positive difference?

Steve Eshbaugh is a lifelong naturalist and the owner of Roaming Naturalists. His first summer job was as a naturalist for a private reserve outside of Cincinnati. His other jobs as a naturalist included working as an education coordinator for a preserve in Indiana, serving as a ranger naturalist in Yellowstone National Park, and guiding for a nature touring business in Yellowstone. Steve earned a bachelor's degree in botany from the University of Montana and a master's degree in environmental education from Miami University, in Oxford, Ohio.

Ornithologist Dr. David Russell will once again lead us on a birding tour of the Brookville Reservoir area between Liberty and Brookville, Indiana, visiting a number of good spots around Brookville Lake as well as Whitewater State Park, looking for migrating ducks, geese, gulls, sandhill cranes and other species.

The destination location is the Dunlapsville Boat Ramp parking area at Brookville Reservoir. Please arrive at 8:00 am. Travel time from Oxford is approximately 30 minutes. Please bring a personal lunch if you would like to join us for an informal picnic mid-day.

All are welcome on AMV field trips. Please join us even if you are not an experienced birder. Good walking shoes, personal water supply, insect repellent and sun screen are recommended for the terrain we may encounter on these outings.

Destination Address:

Brookville Lake Area - Dunlapsville Boat Ramp

3170 South Old Dunlapsville Road Liberty, IN, 47353

If you have questions, email AMV field trip coordinator at eric_hollins@hotmail.com

Miami University’s Hefner Museum of Natural History celebrates its 50th annual lecture, to be given this year by esteemed biologist Joe Roman, Ph.D.  Dr. Roman will draw on his groundbreaking research on marine ecology to present on “The Wild Future: How Animals Make Our World.”  Dr. Roman will present examples of how protecting and re-establishing populations of wild animals can help rebuild ecosystems, leading to even further abundance and diversity of wild creatures, and a healthier, more productive planet for people.

Event details:
November 14 at 7:30 pm,
in person at Laws Hall, room 100

Speaker Joe Roman, Ph.D. is a biologist at the University of Vermont and author of "Eat, Poop, Die." He researches and teaches about the value of species conservation to human wellbeing. His discoveries have been published in prestigious scientific journals and featured in the popular press.

This event is free for all ages, with a reception at the Museum in 100 Upham Hall afterwards.

View this website for more information

Presenter: Jay Stenger

Location: In-person at Lebanon Citizens National Bank (LCNB)

This program will focus on the identification, habitats, habits and the relative abundance and distribution of the 15-plus species of hawks, eagles, falcons and vultures that regularly occur in the greater Cincinnati region.

Since childhood, Jay Stenger has had a passion for all animals and nature, especially birds. He has been avidly birding for over 40 years and is considered an expert.  He is one of the original founders of Oxbow, Inc., and has been associated with The Audubon Society of Ohio (Cincinnati Chapter) and the Cincinnati Bird Club since 1984.  He is a long-time Compiler for the NAS Cincinnati Christmas Bird Count, has served four terms on the Ohio Birds Record Committee, has conducted Federal and State Breeding Bird Surveys, and has led over 400 field trips for a number of birding and conservation organizations.

Consisting of 450 acres, this Butler County Metro Park is the site of the former Weatherwax Public Golf Course. It is perfect for hiking and birding. It is a beautiful area that was restored to its natural habitat about 8 years ago. It consists of lakes, prairies, woodlands and ADA accessible former golf cart paths. There is a large picnic shelter that we can use for lunch. Learn more about this area by clicking here.

Our leader for this trip is Larry Gersbach: AMV member, esteemed ornithologist, and Butler County Commissioner of Parks.

We will meet at 9AM at 5101 Circle Parkway, Middletown, OH 45043. Bring a lunch if desired.

Attract the birds you love to your yard year-round and support our organization at the same time! This year’s sale features Nyjer thistle, suet cakes, woodpecker blend, cardinal mix, fruit and berry mix and more! We will be mailing seed order forms and making them available on our website within the next few weeks. See our website at audubonmv.org for more information.

Seed Pickup
Friday, October 18 from 4 pm to 6 pm
Saturday, October 19 from 9 am to 12 pm
Shademakers Nursery & Landscape
304 West Collins Street
Oxford, Ohio 45056

AMV volunteers will be present and will load seed into your vehicle. Look for the AMV flags on the North side of the parking lot. 

