As a follow-up to the excellent programs at the statewide Audubon Assembly held yesterday in Bellville, we took a field trip today (Sunday Oct. 19) to the Ohio Bird Sanctuary southwest of Mansfield. Gail Laux gave us a great tour of that facility and we enjoyed close looks at some of their rehab / education birds while hearing about their outstanding educational programs. We also did some birding in the general area, and at the upper end of Clear Fork Reservoir we were treated to a Merlin that buzzed the marsh and then perched for scope studies. Two fly-over Pine Siskins undoubtedly were part of the movement recorded all over the state during the last few days, and other highlight birds included fine studies of Red-shouldered Hawk, Wilson's Snipe, Pileated Woodpecker, and a few dozen Rusty Blackbirds associated with a large flock of Red-winged Blackbirds coming up out of a night roost in the marsh. It was a beautiful day to be out celebrating birds and saluting the organizations that are working to protect them. Kenn Kaufman Rocky Ridge, Ohio ______________________________________________________________________ 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]