Ohio Young Birders Club "Big Sit" Fundraiser

May 6, 2006

On May 6, 2006, three of OYBC's founding members, Philip Chaon, Ethan Kistler, and Brad Wilkinson, took on the challenge of doing a Big Sit as a fundraiser for our fledgling club. In a postage stamp-sized backyard in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, these fantastic young birders managed to rack up 50 species and, with generous donations from Big Sit sponsors, raised $475.00!

Here is the Report from Phil Chaon

From midnight on Saturday until 11:00 p.m. on Saturday Ethan Kistler, Brad Wilkinson and I did a big sit on my roof in Cleveland Heights. Along the way various people who don't enjoy figuring out night flight calls at four in the morning stopped by to help, so a big thanks to Paula Lozano and Katie Meere for their help during the day. Despite the yard being extremely small ( 25' × 50') and constant cold and North winds plus TONS of traffic noise we managed to get 50 species they are as follows:

1. American Redstart 12:12 a.m.
2. Eastern Screech Owl 12:46 a.m.
3. American Robin 4:49 a.m.
4. Northern Cardinal 5:50 a.m.
5. House Sparrow 5:55 a.m.
6. European Starling 5:55 a.m.
7. Song Sparrow 6:01 a.m.
8. Blue Jay 6:10 a.m.
9. House Finch 6:13 a.m.
10. Mourning Dove 6:16 a.m.
11. Canada Goose 6:19 a.m.
12. Common Grackle 6:20 a.m.
13. Baltimore Oriole 6:28 a.m.
14. Chimney Swift 6:32 a.m.
15. Red-bellied Woodpecker 6:34 a.m.
16. American Goldfinch 6:37 a.m.
17. American Crow 6:38 a.m.
18. Rock Dove 6:40 a.m.
19. House Wren 6:42 a.m.
20. Ring-billed Gull 6:51 a.m.
21. Chipping Sparrow 6:52 a.m.
22. Brown-headed Cowbird 7:05 a.m.
23. Herring Gull 7:17 a.m.
24. White-throated Sparrow 7:39 a.m.
25. Great Blue Heron 8:08 a.m.
26. Red-winged-Blackbird 8:09 a.m.
27. Yellow Warbler 8:23 a.m.
28. Bonaparte's Gull 8:48 a.m.
29. Black-and-White Warbler 8:52 a.m.
30. Carolina Wren 9:02 a.m.
31. Downy Woodpecker 9:17 a.m.
32. Eastern Towhee 9:22 a.m.
33. Red-tailed Hawk 9:23 a.m.
34. Killdeer 10:00 a.m.
35. Broad-winged Hawk 10:03 a.m.
36. Northern Parula 10:04 a.m.
37. White-breasted Nuthatch 10:44 a.m.
38. Tufted Titmouse 11:10 a.m.
39. Nashville Warbler 11:18a.m.
40. Black-capped Chickadee 11:37 a.m.
41. Gray Catbird 11:37 a.m.
42. Barn Swallow 2:26 p.m.
43. Common Yellowthroat 5:10 p.m.
44. Tree Swallow 6:57 p.m.
45. Blue Gray Gnatcatcher 8:01 p.m.
46. Eastern Phoebe 8:43 p.m.
47. Wood Thrush 8:58 p.m.
48. Rose-breasted Grosbeak 9:17 p.m.
49 Bobolink 9:48 p.m.
50. Veery 10:47p.m.

Congratulations guys!