Parks & Recreation

February 5, 2015 by Staff Report

GEAUGA PARK DISTRICT

For more information, contact the park district at 440-286-9516 or visit www.geaugaparkdistrict.org

Visit The Old Observatory

Tour the Nassau Observing Station Feb. 13 and 27 from 7-9 p.m. at Observatory Park, 10610 Clay St. in Montville Township.

Registration is required for the special behind-the-scenes opportunities to visit the facility, also known as the “old Case observatory,” before Geauga Park District’s renovation plans get underway. Due to space limitations, participation is limited to 30 people per session.

Visitors will head over to the old facility in two groups. Parking at Nassau is limited to six vehicles, so visitors may make the quarter-mile drive or enjoy a “ferry ride” in a Geauga Park District van.

Once there, explore the laboratory, living quarters, observing floor and telescope. Also, learn about the past research conducted at Nassau and future plans for its use in education and public exhibition displays in each room.

Meanwhile, the group back at Observatory Park will learn about the history of the Nassau Astronomical Observing Station, its sister observatories in East Cleveland and Arizona, and J.J. Nassau himself. While enjoying warm beverage refreshments, also find out about the original home of the Nassau telescope and the ultimate fate of Case’s observatory on Taylor Road.

The groups will swap places at 8 p.m.

Great Bird Count

The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are. Checklists are accepted from anywhere in the world, so why not come out to The West Woods and help produce a tally for Geauga County? It’s among the park district’s Connect with Winter activities.

All ages are invited to join the count being held Feb. 13-16, anytime between noon and 4 p.m. for some warm bird watching at The West Woods’ wildlife feeding window.

Attendees will also be able to view results as they come in on the park district’s computer and learn from Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalists which types of seeds and feeders are the most successful.

Also on Feb. 14 from 2-3 p.m., visit The West Woods for Winter Armchair Birding to learn which birds are residents and which ones just visit during the winter, as well as how to provide for both kinds. Then, feel free to venture out to the Bird in the Hand feeder along the trail and invite a chickadee to take some seed from one’s hand.

The West Woods Nature Center is located at 9465 Kinsman Road in Russell Township.

LAKE METROPARKS

Winter Hike

Come outside and enjoy the beauty of the winter woodlands on a nature hike taking place Feb. 8 from 1-4 p.m. at Penitentiary Glen Reservation, 8668 Kirtland-Chardon Road in Kirtland.

Choice of hikes will vary in length and terrain from flat and easy for the novice hiker to longer with rolling terrain and a few steep hills for the experienced hiker. Easy-to-follow trail maps are available in the Nature Center.

A Winter Hike patch and a commemorative year patch, s’mores, soup and beverages are all included in the $8 registration fee.

Preregistration is requested online at lakemetroparks.com or by calling 440-358-7275.