Written by Beth Marlin Lichter
Bottom Row Left to Right: Karen York, Beth Marlin Lichter
We are here for The Biggest Week in American Birding, six wildlife photographers from Vancouver Audubon Society’s Steigerwald Photo Group amongst one hundred thousand other warbler fans congregating to witness the great spring migration along the southern shores of Lake Erie. Each year dozens of warbler species head to Canada from their winter habitats in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America. Between the birds and their destination lies an immense body of water which requires a perilous crossing. They take a break to rest, eat and recharge before moving north across Lake Erie and that is what brings us to this particular location, the opportunity to observe a remarkable phenomenon.
Due to the fact that we have chosen to be here during a huge festival hosting 2,300 binocular and camera-wielding registrants, we have purposefully curated our birding experience with crowd-avoidance in mind. That means hitting the trails at dawn and leaving by mid-morning so we catch the early light which is best for photography. By the time tour guides arrive with festival goers, we are done, having filled our cameras’ memory cards with photos of both common and rare, glorious, colorful, charismatic birds engaged in the frenetic activity of managing their journeys. Back to our rental home in Port Clinton we go for lunch, hunkered down during the hottest and brightest time of day. Sharing photos of our bird sightings, we help each other with IDs and prepare to upload pictures onto eBird checklists.
Magee Marsh Wildlife Area’s boardwalk in Oak Harbor is birding central for migration viewing, a raised wooden platform about a mile and a half in length where warblers flit from tree to tree, sometimes even too close to photograph, where the sighting of an elusive King Rail or the possibility of adding a Kirtland’s Warbler to one’s life list, is exhilarating. Halfway through our weeklong trip, this elevated trail keeps us coming back for more. Morning walks and evening walks there are equally rewarding and although we are out exploring other birding hotspots, the boardwalk beckons.
In response to my request, that members of our group share a favorite photo for this article, taken on our trip thus far, I offer the following:
Karen York’s spectacular Black-throated Green Warbler is normally a canopy-dwelling songbird heard but not seen, especially at eye level. What a great capture! Karen is especially enjoying the hunt for elusive species such as the Oven Bird, a forest floor specialist, hard to spot unless one sees movement first.
Steve Bredthauer photographed a Northern Parula plucking insects from leaves. When that flash of blue and yellow with a white eye crescent lands directly in front of you, it’s a gift. Good luck getting a shot in focus as they flit about so swiftly. Well done, Steve! His favorite place for observation along Magee Marsh boardwalk is the spot where one has a clear view of a Green Heron pair, nest-building.
Lynne Heidsiek’s Black-throated Blue Warbler is stunning with its deep blue head, black neck and white wing patch. Lynne is absolutely delighted watching the warblers jump around, snatching bugs and spiders. She also loves photographing the heron pair delivering and arranging sticks in their nest.
Don Rose managed to get a clear shot of a Scarlet Tanager, a brilliant red streak of bird moving through the treetops at Oak Openings Preserve Metropark Ridge Trail (Silver). The striking male in breeding plumage is on everyone’s bucket list. Don likens our trip to being in a giant aviary with multiple species of colorful birds.
Ken Pitts (click link for Ohio Trip eBird list) had an auspicious start to the trip. Just after entering the boardwalk trail at Magee Marsh on our very first day of birding, he was greeted by a most coveted species waiting for him on the railing, as if to say, “Hello and welcome to the Biggest Week in American Birding.” A Prothonotary Warbler was on his bucket list but Ken figured he’d have to work to find it. Nope. When he gets home and people ask him, “How was your trip?” I bet he replies, “Amazing and let me tell you how it began”.
I’m sharing my photo of a Chestnut-sided Warbler that landed on an open branch a few feet from my face on the boardwalk. I was squealing with delight, hoping that my hands were steady enough to get at least one shot in focus. That did happen and I am grateful for that.
It’s mysterious and complicated, dangerous, predestined and incredulous. How do these tiny beings do it? Who will survive the migratory mission and who will perish? When I get home there will be time to contemplate the enormity of what I am witnessing. But tomorrow I will be out there again in pursuit of that perfect shot.