MARCH 2023 CALENDAR

March 1 – March 31 – “The Troll That Hatched an Egg by Thomas Dambo” Exhibit, (Farm & Center)

March 1 – March 12 – Aullwood Rent-A-Bucket Activities & Fundraiser (Farm)

March 2, 3, 16, 17, 30, 31 – Project FeederWatch (everyone), 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (Center)

March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 - Adult Member Discovery Walks (members only), 8:00 – 9:30 a.m. (Center)

March 4 – Sugarbush Walk, 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Farm)

March 5 – Friends of Aullwood Pancake Brunch, 10:a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Farm)

March 5 – Sugarbush Walks, 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. (Farm)

March 7, 14, 21, 28– Birding the Farm (everyone), 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Farm)

March 8, 22 – Chipmunk Adventures for Preschool Children, “Celebrate Ag (Agriculture) Day!” 10:00 a.m. -11:45 a.m., (Farm Pavilion)
March 25 – “The Search for Skunk Cabbage”, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (Center)

April 28 & 29 – SAVE THE DATE for Aullwood’s Native Plant Sale, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Farm)  

General admission is $12/adults 13 to 64, $10 Seniors 65+ and Active Duty Military, $8/children 4 to 12 and children 3 and under FREE unless otherwise noted with an asterisk (*). Members of Friends of Aullwood, National Audubon Society and ANCA are admitted free.  Please note that

Aullwood walks are weather dependent and are cancelled if there is thunder, lightning or heavy

rain. Access to Aullwood and Aullwood trails is at both the Center and Farm Tuesday - Sunday.

Aullwood Center programs begin at 1000 Aullwood Road. Aullwood Farm Programs begin at 9101 Frederick Pike. Call 937-890-7360 for information. Check our events calendar: www.aullwood.org.

Spring arrives on March 20, and with it comes spring wildflowers and more migrating birds.

American woodcock males can be heard “peenting” at dawn and dusk in open spaces next to

woods. Waterfowl, shorebird, and raptor migration is in full swing. Keep an eye out at the

end of the month for the arrival of the Eastern phoebe that nests at the Nature Center. Aullwood has a variety of pasture raised meats and as well as farm fresh eggs for all of your cooking! Our pork products include pork chops, smoked ham, and bacon. We have recently added frozen whole cut chickens! We also have chicken, duck and quail eggs for sale! You can find whole milk and chocolate milk from Fresh Start Dairy. It is always free admission to shop in the Nature Store. Make purchases with credit card, check or cash.

Important Information and Guidelines for Programs:

Aullwood is following the recommendations from government officials, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Ohio Department of Health and the National Audubon Society. Guidelines are subject to change as State mandates change.

-Programs begin promptly at their scheduled start time, are weather dependent and are cancelled if there is thunder, lightning or heavy rain. Participants will be contacted via email should a program be cancelled.

-If you or someone in your household is sick, stay home. Do not visit Aullwood if you have a fever, persistent cough or shortness of breath, have the symptoms of COVID-19 or were exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 14 days.

-We recommend you wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before and after your visit.

We are performing a professional daily deep cleaning of our facilities and frequent cleaning of high-touch areas.  Single use masks for adults and children are available for free. We have installed touchless faucets, soap dispensers and paper towel dispensers in the restrooms. Hand sanitizer stations are available throughout the site.

The Troll That Hatched an Egg Exhibit (Members and Non-Members)

Aullwood Audubon is proud to host “The Troll That Hatched an Egg”, an exhibit from the internationally renowned recycle artist Thomas Dambo! Bo, Bodil, Bibbi and their troll-sized bird nest have come to life at Aullwood and are ready for your visit. Learn more and plan your trip at https://aullwood.audubon.org/trolls now. Aullwood is open rain or shine. General admission tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. We recommend that you carefully plan your visit to allow for adequate time to explore our property and the Troll That Hatched an Egg exhibit. You can read more about Thomas Dambo at www.thomasdambo.com. (Farm & Center)

Rent-a-Bucket (Everyone)

Fill out your application at Aullwood for Rent-A-Bucket and get your name on a maple sap bucket d until March 12. For a donation of $35, ($15 tax deductible), your name can be on one of our sap buckets on maple trees at Aullwood Farm! In recognition of your support, you will receive a half-pint of Ohio maple syrup ready for pickup at the annual Pancake Brunch on Sunday, March 5^th! Your maple syrup can be mailed for an additional $8 for postage or picked up in person at the Nature Center after March 5^th. Reserve online at: https://aullwood.audubon.org/RentABucket.