The event will feature door prizes and customers will receive 10% discount on gift items at Shademakers during pickup hours. If you are unable to pick up your seed on one of these dates, contact Marlene Hoffman at mfhoffman36@yahoo.com to make other arrangements.

Attract the birds you love to your yard year-round and support our organization at the same time! This year’s sale features Nyjer thistle, suet cakes, woodpecker blend, cardinal mix, fruit and berry mix and more! We will be mailing seed order forms and making them available on our website within the next few weeks. See our website at audubonmv.org for more information.

Seed Pickup
Friday, October 18 from 4 pm to 6 pm
Saturday, October 19 from 9 am to 12 pm
Shademakers Nursery & Landscape
304 West Collins Street
Oxford, Ohio 45056

AMV volunteers will be present and will load seed into your vehicle. Look for the AMV flags on the North side of the parking lot. 

The event will feature door prizes and customers will receive 10% discount on gift items at Shademakers during pickup hours. If you are unable to pick up your seed on one of these dates, contact Marlene Hoffman at mfhoffman36@yahoo.com to make other arrangements.

Presenter: Dr. Carol Trosset

Location: In-person at Lebanon Citizens National Bank (LCNB)

Beginning in the 1950s, the Trosset family restored an acre of woodland in a suburb of Cincinnati by letting the trees grow and repopulating the property with a large variety of native wildflowers. Using 40 years of weekly records collected by her mother, Carol will show us the richness of the resulting habitat, which has hosted 122 species of birds and 15 species of mammals. Data on wildflower bloom dates make it possible to see how climate change is affecting our local ephemeral wildflowers. Changes in the habitat over 70 years illustrate the opportunities and challenges of small-scale habitat restoration.

Carol Trosset grew up in Cincinnati studying natural history with her family and at the Cincinnati Zoo. She holds graduate degrees in cultural anthropology and conservation biology, and spent most of her career studying higher education effectiveness. Three years ago, she retired back to Cincinnati. She is the author of The Woods: The Natural History of an Acre in Southwestern Ohio, published in 2023 by the Ohio Biological Survey.

This field trip was initially scheduled for September 28 but was moved to October 5 due to inclement weather.

The Frank House farm is one of the first properties added to the three valley conservation Trust. Today it has cattle, sheep, free range chickens raised using no pesticides, hormones or antibiotics. It also has over 100 acres of preserved woodland, prairie, and riparian corridors.

Our leader will be Randy Morgan, former AMV Board member and retired entomologist from the Cincinnati Zoo.

Frank House will be providing a luncheon consisting of organic hamburgers from his cattle with all the fixings, an organic potato dish along with wine. If you intend to join us for lunch, if desired you may bring a salad or dessert to share.

Given the weather forecast, we have made the decision to postpone our our field trip to the Frank House Farm.

This field trip will now take place on Saturday October 5th.

For questions, contact Field Trip Coordinator Neil Poppendeck at npoppendeck@gmail.com

The Frank House farm is one of the first properties added to the three valley conservation Trust. Today it has cattle, sheep, free range chickens raised using no pesticides, hormones or antibiotics. It also has over 100 acres of preserved woodland, prairie, and riparian corridors.

Our leader will be Randy Morgan, former AMV Board member and retired entomologist from the Cincinnati Zoo.

Frank House will be providing a luncheon consisting of organic hamburgers from his cattle with all the fixings, an organic potato dish along with wine. If you intend to join us for lunch, if desired you may bring a salad or dessert to share.

The Hike-a-Thon is a wonderful family event for all ages with different levels of hikes, activities, and displays from environmental groups. The event celebrates the outdoors and will show off the exciting progress of the Oxford and Miami Trail systems. AMV is excited to participate in this community event once again. We will have multiple trail routes ranging from 1,3, and 5 miles in length and those routes will be on both paved and unpaved surfaces. We will have binoculars for your use along with an experienced birder in the bird blind to help identify birds.

