Weekends bits and pieces

As small as the world's become through the Internet and high-speed travel there are still some big out there to discover and explore.

Scientists with the Conservation International ventured to Indonesia's New Guinea island. There, they discovered - among other things - a bizarre spike-nosed frog, an over-sized though very tame new woolly rat species, a gargoyle-like bent-toed gecko with yellow eyes, a new pigeon species, and the world's smallest member of the kangaroo family, a tiny forest wallaby.

Finally some good news about the highly invasive gypsy moth. In Pennsylvania that state's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources reports a virtual collapse in the moth's population during 2009.

In some counties moth egg mass densities were so low that suppression treatment was not needed. This, after decades of the moth killing billions of trees; defoliating 4.3 million acres in 1990 alone. Last year "only" 239,700 acres of forests were hit; down considerably from the 766,500 acres reported destroyed in 2008.

Retired Willoughby patrolman and former state wildlife officer assigned to Lake County Tim Kerzisnik reports that the Mercer County Sportsmen Club will host its 5th Annual Vintage Skeet Shoot. Required is the use of either side-by-side or else pump-action shotguns.

For further information, visit web site www.greenvillesportsmen.com.

Would-be boaters and anglers can take in the annual North Coast Harbor Boating and Fishing Fest, June 5 and 6 at Voinovich Park and the North Coast Harbor, both at the end of East 9th Street in downtown Cleveland.

On tap are free rides aboard powerboats and sailboats. The festival also will feature free fishing for yellow perch aboard party (head) boats.

Other activities will include demonstrations, displays, entertainment, food, Capt'n Willy, the Great Lakes Pirate, and give-aways.

This festival annually brings together various industry-related businesses, boating organizations as well as local, state and federal agencies devoted to pleasure boating.

For more information, visit boatingfest.com.

- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com