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Sunday, February 26, 2012

You NEED to go see these~Biggest Week Birds

Howdee all,

If you want to experience a slice of Warbler Heaven…

GO GO GO to

The Biggest Week in American Birding

Where~Oak Harbor and Oregon Ohio

May 4-13

Q: Why come to Northwest Ohio in May?
A: Because it is quite simply the best place to witness spring migration of songbirds anywhere in North America. The southern edge of Lake Erie acts as a barrier that the birds are reluctant to cross during migration. The birds tend to "pile up" in the woodlots surrounded by marshland on the lake's southern edge to rest and refuel before crossing the Lake. The timing of their arrival is early enough in spring that the trees have not leafed out, there are no bugs, and the birds are incredibly low and accessible. No such thing as "warbler neck" around here! We get HUGE numbers of birds, much like a fallout, only better! Fallouts occur when a weather event pushes birds down, and what birders find are the weary survivors. Here in NW Ohio, we get the same huge numbers of birds as you'd see in a fallout, but the birds are active and vibrant, and by the time they get to this latitude, the males are actively singing!

 

You can register for the event here.

Lots of Wonderful  bird walks and talks.

 

Jeff and I will return for a second time. We attended the event last year and had a blast!

It touched me to my core…to see so many beautiful birds up close…(Not just warblers)

I was teary eyed more than once on the boardwalk at Magee Marsh.

 

This year I am honored to be one of the Official Bloggers of The Biggest Week.

 

I will also be helping with the Bird Sits ~come and join me for some fun birding.

 


Magee Marsh Bird Sits
Date:
May 7 & 9
Time: 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Where:
Magee Marsh Wildlife Area (Near the west end of the boardwalk. See the map (to the left) for the exact spot indicated with a red star.)
Fee: Just show your BIGGEST WEEK name badge to participate!

Designed for those with limited mobility—or those who just like to take a break and see what birds come to you—these Bird Sits will allow you to relax and enjoy the birds visiting the edge of the wood lot along the boardwalk. This edge habitat frequently offers some of the best birding in the area and we’ll have expert guides on hand to help you spot birds and tune your ears in to the fine art of birding by ear, too. We’ll post these group sit-ins in the grassy area near the west end of the Magee Marsh boardwalk. (See the map for the exact spot.)  Please bring your own chair, birding stool, or blanket to sit on. This area should be fine for those with wheelchairs or motorized carts.

 

And now..

a few bird photos to entice you…

These were taken with my point and shoot camera~imagine what you could do with a nice DSLR!

Bay-breasted Warbler

Bay-breasted Warbler (3)

Magee_056 (1)

Black-throated Green Warbler

Magee_150

Black-throated Green warbler

American Woodcock

Woodcock

Prothonotary Warbler

Prothonatary Warbler (2)Blackburnian Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

Blackburnian wablerBlack-throated Blue Warbler

Black-throated Blue warbler (2)

Black-throated Blue warbler

Scarlet Tanager back end~you can see the front end there too!

Scarlet tanager (2)American Redstart

American Redstart (1)

Magee_281Chestnut-sided Warbler

Chestnut-sided warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler (6)

Canada Warblers cute back end..

Canada Warbler (1)

Canada Warbler

Magee_015Palm Warbler

Palm Warbler (4)_thumb_thumb

Palm Warbler (3)

Black and white Warbler

Black and white warbler (2)

Black and white warbler (3)

Magnolia Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler (5)Magee_011Common Yellow throat

Magee_077White-crowned sparrow

Magee_194

Northern Parula

Magee_176Philadelphia Vireo

Philidelphia vieroWhite throated sparrow

Magee_123Baltimore Oriole~Magee parking lot

Magee_030

Magee_040

Some days on the boardwalk..We walk with birds beside us..

Black and White Warbler on boardwalk

Magee_265

Magnolia Warbler~close to boardwalk

Magee_180Prothonatary Warbler

Magee_204Chestnut-sided warbler on boardwalk

Magee_197

Magee_190

The birds that drew crowds

Mourning and Connecticut Warblers..We didn’t see a Kirtland’s last year…Maybe this year.

I have just a blurry distant photo of a Mourning warbler…

Magee_219This flycatcher was quite popular

Olive-sided Flycatcher

magee marsh goodies_171

“quick-three-beers”

magee marsh goodies_174

While all the migrating birds are hanging out waiting to cross Lake Erie..

Some local birds are busy with other things.

Pairing up..

Magee_257and tending to the kids..

magee marsh goodies_182

Its not just about woodland birds here

There are shorebirds too..

magee and travel home_033

magee marsh goodies_086

magee marsh goodies_102

These are just a sampling of the birds you might see at The Biggest Week..

Check out the list of birds here.

If you have never been..I suggest you treat yourself and attend this event!

If you have been~you know how amazing it is!

I hope to see you there!

Give me a shout if you will be coming..

I would love to meet you and show you a few birds.

8 comments:

  1. What days will you be at BSBO, Dawn? I live at Oak Openings Preserve, where a couple of the field trips will head, but I'll only be here for the first one or two days since I head to YNP then. Let's try to get together! (or you can bring Homey here and dry camp for free!)

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  2. Outstanding! Gotta find a way to get there.

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  3. WOW!! You are really such a nice and useful blog i like it.
    Thanks for sharing with us.

    Movers In Bonner Springs ks

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  4. Sure do wish you would just get that DSLR and quit talking about it... :-).

    You need the time to practice with it before May.

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  5. Magee is truly an amazing place that will stay with you forever!

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  6. Marianne, aka Ranger Anna
    We will be staying at Camp Sabroske from May 3 to the 16 or so.. Lets go Birding!! Keep in touch and message me on facebook or my blog.

    Laurence Butler
    You better figure out a way to go! you wont regret it!

    Movers In Bonner Springs ks
    Thanks!

    Richard~
    hee hee..I have no desire to get a DSLR at this point , but I sure do admire the photos taken with them.
    I am waiting till they fit a DSLR into a point and shoot size camera.
    ha

    Dave
    For Sure!! Hope to see you there!

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  7. American Redstart? Never even heard of those... ! As usual, you are amazing.

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  8. Mary Lee~
    Well thanks..but You are the one that is amazing! Your writing skills are way beyond fabulous!

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ok what do you really think?????