Event Details
Saturday, September 21, 2024
9 a.m. - 1 p.m. 
DeWitt Cabin Trailhead:
4831 Oxford Trenton Road
Oxford, OH 45056

Presenter: Professor John Iverson

Location: In-person at Lebanon Citizens National Bank (LCNB)

On-the-ground conservation biology is generally the purview of institutions, organizations, and government agencies. Many organizations undertakes in situ and ex situ conservation projects around the world. However, the value of private, grassroots, local conservation efforts, particularly focusing on turtles and other herps, should not be overlooked. Dr. Iverson purchased a 36-acre mid-growth forest after the big trees were logged in 1993, and expanded it with the purchase of a contiguous 40-acre cornfield in 1997. Professor Iverson has constructed 55 permanent to ephemeral wetlands (38 by hand), planted over 50,000 trees, reduced invasive herbaceous species by over 99%, and hence, created a 71-acre reforested, permanently protected wildlife reserve. The habitat now supports thriving populations of 17 amphibian and 13 reptile species.

John B. Iverson holds a PhD in Biology from the University of Florida and is Biology Research Professor at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana. Because of his interests in the natural history, ecology, and evolution of iguanas and turtles, he is currently on the steering committees (and founding member) of the IUCN/SSC Iguana Specialist Group, and the Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. He has been involved with the Turtle Survival Alliance since its inception in 2001 (currently a Board member), and serves on the Board of the Turtle Conservation Fund. He has been active in several herp societies, serving as editor and president of the Herpetologists League. He has maintained long-term field research sites since 1980 for rock iguanas in the Exumas in the Bahamas, and since 1981 for turtles at the Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge in western Nebraska. His hobby is restoring a 76 acre woodlot/cornfield (now in a Conservation Easement) to a mature hardwood forest.

To learn more about Dr. Iverson, click here.

Presenter - Michelle Boone

Michelle’s lab at Miami University (Boone Lab) has been trying to understand factors that contribute to range contraction and population declines in a species of concern in the state of Ohio, the Blanchard's cricket frog (Acris blandchardi). Over the last decade,  they have evaluated the effects of land use change, agricultural pesticides, and widespread pathogens to understand factors that may help and harm populations of cricket frogs with an eye toward creating win-wins for amphibian and human coexistence. 

Michelle Boone is an associate professor at Miami University whose lab focuses on research from laboratory and field experiments to the landscape-level studies evaluating human-wildlife conflicts using amphibians as model species..

Naturalist and nature photographer Tom Hissong will lead us on this field trip. The field trip will begin at 8:00 AM.

Also known as the “Devil’s Backbone,” Wagers Memorial Park features rocky cliffs, waterfalls, spring wildflowers and bird migrants in abundance. In 2016, the Wagers family donated 24 acres known as the “Devil’s Backbone”. This area has become a wildlife sanctuary with native plants and animals. The area is scenic with limestone formations and beautiful waterfalls. The area is mostly from the Ordovician Period of the Paleozoic Era. During this time, a warm shallow sea covered the area resulting in many marine life invertebrate fossils. Subsequent glaciers created ravines, waterfalls and a variety of igneous and metamorphic rocks. Paint Creek, a tributary of Sevenmile creek, meanders along the east end of the park.

In early 2023, Shady Hollow Longbeards, a local conservation organization chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, partnered with Preble County Park District and implemented a pollinator habitat, planting 22 species of native flowers and grasses. In addition, Amy and Jon Costanzo have just finished a biotic inventory of the area identifying 178 different taxa of plants and 76 different species of birds.

Meeting Location
The Herbert and Patricia Wagers Memorial Park
1301 OH-725 West
Camden, Ohio 45331

Celebrate Earth Day at EarthFest, a free festival featuring games, interactive booths and workshops, live music, Oxford Farmer's Market and more. Several organizations from Oxford and Miami University will have educational booths and lead interactive activities during this community event.

EarthFest is a collaborative effort between Miami University and the community to come together and promote efforts to teach how natural environments function and how human beings can manage behavior and ecosystems to live sustainably. In addition, the event will spotlight green businesses in the community. Over 15 student groups and Oxford organizations will be there to interact with the community and have fun activities for all ages.

The event promotes a fun, welcoming environment with music, games, hands-on demonstrations, and interactive learning. The event is free to attend!

The event is hosted by: Environmental Professionals Association, EcoReps, GreenHawks Media, Global Education Outreach for Diversifying the Earth Sciences, Leaders of Environmental Awareness and Protection (LEAP), Zero Waste Oxford, and Zoology & Biology Club. Find more details here

Event Details
Saturday, April 20 from 11am – 2pm
Oxford Memorial Park
 2 East High Street
Oxford, OH 45056