The Ohio Young Birders Club had a May field trip May 15th at Magee Marsh during the Biggest Week in American Birding. There was a wide range of new and experienced young birders and they were a joy to be around.
Yellow Warblers: easy to find and great for showing new birders
I was much impressed with trip leader John Sawvel (membership coordinator for the Ohio Young Birders Club) for the way he included every person in the group regardless of their previous experience. Endless patience and an upbeat personality make him perfect for teaching inexperienced birders.
Young birders . . . catching snakes?
After the trip some of the young birders went to assist with a bird banding demonstration. Kim Kaufman (executive director of the Black Swamp Bird Observatory) introduced the young birders to the crowd. Giving the young birders the opportunity to show other people their love of birds close-up and allowing them to be part of such a wonderful event is one of the best reasons the BSBO is a front-runner in promoting bird conservation for young people.
The Black Swamp Bird Observatory is a rare gem in research and education. The enthusiasm and exposure from the Biggest Week in American Birding PROVES that conservation, research, marketing and education can become a powerful force for the birds.
It’s so nice to see young people birding! 3 cheers for Black Swamp Bird Observatory!
(I seem to be able to access your site with no problems today, FYI.)