P.O. Box 632 Findlay, Ohio 45839 Phone: 419-420-9327

Ron Bowerman
The Journey North Flight and The Wright Flight
By Ron Bowerman
Apr 29, 2008, 22:25

In the next few weeks, the skies are about to become very busy.  This does not mean there is going to be a huge increase in the number of jet contrails but that there will be a myriad of different bird tails plying the skies. 
 
Waterfowl, neo-tropical and shore birds will be and are arriving and passing through during the next few weeks.  Migratory ducks, geese, loons, grebes, swans, cormorants, warblers and killdeers are but a few examples of these pilgrims of the skies.  They will be staying and visiting our few remaining wetland, pond, lakes, riparian habitats, fields, and forest. 
 
If you want to get a look at this avian parade, you will need a good pair of binoculars or a spotting scope.  For waterfowl, very large ponds, reservoirs or wide river areas are the best for viewing.  By the way, leave your stale bread at home.  You should not feed it to waterfowl.  You may think you are doing them a favor but sadly you are not.  Not only will they begin to associate humans with food, the bread can spoil in the water and make them very ill.  Just go and enjoy their jubilant behavior and delight in their magnificent color.  
 
Speaking of color, my favorite duck is the wood duck.  They are the poster duck of color.  In fact their Latin name loosely translates into the splendid bride groom (Aix sponsa) His feathered chromatic "tux" supports this name completely. The above picture will give you an idea of their beauty. 
 
The stately behavior of a swan is also one of my favorite spring sightings.  Swans usually begin to appear around mid March at wetland areas. 
An excellent place to view them is at the Ottawa Wildlife area. Shore - birds will also be plentiful at this site. 
 
The real champions of migration are the neo-tropical birds of South and Central America.  I marvel at the will and stamina of a warbler or hummingbird making their very long flight to the north.  Some warblers and hummingbirds will nest in this area.  The rest will grace us with their brilliant colors and songs and like traveling minstrels they will move on to places further north.
 
The bluebirds also are presently in our area.  This bird's numbers have been drastically reduced due to the loss of cavities.  Alien English Sparrows (Not a Sparrow but in reality a finch.) that are also cavity nesters also hurt them due to nesting site competition.  Thanks to the efforts of ODNR and bluebird hobbyists putting up nesting boxes, bluebirds will have a chance to come back in future springs.  A few years ago students in Mrs. Cindy Taylor's class from St Wendelin HS, built 24 boxes for Van Buren State Park.  They also put up the boxes.  As a result of all their effort, we now have a nice new 22-box trail.  The Gary Ossman families of Van Buren are the trail monitors.  Their monitoring efforts and the student's blue bird box construction have been greatly appreciated by the Ohio park system.    
 
You can help by getting boxes or building boxes from plans that ODNR can provide and putting them up in correct habitat. E-mail me or call 419-424-5000 for information. You can also go on the net and there are numerous sites that have bluebird house plans to download. You can also help by getting a bluebird license plate. The funds assist bluebird conservation.
 
If you would like to speak with me personally, I will be at the Stately Raven bookstore on May 17th. I as did the Wright Brothers enjoy anything that flies. They spent countless hours observing bird flight. This same interest, lead me to a of love aviation. I am The Volunteer Director of Special Projects for the Wright Brothers Aeroplane Co. I an others will be at the bookstore to share with you a historical milestone that will occur on May 14th 2008. On this day in 1908 the first passenger flew in an aircraft. I will be demonstrating rib building and a flight simulator will be there to let you try to fly a Wright Flyer. We will be reenacting the 1908 flight on July 4th at West Milton, Ohio. To learn more about the Wright Brothers, go to our web site www.wright-brothers.org.
Speaking of Bluebirds. The May 2008 recipient of the Non Consumptive Wildlife Conservation Award is Mr. Gary Ossman. He is a tremendous asset to Van Buren State Park and bluebird conservation. His reports on the nesting boxes are detailed and professionally done. I asked him when I was at Van Buren to monitor the trail. He continues to do so for the new naturalist Natalie Miller. Thank you Gary.
 
No one has answered the question from last month. What else can curdle mike? Keep trying. E-mail me you answers at bowerman4@verizon.net
 
Lastly, congratulations to Mr. Jim Abrams as the new outdoor writer in Findlay. Enjoy his "Field Notes" as well.

Maybe it should be Field Notes with Mr. "A".

Jim as a wildlife officer helped me get The Black Swamp Raptor Center started. I am sure he will relate all of the best place where Annelid hydro asphyxiation folks can go to pursue ichthyo stories of the exaggerated kind.
 
Take Care Mr. B     bowerman4@verizon.net
Nature is as Nature Does!