Hello folks. I see that the bountifully-membered ohio-birds list is seeing a throng of extraordinarily interesting birding topics of late. One of the most pertinent topics brought to light (or perhaps a bit in the shade) is in regards to: locations and directions to Ohio birding hotspots, and the availability of immediately pertinent information regarding hotspots/locations in regards to up-to-the-minute bird reports found on Ohio-birds. I.E. Someone just saw a Lesser Black-backed Gull at 'East 72nd Street in Cleveland' and I have absolutely no idea where in the world that is. That's a good, solid question. Especially when locations are abbreviated or referred to cordially by nicknames or "local-specific" titles, tension can rise and one can feel quite lost and bogged down in a sea of 'huh?'s. There are so many different ways to research specific locations (yay), but often it becomes a little confusing (nay). With so many members on the list that are so spread apart geographically, it's a wonder so many of us actually find our way so quickly to hotspot locations to 'tick' new birds or seek out specialities, within a mere 24 hours of their discovery! Each of us has our own method of researching/discovering/finding our way to new and old birding locations. Some rely almost solely on maps - digital (web) or handbook (Delorme, for example). Some rely on maps, emailed directions, or seeking them out on the web through search programs. Here's a few ways to seek out specific (or even general!) birding locations. I hope this does not sound dull. Some will mumble 'duh' but others might say 'oh hurrah'. This is one way to find more details on a spot after you've read a quick post to ohio-birds that contains perhaps 'meager' information on a location. GOOGLE. http://www.google.com Seriously. An awesome basic search program. Type in Headland's Beach State Park or Cuyahoga Valley National Park or Cleveland Metroparks or Lorain Metroparks or Lake County Metroparks and wham wham wham wham BAM, I bet you find a lot of 'hits' that could help you in your quest for general park/location information, or even a map or ten. Typing in specific locations works SO WELL. Try this for kicks: type in: Lakewood Cemetery, Cleveland. What's the first thing that pops up? A MAP. SWEET. Notice also that Google offers a specific MAP search. It is highly accurate, of course, and has led myself and many others to many a wonderfully deliciously good bird or three. Specific Ohio birding websites with locations and directions Although a bit few and far between and scattered, there ARE a few great resources on the web to find useful leads to birding spots. Ohio Ornithological Society's Online Birding Site Guide http://www.ohiobirds.org/birdingsites/about.php This site is sick (those in their middle twenties use 'sick' to mean 'totally radical' - smile). The OOS birding site guide contains at least 45-60 (I didn't count) hotspots, and provides almost enough detail for you to find your way 'there' and to the CVS next door to buy floss on Aisle 6. For example, please allow me to present just a bit (edited) of the Avon Lake Power Plant description. Pretend I just reported a Parasitic Jaeger at Avon Lake Power Plant. And that's ALL I reported. That's it. Just that last line. Dang. What do I do now....bodda bing...bodda boom: Avon Lake Power Plant Site Location Information Address: Miller Road Park, intersection of US 6 from Miller Rd. east County/Counties: Lorain DeLorme page number and letter/number coordinates: Page 30, D-2 GPS Coordinates: Nearest town or city: On the west end of the city of Avon Lake Distance and direction from nearest town/city: Directions to site from nearest town/city of at least moderate size: Go to the western edge of Avon Lake on US 6 (Lake Road). There are two parking areas along the north side of the road in a city park between the plant itself and the stoplight at Miller Road. The most frequently used parking area is the more eastern one whose entrance road runs parallel and very close to the power plant. Links to websites: Site Description The municipal park comprises 14.7 acres of mowed grass and mature trees, a boat launch area, a hooked breakwall, and a concrete fishing pier. There are gazebos with picnic tables and some paved walkways, but no bathroom facilities. The park sits on a bluff overlooking the lake, and a four-foot high chain-link fence runs the length of the top of the bluff. Birds of Interest - Seasonal Specialties Winter: This site reliably attracts significant numbers of gulls and waterfowl November through March, drawn here by the warm-water outflow from the power plant, which emerges in a channel bordered by breakwalls and then plumes west, where it is easily visible from the park. The northeast corner of the park, a short distance from the recommended parking area, is a good vantage point for studying gull roosts on the beach, the breakwalls, or the ice, and gulls and waterfowl in the water. When you are done there, bird west along the fence to a gate that