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

This nature center land was donated by a local family and has been developed as the Allen and Adaline Garber Nature Center. About 33 acres of forest area have been developed into 3.3 miles of hiking trails. A wetland has also been created. This area has been designated as a BIRDING HOTSPOT.

Early spring wildflowers should be in abundance. The Garber family also donated a house on the property. We have scheduled a guided tour of the house at 9:00AM. We will step back in time and experience the flower garden, summer kitchen, and numerous antiques. Following the tour, we will hike the trails to see early wildflowers and early spring bird migrants. A shelter with picnic tables is available; bring a lunch if desired.

Meeting Location:
Garber Nature Center
9691 OH Route 503 North
Lewisburg, Ohio

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 16, 2024. 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 16 at 10:00am through March 22, 2024.

• 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 in the Art Ed. Room of OCAC on the following dates:

March 8: 4:00pm - 6:00pm
March 9: 10:00am - 2:00pm
March 11: 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Artwork Pick up
March 23: 10:00am - 2:00pm
March 25: 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Presenter - Sarah Kent

Sarah is Community Outreach Manager and a nature interpreter for the Summit Nature Center in Roselawn. Sarah was named Outstanding New Interpreter of 2021 by the National Association for Interpretation.

Sarah, an advocate for social justice, and researcher in biology ( especially entomology) serves as a Board Member for Western Wildlife Corridor. She is the outreach manager for the Great Parks Nature Center at the Summit in Roselawn in Cincinnati. Sarah was named Outstanding New Interpreter of 2021 by the National Association for Interpretation, a non-profit professional organization for the interpretation of natural and cultural heritage resources. She was a recipient of Cincinnati’s “30 Under 30” award, from the National recreation and Park Association.

More details will be announced soon…

Spring Waterfowl Migration—Saturday, March 9, 2024, 8:00 AM

Where to Meet:
In the upper Oxbow parking lot at the main entrance to the Oxbow

Trip Leader: 
Erich Baumgardner
513-304-0697
erichbaumgardner@gmail.com

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 trip leader, Erich Baumgardner, is a skilled birder with an interest in all aspects of nature. He is also a long-time Oxbow Inc. advocate and current board member who knows the Oxbow very well. Erich’s plan for this trip 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 Erich will adjust his 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. Feel free to contact Erich if you have any questions regarding this trip. 

Where to meet
Meet at the upper Oxbow parking lot at the main entrance to the Oxbow at 8:00AM.

You can search for “Oxbow Nature Conservancy” on Google maps (or other navigation application) for directions. The address for the main entrance is
17160 Reardon Drive
Lawrenceburg, IN 47025

However, see the directions below for reference. Note that these directions apply to those who are approaching on interstate 275.

• From I-275, take exit #16 (US HWY 50) and go south.

• In about 200 yards, turn left (east) onto Production Road. This road is just past the Circle K gas station.

• Turn right on Reardon Drive. You should then see the Oxbow entrance sign.

• Turn left into the Oxbow. The upper parking area is immediately on the right.

Presenter - Terry Mann

Terry Mann, astronomer, NASA Ambassador and President of Ohio Dark Sky Association will talk about the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse and Ohio Dark Sky Initiatives.

A former two-time President of the Astronomical League, Terry Mann's interest in the stars started with her earliest memories.. As a very young child, she begged her mom to tell her bedtime stories as young children do, but she didn't want just any story, she wanted stories about the stars. By eight years old, she had a burning desire to have a photograph of the moon, which led her to temporarily "steal" her father's Instamatic camera to take her first astrophotograph. Caught "red handed" as she was snapping a photo of the moon using a flashcube, Terry thought she would get the punishment of her life. Instead, her father explained to her that you didn't need a flash to capture the light of the moon. 

A lifelong astronomer and astrophotographer, Terry describes what drives her:

"My quest to capture the "Elusive Light" of the night sky has drawn me to remote locations in both hemispheres. It has immersed me into the beauty and mystique of our celestial and natural world. Imaging both has proven to be challenging and exhilarating. Some of my best experiences are realized while standing far away from civilization under the canopy of stars, in the still of the night.

Imaging subjects other than people requires a connection to nature. Here you work with nature's schedule, not your own. The images are there if you know how to see them and capture that moment. For me, this is the best kind of imaging." 

Outreach

Terry Mann has served as Secretary, Vice President and President of the Astronomical League, an Organization of approximately 18,000 amateur astronomers. She has also served as the amateur astronomer on the Board of Directors at the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and chaired astronomical conferences. Currently, she is the Chair of the Great Lakes Region of the Astronomical League and the President of the IDA-Ohio Chapter.

Terry was selected to be a JPL/NASA Solar System Ambassador in 2002 and regularly conducts outreach events to interpret the latest space exploration science to a broad audience. 

