© 2024 Ideastream Public Media

1375 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115
(216) 916-6100 | (877) 399-3307

WKSU is a public media service licensed to Kent State University and operated by Ideastream Public Media.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Bird Nerds

bird watchers
bird watchers

Learn a little more...with a link!

Ebook: Ohio Division of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, Common Birds of Ohio | Find out what birds are in your backyard.

Website Article: DK find out! Feathered Fliers: Fascinating Facts about Birds | Our fine feathered friends are amazing animals.

Video: TED Ed, Bird Migration, a Perilous Journey | Birds take these astonishing trips every year.

Read the script:

THERE ARE PLENTY OF YEAR-ROUND BIRDS YOU CAN CATCH A SIGHT OF IN YOUR BACKYARDS, LIKE OUR STATE BIRD THE CARDINAL OR THE BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE OR MAYBE EVEN A DOWNY WOODPECKER. THOSE ARE AT MY HOUSE. BUT AT THE END OF SPRING, OHIO IS A HOT SPOT FOR SEEING MIGRATING BIRDS RETURNING NORTH FROM THE WINTER.

OUR REPORTER LIZ MILLER MET UP WITH SOME BIRD NERDS SCOUTING OUT THE PRIME PLACE AND TIME TO SNAP PHOTOS OF MIGRATING BIRDS IN OHIO. TAKE A LOOK.

- WOW! OH MY GOD, LOOK AT THAT!

- TODAY WE ARE ON HALLOWED GROUND FOR MIGRATORY BIRDS AND MIGRATORY BIRDERS. WE'RE AT THE EDGE OF MAGEE MARSH WILDLIFE AREA IN THE COASTAL AREA OF LAKE ERIE. AND THIS HABITAT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR MIGRATORY BIRDS. IF YOU LOOK AT SPRING MIGRATION OF SONGBIRDS THERE ARE THREE GENERAL ROUTES THAT BIRDS TAKE, BUT ALL THREE ROUTES CONVERGE OVER NORTHWESTERN OHIO. BEFORE THESE LITTLE BIRDS CROSS LAKE ERIE, THEY WANT TO REST AND REFUEL IN WOODED HABITATS ON THE SHORES OF LAKE ERIE. SO THEY COME DOWN IN MASSIVE NUMBERS. AND THESE WILDLIFE AREAS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, SO WE CAN BRING BIRDS AND BIRDERS TOGETHER IN A REALLY POWERFUL WAY.

- WHEN I LEARNED AT THE VERY FIRST YEAR IS IF YOU SEE A WHOLE CLUMP OF PEOPLE HURRY UP OVER THERE AND SAY, "WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?" AND THEY'LL SAY, "OH WE'VE GOT A SUCH-AND-SUCH!" AND YOU'RE LIKE, "WHERE IS IT?" AND THEN THEY'LL SAY, "TO THE LEFT, THE THE RIGHT." AND A BIRD JAM MEANS THERE'S SOMETHING GOOD.

- I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE SATURDAY AFTERNOON, AND I'VE SEEN PROBABLY 40 DIFFERENT SPECIES OF BIRDS. I'M TRYING TO PHOTOGRAPH AS MANY WARBLERS AS I CAN, AND INTERESTING BIRDS, AND MEET NEW PEOPLE. I MEET PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE FROM SOUTH AFRICA. THERE ARE PEOPLE FROM AFRICA HERE. THERE ARE PEOPLE FROM AUSTRALIA HERE. ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES WE GET A CHANCE TO MEET PEOPLE WITH WITH COMMON INTERESTS FROM EVERYWHERE AROUND THE GLOBE.

- DURING THE EIGHT-YEAR HISTORY WE'VE HAD BIRDERS REGISTER FROM EVERY STATE, 52 COUNTRIES, AND SIX CONTINENTS, AND IT'S A $40 MILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT AT A TIME WHEN THE REGION REALLY NEEDED IT.

- FOR ME IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE. THEY'RE JUST ALWAYS ANXIOUS TO HELP YOU SEE THE BIRD THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT, IDENTIFY THAT BIRD. AND THERE ARE JUST PEOPLE HERE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND GUIDES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. AND IT'S REALLY A LOT OF FUN TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET SOME OF THOSE FOLKS.

- LAST YEAR WE SAW ... A BIRD THAT ACCIDENTALLY FLEW IN FROM EUROPE. SO FOR US, THAT'S A LIFE BIRD. WE'LL NEVER PROBABLY EVER SEE THAT BIRD AGAIN. YOU'LL HEAR PEOPLE GO, "OH, THAT'S A LIFER FOR ME!" AND THAT'S WHAT IT IS. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE. AND IF THEY KEEP A LONG LIST, THEN THEY'RE ALL EXCITED ABOUT IT.

- WE FEEL LIKE THIS EVENT HAS THE POWER TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE ABOUT BIRDING AND CONSERVATION ON A NATIONAL SCALE, EVEN ON A GLOBAL SCALE. WE WANT PEOPLE TO CARE MORE ABOUT HABITAT CONSERVATION. AND THE FIRST STEP IS GETTING THEM TO LOVE BIRDS. AND WE CAN BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER WITH BIRDS IN A MAGICAL AND POWERFUL WAY HERE. AND THEN WE HELP THEM MAKE THE NEXT STEP INTO SUPPORTING THE HABITAT THAT THESE BIRDS RELY ON.