100 Bird Quest is a success!
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PGBird
Jun 1, 2010, 11:34:35 AM6/1/10
to LMPBirders
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
I thought you might enjoy hearing about the successful quest to find
100 birds in Lake County on May 22, 2010 in the words of one of the co-
leaders!
On May 22, 2010, a fearless group of Lake Metroparks birders set out
to see or hear 100 species in twelve hours without leaving Lake
County. Our sights were high, our route selected and we had enough
snacks to fuel an army! In spite of a rainy start, drizzles here and
there and a big storm mid afternoon, 100 bird species were counted for
the day.
We chose local hot spots and properties that are recognized as
Important Bird Areas in Lake County – outstanding habitat sites for
one or more species of birds used during their nesting season, during
the winter and/or while they are migrating. Penitentiary Glen
Reservation was the start point and 17 species were recorded in the
pouring rain. Off next to Lake Metroparks Chagrin River Park, a very
diverse habitat location that never fails to surprise. The rains had
cleared off and 61 species were observed, including the Sora rail,
American kestrels, Savannah sparrow, Meadowlarks and Bobolink. Our
next stop, the Eastlake power plant, did not reveal the hoped for
Peregrine falcon, but did surprise with a Mocking bird, and a Black-
crowned night heron fly by; 18 species there.
ODNR’s Mentor Marsh Natural Area (aka the birder’s thicket) and Wake
Robin trail were also very productive. What a treat to observe 2
Virginia rails and 6 fuzzy young in close range, as well as the
continued abundance of wood warblers ( Tennessee, Nashville, Yellow,
Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green,
Blackburnian, Blackpoll, Redstart, Common yellow throat, Wilson, and
Canada); 56 total species there.
We began to feel the possibilities and pressure to make 100! Then the
skies opened up again with a wonderful thunderstorm that sent all in
search of cover… our last stop, a soggy Lake Metroparks Lakeshore
Reservation, yielded number 92 – 99 on the count. Dreadfully missing
were Flicker, Hummingbird and Brown Thrasher (we did, however, have a
road killed wild turkey which no one wanted to count!!!)
Tick tock, our twelve hours was ending, and we regretfully sped along
Route 2 to return to the Nature Center start/end point. Wait – at 60
mile an hour, a pair of Mute swans gracefully swimming on a farm pond
- YAHOO - 100 birds as the clock ticked to 6pm.
Mary Huey
mh...@lakemetroparks.com
Interpretive Naturalist
I thought you might enjoy hearing about the successful quest to find
100 birds in Lake County on May 22, 2010 in the words of one of the co-
leaders!
On May 22, 2010, a fearless group of Lake Metroparks birders set out
to see or hear 100 species in twelve hours without leaving Lake
County. Our sights were high, our route selected and we had enough
snacks to fuel an army! In spite of a rainy start, drizzles here and
there and a big storm mid afternoon, 100 bird species were counted for
the day.
We chose local hot spots and properties that are recognized as
Important Bird Areas in Lake County – outstanding habitat sites for
one or more species of birds used during their nesting season, during
the winter and/or while they are migrating. Penitentiary Glen
Reservation was the start point and 17 species were recorded in the
pouring rain. Off next to Lake Metroparks Chagrin River Park, a very
diverse habitat location that never fails to surprise. The rains had
cleared off and 61 species were observed, including the Sora rail,
American kestrels, Savannah sparrow, Meadowlarks and Bobolink. Our
next stop, the Eastlake power plant, did not reveal the hoped for
Peregrine falcon, but did surprise with a Mocking bird, and a Black-
crowned night heron fly by; 18 species there.
ODNR’s Mentor Marsh Natural Area (aka the birder’s thicket) and Wake
Robin trail were also very productive. What a treat to observe 2
Virginia rails and 6 fuzzy young in close range, as well as the
continued abundance of wood warblers ( Tennessee, Nashville, Yellow,
Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green,
Blackburnian, Blackpoll, Redstart, Common yellow throat, Wilson, and
Canada); 56 total species there.
We began to feel the possibilities and pressure to make 100! Then the
skies opened up again with a wonderful thunderstorm that sent all in
search of cover… our last stop, a soggy Lake Metroparks Lakeshore
Reservation, yielded number 92 – 99 on the count. Dreadfully missing
were Flicker, Hummingbird and Brown Thrasher (we did, however, have a
road killed wild turkey which no one wanted to count!!!)
Tick tock, our twelve hours was ending, and we regretfully sped along
Route 2 to return to the Nature Center start/end point. Wait – at 60
mile an hour, a pair of Mute swans gracefully swimming on a farm pond
- YAHOO - 100 birds as the clock ticked to 6pm.
Mary Huey
mh...@lakemetroparks.com
Interpretive Naturalist
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