Hello all, This Saturday, we're hosting our 9th annual big day in Glen Helen nature preserve. Until last year, our annual tally hemmed to a narrow range between 80 and 90 species. Last year we had the magical combination of a good migration day, acceptable weather, and loads of experienced observers, and ended up with 102 bird species found. If you're within reach of SW Ohio, we'd love to have you join us. Birders of every experience level welcome! Regards, Nick Boutis PS: The schedule of organized hikes follows below: *12:00 am*: Count period begins *5:30 am: Dawn Chorus along the Little Miami: *Greet the dawn and hear the forest awaken with song. Meet at Grinnell Mill, 3536 Bryan Park Road *8:30 am: Woodland Bird Walk: *We expect fifty species or more on this two-hour hike. Meet at Trailside Museum, 505 Corry St. *8:30 am Pine Forest Walk: *Migratory songbirds, with occasional sightings of unusual finds like the colorful pine warbler. Meet at Horace Mann Meadow, Bryan Park Road, just south of John Bryan St. Park entrance *12 pm: Tally Rally: *Birders share what they’ve found (and what they’ve missed). Nosh on complimentary snacks and coffee. Meet at Trailside Museum, 505 Corry St. *12:30 pm: The Homestead Walk: *The sparsely visited area of the South Glen is home to a recently restored wetland. Meet at the far end of West Jacoby road (Access from Rt. 68). *12:30 pm: South Glen Wetlands: *The slope wetlands and cattail marsh of the South Glen present a wholly different habitat than that of the North Glen. Meet at the Green County Boat Launch at the end of East Jacoby Road. (Access from Clifton Road) *3:30 pm: Dam Sit: *Bird from the comfort of a lounge chair atop the Grinnell Mill Dam, as we let the wildlife to us. Meet at the Grinnell Mill, 3536 Bryan Park Road. *3:30 pm: Prairie and River Walk: *We’ll walk through the South Glen along the Little Miami. Expect orioles, finches, swallows, and warblers. Meet at the Little Miami Bridge on Grinnell Road. *7 pm: Evening Tally Rally: *Join our birders for the evening species count. Meet at Trailside Museum, 505 Corry St. *11:59:59 pm*: Count period ends – last chance to report sightings! -- Nick Boutis Director, Glen Helen Ecology Institute Antioch College 405 Corry St. Yellow Springs, OH 45387 [log in to unmask] 937-769-1902 www.glenhelen.org ______________________________________________________________________ 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]