North Coast Nature Festival!

This is my alter ego. I don't really look like that.

It's that time again! Those poor folks at the Cleveland Metroparks unwittingly gave me space, once again, to show and sell(ha!) my photos of birds and bugs. Silly people.

Saturday, April 16th from 10am to 5 pm, they are holding the annual North Coast Nature Festival with demonstrations, special programs and nature oriented vendors. At 8am there will be a bird walk with Laura Erickson and at 11am she will give a special presentation. She is always worth listening to!

I'll be inside the nature center in a different spot than usual...almost eight feet west of my usual hang out. I think they are trying to get me closer to the door...I can't understand why...

Maybe you'll see a Yellow-rumped Warbly thing!

Or maybe you'll see Bobb and one of his friends!
Bring your buddy and have his picture taken with Bobb, who knows, you may end up on this bloggity!

This is what the Rocky River looks like...
...it's all rocky and rivery looking isn't it?

The White-breasted Nuthatches like it here.
Me too.

I'll be cowering next to the bee keepers booth.
I don't think that net is going to help...

If you look quickly you may see the Doodles wandering around!

Bobb like to makes friends, especially ones that don't talk much...

This is Paula.
Everyone say "Hi Paula!"
Paula says I've been too cranky lately.
I told her I would stop.
She helped us when we first started birding.
I owe her a favor.
An even BIGGER one now that I put her photo here. Sorry.
Hi Paula! Wanna a free bird photo?

You may have noticed the notice at the top of my bloggity: Say the magic word and get a free photo. Don't forget, come by and see me and say "The Magic Word." Really. Do it and don't tell nobody.

Bobb and "Hawks At A Distance"...

Bobb and Bobbette learning...for a change...

I finally found Bobb and my new book, "Hawks At A Distance" by Jerry Liguori. After seeing those two wild little chippers studying so hard, I didn't have the heart to take it away.

As you know, chipmunks are small and close to the ground. As you also know, Hawks are a little larger and normally very high up. This book is perfect for Bobb as a tool for self preservation! Instead of waiting until the last minute for the unknown large feathered thing to swoop in and almost nab him, he can study this fine tome and get a big head start.

If you put yourself in Bobb's shoes and watch some raptors flying off in the distance, you'll understand how important a guide like this is. It teaches you how to better differentiate similar birds in the distance apart by the way they're shaped as well as how their flight styles differ. This is definitely a book to study and not to take in the field. The text describes the main traits of each raptor in bold text, such as with the Golden Eagle: "large, dark bird...extremely long, somewhat broad wings...dihedral when soaring, slightly bowed when gliding...slow moving and steady."

There is an outstanding glossary of terms in the front to make you familiar with the descriptions you'll read. I also learned that Bobb is a better reader than I thought. Bobbette enjoyed the photos throughout the book. And they are, indeed, excellent! There is one large photo at the beginning of each raptors section, followed by descriptions and then numerous very small photos to give you a feeling of what you'll see when viewing raptors out in the field. Towards the back of the book you will find black and white photos of each bird flying at different angles.

Bobb and I found this book to be very concise and easy to follow and will be an invaluable tool if you are a hawk watcher...or just a chipmunk trying to stay alive!

Princeton Press has a wonderful selection of field guides and more!

A Wild Goose Chase...

Ya know...you just find a nice, peaceful corner of the world...when some loud moron neighbors move in! I'm talking about this Mute Swan and the Canada Geeseses that flew in to Wright Marsh of course.

What a noisy, rude couple they were...honking over and over, waking up the whole marsh. They learned a new rule...DON'T mess with Mute Swans! He swam around quietly (duh! he's MUTE!) with ruffled feathers until he couldn't take it any more. He went after them and they all rocketed in circles around the marsh...the gooseses honking even more loudly than before. The Swan finally got sick of them and landed in his peaceful corner, for a moment of quietude.

Until the geeseses came back...stoopid geesesesess...

They're off and flying, the Canada Goose ahead by a tail!

Swans aren't quite as good in the corners as those gooseses!

A low strafing move over the top of the gooseses will send him a message!
Mean while... a bunch of old Coots watch in disbelief.

