This morning I checked Areas M and N in Galena for signs of Prothonotary Warbler second broods. The water level is as high as it was in early spring. Between the ideal water level and the warm temperatures several Prothonotaries apparently thought they were further south, like maybe South Carolina? In areas M and N I located and observed fully 7 adult Prothonotary Warblers, an unusually high number for late July. Possibly some were merely transients passing through on their fall migration south, although a few were definitely local nesters. They were collecting insects and taking them up into the canopy and the sounds of hungry fledglings could be heard. Every year I seem to find 1 or 2 pairs raising a second brood. Last year I located a pair feeding fledglings in early August. I only accessed the close areas in N as the boots I had were not high enough to navigate the high water. I still get to enjoy my guys a little longer before they are gone until next April. I saw Rob Thorn’s posting yesterday and much of the same species were evident today. Rob is like an extra set of eyes, very good eyes. Over the years we have helped each other with the Christmas Bird Counts. If you see Rob listed for a Columbus Audubon bird walk think about joining as he is great at finding the unexpected. As Rob mentioned the water level is very high and unless we experience a drought quickly I doubt there will be any habitat for shorebirds and they will overfly us. The last time I remember the water this high in late July was 1993. Think Killdeer Plains, Big Island and the Hebron Fish Hatchery for shorebirds in 2013. My highlights other than the Prothonotary Warblers included: 6 Osprey, seen both at the platforms (2) and the dead trees (4) along the opposite shore, 4 Red-headed Woodpeckers, 1 adult and 1 immature Bald Eagle, 1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 2 Green Herons back in Area N, Several small groups of Cedar Waxwings, and the usual common species. On my way out I filled two trash bags with empty beer cans that I dropped off at the Genoa Township recycling collection site. From the amount of fishing lures and bobbers in the trees I think they were drinking while fishing, while safer than drinking and driving for them, doesn’t help the local bird population. I got my reward for the good deed as I drove south on Old 3C Highway as I first heard, then spotted 9 Sandhill Cranes flying overhead. They were on a southwest course and maybe they will drop in somewhere local such as Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park. Not as exciting as the Wood Storks up north, but still a nice way to finish a morning. Charlie Bombaci Hoover Nature Preserve ______________________________________________________________________ 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]