The 16 GTAC members who participated in this event had a fun time, and the birds were plentiful. Participants this year were John & Jo Kreag, John & Shirley Mesch, Larry & Cindee DuBey, Joe & Elise Brooks, Ed & Carolyn Moehle, Chris & Lucy Van Lonkhuyzen, Kay Beerthuis, Char Blanchard, Steffi Podolan, Krista Greenwood.
Joining us in our hunt was Jennifer Elliot,PhD. Jennifer is an ornithologist and literally wrote the book on the White-breasted Nuthatch.
The areas we covered were SW Lake Erie, City of Toledo, Magee Marsh, a.k.a., Crane Creek, Ottawa NWR, Oak Openings Metropark, Metzger Marsh, Maumee Bay State Park, and adjacent farm fields. This gave us different habitats to find different types of birds. We found 147 avian species, at least 4 reptile species, and many spring flowering plants. This includes 27 kinds of warblers. The total warbler tonnage was as good as
I have ever seen it. Some of the best finds were Cindy’s Cerulean Warbler, Elise’s Black- billed Cuckoo, Chris’ Philadelphia Vireo, Shirley’s Tri-colored Heron, John K’s Summer Tanager, John M’s G. H. Owl, Steffi’s Black Vulture and Willow Flycatcher, and Krista’s Miller Lite.
Our Friday evening picnic supper was joined by Greg Miller of “The Big Year” fame. He shared some of his wit and knowledge with us and offered to help us with difficult finds. He told us that it will be Jack Black that will portray him in the upcoming movie. It was fun talking with him and seeing some of his pictures on his iphone. I know he enjoyed meeting the GT Audubon people too. Other celebrities we saw on the weekend were Don & Lillian Stokes, and Kenn & Kim Kaufman. Steffi attended Kenn’s seminar and Kim gave Krista & me directions to a field where we found a Spotted Sandpiper.
The Black Swamp Bird Observatory has promoted this as “The Biggest Week in American Birding”, and it has drawn international attention. We shared the birds that week with visitors from Europe and Asia. Who would have known it would come to this? Sixteen years ago, Shirley & I went to what was then Crane Creek State Park to see the beach. While I was walking the beach she came running over to me saying “John, those trees are full of warblers!” We have been going back ever since.
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Lake Erie Trip - May 7 -9, 2010
by John Mesch
Our 2010 Lake Erie adventure was a success. We found 135 total species, including 24 kinds of warblers. Participants this year were Leonard and Barb Graf, Larry and Cindee DuBey, John and Shirley Mesch, the Mesch’s daughter, Susan with husband Justin Carinci, John and Jo Kreag and Jo’s sister the Rev. Jackie Holdsworth, Steffi Podolan, Kay Beerthuis, and Char Blanchard.
We not only had a variety of birds, but also a variety of weather. It was 84 degrees when I checked into the Maumee Bay campground on Wednesday afternoon; it was 34 when we started birding on Saturday morning. In between there were strong winds, rain, hail, and a tornado 20 miles away. Fortunately, our crew came through unscathed. We have birded in rain gear before. The wild weather must have had an effect on the shorebirds because they were very scarce this year, unlike prior years when we’ve had hundreds of Dunlins and others flying around us at the Ottawa federal refuge. The boardwalk at Magee Marsh did not disappoint. The warblers were there and plentiful, but maybe somewhat lesser tonnage than other years.
The week-end prior to our Lake Erie trip, the Antioch College Ecology Institute in Yellow Springs, Ohio, sponsors a morning bird hike followed by an afternoon wild flower hike. These are given at no charge other than a $2 parking fee. I have enjoyed these for the last 2 years. Louisiana Waterthrushes are common there, as are Virginia Bluebells and Dogwood. Back to Top
Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, May 8 - 10, 2009
by John Mesch
Our trip to northwest Ohio this year was another success. Participants this year were Leonard and Barbara Graf, John and Shirley Mesch, and daughters Leslie and Susan, Ed and Carolyn Moehle, John and Jo Kreag and Jo’s sister, Jackie, Jerry and Roberta Kolak, Al and Sandy Kolak, Ed and Lori Earl, Steffi Podolan, Larry and Cindy DuBey, Jerry and Sherri Freels. This is a three-day event, including a federal wildlife refuge, two state wildlife areas, a metropark, and Lake Erie. We count everything we see anywhere in Lucas and Ottawa Counties – even the Rock Pigeons in Toledo. Oak Openings Metropark has woods, dunes, and open fields. We found some Red-headed Woodpeckers, Lark Sparrows and a Summer Tanager there. The warblers at Metzger Marsh, Magee Marsh, and Ottawa NWR were numerous and usually cooperative for viewing. My favorite this year was the Kentucky Warbler, but the Hooded and Prothonotarys were pretty nice too. Our count totaled 151 species, including 27 kinds of warblers.