"Now, where was I?"

"Ah, back to my quiet little corner of the world..."

By the way...
Jessica from Princeton Press sent me a copy of "Hawks At A Distance" by Jerry Liguori to review for you. I was just starting to get into it, when that stoopid little chipmunk(you know, Bobb Schmunk) swiped it from me. Last I heard he was mumbling something about getting a bigger head start next time Bob the Hawk flies through...we shall see.

Stay tuned!

Shreve Migration Sensation!

Beautiful downtown Shreve, Ohio...where birders are always welcome, and birds too!

Spring has Sprung and it's time once again for the Shreve Migration Sensation! We've attended every year since 2006 and we have always had a great time. If you're any where near Ohio this coming weekend (March 26th,) you really need to make plans for a visit.

As always great speakers will be on hand as well as wonderfully informative workshops to hone your birding skills. Did I mention pies? The finest Amish baked pies you have ever tasted! Even if I don't see anything butt those @#*@ Starlings, I would still be happy with a slice of pie. Anyway, back to birds...yep, they got birds there.

This area has some of the finest wetlands in Ohio with a few guaranteed rarities every year. Ducks galore, Swallows, Sandhill Cranes and even a few warbly things if the weather holds out!

Not to mention Me and the Doodles! If you're in for the weekend look for us and be sure to say "Hello, get out of my way!"...every one else does...

Some of the Funkiest Bottoms in the state!

Even American Bitterns like to visit.

You'll see lots of old Coots hanging around...
especially near the pies...

This Bufflehead heard me mention the pie.
He wants to make sure he gets his share!

I wonder if Hairy Woodpeckers eat pie?

Oooo...Horned Grebe!

Cheryl Harner will speak about native plants, our greatest hero, Kim Kaufman of BSBO will give a great motivational talk for all of us to heed!
And of course, good buddy Hugh will be there with the mobile BSBO store selling guide books and gifts!

Who knows, maybe Kenn and Bobb with do a joint presentation!

Jim McCormac of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, a veritable fount of information on everything natural will give a presentation on Ruby-throated Hummingbirds
...and how to get rid of Bobb...

Muskrats will be on hand to eat marshy stuff and have their photos taken.

If you're lucky, you will hear the melodious call of the Sandhill Crane,
or if you're like the rest of us, you'll hear their scream...

Please be careful while visiting!
You wouldn't want a Snowy Owl to eat your face.

...Or a Song Sparrow to poop on your lens...it's really hard to get off...

Another sing of spring are the hundreds of Tree Swallows you'll see!

White-winged Scoter, still my biggest thrill and lifer at Shreve!

If you don't visit...you're a butt.
Not really.
Well, maybe...

THE BIGGEST WEEK IN AMERICAN BIRDING...and good food too...

"Are you lookin' at me? You must be lookin' at me, 'cause I don't see anyone else here!"
This is the Robert Deniro of Magnolia Warblys...beware of him!

WARBLY TIME IS NEAR!!

Yep, May is coming soon and I don't want to talk about snow anymore...or shovels...or snow blowers...or two hour drives to work. You can't make me. So there. ha.

And do you know what May brings kiddies? Well let me tell you...The Biggest Week in American Birding right here at Magee Marsh along the great Lake Erie! Oh my...if you haven't seen the wonders of migration along our shores you have missed out on a wondrous time in birdville!

You want warblys? You got 'em by the dozens! We get a Kirtland's Warblything every year. Last year Kenn Kaufman arranged for three. You want Vireos? We got them too! How about Summer and Scarlet Tanagers? Yep. Nighthawks? Yep. Snakes, dragonflies or butterflies? Yep, we got it all! Oh yeah, Good food? Oh my, yes!

Our good friends at Blackberry Corners, Brenda and Jim have the BEST pies around, not to mention burgers and the Doodles favorite grilled cheese and onion samiches! Oops, I supposed to be talking about birds...but those pies...oh...my...goodness.

Anyway...BWIAB will have guided tours of the areas, great talks with speakers from around the world, special identification programs and so much more! Register quick! You'll thank me when you see those Warbly things!

