Great Lakes Seaway Trail bird checklist now online

Interested in finding more than 300 bird species while birding along the freshwater shoreline of New York and Pennsylvania? The Great Lakes Seaway Trail Birder's Checklist can help you do that while traveling the 518-mile route.

This America's Byway route includes waterfront and sandy dunes, field, forest and wetlands, and the checklist covers species commonly seen in areas ranging from the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation on the St. Lawrence River to the Pennsylvania-Ohio border on Lake Erie. The list also includes rarities and vagrants.

Birding the Great Lakes Seaway Trail author and professional ornithologist Gerry Smith says, “The big fresh waters of Lake Erie, the Niagara River, Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River attract a diversity of bird species year’round. Avid birders flock to this byway in all four seasons to add to their life lists.”

For example, Smith says, “The fall season is particularly good to see waterfowl and waterbird migration at several locations along the byway, including at Sodus Bay, Little Sodus Bay and Derby Hill Bird Observatory near Mexico Point on Lake Ontario. Along Lake Erie, migrant shorebirds join warblers, vireos, flycatchers and thrushes moving south.”

Smith says the stars of the fall season at Braddock Bay Bird Observatory west of Rochester include kinglets and Hermit Thrushes seen by the hundreds and the many landbirds banded by observatory staff each autumn to provide data on the movement of individual birds and bird populations.

Corpus Christi nature center extends hours

On Jan. 1, 2010, birders -- as well as photographers and other nature enthusiasts -- can enjoy more of South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center in Corpus Christi. The grounds will open at 7:30 a.m. and remain accessible until 5:30 p.m. The new hours allow 90 more minutes for birding, photography and appreciation.

"Birders long have been telling us early mornings bring out the best in birds and birders,” said Executive Director Dr. Michael Womack. “And of course, we want to attract more birders to 'America’s Birdiest City’,” he added. Many professional as well as excellent amateur photographers also requested the earlier and later hours, both for best lighting and lighter winds.

The 180-acre center includes 11 major floral exhibits as well as trails, birding overlooks and boardwalk through protected natural wetland and native habitat. It also is a Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail site.

Oregon birders explore another birding trail

The recent completion of the Willamette Valley birding trail adds a fifth element to the Oregon Birding Trail system. This trail includes 12 loops -- Columbia, Portland, Tualatin, Heritage, Yamhill, Willamette, Luckiamute, Alsea Falls, Santiam, Fern Ridge, McKenzie and Big River -- and details about each loops is available as a separate PDF.

A species checklist notes more than 420 species observed in the valley and shows the most likely area to see each species; for instance, "a" means agricultural fields/pastures, and "b" means brushland/brushy edges. A recent article in The South County Spotlight highlights birds seen on the Columbia loop, such as Willow Flycatcher (below).

courtesy of Dave Menke/U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Pratt/Sill exhibit highlights N.C. Arboretum's role in birding trail

From Asheville Citizen-Times in North Carolina:

The N.C. Arboretum, already a top destination for birding, recently officially joined the N.C. Birding Trail as the statewide guide program continued to expand.

The N.C. Birding Trail last month launched its final trail guide, which includes 105 mountain region sites west of Interstate 77. The guide serves to link bird watching sites and birders with communities, businesses and other historical educational attractions. ...


In conjunction with the Arboretum's celebration as an official part of the N.C. Birding Trail Guide is the current exhibit, “H. Douglas Pratt and John C. Sill's ‘Birds: The Science of Illustration,” in the Baker Exhibit Center through Nov. 1. In addition to the illustrations, the exhibit includes a bird nest collection, an interactive bird song display, an interactive habitat mural and an “illustration table” with sketch paper, pencils, erasers and colored pencils.

Birding map in central Iowa highlights 22 trails

From the Des Moines Register:

Bird-watchers are not just eccentrics wearing funny hats. They are increasing in number faster than bald eagles and spend plenty of money.

Wildlife officials aim to lure more birders to Central Iowa with a new bird trail map and posted signs at each location listed in the guide.

"It's happening all over the country; we're now approaching 400 U.S. bird trails," said Doug Harr, Iowa Department of Natural Resource's wildlife diversity coordinator. "A number of these trails led to an economic boon, especially in rural areas."

A source in the article says Iowa has more gulls than New Jersey. Truly?

You can see The Makoke Trail, a 32-page PDF, here.