Her images have been seen in local newspapers, television, magazines, and websites such as, Astronomy magazine, Sky and Telescope magazine, the Reflector magazine, Spaceweather.com, and Space.com. Terry has exhibited in art galleries and museums. She has given talks at various star parties, conferences, organizations, and events, and has held astronomy and photography workshops at Sally Ride Science Festivals, Alaska, Wyoming and Ohio.

She has articles published in Astronomy magazine, "How Terry Mann Images Earth and Sky"; Explore Scientific, "Chasing the Aurora", and various articles in the Reflector magazine published by the Astronomical League.

Awards and Recognition

Terry Mann was selected as a First Light Observer at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and had three of her images placed in the Explore the Universe gallery.

In 2004, Terry received the R.G. Wright Service Award from the Astronomical League. The R.G. Wright Award recognizes people who have performed above and beyond the call of duty. Terry also received an Award from the Ohio House of Representatives for her dedicated research and study of the Solar System.

The Miami Valley Astronomical Society honored Terry Mann with the club's highest award, the Kepler Award for Outstanding Service.

Links

• Terry Mann, JPL/NASA Solar System Ambassador

• Terry Mann on the AstronomyOutreach network

• Terry Mann's Photography, Sky's Up Magazine's Special Women in Astronomy Issue 

Audubon Miami Valley is excited to offer this field trip to the Joseph Moore Museum on the Richmond Indiana Campus of Earlham College. Dating back to the 1880’s, this museum possesses collections including:

• Amphibians and Reptiles (1290 specimens)

• Anthropology (from Babylon to Egypt to Native American mounds)

• Entomology (30,000 specimens),

• Mammalogy (4000 specimens from 26 countries)

• Ornithology (over 6500 specimens from 4 continents in 4 genera and 700 species, including extinct specimens), and Vertebrate Paleontology. It includes a mounted skeleton of mastodons and giant beavers.

A formal guided tour will begin at 10AM followed by informal tours based on interest. If you have a specific interest, we can let the museum know in advance.

We will meet at Earlham College, enter from National Road, turn left at the first stop sign and park in Lot G visitor parking behind the museum. A sign directs visitors to the Joseph Moore Museum.

Meeting Location:
Earlham College - Visitor Parking Lot G
801 National Road West
Richmond, Indiana 47374

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.

This program will be held in-person only at Lebanon Citizens National Bank in Oxford.

Presenter - Sarah Morris

During this presentation, Sara will describe her time at Hog Island through the lens of a teacher who is trying to find deeper meaning and purpose for doing the hard work of teaching. She will weave through the experiences and emotions that became part of her story of transformation. Always searching for fulfillment in her career, she will attempt to describe the emotional connection she felt with her fellow teachers, the land, and the sea and how those connections have had a lasting impact on her career.

Sara Morris is an instructor at Butler Tech for the new Green Engineering Program at the Natural Science Center in Monroe, Ohio. Previously, Sara was a Biology teacher at Talawanda High School. She lives in Oxford with her husband Sam, and two kids Ben and Luna. She loves hiking, running, and birding with her family.

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

Location: 4821 Layhigh Rd, Hamilton, OH 45013

Salamander Run is a MetroParks of Butler County property that features easy to moderate hiking trails through a variety of prairie and forest habitats. In the fall, this park is occupied by resident and migratory species that may include Red-tailed Hawk, Pileated Woodpecker, Bluebird or Cedar Waxwing. Our outing will be led by Randy Morgan, who has developed a unique familiarity with this park and its birdlife. Meet at the destination at 9:00 am.

This program will be presented VIRTUALLY via Zoom only
There is no in-person meeting for this event

Presenter: Ruth Holton-Hodson

Ruth Holton-Hodson spent her 35-yr career as a consumer and health policy advocate serving in executive positions in government, philanthropy, and non-profits.  From 2008-2019 Ruth served as a Deputy to California Controller and then Treasurer, John Chiang. Highlights included representing Chiang on the Board of California’s Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS); helping to gain passage and implementing the first in the nation retirement savings program for private sector workers, CalSavers; creating and leading the Ombudsman’s office for Unclaimed Property; and developing and co-leading a state employee wellness program, Healthier U. 

Ruth spent almost 10 years at The California Wellness Foundation as a Special Projects Director and then Director of Public Policy focused on increasing access to health care in low-income communities and educating the philanthropic sector about the importance of public policy grantmaking.  Prior to that, she served as Executive Director for California Common Cause where she ran two successful statewide initiative campaigns on campaign finance and ethics reforms. She began her public policy career as a lobbyist for the California Children’s Lobby.  Ruth has a Master’s in Educational Administration from The University of Chicago.

Now retired, Ruth serves as Vice President of the Board of Solar Cookers International and the Vice Chair of the Board of The California Budget and Policy Center, works with several non-profits in a volunteer capacity, and is an artist.

HOW TO ATTEND DIGITALLY VIA ZOOM

• To attend this event, click on this link.

• You will need to use this pass code to enter the meeting: 322977

• If you would like to use your phone for audio during the meeting, call this number 1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

* This event is free and open to the public