Aullwood Audubon Announces January 2023 Calendar of Activities

January 1 & 2 – Aullwood Closed for New Year’s Day (Farm & Center) 

January 3 – January 31– “The Troll That Hatched an Egg by Thomas Dambo” Exhibit, (Farm & Center) 

January 3 – January 31 – Shopping in the Aullwood Nature Store and Gift Shop, (Center) 

January 3 – January 31 Aullwood Trail Adventures (everyone) (self-guided at Farm and Center) 

January 3, 10, 17, 24, 31– Birding the Farm (everyone), 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Farm) 

January 5, 6, 19, 20 – Project FeederWatch (everyone), 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (Center) 

January 5, 12, 19, 26 - Adult Member Discovery Walks (members only), 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. (Center) 

January 16 – Aullwood Closed for Martin Luther King Day (Farm & Center) 

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. 

It’s early winter, and this month can be the coldest and hardest on animals and plants. Many are hibernating or have gone dormant until spring. Birds are still active and many different species come together in winter flocks that move through the nature sanctuary. These birds can be observed from our warm and cozy Birdwatching Room at the Nature Center. Snowfall turns woodland and prairie into enchanted places; try exploring the trails in farm pastures on your cross-country skis or snowshoes.

Learn about “The Troll That Hatched an Egg” by Thomas Dambo and meet our troll friends! 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) 

Shopping in the Aullwood Nature Store (Everyone) 

We have plenty of unique and special gifts for anytime of year! Come and visit the Aullwood Nature Store & Gift Shop at Aullwood Nature Center, 1000 Aullwood Road! There are plenty of supplies for your feathered friends, delightful toys, games and books as well as guidebooks, soaps, kitchen ware, greeting cards, puppets, troll-themed items, artisan crafts & more! It is always free admission to shop in our Nature Store and Gift Shop! By shopping at Aullwood, you help to sustain our conservation and education mission, in addition to finding distinctive and unique gifts for all those on your list. Thank you for your patronage! (Center) 

Aullwood Trail Adventures (Everyone) 

We have eight miles of trails for you to explore. Pick up our trail map at the center or farm and get ready for adventure and discovery! We recommend sturdy shoes or boots. Snacks and drinks can be purchased at the Aullwood Nature Store or in the Farm Discovery Center. All trails can be accessed from the Marie S. Aull Education Center, 1000 Aullwood Road or Aullwood Farm, 9101 Frederick Pike during regular business hours Tuesday - Sunday. (Farm and Center) 

Birding the Farm (Everyone) 

Tuesdays, January 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31, 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. Please register online at http://store.aullwood.org. If you need additional assistance or have any questions, please call 937-890-7360. (Farm)    

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. 

January 5 & 6, 2023 and January 19 & 20, 2023
February 2 & 3, 2023 and February 16 & 17, 2023
March 2 & 3, 2023 and March 16 & 17, 2023, 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? Here are some helpful resources:

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/
https://www.audubon.org/birding/identifying-birds
https://ebird.org/home  

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) 

January 5, 12, 19, 26 – 8:00 – 9:30 a.m. Bring your binoculars and delight in a weekly walk along Aullwood’s trails spotting birds and exploring the seasonal 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) 

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/donateto support Aullwood’s mission of conservation and education.