Project Feeder Watch (Everyone)

You're invited to join us for the 2023 Project FeederWatch season! Project FeederWatch is a winter-long survey of birds seen at feeders, coordinated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Birds Canada. Data from Project FeederWatch helps scientists track broad-scale movements of winter bird populations and long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance. FeederWatch results are regularly published in scientific journals and are shared with ornithologists and bird lovers nationwide. People count birds in their own backyards, or you can help Aullwood by

counting birds at our feeders! Anyone interested in birds can participate and is invited to join us at the Marie S. Aull Education Center at 1000 Aullwood Road from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on the following Thursday and Friday dates for a relaxing morning of counting birds:

March 2 & 3, 2023, March 16 & 17, 2023, and March 30 & 31, 2023

Aullwood's FeederWatch is free and no preregistration is required. You’ll stay warm and cozy inside while watching, identifying, and counting birds, and people of all birding skill levels and

backgrounds are welcome, including children, families, individuals, retired persons, and those with accessibility issues. This important community science project is made possible through the amazing leadership of Gary & Carolyn Harpel and Chris Birch. We encourage you to sign up for Cornell Lab's Project FeederWatch and officially record your data for scientific research. Turn your love of feeding birds into important research information by contributing scientific data to important bird studies! Visit https://feederwatch.org to learn more. Need help identifying the

birds who visit your yard? Visit: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/ , https://ebird.org/home or
https://www.audubon.org/birding/identifying-birds. Please contact Aullwood Environmental Educator Sam Romeo at [email protected] if you have additional questions about Aullwood's Project FeederWatch. Thank you! (Center)

Adult Member Discovery Walks (Members Only)

March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Bring your binoculars and delight in a weekly walk along Aullwood’s trails spotting birds and exploring the seasonal spring changes taking place at Aullwood. These walks are for Aullwood and National Audubon Society members only. Binoculars recommended. Please be ready and waiting on the main sidewalk of the Nature Center at least 5 minutes before the scheduled start of the walk. Adult Discovery Walks are a benefit for members and there is no cost to attend. (Center)

Sugarbush Walk (Everyone)

Saturday, March 4, 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.  The sap begins to move in the sugar maple trees as the length of each day increases. Discover how trees make their own food, how to identify trees in

winter, and how maple syrup is made. Learn what birds and other creatures live in the sugarbush and who else besides humans enjoy sweet sap from the trees. You may also get to taste some real maple syrup! Please register at http://store.aullwood.org.  The number of participants is limited. This event is free for members of Friends of Aullwood, National Audubon Society and ANCA affiliated organizations with membership card or receipt. Non-members attending pay regular Aullwood admission, free for children 3 and under, $8.00 for children 4 to 12, $12.00 for adults 13 to 64, and $10.00 for seniors age 65 and over and active duty military members. (Farm)

Friends of Aullwood Pancake Brunch (Everyone)

Sunday, March 5, 2023 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Gather your family and friends on Sunday, March 13th and enjoy a delicious brunch, a walk in the sugarbush and a visit with our livestock at Aullwood Farm, 9101 Frederick Pike, Dayton. Enjoy the fluffiest pancakes, delicious sausages from Waffle House, scrambled eggs, coffee and warm maple syrup. Take home a beautiful Shamrock plant from Siebenthaler’s! Aullwood volunteers will lead sugarbush tours at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. and explain the process of maple sugar making. Continuous serving will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The cost is $10.00/adult, and $6.00/child (age 12 and under). Pay at the door or online at https://aullwood.audubon.org/events/pancake-brunch. Join us for food and fun on the farm! (Farm)

Birding the Farm (Everyone)

Tuesdays, March 7, 14, 21, and 28, 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.  Join Environmental Educator Sam Romeo on a weekly afternoon bird walk at Aullwood Farm, 9101 Frederick Pike. A variety of birds can be found on the trails and in the pastures and habitats at the Farm. In winter we see flocks of White-throated sparrows, Juncos and Eastern bluebirds along the brushy fence rows. You might even spy a Great horned owl in the Sugarbush! We will meet in front of the Farm Discovery Center. Binoculars are recommended. Free for members of Aullwood and NAS/ANCA with membership card; non-members may register and pay our general admission prices to participate. Register at https://aullwood.audubon.org/BirdingtheFarm. Call 937-890-7360 with questions.  (Farm)  