allows access to the fishing pier, which offers other vistas. Current water levels have opened a narrow sand beach, accessible from the bluff; it is often counterproductive to go down to the beach to look at birds, as your approach causes them to withdraw. Many of the gull species on the state list have been recorded here. Particularly noteworthy are the gatherings of the larger species during the coldest part of the winter, when great and lesser black-backed gulls, the “white-winged “ species such as glaucous, Iceland, and Thayer’s gulls, and the occasional rarity are most likely. Gatherings of diving ducks can be spectacular at this period as well. Snowy owls sometimes hold vigils on the breakwalls, and jaegers show up from time to time. The spot is not worthwhile for passerines or shorebirds. On first arriving, approach the lip of the bluff carefully, to avoid alarming birds that may be just below. Getting a good angle on all the birds may require choosing a spot with care, and adjusting the tripod to see over or through the fence. It may not always pay to walk to the very end of the pier, as birds in the water will often retreat as you advance. Spring: Early spring can be productive of the species described above. Summer: Fall: Late fall can be productive of the species described above. General Information For This Area Closed hours/season: Open daylight hours Parking Areas: Two as described above Fees/Permits: None Restroom Facilities: None; portable toilets sometimes supplied Special Notes: Do not stray too close to the edge of the bluff and be wary of ice on the pier. Harmful insects, poisonous plants or animals: None Restaurants in the area: There are a couple of places to eat in a small shopping center a quarter of a mile to the east. Other Useful Information: Avon Lake can be extraordinarily cold; wear your best gear in winter. Winds may leave the pier cloaked in ice, and ice on the ground in the park can be dangerous footing. Under certain conditions mist rising from the warm water will make viewing difficult, but least the sun is always at one’s back on the bluff during the colder months. Glare can be a problem on one side or another when viewing from the pier on sunny days. People going fishing, or even surfing, often use ‘unofficial’ entries to the beach, which is usually marked “No Trespassing,” to get to the outflow area, and spook gulls along the way, but the birds generally return after an interval ------- Sorry that was long, but isn't that awesome? Wait, there's more: Kirtland Bird Club http://www.kirtlandbirdclub.org/Looking_for_birds/looking_for_birds.htm Victor Fazio III Aves.net site: http://aves.net/OHIOBIRDINGSITES/when-and-where.htm Dick and Jean Hoffman's Cleveland Birding Site guide: http://pw1.netcom.com/~djhoff/csiteix.html Ohio Division of Natural Resources, Wildlife Birding General: http://www.ohiodnr.com/wildlife/resources/wbirds/birding0404.htm OHIO'S WILDLIFE AREA MAPS - ODNR (this is sick!) http://www.ohiodnr.com/wildlife/Hunting/wildlifeareas/wildare.htm Lake Erie Coastal Birding Site Guide: http://www.coastalohio.com/act.asp?id=39 Favorite Dayton Area Birding Site Guides: http://www.dayton.net/audubon/favsites.htm Important Bird Areas: Audubon Ohio: http://www.audubonohio.org/bsc/ibas.html That's just a few I found in a few searches online. Now, I realize that the concern is moreso that 'not enough details to sites are actually provided in ohio-birds posts'....but, ya know....a little bit of homework reaaaallllllyy never hurt anybody. Well, I opted out one or two or 3 dozen times on homework, but. Let's uh, let's um, let's consider the fact that it - is - so - dang - cool to be able to post SIGHTINGS to hundreds of fellow Ohio birders at the click of a BUTTON. And that, in a 2nd click, you can find a search program to MAP OUT your entire day's drive to that location, to pick up a bird that we all might never have known was there (till 2 weeks later! or not at all). If you can't find what you're looking for the first time, why not try a 2nd or a 3rd? Call or email someone with pertinent queries. Perhaps even the person that reported said bird(s) or said location(s). Ohio-birds can be a wonderful, wonderful, awesomely-cool, up-to-the-second, out-of-this-world, obviously-changing-the-course-of birding TOOL and RESOURCE. It was designed as so. That's neat. Let's use it for what it is? Maybe? And meanwhile, Google has almost....almost....just almost been proven to have nearly saved the world as we know it. Well, a birder's world, anyway. Continue on Lakeview Avenue (east) 4 miles, turn left (north) at East Harbor Avenue, continue 5.23 miles west, turn left......;) cheers and best of birding jen jen brumfield [log in to unmask] akron, oh _________________________________________________________________ Get free, personalized commercial-free online radio with MSN Radio powered by Pandora http://radio.msn.com/?icid=T002MSN03A07001 ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. 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