The numbers on the boardwalk are due to be painted this summer, so yes
they are pretty inconspicuous right now. We were advised to wait until
summer so that they are good and dry. We had a lot of problems with the
metal numbers coming loose or disappearing completely. So we thing the
routered numbers should prove to have a much longer life. We also have a
new map that will be posted at the west end of the boardwalk. Believe
it or not, people who have never been here before do get lost. That
doesn't usually happen during the birding season though as there are so
many friendly people on the Bird Trail that can point them in the right
direction!
Happy Birding,
Mary
Magee Marsh
-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Kenn Kaufman
Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 10:05 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [Ohio-birds] Magee boardwalk map & notes
We're coming up to the season when birders from all over Ohio (and North
America) will converge on the boardwalk at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area
(also popularly, but incorrectly, known as the "Crane Creek boardwalk")
in northwest Ohio. Already I'm seeing a lot of birders (and birds) out
there every day. Last week we had a good push of early diversity on
4/17 and 4/18, then things were a little quieter over the weekend, then
another big arrival came in on Wednesday 4/23. It was a bit slower
today, Thursday 4/24, but on the basis of current weather forecasts, I'm
predicting that the birding may be fairly good on Saturday 4/26,
although there may be rain and wind to contend with. And of course, it
will just continue to get better from now through most of May.
Birders often want to communicate about the precise locations of birds
seen on the boardwalk. There is a system of numbers in place, with
numbers running from 1 at the west entrance to 34 at the east entrance,
and these could be very useful if birders were able to keep track of
them a little more easily. The numbers used to be on little tags
attached to the handrail, but now these have been replaced by numbers
etched into the wood in the same locations. They're inconspicuous and
easy to miss if you're not looking for them. To make it easier for
birders to navigate and communicate on the boardwalk, I've drawn a map
showing the locations of the numbers, and this is now available for free
downloading from the website of the Black Swamp Bird Observatory. Just
go to http://www.bsbobird.org/birding/ and follow the link for "Birding
hotspots: maps and directions." On the same pages you'll also find maps
for other birding sites, info on local lodging, a printable bird
checklist, and frequent updates on what's happening with the migration.
If you have trouble downloading or printing the boardwalk map from the
BSBO website, you can also stop and get a copy at the BSBO office (just
north of Rt. 2 at the entrance to Crane Creek SP / Magee Marsh WA). The
nature center / shop is currently open Friday through Monday, 11 a.m. to
5 p.m., but during May it should be open every day.
Hope to see a lot of you out in the field this spring!
Kenn Kaufman
Rocky Ridge, Ohio
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______________________________________________________________________
Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.
You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]
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