More Fun from Biggest Week

So what do eco-tourism guides do on their day off?  Go birding of course!  

We enjoyed the Window on Wildlife at Pearson Park so much, Greg Miller and I decided to return for more photos.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Note the rose colored patch on male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.  They are surprisingly variable in size and shape.  This one is rather jagged and "lighting" like!

Red-bellied Woodpecker

BEHOLD!  The belly is red!

One of the great mysteries of life: why did they call them "Red-bellied Woodpecker"?

In this rare shot, you can actually see the red on the woodpecker's belly.  Another birding mystery: solved.

Screech Owl

Does anyone else think this Screech Owl closely resembles Oscar-the-Grouch? I took this picture from the  boardwalk behind the Nature Center at Maumee Bay State Park.

Woodchuck, or Whistle-pig?

In Pearson Park, a Woodchuck (A.K.A. Whistle-pig) was feeding on the seed beneath the bird feeders.  It was fun to have a mammal present, besides the usual feeder-crashing squirrels. Although technically, a Woodchuck is the largest member of Ohio's squirrel family.

Eastern Chipmunk

Showing those chippy colors: yipes, stripes! We could safely say Chippies are the smallest of Ohio's squirrels.  Somehow this blog has become the Biggest Week in American Squirrels.  I am prepped to be a guide for that event!

Raccoon taking an afternoon snooze.

All this birding (and squirreling) wore me out.  I was pretty jealous when we found this raccoon taking an afternoon snooze at Maumee Bay.  We can only hope there were no Wood Ducks, past or present, inhabiting that box.  I fear the outcome would not be so good.

It was wonderful to see so many friends and spend time with fellow eco-freaks in northwest Ohio.  For now, I bid you good-bye and plan to get caught up on a little rest myself.

ZZZzzzzzzzzzzz

Rockbridge State Nature Preserve

Not far from the Hills of Hocking is a State Nature Preserve, located in Rockbridge, Oh.  

Follow this link for  directions and details.

Rock Bridge, a natural geological formation

 We Ohioans are prone to forget the geological and biological diversity offered right here!  No need to travel out west, just slip down to Rockbridge to see the natural wonders.

The trail head from the parking lot.

There is a grassy path leading far back into the wood to take you to the rock formations.  It is an easy mile trot, which offers some of the most spectacular birding I have witnessed, maybe ever.  This trail was literally hopping with birds!

Favorite fall fruit: Poison Ivy.

The tree row along the path was festooned in fruit, and the birds were making good use of it.  Yellow-rumped Warblers, Northern Cardinals, Tufted Titmice, and numerous other species.  All were being escorted by  Carolina Chickadees: tour guides for the migrants. 

Oft disdained, poison ivy is a native plant most beneficial for wildlife.  In the proper place, well away from the path, it is a lovely component of a natural habitat.

Feeding warblers- never give head shots.

 Fall colors splashed along this walk, goldenrods, asters, and the burgundy hues of oak leaves.  It was a study in bird-friendly native habitat and  a most pleasant walk on a fall afternoon.

Dark-eyed Junco has returned.

 Working the grass for seeds, tumbling along the path and fence row, was a most welcomed harbinger of winter.  The Dark-eyed Juncos have returned from their northern breeding grounds.

Rockbridge, conveniently located just off route 33 south-east  of Lancaster, Ohio.  Plan a fall walk soon.

OOS visits Ottawa

This was not a forced march.  It was voluntary.  Yes, these people opted to get up at 6:00 AM to pack into cars and a bus to drive to a remote location within the Ottawa National Wildlife Reserve.   This is what we call "Birding".  

The OOS knows what makes these  people "tick." And most of them hope they don't get ticks whilst doing it.

photo by  Ernie Cornelius

 A two-rank line forms to hike the grassy dike out to sparrow land.  Some people will do about anything when promised the likes of Dickcissels and Henslows.

photo by  Ernie Cornelius

 Bill Thompson III, also known as BT3 led our intrepid  birders on the journey.  Our newest and possibly youngest member, Catie Strable is following close to his foot steps and soaking it all in.  Lucky girl!

photo by  Ernie Cornelius

 Dickcissels?  Yes, here is one we watched being attacked by an Eastern Kingbird. They put on quite the show.

photo by  Ernie Cornelius

 But what is this OOS?  It is people. A society, the Ohio Ornithological Society.  Check out our website at www.Ohiobirds.org and see what we are up to.  Join us for our educational conferences, or just free, fun field trips- like this one!


We are made up of all ages and abilities of bird-watching enthusiasts.

photo by  Ernie Cornelius

Young Ethan Kistler (in the green), has nearly been raised by this group!  Our world traveling birder is barely in his twenties and he has been a member since he was in his early teens.  As a child he had much to learn, and now he is teaching us... lots!

photo by  Ernie Cornelius

One of our older and wiser birders is  Dan Sanders (in red) veteran birdwatcher, with a 700 plus life list (in the ABA).  Dan is an OOS  board member, who is happy to lend his expertise to promote birding and bird science.  He and Doreen (in the blue) have contributed a great deal of information to Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas.  Their tireless efforts enable scholars to better understand breeding bird populations across Ohio.

photo by  Ernie Cornelius

Our partner for this trip was the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge system.  Ottawa is the largest expanse of wetland in Ohio and a significant refuge for birds, plants and animals of all kinds. From Bald Eagles to butterflies,  Ottawa is a center for science and nature study.  It is also frequented by birders, fisherman  and hunters alike.  Thanks U.S. Fish and Wildlife!

The OOS welcomes people of all ages to a social network of birding.  Learn from others and spread the joy. We are creating a community of birders who network in order to learn more, protect birds by education and conservation.  Are we perfect?  Not yet, but maybe if you volunteer we can become even better at what we do.  If you are not already a member I hope you'll join today.

Join the fun.  Join Ohio's Birding Network.  The Ohio Ornithological Society, free trips, more fun.