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Magee Marsh Wildlife Area (former Crane Creek State Park) -
May 9 - 11, 2008 by John Mesch
Another Grand Traverse Audubon Club Ohio adventure is now history.
Participants this year were Leonard and Barb Graf, with daughter, Nancy, and son-in-law, John, Larry and Cindee DuBey, John and Jo Kreag, John and Shirley Mesch, Jerry and Sherri Freels, Steffi Podolan, Carole Groves, Ed and Edie Kopp, Bob and Reena Renner.
Shirley and I got an early start on Friday and were invited to bird the Oak Openings Metropark with the Grafs. This is a wooded area near the Toledo airport that offers a different habitat from the Lake Erie marshes. The area did not disappoint. We saw red-headed woodpeckers, lark sparrows, and a summer tanager. Saturday morning we did the drive-thru at the Ottawa federal refuge. There we had hundreds of dunlins flying about 8 feet over our heads. It was quite an experience. John and Nancy found the glossy ibises there. At Metzger and Magee marshes the warblers were in their usual places, were active, and were a joy to see again. We saw 26 warbler species, including the yellow-throated and cerulean. The total species count for the trip was 144, an outstanding count for a very fun 3 days.
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Crane Creek, Ohio - May 11 -13, 2007
By John Mesch
We had good weather and an enthusiastic group on our southwest Lake Erie adventure this year. Participants were Leonard & Barb Graf, Larry & Cindee DuBey, John & Shirley Mesch, Carole Groves & sister-in-law Edie. Birding with us were Al & Sandy Kolak from Tennessee, and former Empire residents Bob & Reena Renner, now from Gahanna, Ohio. This year our trip coincided with International Migratory Bird Day, so we got to see all the exhibits and drive through the Ottawa National Wildlife refuge. To my delight, the American Golden Plovers were back in full force - and in full breeding plumage. The warblers were plentiful - as usual. The most numerous this year were the magnolias and the bay-breasteds. The total species count was 139, including 23 species of warblers. We hope to go back to this special place again next year.
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Crane Creek, Ohio - May 5 - 7, 2006
By John Mesch
Participants were Ken & Kay Beerthuis, Steffi Podolan, Leonard & Barb Graf, Larry & Cindee DuBey, John & Shirley Mesch. May 5,6,7 were the dates this year, perhaps a bit early since the total tonnage of warblers was down from what we are used to. This year the Mesches did Ottawa by bicycle - with scope and binoculars, and got to see several species that the rest of the crew didn't get to see. Kay & Ken were able to radio from a farm field to those of us on the boardwalk that there was a pair of Wilson's Phalaropes. We all got in our cars and were pleased to get to see them. A Woodcock family and a baby Great Horned Owl were favorites for Cindee and others. Larry will probably have pictures for the December meeting. The group saw a total of 120 species, including 19 warbler species. The weather was good and as usual, the trip was interesting and fun.
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Crane Creek, Ohio - May 6 - 8, 2005
by John Mesch
Another G.T. Audubon Lake Erie adventure is history. This year's participants were Ken & Kay Beerthuis, John & Jo Kreag, John & Teddie Nims, Bob & Reena Renner, and John & Shirley Mesch. Warm weather with blue skies & sunshine prevailed for all 3 days - which may be part of the reason the count was down. Kay thinks that given the nice weather, they just kept going north. Usually when we do this trip the lilacs are in full bloom; this year they were just purple buds, so we may have been a bit early. We did get a respectable 106 total species, with 17 warbler species. My favorites were the Kentucky Warbler and the American Golden Plovers in breeding plumage.
We expect to make the trip again next year. Probable dates are May 12, 13, 14.
