Migration in full swing

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have arrived in many of the northern areas of the country. Migration is now in full swing or beyond with hummingbirds, warblers, vireos, thrushes, flycatchers, orioles and more all arriving on their breeding grounds. Enjoy the birds.

NH Audubon Birdathon

Participating NH Audubon Birdathon, a fundraiser for the organization. Just had a Pileated Woodpecker, Yellow-rumped Warblers are everywhere.

The Biggest Week in American Birding recap

Magnolia Warbler during The Biggest Week In American Birding Festival, Magee Marsh, OH, "the warbler capital of the world." 

Black-throated Green Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler (taken with the Canon SX 50 HS point and shoot the new little camera, which goes for about $400)

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Don on the boardwalk at Magee Marsh

Baltimore Oriole coming to oranges the birders put out

 Here's the birders on the wonderful bird walk we led with Kenn and Kim Kaufman and best of all, the proceeds went to benefit Black Swamp Bird Observatory's outreach and education programs.

Birds and Blooms Magazine were sponsors of the bird walk. It's a beautiful magazine, you should check it out.

Blackpoll Warblers were frequently spotted.

Magee Marsh has a boardwalk that goes through a woodland area that is important stopover habitat for migrating warblers, many of whom are headed to their breeding grounds in the Canadian boreal forest. The boardwalk can get crowded with birders and photographers, but everyone is so nice and they all share space to view the warblers.

Large numbers of photographers were there with big cameras and long lenses, many standing at the woodland edge of the parking lot, before the entrance to the boardwalk.

We just got back from one of the best ever "The Biggest Week in American Birding" Festivals at Magee Marsh, OH, with fantastic looks at warblers. When we were asked by Kim Kaufman (who is directer of Black Swamp Bird Observatory, which sponsors the event, along with other important organizations) and Kenn Kaufman (super-famous, esteemed birder and field guide author) to be keynote speakers and to lead a fundraiser celebrity bird walk with them and do a keynote talk and book signing, we jumped at the chance.

We were at the festival from last Thursday to Sunday and could not have been happier. In addition to an incredible number of events like guided walks, bus trips, workshops, keynote speakers, evening socials, vendor marts, Optics Alley, chances to meet many wonderful birders and more, the real attraction was the large number of warblers and other birds who use Magee Marsh woodlands on the shore of Lake Erie as an important stop-over habitat. The Biggest Week Festival spotlights the importance of this valuable habitat and its role in bird conservation.

Kim and Kenn and the entire group of volunteers and sponsoring organizations did a fantastic job of putting on what is one of the premier birding festivals in North America. It brings together so many wonderful people, all there to celebrate and enjoy the birds. Most importantly, the birds are the real stars and their story of survival and arduous migration journeys is writ large as thousands of birders' eyeballs drink in the eye candy and appreciate these avian jewels. Thanks to all who contributed to the festival and a special thanks to Kim and Kenn as the dedicated conservationists and guiding spirits behind the festival.

The Biggest Week in American Birding is Going On Now, May 3-12th in OH, Come Visit

Bay-breasted Warbler is just one of the many eye-candy avian treats waiting for you at The Biggest Week in American Birding which is going on now from May 3rd to 12th at Magee Marsh, OH, the warbler capital of the world. We will see you there! We are giving the keynote address on Friday, May 10th. The Biggest Week is a mega-birding happening with lots of birders, guided walks, evening socials, lectures, workshops, events, field trips, birding celebrities like Kenn and Kim Kaufman, and tons of fun.

Magee is just an awesome place to see and photograph warblers because the birds are so close. Birders stand on the boardwalk that goes through the wooded area at the edge of Lake Erie, where all the warblers congregate. It seems like warblers are just dripping from the trees.

Magnolia Warbler is one of my favorites

Here's an American Redstart, male,

and a Black-throated Green Warbler

Nashville Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

If you are anywhere near northwest Ohio this week, then get yourself over to Magee Marsh and the festival. They are still accepting walk-in registrations at Maumee Bay Lodge and Conference Center  and Black Swamp Bird Observatory. We hope to see some of you there!

Lillian and Don Stokes

Guess Who?

Guess Who showed up in our NH yard today? "Weesee, weesee, weesee" it sang.

Eastern Towhee Birthday Bird

I had been trying to get a good photo of this Eastern Towhee, male, that has been newly hanging around our property, with no success. It has either been in bad light, hidden in shrubs, just flown by the time I got my camera, etc. you know how it is. This morning it hopped up on our bird bath right in front of our window and I got this shot. Yes! It's my birthday and I couldn't have asked for a better bird photography op gift.

Spring "To Do" List for the Birds

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

MIgrants are arriving all over the country. Baltimore Orioles and other orioles can be attracted with orange halves, especially when they first arrive from migration. Later, when they're nesting, they primarily eat insects.

Cardinals like to nest in dense shrubs.

Spring is here, so here's a few "to do's" to welcome the birds:

* Make sure all your bird houses are cleaned out.

* Put up new bird houses, since hole-nesting birds like bluebirds, chickadees, titmice, wrens, Tree Swallows, etc. are actively choosing houses now, plus there will be houses available for later arrivals.

* Try offering new foods, like mealworms, oranges for orioles, other fruit, jelly.

* Plant shrubs that provide nesting structure for birds such as lilacs, alders, dogwood shrubs, evergreens, willows, etc. Plant them in groups.

* Get up your hummingbird feeders now, (at the latest by Mother's Day if you live in the most northern sections of the country). Make sure to clean hummingbird feeders ever 2-3 days in hot weather.

* Plant red tubular flowers to attract hummingbirds, such as red salvia, red impatiens, trumpet honeysuckle vine, like Goldflame Honeysuckle (Lonicera heckrotii), trumpet vine (Campsis radicans), red bee balm, red fuschia.

* Plant composite-type perennials and annuals such as, Purple Coneflower and Rudbeckia, whose seed heads will attract finches and sparrows. Butterflies will come to Purple Coneflower when its in bloom.

* Make sure you have several bird baths filled with fresh, clean water all summer.

* Clean your bird feeder regularly with a mild bleach solution, rinse well. Keep them filled with sunflower, and quality mixes.

* Put a bench or adirondack chair in your backyard where you can sit with binoculars and enjoy the show. Get our new regional guides, The New Stokes Field Guide to Birds: Eastern and Western Regions to help you ID your birds. That could be your summer vacation.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, property bird #200

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, property bird #200!!! We were just sitting on our deck talking to Henry Walters, ace hawkwatcher and official counter for Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory, when he spotted this small, blue-gray bird and said "hey isn't that a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher?" The cool thing was this made property bird #200 for us on our list of all the birds we have ever recorded on our property. Not bad for an inland NH site. Coastal NH gets more birds, but we pride ourselves on managing our 48 acre southwestern NH property, which we call Bobolink Farm, to attract the maximum number of birds here. I grabbed the Canon SX 50 and managed to get these record shots.

"Okaleeee, Okaleeee, Okaleeee," And the translation is...

 "Oakaleeee, Oakaleeee, Oakaleeee"

"Oakaleeee, Oakaleeee, Oakaleeee"

Translation, "I am a Red-winged Blackbird and this is my territory. So stay out other Red-winged Blackbirds. If you are a female Red-winged Blackbird, come check me out because I have an awesome territory and would make an awesome mate."

(P.S. photos taken with Canon SX 50 HS this morning while I was in a kayak)