Greater Akron Audubon Society

Spring Bird Walks

The chapter conducts a number of field trips during the spring migration season. Each trip is led by a member with birding experience and bird identification skills. The groups typically have a number of birders whose skills range from novice to expert. The trips are open to the public and are a great way to learn about bird watching.

Scheduled Bird Walks for Spring 2008

• May 10, 2008 - Bath Nature Preserve (Leaders - Greg Smith, Mark Purdy)
  Meet at 8:00 at the main parking lot just off of Ira Road.

We had a few trips scheduled for last spring, thanks to our Field Trips Coordinator, Marc Nolls. Check Spring 2007 Bird Walks for details.

2007 Reports

• April 21, 2007 - Firestone MetroPark (Leader - Wolfgang Pelz)
  The day was sunny and chilly; the temperature started at 40 degrees but warmed up fairly quickly to a comfortable 63 degrees by the end of the walk. There were only four participants, but we managed to see 33 species. Unfortunately, no warblers were seen or heard, although there were reports of yellow-rumped warblers the previous day. Highlights were a red-tailed hawk in a tree easily visible from the parking lot, a screech owl trying to hide in a hole, and a few hermit thrushes scampering in the leaf litter.
• April 21, 2007 - Sand Run MetroPark
  no report
• May 5, 2007 - Goodyear Heights MetroPark (Leaders - Wolfgang and Joyce Pelz)
  A cloudy cool day with temperature in the mid 50's. Four participants saw 33 species including some of the early warblers such as Tennessee, Yellow-Rumped, Blackburnian, and Palm.
• May 12, 2007 - Deep Lock Quarry (Leader - Mike Edgington)
  No one showed for the walk. Fortunately, however, Tom and Mary Anne Romito arrived just at the same time I did to do their spring census which is also today. So, I was lucky enough to get to spend some time walking with them and helping do the census. It worked out very well. Tom and Mary Anne: thanks for including me in your outing. I enjoyed it. (BTW: I did get to actually SEE a Yellow-Throated Vireo on my way out.) :)
  Final count: 34 species

2006 Reports

• April 22, 2006 - Firestone MetroPark (Leaders - Marc Nolls and Joyce Pelz)
  Our first bird of the morning was an immature Bald Eagle setting in a tree by the reservoir across from the park. Ed Pierce happened by with a scope to help confirm the bird. Tough bird to top the rest of the morning! We had a total of 26 bird species - and 4 human participants. See April 22 results for details.
• April 29, 2006 - Cascade Valley MetroPark (Purdy)
  We had about 9 people and it was a beautiful day. But, birding was a bit slow. I think we saw about 25-30 species.
• May 6, 2006 - Deep Lock Quarry MetroPark (Witt)
  Birds were not too bad, 47 species as I recall. Probably the best sighting of the day (for me) was a verry that popped out on the path (Susan and I had heard it singing the night before when we scouted the area). It's one of those birds that I hear often enough, when I'm lucky, but to get to study it was a real treat. 4 participants.
• May 7, 2006 - Bath Nature Preserve (Purdy)
  There were 9 people, and it was a cool but nice morning. We saw about 30-35 species, but only 2 warblers (yellowthroat and yellow) and no bobolinks.
• May 13, 2006 - Liberty MetroPark (Edgington)
  A pretty funny sighting was, just at the entrance, I heard crows and looked up into a tree and saw 4 dark shapes. It turns out that there were three Turkey Vultures roosting in the tree and a single crow sitting right beside them giving them hell. I saw a Wilson's warbler, which surprised me. According to Jim McCormac, they are rarely seen. A total of 29 bird species and only one human participant (the leader!)
• May 14, 2006 - Bath Nature Preserve (Edgington)
  A couple of notable items: I saw a Red-Headed Woodpecker nest Two red-heads, one of them chased off a third, attending a nest in one of the snags. Also, there are a male and female Rose-Breasted grosbeak, male and female Bluebirds. I did not see any female Bob-o-links but there were many males, chasing each other around. I do hope that someone owns this area for the Breeding Bird Atlas. No other participants, possibly due to today being Mother's Day. A total of 30 species.

Greater Akron Audubon Society