Birding with Kenn and Kimberly

From Oak Harbor, Ohio, Kenn writes: Here in northwestern Ohio, “the Warbler Capital of the World,” the warblers are just beginning to show up. They will be flooding through here, in dizzying numbers and variety, in just a couple of weeks. Right now, we’re in the peak stage of eager anticipation for these tiny, active, colorful birds. Our friend Liz McQuaid recently had a Yellow-throated Warbler in her yard in the Cleveland area, a little east of here. (Not this one; the bird in the photo above, poking about in Spanish Moss, is one that Kimberly and I photographed in Texas.) Yellow-throated Warbler is mainly a southern bird, uncommon this far north, but what was really fascinating about Liz’s bird was that it was coming to her suet feeder. Warblers in general are not feeder birds. Although Pine Warblers often come to suet feeders, especially in winter, this is not a well-known behavior for the Yellow-throated Warbler. Hearing about the feeding behavior of this individual ...

At home on a quiet Sunday, Kimberly writes: Yesterday, Kenn and I did something that we rarely do. We really don't like being away from each other, but yesterday, we went separate ways to deliver talks at two different events.   Kenn headed north to Detroit, MI, to lead a field trip and give a presentation for the Detroit Audubon Society 2011 Conservation Conference , while I headed to Shreve, Ohio for the Shreve Migration Sensation (SMS).  Kenn and I both delivered completely new talks at these respective events, and the 24 hours leading up to yesterday were pa-retty hectic, to say the least!  Both of us really feel blessed to have the opportunity to speak about birds and bird conservation, but it also feels really  nice to have yesterday behind us, and to be home together on a quiet Sunday morning.  I'll let Kenn fill you in on the details from Detroit, but I'd like to share a few thoughts about the SMS. The Shreve Migration Sensation is, ha...

Kenn and I are leading an 11-day trip to Trinidad and Tobago this July and there are still a few seats available. Click HERE for the trip itinerary.  The deadline for deposits has been extended to March 7th. Here are some pretty compelling reasons to consider coming with us!    Scarlet Ibis at Caroni Swamp     Common Potoos (this is a baby Potoo!) right behind the Asa Wright Nature Center!  Leatherback Sea Turtles Here are links to blog posts about our last trip to T&T. Eyeburners of Caroni Swamp Touching the Graceful Monsters Green Season in Trinidad & Tobago 

From Oak Harbor, Ohio, Kenn writes: I don't like to brag, but one thing I can say for Kimberly and me -- we have some really awesome friends and neighbors. For example, in our neighborhood there's a young lady named Delaney, an elementary school student with a sharp mind and a lot of artistic talent. Recently she has developed a strong interest in birds and other nature subjects, and she has been studying them and learning fast. As evidence of her powers of observation, a single Pine Siskin showed up in the neighborhood last month, and Delaney spotted it before Kim or I did. And her enthusiasm must be contagious, because her parents, John and Tiffanie, are now paying more attention to birds also. We had had a number of conversations about birds with their family, and we had given them a couple of copies of our field guides, but we were stunned and thrilled recently when they knocked at the door and presented us with a beautiful, hand-made, personalized bird feeder that they h...

From Chilly Northwest Ohio, Kim Writes: Hello again, everyone.  I don't know how many people still read this crazy blog; we're not exactly "regular" bloggers. But we should at least get points for always having the best intentions. If I had a dollar for all the times I've said, "Oh Kenn, I can't wait to write about this on the blog"... W e've certainly been blessed with experiences that [would] make outstanding blog-matter.  (Our recent trip to a shade coffee plantation in Nicaragua, for example! -- We ARE going to blog about that soon!) But, it's simply time that we lack. We've always got way more to do than seems even remotely possible.  But this morning I dropped everything I was working on to post this message.  I hope that once you read it you'll share a link to it and help us preserve one of the most remarkable places I have seen on the planet. Its future is in jeopardy, and all you have to do to help save it?  Just regist...

Many of our recent posts have had a very serious tone, so I thought it might be nice to take a breather and think about something a bit more light and festive. Kenn and I would like to share some cool things that we'll be gifting to the people we love this holiday season. We hope you'll consider some of these wonderful gifts, too!   Winged Journey: a 16-month calendar of birds. With lovely photos from photographer Bryan Holliday (I mean, come on, his name's "Holliday" for goodness sakes!), and beautiful poetry by Sally Deems-Mogyordy, this calendar makes a perfect gift for anyone on your holiday shopping list: birder and nonbirder alike! One calendar fan told us that she bought a calendar for all of her friends and family and wrote in reminders of all the special dates, like birthdays and anniversaries.  Isn't that a great idea?! And, as if you needed any more reasons to order your copies right now ,  a portion of the proceeds benefits Black Swamp Bird ...

From Homebase in Oak Harbor, a very tired Kimberly Writes: Today, Black Swamp Bird Observatory hosted a meeting in Port Clinton, Ohio, to discuss the far reaching implications of wind turbines in migratory bird stopover habitat. We approached the issue from several angles, with experts speaking on ecotourism and the preservation of our last remaining scenic landscapes, the bird and bat mortality issue, and even the efficiency and economics of these machines. We gave a large gathering of community leaders--as well as representatives from the wind energy industry who were in attendance--a great deal to consider. Certainly no one there today can continue to claim ignorance about the fact that wind turbines in this region will share the air column with millions of migratory birds, including the critically endangered Kirtland's Warbler, the state endangered Sandhill Crane, and one of the largest concentrations of Bald Eagles in the lower 48 states. Today, we took the first step in...