Bob I know Creagles are all in good fun. But I learned years ago that sometimes we should be careful about our jokes. When I was teaching high school biology in the 70s and started getting some of my dry humor back as supposed legitimate answers to test questions I started wondering about how far to push my humor. I have a proposal! Instead of pretending that turkey vultures never return until March 15th -- why not visit one of Ohio's premier nature preserves and join our annual Toad Tuning Event at Cedar Bog in Champaign County. We line up a list of phone numbers and contact folks when the toads start their lovely spring mating songs. We follow their real schedule -- not some arbitrary date that someone thinks they are supposed to follow. And, may I say, it is a toad-ally awesome event. Some folks even think the sound is trilling, and not a soul will croak over fears of nature fakery! Enough. Toad Trilling is lots of fun and good natural history education on a warm, late spring evening. Come join us. Visit the Cedar Bog Association website at http://www.cedarbog.org/toadtuning.htm to learn more. Bob Glotzhober ==================== Robert C. Glotzhober 614/ 298-2054 Senior Curator, Natural History [log in to unmask] Ohio Historical Society Fax: 614/ 297-2546 1982 Velma Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43211-2497 Visit the website of the Ohio Historical Society at: www.ohiohistory.org and check out our online collections catalog. Visit the Ohio Odonata website at: http://www.marietta.edu/~odonata/index.html -----Original Message----- From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Robert Hinkle Sent: Friday, February 12, 2010 9:44 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [Ohio-birds] Turkey Vulture in Medina Dave's email was forwarded to me here in Florida by a fellow birder who was aghast that such a fine birder as Beth McGuire might mistake a Creagle for a Turkey Vulture. As you remember, Creagles are the illicit offspring of Bald Eagles and Common Crows - therefore smaller than eagles but black, like crows - and occasionally appear at this time of year. The featherless red head of the TV is apparently a dominant trait. Creagles may soar around northeastern Ohio for a few weeks each February or early March , but always move on to their summering quarters at Baffin Island just ahead of the Turkey Vultures' prompt arrival in Hinckley on March 15th. As you read this, I am in Florida, prodding reluctant Turkey Vultures to start thinking about the long trek north to Cleveland Metroparks Hinckley Reservation in Hinckley Ohio. Bob Hinkle Cleveland Metroparks "Official Buzzard Spotter" [log in to unmask] ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]