A little birdie told me...

Spring may seem a long way away, but I assure you it will be here in no time. Nature lovers and bird watchers everywhere will soon be celebrating the annual migration of the most spectacular display of miniature rainbows- the neo-tropical warblers.

 Canada Warbler-  photo by Dave Lewis

Winging across the continent on northward flights to their breeding grounds, these tiny birds can catch the imagination of  the winter-worn environmentalist and even the most jaded industrialist alike.   The story is as old as time, and many of us hope to spread the story through tourism and educational programs.  Ohio has a wealth of natural areas, birds, trees, flowers and insects that need our attention and protection.

The future world would be a better place if we started to cater to the needs of these species, as many are bioindicators.  When life here on earth is no longer suitable for them, it will not be long until it will not be suitable for humans either.

 Blackburnian Warbler- photo by Dave Lewis.

To get the complete spring experience, one will want to start in Shawnee Forest in southern Ohio  in late April /early May.  Flora-Quest makes it easy for you- our experts guides will take you right to the plants, butterflies and birds you are longing to see. 

Greg Miller will be leading our birding trip, and also a Birding Road Trip for the Biggest Week in American Birding.  If you want to do a full-sweep of warblers in Ohio, you'll want to start with us in Adams and Scioto Counties.

Registration is now open for Flora-Quest and will soon be open for Biggest Week in American Birding.

>Be certain to visit Dave Lewis at Birds from Behind blog and you'll see Ohio's birds from a whole new perspective.

Sycamore, Warblers: Mohican State Forest

Mohican State Forest is a lovely place to visit any time of year, but spring time unfolds its special charms. Along the riparian corridor, deep in the Mohican Gorge, sycamore trees line the edge of the steep rock and Hemlock covered slopes. Greg and Leslie Cornett, and I recently took a most enjoyable stroll along the northern trail.


............ Photo by Greg Cornett

A first of the year migrant, this charming little Yellow-throated Warbler was perched at our eye level- from our perch high above the river on the famous covered bridge. Dancing from limb to limb to search the crevices of the Sycamore's exfoliating bark for spiders and other tasty fare, he was quite the show stopper.

A Rough-winged Swallow stopped by the same Sycamore to rest from its many forays, up and down the Clear Fork River in a quest for flying insects.

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The spring ephemerals were still on display, and the Covered Bridge Trail was lined with Dutchman's-breeches, Dicentra cucullaria as well as its fragrant cousin Squirrel Corn, Dicentra canadensis.

Leslie peered into the foliage where we last heard the calls of a Black-throated Green Warbler as we were about to climb those exposed tree roots, which create a stairway to the next level of the forest. It eerily looked like something straight out of a Tolkien novel.

The higher elevation boasted a display of Long-spurred Violets, Viola rostrata which we had not seen at the river level. Exaggerated nectar tubes curve gently out from the back side of this violet. Most violets are difficult to sort by species, but the long-spurs easily set this one apart from all others.

And as a Weedpicker is likely to do, we gathered the garlic mustard along the trail, carrying it out of the forest. Garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata is a non-native species with poor manners and a pushy way of crowding out our native flora. Every little bit pulled and carted away is a step towards a healthier ecosystem, and a better spring flora display in the future.

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Hope you find your way to this woodland wonderland, and feel free to help yourself to any of the Garlic Mustard we might have missed!