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Gtac Sets A New Record! May 7 - 9, 2004
by John Mesch
This year's Lake Erie field trip yielded a record 132 species seen by our group, including 22 warbler species. Our arrival seemed to hit just before all the ducks and shorebirds left, and just as the warblers were arriving. My favorite shorebirds were the black-bellied plovers and the ruddy turnstones. They are indeed beautiful in their May plumage. The northern parulas and prothonotarys were quite cooperative and hung around for close-up views and pictures. One could hardly look in any direction and not see a palm warbler. The worm-eating warbler was far more elusive, and eluded our entire group, in spite of several reports of sightings. The rarest species sighted were the yellow-throated warbler, seen by Leonard and me, the Louisiana waterthrush, seen by Ed, and the whippoorwill, seen by the Mesches, Grafs, and Joyce. The weather was excellent on Saturday and Sunday, but forced a one hour delay with a passing thunderstorm on Friday. The Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, where we saw our ducks and shorebirds, has expanded the number of days that they allow drive-thrus from 1 to 6. Maybe eventually they will be open year around, like Seney. Our record 132 sightings was no doubt helped by our large group, which consisted of Joyce Ellsworth, Leonard and Barb Graf, Ed and Carolyn Moehle, John & Shirley Mesch, Ken & Kay Beerthuis, John & Teddy Nims, Bob & Reena Renner, and Daryl & Dannette Kress.
Next year we can set another record if we find a chickadee or a kestrel.
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Annual FieldTripTo Lake Erie - MAY 9,10,11, 2003
by John Mesch
Grand Traverse Audubon members Leonard Graf, Barbara Graf, John Mesch, and Shirley Mesch were joined by friends Al and Sandy Kolak of Knoxville, and Bob and Reena Renner of Columbus, formerly of Empire.
We started collecting warbler sightings shortly after noon on Friday. We were delighted to see that all the usual suspects were present and active. Saturday was a warm beautiful day. Lots of birders were wearing shorts and sandals. This was International Migratory Bird Day - the only day of the year Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge is open to personal vehicles. We did the auto tour and looked at their collection of waterfowl and shorebirds. I think we saw 4 or 5 moorhens and several bald eagles. Carp were swimming in water so shallow that their backs must have gotten sunburn. No wonder the eagles like it here.
After a quick stop at Metzger Marsh to see the tanagers, we had a picnic lunch on the Lake Erie shore. We spent the rest of the afternoon watching the warblers, vireos, and thrushes at Crane Creek - with a screech owl, whippoorwill and other assorteds thrown in.
Saturday night was stormy and windy. The wind had been blowing quite hard from the southwest, which apparently overnight blew in a whole new crew of warblers for the Sunday session. We were delighted to see species that were apparently absent on Friday and Saturday. Some of the delights were Canadas , Mournings, Wilsons, Hoodeds, and Blackpolls. Crane Creek usually provides a surprise or two, and this year we got a couple rarities. A Yellow-throated was seen by John Mesch and several others near the binocular demo tent, and a Cerulean was seen by Barb and Leonard Graf on the boardwalk.
We broke all-time GTAC records for this trip with 120 total species and 26 warbler species, plus the greatest ever total tonnage. How can we top this next year?
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Lake Erie Field Trip - May 10 - 12, 2002
By John Mesch
The 2002 Lake Erie, Ohio adventure is now history. The weather was far from perfect, but all the birds were there as usual.
On our arrival, Friday afternoon, we had sunny skies and temperatures in the 60's; Sunday evening when we left it was cold, wet, and windy.
GTAC members participating were Ann Martin, Pauline McClure, Ken & Kay Beerthuis, John & Teddy Nims, Jim & Mary Ellen Thero, John & Molly McCombs, John & Shirley Mesch.
We saw about 6 eagles. I didn't know Ohio had that many. I think my favorite bird of the trip was a Northern Parula who was seen in the same spot at Metzger Marsh all 3 days, and was very cooperative for birders and photographers. You'll see my video of him at the GTAC Christmas party. Other sightings we enjoyed were close-ups of a Screech Owl, and a Pied-billed Grebe on a nest. The hand-held radios let us communicate any unusual sightings to our entire group, and with that many eyes operating, I don't think much gets missed.
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