Calling all birders! They're baaack... a trickle of Rusty Blackbirds, our declining woodland "shorebird" is returning northward. The McNulty's report early arrivals below. I recorded my first individual bird yesterday calling with a duo of redwings in a backyard tree. You can help researchers better understand the poorly understood spring movement of this species by reporting you observations in detail using eBird. Please report all RUBL sightings. Researchers seek additional data about habitats, associations, group sizes, locations, etc. Online resources are available to assist you. Start here: http://rustyblackbird.org/outreach/migration-blitz/ You may need to type the location directly into your browser, or just search "Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz" More later... Tom Bain OOS Bird Conservation Chair -----Original Message----- From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bob and Elaine McNulty Sent: Sunday, February 23, 2014 9:31 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [Ohio-birds] Rusty blackbirds in Gahanna We had at least 8 rusty blackbirds in the field and in our tree line behind our house (a benefit of having a soggy, leafy natural area) They shared the field with a large number of robins, red winged blackbirds, starlings and flickers. We have also observed a pair of red shouldered hawks calling and circling above our subdivision for several days now. Mostly along Venetian Way or Riva Ridge Blvd. Bob and Elaine McNulty ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]