CLEVELAND LAKEFRONT PRESERVE BIRD SURVEYS

Cleveland Lakefront Preserve

Sabine's Gull, Cleveland Lakefront Preserve, November, 2013 Photo by Jerry Talkington

In July of 2014, Kirtland Bird Club and Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society began systematic bird surveys at the Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve (formerly known as Dike 14). This citizen science project takes place year-round and was expected to last for at least 5 years. Surveys consist of 5 minute point counts at each of 17 marked locations at the site and follow a protocol developed in coordination with Mark Shieldcastle from the Black Swamp Bird Observatory.

In the first year of surveys, volunteers conducted over 100 surveys and documented 169 species of birds at CLNP. Surveyors have been especially pleased to note the number and variety of species that are either confirmed or probable breeders at CLNP. Red-winged Blackbirds, Yellow Warblers, Willow Flycatchers, and Song Sparrows all breed in abundance. In addition, surveyors documented breeding season Wild Turkey (a hen and 7 poults), Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Black-billed Cuckoo, Great Crested Flycatcher,  Eastern Kingbird (observed with nesting material), Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Brown Thrasher, Northern Mockingbird, Wood Thrush, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Eastern Towhee, Indigo Bunting, Orchard Oriole, Baltimore Oriole, and others. During migration, an even wider variety of birds use the area’s vital lakefront habitat.

If you are interested in volunteering to conduct point counts for the Dike 14-Doan Brook IBA research project at the Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve, contact: Project Coordinator, Laura Gooch at lgooch@ameritech.net 

For results from the latest surveys click HERE.

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Below you will find the Cleveland Lakefront Preserve Survey Calendar.  
If you are interested in helping to survey, please email Laura Gooch.