Tag: Stewardship

These two beautiful photos show a stream meandering through the forest in Miami Whitewater Forest. But what does it mean to say that a stream is “meandering?”   Many of us may be familiar with this word, knowing that it means that the stream winds back and forth, but have you ever wondered why a […]

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Great Parks of Hamilton County manages four conservation areas that are dedicated solely for the protection of natural habitats and the wildlife that reside within these areas. One of these conservation areas is Newberry Wildlife Sanctuary, a state-dedicated natural area that was acquired in 1975. It is home to a variety of plant and animal […]

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Most people associate the month of March with the end of winter and the beginning of spring. However, in the Stewardship Department, we recognize March as the beginning of our prescribed burn season. Prescribed burning is a pre-planned management tool using fire to achieve our management objectives. Historically, fire was a common feature of the […]

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As cold temperatures settle in across the Midwest and our lakes and ponds freeze, many people look forward to winter activities such as ice skating and ice fishing. But fun opportunities like these can only exist because of the unusual properties of water. For many substances, as their temperature decreases, their density increases until they […]

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Birds are tough little creatures, enduring harsh conditions that we tend to avoid at all costs. Many birds build up fat stores before winter, which can serve dual purposes. For birds that migrate south, this acts primarily as an energy source, while birds that maintain their territory use the fat as insulation. Some birds, such […]

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Over the past few years, the Great Parks Stewardship department has been aware of declining monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) sightings. The department has since taken steps to help promote and protect their habitat. In the fall, monarch butterflies from our region start their migration to Mexico for the winter. When winter is over, they will […]

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Most commonly called fireflies or lightning bugs, these interesting insects are in fact a beetle and members of the family Lampyridae, Greek for “shining ones.” The familiar luminescent beetles are recognized for their nighttime display of flashes in the summer. Most of us have fond memories of catching these gentle and harmless beetles as kids […]

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Every year throughout the spring, summer and fall, we see thousands of insects around us outdoors. The majority of these insects are not a problem for us. However, some are a problem for certain plants, and some are a problem for certain other insects. Aphids, which are sometimes referred to as “plant lice,” are among […]

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