Birders of all skill levels are invited to Blackbrook Audubon’s monthly bird walk Nov. 24 at Veterans Park in Mentor. Participants will meet at 8 a.m. at 5730 Hopkins Road in Mentor. Park trails are all level with asphalt, compacted gravel and boardwalk, according to a news release. The walk leaders will have a couple pairs of binoculars to lend. Blackbrook will host this bird survey on the fourth Sunday of every month year-round. Six species of waterfowl as well as American Coot and Pied-billed Grebe were busy foraging in water rimmed by trees in vivid fall colors at last month’s visit, the release stated. At 100 acres, Veterans Park encompasses the largest inland pond in Lake County, Granger Pond, and protects a remnant of original Ohio swamp forest, according to the release. The City of Mentor purchased the property from the Granger family in 1970 and formed Mentor’s first neighborhood park. It’s now managed by Lake Metroparks, which stocks the pond with catfish, bass, bluegill and rainbow trout. A valid Ohio fishing license is required to fish at the park. Granger Pond’s wide expanse attracts both fishermen and birds such as herons, kingfishers and mergansers. The list on eBird.org shows 205 species for this location. Just under a mile from Lake Erie, the pond and tree cover at Veterans Park offer birds inland shelter from blustery lake conditions. Blackbrook Audubon covers Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake counties as the local chapter of National Audubon Society. For more information, email [email protected], and follow Blackbrook Audubon Society on Facebook for updates.