Black Swamp Bird Observatory Presents...
The Local Patch Birding Blitz
An event "hatched" by student members of BSBO's Ohio Young Birders Club!
OYBC Student Member Articles
- Gallant Woods Birding by Addie Houser, OYBC Central Chapter
- The Best Birding Experience Ever by Luke Reighard, OYBC Central Chapter
Gallant Woods Birding by Addie Houser, OYBC Central Chapter
It was a chilly morning. I had to get up early to start birding. As soon as I changed, my Dad and I were out the door. When we got to Gallant Woods, we immediately heard tons of birds. First, we went hiking around the parking lot and saw some American Robins, Gray Catbirds and a Northern Cardinal. Then me and my Dad went to the nearest trail to find more birds. That is when we saw an American Goldfinch in the nearest tree. Then, a Tufted Titmouse hopped to a tree a little father back. We continued on. A little later, me and my Dad saw a little marsh and saw two Canada Geese. We kept walking and then finally, we reached a forest. It looked like it was from a storybook where gnomes or fairies would live. It was beautiful. It was starting to get colder now that we were in the shade, but we persevered. A little up the path, we saw a Rose-breasted Grosbeak. It just stayed there, then it flew up to a tree that was right over the path, so we kept looking at it. Finally, we left the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Further up the path, we saw a Black-throated Green Warbler. We were almost at the edge of the forest when we saw a Black-and-White Warbler. Then we saw some bluebirds and a ton of American Goldfinches. After we left the forest, we heard Blue Jays chirping, then we realized that four Blue Jays were fighting a crow. My Dad and I went on. It was freezing so we hiked around the whole trail and saw more birds before we made it back to the Jeep. In total, my Dad and I saw 36 species and 153 birds. It was a great day!
It was a chilly morning. I had to get up early to start birding. As soon as I changed, my Dad and I were out the door. When we got to Gallant Woods, we immediately heard tons of birds. First, we went hiking around the parking lot and saw some American Robins, Gray Catbirds and a Northern Cardinal. Then me and my Dad went to the nearest trail to find more birds. That is when we saw an American Goldfinch in the nearest tree. Then, a Tufted Titmouse hopped to a tree a little father back. We continued on. A little later, me and my Dad saw a little marsh and saw two Canada Geese. We kept walking and then finally, we reached a forest. It looked like it was from a storybook where gnomes or fairies would live. It was beautiful. It was starting to get colder now that we were in the shade, but we persevered. A little up the path, we saw a Rose-breasted Grosbeak. It just stayed there, then it flew up to a tree that was right over the path, so we kept looking at it. Finally, we left the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Further up the path, we saw a Black-throated Green Warbler. We were almost at the edge of the forest when we saw a Black-and-White Warbler. Then we saw some bluebirds and a ton of American Goldfinches. After we left the forest, we heard Blue Jays chirping, then we realized that four Blue Jays were fighting a crow. My Dad and I went on. It was freezing so we hiked around the whole trail and saw more birds before we made it back to the Jeep. In total, my Dad and I saw 36 species and 153 birds. It was a great day!
The Best Birding Experience Ever by Luke Reighard, OYBC Central Chapter
I never would have thought how many species of birds I would have seen that day. I woke up early in the morning before 6:30am. I started out at my front window where I could see my bird feeders. I saw some common birds like Blue Jays and Cardinals along with Baltimore Orioles and White-crowned Sparrows. The Hairy Woodpecker was a new visitor to our feeder this year and I was able to see both the male and female.
I am blessed to live on a property that has an open pasture, a wooded area, and a creek. After breakfast, my dad and I decided to walk through the woods. We were able to find a Common Yellowthroat, a Yellow Warbler, and an American Redstart which are all amazing warblers to see. Then, I saw a new species for my life list: a Nashville Warbler. Yay! Our neighbors also let us bird in their yard where I saw a Red-headed Woodpecker and a Red-tailed Hawk. On our way back to the house, we saw a Black-and-White Warbler and a Warbling Vireo. What a morning!
After lunch, my mom, brother, sister, and I headed to Blues Creek Preservation Park in Delaware County just a mile from my house. On the way, we spotted an Eastern Meadowlark on a telephone wire and Eastern Bluebirds on nearby trees. Pulling into the park, we saw many American Goldfinches. We decided to take the Shagbark Loop Trail that lead us through the woods. At first, we are able to see a few Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers along with some noisy Catbirds. Further into the trail, we saw two new species for my life list! The first was a Blackburnian Warbler. I have been wanting to see this bird for a long time so I was super excited to see it. Just when I thought I couldn’t see any more life-list birds for the day, I saw a Wilson’s Warbler. I was so surprised! That brought my total life birds for the day to three.
At the end of the blitz, my total species for the day was 51 which was my new one-day all-time high, however, the birding memories that were made were countless. The Local Patch Birding Blitz allowed me to discover new species so close to home and was a fun way to bird while social-distancing.
Please view Luke's photos from the event below!
I never would have thought how many species of birds I would have seen that day. I woke up early in the morning before 6:30am. I started out at my front window where I could see my bird feeders. I saw some common birds like Blue Jays and Cardinals along with Baltimore Orioles and White-crowned Sparrows. The Hairy Woodpecker was a new visitor to our feeder this year and I was able to see both the male and female.
I am blessed to live on a property that has an open pasture, a wooded area, and a creek. After breakfast, my dad and I decided to walk through the woods. We were able to find a Common Yellowthroat, a Yellow Warbler, and an American Redstart which are all amazing warblers to see. Then, I saw a new species for my life list: a Nashville Warbler. Yay! Our neighbors also let us bird in their yard where I saw a Red-headed Woodpecker and a Red-tailed Hawk. On our way back to the house, we saw a Black-and-White Warbler and a Warbling Vireo. What a morning!
After lunch, my mom, brother, sister, and I headed to Blues Creek Preservation Park in Delaware County just a mile from my house. On the way, we spotted an Eastern Meadowlark on a telephone wire and Eastern Bluebirds on nearby trees. Pulling into the park, we saw many American Goldfinches. We decided to take the Shagbark Loop Trail that lead us through the woods. At first, we are able to see a few Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers along with some noisy Catbirds. Further into the trail, we saw two new species for my life list! The first was a Blackburnian Warbler. I have been wanting to see this bird for a long time so I was super excited to see it. Just when I thought I couldn’t see any more life-list birds for the day, I saw a Wilson’s Warbler. I was so surprised! That brought my total life birds for the day to three.
At the end of the blitz, my total species for the day was 51 which was my new one-day all-time high, however, the birding memories that were made were countless. The Local Patch Birding Blitz allowed me to discover new species so close to home and was a fun way to bird while social-distancing.
Please view Luke's photos from the event below!
