(From the Hancock County Naturalists)

The Hancock County Naturalists will hold their next meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, at Oakwoods Nature Preserve, 1400 Oakwood Ave. The program is free and open to the public.

Tim Kleman, program specialist with Hancock Park District, will present data from the Naturalists’ annual Christmas Bird Counts. Since 1944, members of the club have attempted to record as many bird species as possible in the county on a single winter day. Kleman will share information on species recorded, population trends, and how to participate in the upcoming count.

Kleman is a naturalist with more than 10 years of experience educating the public about local birds, insects, and other wildlife. He holds a bachelor’s degree in ecology and conservation biology with a minor in environmental science from Bowling Green State University. He is also a Certified Interpretive Guide through the National Association of Interpretation.

Kleman has provided educational programming for Hancock Park District since 2020. Since 2023, he has compiled data for both the county Christmas Bird Count and the Spring Bird Count.

Membership and events are open to those aged 15 and older. Annual membership fees are $15 per adult, $20 per couple, and $10 for youth. For more information, contact Jane Riker at 419-306-3697 or emaggin117@aol.com. The group’s website is hancockcountynaturalists.org.

The Hancock County Naturalists, a membership organization, was established to further the study of the fauna and flora of Hancock County and the surrounding area and to participate in selected conservation and educational projects.