This month’s field trip focused on a census of the breeding birds in the Rock Run area of Shawnee State Forest. Our purpose was to provide data to present to the State of Ohio on the (potentially adverse) effects of clear cutting in Ohio.
After meeting at Scioto Downs for carpooling, we drove to Buena Vista Road to meet two people with the Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative (OBCI) and Save our Shawnee, respectively. We then drove up a badly washed out road on private property to get to the ridge top. As expected in June, we mostly heard birds including American Redstart, Yellow–throated Warblers, Pine, Prairie and Yellow Warblers, Scarlet Tanagers, and Red-eyed Vireos. It wasn’t only birding by ear, though, as we did see a Worm-eating Warbler, a couple of Hooded Warblers, and a nesting Ovenbird (with five eggs!), as well as Yellow-throated Vireo and White-breasted Nuthatches. Since we were mainly listening we had time to learn about the plants, moths and abundant butterflies. We finished the census about noon.
Although the census was finished, it was too early to stop birding! So next we headed over to the Edge of Appalachia Preserve in the hopes of finding Blue Grosbeaks. Alas, our hopes were dashed; no Grosbeaks. However, we did see some other great birds, including many Yellow-breasted Chats, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Cerulean Warblers, Indigo Buntings, and Eastern Meadowlarks. A short walk in the shade allowed good looks at a Warbling Vireo and Eastern Phoebe, as well as both Black and Turkey Vultures.
With rising temperatures, we decided to head towards Waverly with a stop for Witt’s ice cream, where the Eurasian Collared-Doves did not disappoint. Three were perched on a wire behind Witt’s, along with Mourning Doves for easy comparison between the two similar species.
The Mississippi Kites at Junction Earthworks eluded us, too. But it was hardly a total loss, as we saw Grasshopper Sparrows, Turkey Vultures, Tree and Barn Swallows, and a Broad-winged Hawk.
The sun and increasing heat were making us want to be back in our air conditioned vehicles, so we gave in and headed back to Scioto Downs.
All in all, we had eighty species for the day, a good total for June. We also had the satisfaction of doing something for conservation by providing data showing the harm clear cutting is doing to the forest. The full species list is below.
Canada Goose
Mallard
Great Blue Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Broad-winged Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Killdeer
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Mourning Dove
Eurasian Collared Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Acadian Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Eastern Bluebird
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Ovenbird
Kentucky Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
American Redstart
Cerulean Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Worm eating Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Grasshopper Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Summer Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow