Botanical and Migrant Bird Field Trip

Location: Spring Grove Cemetery

Date: Sunday, September 29th, 2024

Meet: 9:00 A.M. at Spring Grove Cemetery, along the road just beyond the tunnel from the main entrance on Spring Grove Avenue

Leader: Denis Conover, (513) 390-0863, conovedg@hotmail.com

The focus of this field trip will be the diverse botanical community found at Spring Grove Cemetery as well as the fall migration of birds. Come out and join ASO Board Member, UC professor, and expert botanist and naturalist Denis Conover as he leads us on an early autumnal morning walk through the beautiful grounds of Spring Grove Cemetery. This is a beautiful time of the year and the fall color season should just be getting under way.

The southbound migration of songbirds (including warblers) and other species will still be underway. Our leader Denis is known foremost as a botanist but he has a great love and knowledge of birds of which many species should be seen. As we walk Denis will also identify the tremendous diversity of trees, shrubs, leaves and other plants that can be found here and expound on their ecology. Denis will also point out our native flora, invasive species, ornamental plantings and early fall color as well as show us some of the national and state champion trees found here. Denis has a great interests in all aspects of natural history and he will be sure to point out any other fauna we are sure to run across. So why not come along and join Denis on what should be a glorious fall morning and gain some tips and insight on birds and plant identification and their natural history.

Participants should be prepared for a few hours of steady walking, most of which will be relatively flat and on pavement and at a leisurely pace. But there will also be some walking off pavement on trails or in damp or wet grass. This field trip will be about a four hour walk. Of course participants can leave at any point they would like. We suggest wearing good waterproof footwear (wet/damp grass). Binoculars are not necessary to see plants but are recommended if you want to see birds clearly. Restrooms are available at the cemetery office. If you have any questions feel free to contact Denis.

Directions: The Spring Grove Cemetery main entrance is located on Spring Grove Avenue just west of the Winton Road intersection. To find our meeting spot, drive in through the main entrance gates and go straight. You will go through a short tunnel. Just beyond the tunnel, pull over and park alongside the right side of the road and look for Denis.

Spring Grove Cemetery website:

https://www.springgrove.org/locations/spring-grove-cemetery-arboretum/

Spring Grove Cemetery Map:

https://www.springgrove.org/resource/maps/

(Contributed by Jay Stenger)