Birders of all skill levels are invited to Blackbrook Audubon’s monthly bird walk Sunday, December 28 at Veterans Park. Attendees will meet 8:00 a.m. at 5730 Hopkins Road in Mentor. Park trails are level with asphalt, compacted gravel and boardwalk. The walk leaders will have a couple pairs of binoculars to lend. Blackbrook will host this bird survey on the fourth Sunday of every month year-round.
Gadwall, American Black Duck, a Ruddy Duck and a Pied-billed Grebe joined Mallards and Canada Geese swimming across the pond at last month’s walk. Blue jays vocalizing in some conifers drew the group’s attention and helped the walk leader hone in on a Barred Owl tucked against a tree trunk. A Pileated Woodpecker flew from tree to tree at the front of the park following the walk.
At 100 acres, Veterans Park encompasses the largest inland pond in Lake County, Granger Pond, and protects a remnant of original Ohio swamp forest. The property was once a sand quarry. The City of Mentor purchased it from the Granger family in 1970 and formed Mentor’s first neighborhood park. It’s now managed by Lake Metroparks, which stocks the pond with catfish, bass, bluegill and rainbow trout. A valid Ohio fishing license is required to fish at Veterans Park.
Granger Pond’s wide expanse attracts both fishermen and birds such as herons, kingfishers and mergansers. The list on eBird.org shows 207 species for this location. Just under a mile from Lake Erie, the pond and tree cover at Veterans Park offer birds inland shelter from blustery lake conditions.
Blackbrook Audubon covers Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake Counties as the local chapter of National Audubon Society. Contact Blackbrook Audubon at blackbrookaud@aol.com. Find updates on their Facebook page.
Photo: Barred Owl by Josh Sebrasky
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