In the birding world, few species generate more excitement than does the Purple Martin, a swallow that is arriving now in Ohio, with reports of scouts logged almost daily online.

Purple martins, the largest of the swallows in North America, are totally dependent on man-made housing east of the Rockies and faithfully return to the same locations each year, so it’s understandable that human landlords anxiously await the return of their birds from wintering grounds in South America. 

Arrivals are posted on an online database, at www.purplemartin.org, maintained by the Purple Martin Conservation Association (PMCA), a nonprofit conservation organization.

A new report concludes that every Clean Ohio Fund dollar invested in conservation in the state returns four dollars in natural goods and services. The report also details how the fund supports hundreds of thousands of jobs statewide. 

Created in 2000, The Clean Ohio Fund is the state's primary funding source for open space conservation, farmland preservation, and trail creation. The Trust for Public Land's research summarizes and quantifies the economic benefits to local Ohio communities of Clean Ohio Fund investments in conserving healthy lands and waters, and also in a healthy economy. Projects made possible by the Clean Ohio Fund annually support hundreds of thousands of jobs across Ohio. Additionally, for every $1 invested in the conservation of land, $4 is returned in natural goods and services, such as drinking water protection, flood control, and air pollution removal.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) recently selected Jeff Tyson as the Lake Erie fish management program administrator. Tyson has worked in ODNR Division of Wildlife fish management for nearly 20 years. He previously served as the Sandusky Fisheries Research Unit fisheries biology supervisor.

Red-winged Blackbirds have started to sing and the goldfinches have begun turning a bright sunny yellow. All winter we have waited for these signs of spring. 

Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge (ONWR) is happy to announce that they are offering more free public programming than ever before during this spring. ONWR’s completely remodeled website, www.fws.gov/refuge/ottawa, has updates on refuge events, guided hikes and bus tours. All programs offer insight into the National Wildlife Refuge System and bring you up close to native wildlife.