The Biggest Week in American Birding 2024
May 3rd thru the 13th this year was the Biggest Week in American Birding. Many bird species that are migrating North are moving through Ohio during this period, with many of them stopping off in the Northwestern area to rest and eat before heading across Lake Erie into Canada to their breeding grounds.
This year I was able to make 2 trips to the Magee Marsh and Ottawa National Preserve areas to chase after and photograph the birds, and it was in a word, spectacular!
Trip #1 was a day trip on Saturday, May 4th with Charles Booker and Bob Blum. We left the house at 4am and were at Ottawa by 7am. It was an overcast morning, but for the most part the rain stayed away, and we eventually did get some nice, partially cloudy conditions.
Here are a few of my favorite shots from that trip. Click on the first image to view larger.
The next trip up North was the following week. Renee and I went for 3 days and stayed in downtown Toledo. Unfortunately 1 of the days was a near rain-out, so we spent that time visiting the fantastic Toledo Art Museum with its Marisol exhibit and the Museum of the Great Lakes. But we did get out for 2 of the days to both Magee Marsh and Ottawa National Preserve.
Below are a few favorites: Click on the first image to view larger.
On the days when I wasn’t up North, I was up early every morning heading to my favorite local hotspots. Here are a few of my favorites. Click on the first image to view larger.
I added 7 new species to my life list during the month of May, and saw some fantastic birds.
As Spring Migration begins to slow, look for more posts from me on Landscape Photography, Infrared, and my current show at Sinclair College.
Thanks for reading!
Jeremy
