The results and impact of a number of conservation and management practices were reviewed by Metroparks Toledo commissioners at the August 31 meeting.
Jay Wright, director of conservation science, provided an update on the cattle grazing trial, oak wilt management and avian monitoring.
Mr. Wright explained that cattle grazing at Oak Openings park was done to mimic the natural grazing of animals that once inhabited the region.
“Cattle have a diet that is similar to bison,” he said.
The trial acreage is at the South Parkway meadow, and the goal is to increase structural heterogeneity and plant diversity, reduce invasive woody cover and create bare patches.
Doing so will improve ground-nesting bird and pollinator habitats, he said.
Cattle are grazing on 11 acres that were burned this spring. Ethon Pawlaczyk of Black Swamp Cattle Company has provided about six cattle, which are rotated from paddock to paddock daily for grazing.
Weekly bird surveys are conducted by Nate Koszycki and Black Swamp Bird Observatory, while monthly vegetation surveys of the entire pasture are taken by Karen Menard, Metroparks monitoring and research supervisor.
Early results are showing the common breeders using the meadow, and while some dense areas remain, the meadow is seeing a mix of tall and short grass. “Grass cover is down 7 percent and ferns 3 percent with bare ground rising by 3 percent,” he noted. Tim Schetter, director of natural resources, added, “Keep in mind, this may not seem like much but without these practices, ground species would have gone up significantly.” Future plans for the meadow are to continue current practices and monitoring, while gradually expanding the meadow management area. “We will consult prairie experts and work with researchers to study and adapt grazing strategies,” Mr. Wright said. He also updated the park commissioners on oak wilt management. The fungal disease disrupts vascular systems, and red oaks are highly susceptible with death in one year, he explained. Beetles cause the aboveground spread, and below ground the disease is spread through root grafts. Trenching and cutting to the line are two common practices used to help control the spread of oak wilt.
First detected in the 1990s, the disease led to removal of several trees. Confirmed again in 2014, the infection impacted 110 trees at Wildwood park.
“Since 2020, about 200 trees have likely been infected each year,” Mr. Wright said.
Metroparks performs a four-hour aerial monitoring of the disease, and those they find are removed.
The trees could be replaced by white oak, which Mr. Schetter said are more resistant and physically tolerant of oak wilt.
In an effort to control the spread, Metroparks is selecting areas for cut-to-the-line treatment.
In addition, Mr. Wright addressed the avian monitoring plan.
He noted there are several goals. They are:
•track changes in species’ use of parks;
•associate habitats and management practices with species presence and abundance; •monitor population status of state-listed species;
•contribute to regional and national databases, and
•use indicator species to assess attainment status.
Monitoring is occurring year round and breeding point count survey locations are tracked. Focus areas include marshbird and crane count monitoring as well as birds in grassland areas.
An ebird app is used to identify the species of birds and Metroparks is working with several agencies to collect data, including the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative, Project Feeder Watch, Nest Watch and Celebrate Urban Birds.
~Jane Maiolo
