Greetings birders - 
Yesterday evening Cleveland Metroparks naturalist Natalie Moore found a point-blank AMERICAN BITTERN in a swamp wetland adjacent to the Rocky River Reservation parkway on the west side of Big Met Golf Course. The bird is still present today (April 3) and is unbelievably easy to observe. 
This wetland is respectfully and memorably called "Kason Marsh" for the great work of John Kason, who "changed the face of Cleveland Metroparks" in his 49 years of working with wildlife and natural resources with the Park District. As retired chief of outdoor education, Bob Hinkle wrote: "Nearly every meadow, wetland and pond in Cleveland Metroparks has known John Kason's hand." 
The bird is unbelievably easy to see and allows for incredible photos and viewing. PHOTOS: http://www.northnw.wordpress.com
Here is a map of Rocky River Reservation: http://www.clemetparks.com/pdf/reservations/trailmaps/rrnorthmap.pdf
To look for this bird, check out the map, and find the purple walk/run person symbol above number 8 on the map. If you are heading northbound on the parkway from where Puritas meets the parkway, you will pass by the golf course headquarters, CM park operations building on your left, the golf course on your right and immediately after you come around a big bend you will see the swamp on your right. This is where the bittern is hanging out. The swamp is large on its north end, but the bird is hanging out on the southernmost part of the swamp, near the road. PARKING is available north of the marsh and you can cross the road and walk south back along the bike/hike trail by a quarter mile to properly view the bird. DO NOT PULL OFF ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD or you may be ticketed (likely). 
Again, on the PDF map link above, the location of the bittern is nearly exactly where the purple run/walk person symbol is located, just above #8.  
The bird continues to be seen today, Tuesday the 3rd. 
best of luck - JB



Jen [log in to unmask]
Cleveland, Ohio
330-701-6452

Bird Illustrator / www.jenbrumfield.com

Birding Tour Guide (Ohio), Local Patch Birding / www.jenbrumfield.com
Birding Tour Guide (worldwide), Tropical Birding / www.tropicalbirding.com
Naturalist/Artist, Cleveland Metroparks / www.clemetparks.com
LEICA Birding Optics Prostaff / http://en.leica-camera.com/sport_optics/NorthNW Lake Erie blog / www.northnw.wordpress.com



                                          
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