Kirtland Bird Club
Cleveland, Ohio
FOUNDED 1940
.

 

HOME
JOIN KBC
ABOUT KBC
BIRD CALENDAR
ARCHIVE ON-LINE
KBC HISTORY
MEETINGS & TRIPS
VAN TRIPS
SPRING WALKS
GRANTS
LOOKING FOR BIRDS
BOOK SALE
CURRENT PROJECTS
LOCAL CONCERN
MEMBERS
BIRDS OF NOTE
SCHOLARSHIPS
OFFICERS
PICTURE GALLERY
WRITERS GALLERY
LOCAL TRIP REPORTS
VAN TRIP REPORTS
IN THE NEWS
OTHER TRIPS & EVENTS
BIRD CALENDAR
CBC HISTORY
NEWSLETTERS
XMAS BIRD COUNTS
LINKS
MEETING PHOTOS
OBBA II
CONTACT US
SEARCH
 
CLEVELAND LAKEFRONT WINTER BIRDING TRAIL (PDF)




 



Field Trip to the
Museum of Biological Diversity
and The Wilds

January 10, 2004

It was very COLD at the Wilds!

When we arrived at the Museum, John Condit, Curator of Higher Vertebrates
had many specimens out for us to look at. He started with an overview of the
museum  and of the many collections. He reminisced about times with Trautman.

John is retired biology teacher and now manages this ornithological collection
as a volunteer.

I do not know what was more interesting, studying the specimens or reading the tags on the specimens!
Beth and Steve poring over the
warbler skins.
Tony with Ancient Murrelet, Gretchen and Rob looking through the Audubon books and Ed and Dave checking the location of their next bird to review.

Carolina Parakeet, Passenger Pigeon and an Ivory-billed Woodpecker John had examples of Audubon's paintings to refer to and spoke of how they were modified as they were reprinted.

A Road-side Hawk specimen. Vireos lined up with nests and eggs.
Tony and the Ivory-billed Woodpecker specimen. Dave getting his picture taken too.
This Ivory-billed Woodpecker beak was found in Ohio. Rob examining the Ivory-billed and Mickey, Claire, Ed and Fred pouring over a drawer of sparrow specimen's
Ed and Gretchen comparing the
Northern and Loggerhead Shrikes. There was so much variation within a species.
Fred and Cheryl found the Great
Gray Owl. Every specimen is cross referenced in a book to find the correct cabinet and shelf.
  Ed, finally taking out the Dowitcher trays!

Ed, Steve, and Gretcen selecting the skins to compare.
Comparing the bars and the speckles on the dowitcher's sides. Ed pointing out a distinctive field mark.
Dave and Ed going through the Eiders. Rob and the Ancient Murrelet.
The Wilds in Cumberland Ohio was beautiful but cold. It has 10,000 acres of reclaimed, surface-mined land - a gift from American Electric Power.
Not a good photo but the 60+ turkeys were in this field. Watching Harriers and Rough-legged Hawks before the Owls came out to hunt.

There were five or six Short-eared Owls across the road flying and perched.
We even watched them attacking a Rough-legged Hawk.
   

The Wilds and Museum Trip
21 Species were seen
13 KBC Members

50   Canada Goose
1   Swan species
6   Northern Harrier
3   Cooper's Hawk
1   Red-tailed Hawk
4   Rough-legged Hawk
2   American Kestrel
65   Wild Turkey
1   Ring-billed Gull
1   Rock Dove
3   Mourning Dove
10   Short-eared Owl
3   American Robin
1   Carolina Chickadee
1   Blue Jay
1   American Crow
1   European Starling
3   American Tree Sparrow
1   Song Sparrow
1   Red-winged Blackbird
1   House Sparrow



Page last updated on Monday April 23, 2007