Early birds get a head start on Biggest Week in American Birding
OAK HARBOR - The 90,000 birders who will visit Northwest Ohio during the Biggest Week in American Birding, May 5 to May 14, will leave an imprint on the local economy and, hopefully, take away something even more significant. Walking amongst the trails in search of Blackburnian Warblers and Ovenbirds will be tourists from all 50 states, 52 countries and six continents.
Their presence in the community will create a lasting impact as they spend about $40 million at hotels, restaurants and retail stores, but even more important is what they will carry home: a greater understanding of bird conservation.
Just as many animals thrive on symbiotic relationships, there is also a symbiotic connection between bird tourism and bird conservation. Kimberly Kaufmann, executive director of Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO), hopes tourists return home armed with tools to help protect birds and their habitats around the world. BSBO hosts the Biggest Week in conjunction with Shores and Islands Ohio, Destination Toledo and Maumee Bay Lodge and Conference Center.
Bird tourism efforts attract birders, which provides opportunities for bird advocate organizations such as BSBO to spread the word about the importance of protecting the bird population.
Birding week can impact role of conservation
“It’s a fairly simple connection between ecotourism and conservation. Without the help of tourism, we don’t have birds and birders,” Kaufmann said. “We’re helping people understand their role in conservation.”
A desire to protect birds stems from a passion for birding, so the Biggest Week boasts a full schedule of events to help birders better understand and appreciate the birds they have come to love. Birders can attend a variety of programs, birding walks, land and water trips, workshops and presentations. During those activities, birders will learn about the impact humans have on bird survival.
“It can be as simple as selecting the right kind of coffee. Bird-friendly coffee is a thing,” Kauffman said. “The coffee is grown in the shade of native trees of South America, which is the habitat that many of our migrating birds use to survive during the winter.”
Buying duck and wildlife stamps can support birds
Other simple conservation efforts birders can implement into their daily lives include purchasing duck and wildlife stamps, incorporating native plants into their backyard landscape, and attracting new people to the world of birding. A complete list of conservation initiatives can be found at biggestweekinamericanbirding.com/conservation-initiatives.html.
“All of the conservation work Black Swamp Bird Observatory has been building for 20 years hinges on the conservation efforts of government leaders and individuals,” Kaufmann said.
Online registration for many of the Biggest Week events is closed, but walk-in registrations will be accepted daily during Biggest Week at Maumee Bay Lodge and Conference Center. While they are not attending scheduled events, birders will be hitting the hiking trails throughout Northwest Ohio hoping to spot as many migratory bird species as possible. A printable list of local birding locations can be found at biggestweekinamericanbirding.com/birding-locations.html.
Bird fans get early start at Magee Marsh
Last Thursday, a handful of birders were braving cold winds at Magee Marsh to get an early start on birding. Sophia Wu traveled from her home in Michigan in the hopes of catching a glimpse of a Summer Tanager, but the big find of the day was an Eastern Screech Owl tucked into the hole of a tree.
“During the migration, you see so many people. Last year, I met people from London, Frankfurt and Denmark,” Wu said.
Bob and Jan Bohmler of Oregon, Ohio, were hoping to see some of the warblers that had already arrived, including the Yellow-rumped Warbler and Palm Warbler, but none were found. Instead, the Bohmlers said they were counting eagle sightings and were up to seven as they neared the end of the boardwalk.
Jim Seimet of Perrysburg has been birding for more than 10 years. He said he wasn’t looking for anything in particular as he carried his camera through the boardwalk.
“I’m just seeing how the migration is moving along,” he said.
Birders such as Siemet are vital to keeping bird conservation a priority.
“We hope people will continue to support Black Swamp Bird Observatory. As a nonprofit, we belong to the community,” Kaufman said.
Information on the Biggest Week in American Birding can be found at biggestweekinamericanbirding.com.
Contact correspondent Sheri Trusty at sheritrusty4@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Biggest Week in American Birding set to start on Friday