Chipmunk Adventures Classes

Wednesdays, March 8, 22, 10:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Chipmunk Adventures Classes for Preschool children ages 2-5 accompanied by an adult. Discover and share the excitement of nature with us at Aullwood Audubon. Visit farm animals, hike in the woods, crunch in the leaves, or walk in the creek. We’ll do hands-on activities, nature art, stories, and songs together at each session. Classes are conducted outside under the Farm Pavilion unless weather conditions dictate otherwise. Then we begin inside, but our hikes are outside. Dress for the weather conditions. Come and explore the wonder of winter with us! Theme and Class Dates are: Celebrate Ag (Agriculture) Day! - Wednesdays, March 8 & 22, 10:00 a.m.-11:45 a.m. Fee: Members $25.00/Non-members $30.00. Maximum of 8 child/adult pairs. We require a minimum of 4 child/adult pairs to hold this program. For more information email [email protected] or call Beverly Holland at 937-890-7360, ext. 206. Visit https://aullwood.audubon.org/ChipmunkAdventures to sign up. (Farm)

The Search for Skunk Cabbage (Everyone)

Saturday, March 25, 10:00-11:30 a.m.  One of the earliest blooming wildflowers, Symplocarpus foetidus, is found in marshy deciduous woods, alongside streams and wetlands, and other moist habitats. Skunk Cabbage is one of a few plants that exhibits thermogenesis – the ability to generate heat – and can bloom while there is still snow on the ground. Accompany Environmental Educator Sam Romeo on a search for this alien-looking, fascinating native plant. Free for members of Aullwood and NAS/ANCA with membership card; nonmembers may register and pay our general admission prices to participate. Meet inside the lobby of the Nature Center. Register online at http://store.aullwood.org to sign up. (Center)

Aullwood Native Plant Sale – SAVE THE DATE! (Everyone)

SAVE THE DATE for Aullwood’s 19th Native Plant Sale! This year’s sale is in person only over two days Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29 from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The sale features dozens of species and includes many new offerings. Spring ephemerals such as Virginia Bluebells, Giant White Trillium, Squirrel Corn and Twinleaf and more are also available at this year’s sale. To see our offerings for this year, please visit our website at www.aullwood.org to see our online catalog. Each plant’s catalog description includes soil and light requirements, colorful photos, and ways in which the plant supports pollinators and native wildlife. Need help deciding which plants will attract the most birds and wildlife to your garden? Check Audubon’s Plants for Birds database at https://www.audubon.org/plantsforbirds for assistance. Also available at the sale will be an array of gardening and bird-related items from our Nature Store and Gift Shop, including planters, field guides, hummingbird feeders, puzzles, decorative items and more! To prepare to visit the in person Native Plant Sale, print out the pages of the plants you want to order so you will be ready to shop as soon as you arrive. Our sale is in person only, with no pre-orders or curbside pick-up options. Aullwood is offering free admission for everyone attending the Native Plant Sale! Purchases may be made with VISA, MasterCard, or Discover, check or cash. Boxes will be available to hold your plants and volunteers will be available to assist with loading large orders. All plant sales are final and Aullwood Audubon reserves the right to make reasonable plant substitutions without notice. Why plant native? Native plants provide food and shelter for wildlife, increase biodiversity and attract natural predators that help control pest species. Proceeds from our Native Plant Sale provide critical funding for Aullwood's ongoing programs of environmental education and habitat preservation. Have questions? Email [email protected] or call 937-890-7360 x214 and leave a message. We appreciate your crucial support and your love of native plants! (Farm)

Volunteer & Support Aullwood (Everyone)

To volunteer at Aullwood please contact Nenita Lapitan, Manager of Volunteer and Rental Services at 937-890-7360, x214 or email at [email protected]. Become a member of Aullwood now! Visit https://aullwood.audubon.org/membership  for information. If you have any questions, email [email protected]. Make a tax-deductible gift at https://aullwood.audubon.org/donate to support Aullwood’s mission of conservation and education.