February 2024 Newsletter
Happy almost spring! While we are still in the midst of winter, February is the month that brings me hope that we are that much closer to spring weather. Large flocks of red-winged blackbirds and grackles are at the feeders that will soon be followed by calls of killdeer and woodcocks. We’ll undoubtedly get more snow, but even the house finches and cardinals are singing their springtime songs.
We are preparing for another busy spring and summer filled with programs, displays, and other events. If you haven’t booked your program with us yet, please do so soon, as June and July are filling quickly.
2023 in numbers;
2023 by the Numbers
217 Programs
14 Counties
13,063 People
45,000 Visitors to our Birds at Preservation Parks of Delaware County’s Deer Haven Park
$81,000 in Hours Donated by Volunteers
Interns Needed
We are again looking for interns. Do you know of a high school student who needs to fulfill their graduation requirements or a college student looking to gain hands-on experience in environmental education and working with wild animals? Please send them to our website to access our internship application.
Roosters
Do you enjoy Roosters Restaurant? We are selling their 10% off gift cards. For $10, this card gives you 10% off your food bill throughout the year. You can use it repeatedly throughout 2024. If you are interested, please email info@ohionature.org. You can send us a check (4782 Riley Rd, Johnstown, Ohio 43031) or pay through our website at www.ohionature.org. Proceeds will benefit our 40+ animals.
Otterbein University
We are honored to be working with Otterbein University and Adjunct Instructor Casey Tucker and his Conservation Biology students for the spring semester. This course is identified as a writing-intensive course where students take on a writing project and work on researching and incrementally developing their project through a series of stages, ultimately producing a final project. Mrs. Van has met with a small group of students via Zoom twice this winter, giving them a look at the non-profit sector and working with live animals in the environmental education field.
Ohio Nature Education is now a USDA-licensed Class C Exhibitor.
We were informed last year that in addition to our permits from the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Ohio Division of Wildlife, we were also required to obtain a USDA Exhibitors license by February 21, 2024. We spent much of the quieter fall season preparing for our pre-licensing inspection on February 5. Both locations, Riley Rd. and Deer Haven Park, were fully compliant. We’ve always stated that if being regulated meant an excellent quality of life for captive animals, then so be it. Rest assured that ONE’s animals live the best life that we can offer them. A special shout-out to Dani Jones, our new Board president, for her assistance with this significant and monumental project.
One of the requirements is offering and documenting enrichment regularly. We have created an enrichment manual and plan and are having the best time discovering what each animal prefers. Our board member Tara Hutson posts these (and other) videos on our TikTok page. We encourage you to follow us on TikTok and Facebook.
We’ve recently updated our wishlist on Amazon to include enrichment items for our animals. Please consider purchasing on our behalf by clicking the button below.
If you know of anyone who would like more information on the new bird regulations from the USDA, ONE, in partnership with the Ohio Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (OWRA), is offering OWRA members a seminar via Zoom on Friday, March 22, from 7-8 p.m. This session will be led by our own Mrs. Van and Cindy Alverson from Raptors, Inc. Go to the OWRA website at owra.org for more information.
Blue Jackets Game
Join Ohio Nature Education on Thursday April 4th at 7pm in cheering on the Columbus Blue Jackets as they take on the New York Islanders! 10 to 20 dollars of every ticket sold will be donated back to the organization and help support ONE!
New Programs
We have some new programs to announce. The first is for adult audiences and is titled, Growing up In a Wildlife Friendly Home and offers a hilarious behind the scenes view from Mrs. Van’s daughters, Tara & Fallon.
We are offering two Tween programs for libraries. One is Young Artists –Birds of Prey, which allows audiences ten years to seventeen to sketch live birds of prey as the birds calmly sit out of their crates on perches. The second is Young Scientists – Owl Pellets, which allows audiences ten years to seventeen to dissect owl pellets (undigested fur, feathers and bones) while live owls calmly sit out of their crates on perches. Email info@ohionature.org with any questions or to book a custom-made program or display.
Patreon
You can help support Ohio Nature Education by joining our new Patreon. Your monthly contribution will help keep our animals happy and healthy. You'll get exclusive access to behind-the-scenes videos from ONE, including animal introductions, voting on new animal names, and more. Check it out at the link below.