Did you know that more than 100 species of butterflies call Ohio home?  Since 2001, volunteers have discovered more than 80 types of butterflies living at William H. Harsha Lake and East Fork State Park. If you enjoy watching red admirals, monarchs and fritillaries, join us at the Butterfly Monitors Meeting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 21.  Meet at the Corps of Engineers Visitor Center. Topics include butterfly watching and ID tips, monitoring techniques, and how to fill out a data sheet. Armed with identification skills and data sheets, you can join the volunteers who keep tabs on our butterflies by walking a short route each week. It only takes about an hour, plus you get to see wildlife up close and help the park. Those who would like to start up a monitoring transect in other parts of the state are also welcome.

Have you ever marveled at the sight of a sky-blue bird that is the sign of happiness?  Once very rare in Ohio, eastern bluebirds have made an astonishing comeback thanks to nest boxes placed in fields and meadows. You can learn how to monitor nest boxes at the Bluebirder’s Meeting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 21 at the Corps of Engineers Visitor Center. Topics covered include bird and nest identification, and how to fill out a monitor data sheet. Armed with identification skills and data sheets, you can join the volunteers who keep tabs on the birds that use nest boxes by walking a short route each week. It only takes about an hour, plus you get to see wildlife up close and help the park.

All programs are offered free of charge. For more information about this program and to register, please call the Corps Park Ranger at (513) 797-6081 or go to www.LRL-POC-harsha@usace.army.mil. The Corps of Engineers Visitor Center is located at 2185 Slade Road just off State Route 222 about five miles south of Batavia. (Note: if you use Map Quest or GPS receiver, the Visitor Center is located about 1 ½ miles further on Slade Road, past the Main Dam and Corps Boat Ramp.)