Hi all, Just a reminder that the Ohio Ornithological Society's annual conference approaches; it's the weekend of May 16-18 at the beautiful Mohican State Forest near Mansfield. We're thrilled to have a great cast of speakers, and it goes without saying that the birding at Mohican in mid-May is outstanding, and includes a great diversity of warblers. We'd love to have you join us, whether you are a member of the OOS or not, or whether you are an expert birder or new birder. Anyone should enjoy the field trips, as well as the speakers and other activities. For all of the details, visit the OOS website at: http://www.ohiobirds.org/calendar/annual_meeting/meeting.php On a Spring is Sprunging note, I was in Shawnee State Forest in southernmost Ohio yesterday, and can report that many Louisiana Waterthrushes have taken up territory along the rushing brooks in the forest. This highly migratory Neotropical warbler is among our first warblers to return each spring, and among the first to depart. At least one Yellow-throated Warbler was back, as were a few Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. For butterfly enthusiasts, I saw a dozen or so Mourning Cloaks, one Falcate Orangetip, and a few Commas. It was also nice to see the early spring wildflowers poking forth, such as Hepatica, Harbinger-of-spring, Spring-beauty, and the incredibly rare Goldenstar lily. I have photos of some of these on my blog - address below - if you've not been out much, or live in the frozen tundra lands of northern Ohio, and would like visual proof of spring's arrival. Jim Jim McCormac Columbus, Ohio Like nature? Visit my blog: http://jimmccormac.blogspot.com/ Like birds? Join the Ohio Ornithological Society: http://www.ohiobirds.org ______________________________________________________________________ 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]