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| A crowd of birdwatchers looking for one little Connecticut Warbler, May 16, 2015 |
Magee Marsh is a beautiful preserve in Ohio, where large numbers of migratory birds stop briefly as they migrate from their wintering locations in the south to summer breeding grounds in Canada. They wait in the marsh until just the right moment to fly across Lake Erie.
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Connecticut Warbler by
John James Audubon |
This weekend was particularly crowded with birders who come especially to see the many species of warblers passing through, as well as those that stop here to nest.
We joined the huge crowd depicted above, all hoping to catch at least a fleeting glimpse of a shy Connecticut warbler that was in the woods. Since we didn't succeed in photographing the poor bird, I included the John James Audubon picture.
Sadly, the crowds of birders appear to be putting enormous pressure on the birds along the boardwalk that allows access to the marsh. We read that a prothonotary warbler and a woodcock that were nesting near the boardwalk have abandoned their nests because of all the people nearby.
Environmental pressure from groups often occurs slowly, so that no single individual realizes that his innocent actions have tiny but real consequences. I've seen the term "future eaters" applied to this situation, where environmental damage accumulated slowly but inevitably. Birdwatching seems to be about as non-destructive as any activity could be. Is it?
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| A prothonotary warbler (photo from last year at Magee Marsh). |
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| A woodcock we saw from the boardwalk a few weeks ago. |
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| Birders like these who were there on Saturday love Magee Marsh and who can blame them? |
3 comments:
These are wonderful. Have you ever been to Bellevue to watch the Sandhill cranes come in? They have a huge festival in late September and there are tons of people who gather at the beach at sunset and the birds fly in like a WWII Squadron. I always wondered how they felt about seeing so many people waiting for them! Your photos are wonderful.
Hi Jeanie,
We haven't been to any of the big sandhill crane festivals in Michigan or Indiana or the Southwest. However, we often see the cranes around here, from Chelsea to Kent Lake where they are almost tame.
Thanks for the comment & compliments!
What great shots! I don't see as many birds as I used to ever since moving to an area of new construction. I do what I can to attract them, but I suppose it will take time.
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