Geauga Park District
As monarchs fly through Northeast Ohio this season on their tremendous journey south, take a short journey to The West Woods Nature Center to view a very special showing of “Flight of the Butterflies,” originally produced for IMAX theaters, which explores the unbelievable migration and the man who discovered the monarchs’ overwintering site in Mexico in 1975.
GEAUGA PARK DISTRICT
For more information on these programs, contact the park district at 440-286-9516 or visit them online at www.geaugaparkdistrict.org.
Flight of the Butterflies
Sept. 9, 7-8:30 p.m.
As monarchs fly through Northeast Ohio this season on their tremendous journey south, take a short journey to The West Woods Nature Center to view a very special showing of “Flight of the Butterflies,” originally produced for IMAX theaters, which explores the unbelievable migration and the man who discovered the monarchs’ overwintering site in Mexico in 1975.
Viewers will also get to know to story of the determined scientist, Dr. Fred Urquhart, who spent 40 years trying to discover the mysteries surrounding their journey across three countries. Also hear first-hand from Geauga Park District field naturalist Tami Gingrich, who was one of his volunteers for many years. Real live monarchs will also be on display to enjoy.
Neither tickets nor registration are required to view the movie.
Bird Tornadoes Hit Geauga
Witness the annual phenomenon of hundreds of chimney swifts swirling tornado-like and then plummeting into an old chimney en route to South America.
The Bird Tornado Strikes Again! takes place Sept. 6 at the Chardon Square bandstand and Sept. 13 at Berkshire High School in Burton.
Chimney swifts are neotropical migrants, meaning they winter in the south and summer in the north. Though they once nested in hollow trees, America’s settlement and urbanization quickly introduced them to more convenient shelter chimneys, where they can use their glue-like saliva to adhere stick nests to the inner walls.
After nestlings have fledged into flyers by mid-summer, swifts patrol the skies by day and gather at dusk to room communally in uncapped chimneys of older homes, as well as institutional chimneys. Chimney use varies from year to year, but Berkshire High School and the Assembly of God Church on Chardon Square are consistently used.
During autumn migration from September through early October, local swifts are joined by travelers seeking a “migratory motel” at sundown. All together the birds gradually swell in the sky, swirling in ever-tightening circles and emitting twittering notes until, one by one, they begin to plummet into the chimney. One chimney often holds hundreds of birds for the night.
All ages are welcome to stop by and catch the view. Registration is not required.
Arts In Nature
The West Woods Nature Center in Russell Township is once again home to the annual show of the Geauga Council for Arts & Culture. Judged by professional artists, the show will remain on display daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Oct. 9.
Winners are:
Oil Acrylic Painting: First place – Trish Kaman, “Special Hat”; second place – Barbara Yoxall, “Storm”; third place – Betty Lee Wanner, “Monarch Butterfly”; and honorable mention – Donald Boncela, “Jim Fencil’s Pond.”
Watercolor: First place – Mary Ann Boysen, “Woodland Waterfall”; second place – Char D’Errico, “Just the 3 of Us”; third place – Carol Prior, “Young’uns at Modroos”; and honorable mentions – Pat Ingram, “City Reflections,” Lois Salmon Toole, “Whispers of Fog,” Kathy Oravecz, “Casa de Randera” and Marilyn White, “Lucy.”
Photography: First place – Wayne Mazorow, “Birch Tree Autumn Woodland”; and second place – Janice Katz, “’D’ is for Dahlia.”
Other Media: First place – Vicki Vesel, “Luna Landing.”
Learn more about the Geauga Council for Arts & Culture at www.geaugaarts.org.
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