How can you tell its springtime in Ohio? Just open your front door and listen to the trills of migrating songbirds!
Having spent their winter in warmer climes such as Central and South America, Mexico and the Caribbean, these springtime crooners also known as neotropicals are returning to Ohio to breed and raise their young.
Ohios first wave of migrating neotropics is already underway with the arrival of blue-headed vireos, yellow-rumped warblers, hermit thrushes, ruby-crowned kinglets, and chimney swifts. Another surge of spring migrants will appear close to Mothers Day and then peak around Memorial Day, when the influx of songbirds will include American redstarts, ruby-throated hummingbirds, and several different warblers including the Canada and Wilsons warbler.
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Black-throated Gray Warbler photographed at Dawes Arboretum in April
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Every year wayward migrants, bound for other parts of the country, find their way to Ohio. Starring in this years role was a black-throated gray warbler, which made a one-day appearance in April at
Dawes Arboretum in Licking County. Common in the western United States, this five-inch mountain bird has been seen in Ohio only ten times in the last 52 years. The black-throated gray warbler features striking black and white feathers and can be positively identified by a unique spot of yellow between the eye and bill.
This is an exciting time of the year for avian enthusiasts as feathered friends return to backyard feeders and popular birding spots across the state. Birders may already be seeing some of their perennial favorites, such as Baltimore orioles, indigo buntings, and a variety of warblers and finches.
The Baltimore oriole, a highly recognizable songbird, returns in late April whistling a clear, flute-like song. Its orange underside and glossy black top feathers make it a perennial favorite among bird watchers. Preferring habitats with large shade trees, the oriole is at home in open woodlands, suburban areas and parks.
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Hummingbird
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The Buckeye States smallest feathered migrant is the hummingbird. This incredibly small bird, weighing less than an ounce, beats its wings an average of 53 times per second in flight. Its been estimated that the trip across the Gulf of Mexico requires 4 million wing beats!
Great birding spots exist throughout the state, although some of the best bird viewing opportunities are along Lake Eries coast and wetlands where these weary world travelers stop briefly to feed and rest. Lake Erie is one of the largest staging or resting areas for northbound birds before they jump north to Canada, Michigan, and New England.
Sheldon Marsh Nature Preserve in Erie County and Magee Marsh Wildlife Area in Ottawa County offer a large concentration of warblers and other colorful songbirds. Sheldon Marsh alone has attracted more than 300 bird species.
May 11 is International Migratory Bird Day. Magee Marsh - one of the top 10 birding spots in the United States - will celebrate the day by providing a variety of activities related to neotropical bird migration, from bird banding to a live raptor program. The days events begin at 8 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. For more information call (419) 898-0960 ext. 31.
Bird watching provides a low-cost, enjoyable outdoor experience. While songbirds can be seen in nearby community parks and woodlands, Ohios state parks, state nature preserves and state forests provide some of the best viewing opportunities.