Notes - Sat, May 10, 2014

Today is International Migratory Bird Day. This will be the second year in a row that I will not be at Magee Marsh and at other places along the lake shore for IMBD after attending each IMBD at Magee Marsh from 2000 through 2012. It was always one of my favorite days of the year. I made sure to arrive at the west entrance of the boardwalk by 6:00 a.m. to get a decent parking spot because IMBD was always the most crowded day of the spring. I enjoyed hanging around Tom Bartlett as he conducted his Big Sit near the west entrance of the boardwalk. In recent years, I brought Tom doughnuts from Haas Bakery in Oregon.

On IMBD day, some birdwatching-related vendors and organizations would setup their tent booths near the west entrance of the boardwalk. The BSBO conducted banding demonstrations. I always bought a hot dog or two from the duck hunting group that sold grub and soda.

At my first IMBD event in 2000, the BSBO banding station at Navarre Marsh banded a male Kirtland's Warbler, and they brought it over to their banding demo tent at Magee Marsh to show the public. That was my first KIWA sighting, although the bird was being held. But it was nice to observe one of the rarest songbirds in the world up close.

Also on IMBD 2000, I observed a female Painted Bunting from inside the Magee Marsh nature center as the bird visited the feeders.

Anyway, maybe next year for IMBD at Magee Marsh.

Today,