Your Backyard Habitat Archives - Great Parks of Hamilton County Blog

A little brown bat hangs from a crack on the outside of a building.

Little Brown Bats & White-Nose Syndrome

10/27/2022 9AM All, Your Backyard Habitat, Parks at Home for Grownups

Once thought to be one of the most common bat species in Ohio, the little brown bat’s population has dramatically decreased. Nature Interpreter Connor shares where you may spy these amazing creatures and what you can do to help Ohio bats.

Odonata: Dragons and Damsels … Oh My!

08/25/2022 11AM Your Backyard Habitat, Parks at Home for Grownups, Nature Academy

There are no dragons kidnapping damsels in distress here! These are way cooler critters, members of the animal kingdom that are actually indicators of water quality: dragonflies and damselflies. Read on as Director of Programming Amy highlights a few species found in our region.

Gardening at Home: The Importance of Native Plants

07/12/2022 3PM Your Backyard Habitat, Parks at Home for Grownups

You may not be accustomed to thinking of yards as important habitats, but wildlife will make use of any space that meets their needs. Nature Interpreter Lisa shares some tips and steps that you can take to turn your yard into a haven for native wildlife – by using native plants.

A black and pale yellow bumblebee pollinates a milkweed plant.

Buzzworthy Bumblebees: Our Amazing Local Pollinators

06/21/2022 3PM Your Backyard Habitat, Parks at Home for Grownups

While many people don’t like insects that sting, bumblebees play a vital role to our environment. Director of Programming Amy shares why bumblebees aren’t just important pollinators, they’re adaptable.

A bright yellow Prothonotary Warbler sits on a twig. It has black eyes and a beak. There is black on its wings.

Welcome, Warblers! Identifying Birds & Their Songs

04/14/2022 3PM All, Your Backyard Habitat, Parks at Home for Kids, Parks at Home for Grownups

Do you hear some bird calls in spring that sound unfamiliar? These are small songbirds called Warblers. Warblers hail from the tropics and are visiting Ohio for a short time. Nature Interpreter Lisa lists common warbler species and how you can identify them during their layover in Ohio.

A black, yellow and white monarch caterpillar climbs on a leaf.

What’s a Bioblitz? It’s Time to Prepare for the City Nature Challenge!

03/29/2022 2PM Your Backyard Habitat, Parks at Home for Kids, Parks at Home for Grownups, Nature Academy

If you haven’t heard of a bioblitz, it’s a great way to build your outdoor observation skills while helping biologists. Get outside and explore new places this spring by joining Great Parks in the City Nature Challenge 2022.

A Cercopia moth rests against wooden rafters. The moth has a bright red body with brown, red, and white wings.

Look on the Bright Side: The Lives of Ohio Moths

03/15/2022 3PM Your Backyard Habitat, Parks at Home for Kids, Parks at Home for Grownups

Moths are often overlooked as butterflies’ uglier, boring relatives, but they’re just as interesting and just as helpful to our environment! Nature Interpreter Maddie shares the bright side of moth lives with these common Ohio moths that you can find in Hamilton County.

A Carolina Wren uses its feet to grasp onto a tree trunk. The bird is perpendicular to the tree.

Teakettle – Teakettle! The Tale of the Carolina Wren

02/15/2022 2PM Your Backyard Habitat, Parks at Home for Kids, Parks at Home for Grownups, Nature Academy

If you’ve heard this rapid bird song, then you’ve heard a Carolina wren. Director of Programming Amy shares what you need to keep an eye – and ear! – out for in order to spot this small yet adaptive critter during your next birding excursion.

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