*If you ever noticed red highlighted, bold italic names or words in my blog, click on them as they are links to more information!

Speaking of food...We had a lovely dinner with Hugh, Judy, Delores and Kimm and Kenn Kaufman of the Black Swamp Bird Observatory(BWIAB sponsors) at the Eagle's Nest restaurant. BEST CHOCOLATE MALTS in the area!
We even let Bobb out the house for this!

Did I mention the Black-capped Chickadees?

Or how about a Canada Warbly for my northern buddies?

You can never have too many Black-and-White buttz!

And then we have these Cape May Warblys doing their best "Bald Eagle" pose.
"I'm so majestic!"

Great Crested Flycatchers like to watch dragonflies too.

Red-eyed Vireos don't get enough sleep...must be all the warblys to look at!

The Scarlet Tanager says, "Fiddle-dee-dee..."

Beware of the White-crowned Sparrow if you're a politician trying to screw up the planet!
He'll sh*t on your head!

Speaking of which...

RAMBLING RANT, part two...

A while back I had a post about the wind turbines that were proposed for our area. Well it seems that three have been approved, three hundred foot slice and dicers...in a major migration zone! The folks in the area have been told by the politicians and the wind power people that the birds will be fine and the energy will pay for the towers and help the county.

As I understand things, and I'm not the brightest bulb, these have to run for close to ten years before they break even. And speaking of breaking...they need to be replaced about that time too.

Now don't get me wrong, I love the idea of wind power. It will be an efficient and clean way to produce power soon and IF in the right areas, they won't cause major bird deaths. But RESEARCH should still be done BEFORE they are installed. "Got elections coming up, gotta look good for the constituents, like I'm doing something for them"...for a change.

Here's one more video of what could happen, caution please, this is very graphic.

*Remember my last rant about Senator Rob Portman. I received another reply from him. Apparently I don't understand that saving the environment is bad for business...moron. We'll all be rich...with no air to breath...oh well.

Doodle-oo in Too-lee-doo!

The National Center for Nature Photography is in the Secor Metropark.

We weren't quite cold enough sitting at the BirdMobile, so we(meaning the Doodles!) decided to take a tour of two of Toledo's Metroparks where it was even colder. We started at Secor, the home of the National Center for Nature Photography where none of my photos are on display. I can't understand why.

We took a quick walk about then went inside to view the action at the feeders and to thaw out a bit. When the Photo Center opened we went in to view the excellent photos on display(again, I don't understand why I haven't received a call yet!) While there, a very helpful naturalist type of guy told me about good areas for birding and the surrounding trails. He had a familiar look, but I always say that. We looked at some gorgeous photos of Kellys Island by Art Weber. Then the light went on in my tiny brain! That helpful guy IS Art Weber! We talked about his book "Wild Ohio" that I remembered selling when I worked for The Nature Company. Small world, eh?

Then back out into the arctic tundra for a walk in the woods...brrr...

The reason this Black-capped Chickadee is still?
He's actually frozen solid.

You can tell this is a Dark-eyed Junco by his dark eyes.

Dear me. Deer Mouse.
Needs a John Deere plow.

The Doodles wrapped up against the cold posing with someone that didn't wrap up.

Okay, I haven't gotten a single Accipiter right yet.
I'm gonna say Sharp-shinned Hawk and you're gonna tell why it isn't.

He's sure lookin' sharp in any case!

We made Bobb leave the house, that smile on his face is deceptive.
He 's planning more chaos...

Secor, home of the evil, angry Squirrels.

At least they have a few cute Tufted Titmouseseses...or is it Miceses?
I can't wait to get the next edition of Kenn Kaufman's Peterson Advanced Birding Guide to find out which is correct!

"Hey buddy! You're headed the wrong way!"
Silly Nuthatches...

You can tell by the dejected look on this White-throated Sparrow that he's sick of snow too.

The Black-capped Chickadee is still here...and still frozen...from behind.

By the way, check out my new friend Marci's blog...and look where she located the link to "Birds From Behind"...I got the best fans!