Hello Everyone, Spring migration is definitely underway! Some of you might not be aware of this, but there's a significant migratory movement of American Crows through Northwestern Ohio in early spring. I saw a huge flock of crows passing over the BSBO office yesterday and waterfowl are on the move as well. There's also been an obvious increase in the number of American Tree Sparrows at sites in Ottawa County where only a few were evident all winter, and a few of them are starting to "practice" singing their delightful song. Here in the great slushy north, BSBO and our partners are working very hard to make it easy for people visiting the Lake Erie Marsh Region to experience the tremendous rush of spring songbird migration that weaves its magic spell around anyone fortunate enough to be here in late April and early May. Here are just a couple of things we're working on: The Biggest Week In American Birding festival While it's true that a number of the trips during the Biggest Week In American Birding are sold out, there are still a lot of opportunities for guided birding during the festival. All you need to do is register for any of the wonderful late-morning presentations, afternoon workshops, and evening programs (most of which are free), and you'll be eligible for multiple guided walks taking place every day at 8:00 AM, 11:00 AM, and 3:00 PM at Magee Marsh, and 3:00 PM every day we'll be offering a Guided Shorebird Walk at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. These walks are being led by the world-class leaders who have led birding tours all over the world. All you have do is show up, show your Biggest Week name tag, and you're in! We have enough guides to divide the groups up and ensure that everyone has a quality experience. http://biggestweekinamericanbirding.com/ Our Birding Website Of course, you don't need the festival to come here and see lots of birds. One of the best things about this area is how incredibly easy it is to navigate on your own. We've got some great birding maps and tons of other birding information that we offer as free downloads on our birding website that makes it even easier to come on your own. http://www.bsbo.org/birding/ And you don't have to wait until May to start celebrating migration in Ohio! Here are two great festivals taking place SOON! Amish Bird Symposium: http://www.adamscountytravel.org/ Shreve Migration Sensation: http://www.valkyrie.net/~rehmje/migration/ No matter where you go out birding this spring I hope you'll invite a new birder to go along with you to share in the fun! Thank you so much, ~kim Kim Kaufman Executive Director Black Swamp Bird Observatory 13551 West State ROute 2 Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449 419-898-4070 www.bsbobird.org www.ohioyoungbirders.org www.biggestweekinamericanbirding.com www.birdingwithkennandkim.blogspot.com ---------------------------------------- ______________________________________________________________________ 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]