Hi all, Two Short-eared Owls were spotted hunting on the Ottawa NWR entrance road yesterday afternoon between 4:30 and 5:00 p.m. Apparently they were there Saturday, too! Also, our free "Naturally Speaking" program, scheduled for this Sunday at 2:00 p.m. is "Migratory Birds and Wind Turbines." See below for more information. Thanks, and happy birding! Laura A. Bonneau Visitor Services Specialist U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge 14000 West State Route 2 Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449 (419) 898-0014 www.fws.gov/midwest/ottawa FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laura Bonneau, Visitor Services Specialist (419) 898-0014 [log in to unmask] Naturally Speaking: "Migratory Birds and Wind Turbines" by Black Swamp Bird Observatory Did you know that the Lake Erie marsh region of northwest Ohio is considered globally important to migratory birds and the people who enjoy them? The marshes of Lake Erie provide critical stopover habitat for millions of migratory birds, and the concentrations of birds attract birders from around the world to northwest Ohio. Strong, consistent winds also make the region attractive to wind energy developers. Join Black Swamp Bird Observatory's Kimberly Kaufman and Mark Shieldcastle, as well as noted bird expert Kenn Kaufman, for a thought-provoking program on "Migratory Birds and Wind Turbines" at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge's visitor center on Sunday, December 12th, at 2:00 p.m. This free program is part of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge's monthly "Naturally Speaking" seminar series, bringing wildlife and conservation professionals to speak to the public on a variety of natural resource topics. For more information about these or other Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge programs, visit the refuge website, http://www.fws.gov/midwest/ottawa or call (419) 898-0014. The Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge entrance is located 15 miles east of Toledo or 16 miles west of Port Clinton on State Route 2. The entrance road is located on the north side of State Route 2. The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov. ______________________________________________________________________ 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]