 Public Domain Photo by Alain Audet/www.pixabay.com
Rare to Ottawa County, Evening Grosbeaks have made a fairly "major" irruption into our area this fall, and in numbers we have not seen in 35 years! There are reports of small flocks or single birds showing up at feeders for a short time before disappearing and also of flocks of over 50 visiting feeders consistently. While they are not showing up at every bird feeder around, they are widespread. Keep an eye out for this very rare visitor from the north and let us know with BIRD SHARE if you are lucky enough to host them this fall (and maybe through the winter too). To investigate further, look below...
Evening Grosbeak Articles & Info
Evening Grosbeak VIDEOS:
Evening Grosbeaks are a welcome addition to the feeders in Manitouwadge, Ontario.
Watch online with highlight clips and information about the birds at:
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It’s with a heavy heart that I let everyone know about the passing of a good friend, birder, parks supporter and volunteer. Lisa Casler went missing over the weekend of October 17th. Authorities eventually located her body on Tuesday, October 20th in the Huron-Manistee National Forest (click for article).
As an Ottawa County employee, Lisa worked for Community Mental Health in Grand Haven for about 20 years. She found a love for the outdoors and birding through the Nature Center at Hemlock Crossing about 6 years ago. Since then she had become a good friend of the Nature Center and many in the Ottawa County birding community. She encouraged many new birders, befriending and mentoring them. She regularly attended birding outings through the Nature Center and volunteered to help find Snow Owls for participants of our annual “Snowy Owl Field Trip” programs. She was also an enthusiastic volunteer for Audubon Great Lakes in surveying for wetland birds in our parks. She will be truly missed by many.
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 Click the link below to read more:
 Lisa Casler with a group of birders at Holland State Park 11/10/2018
In anticipation of revealing the 2020 Mug Club Photo Contest winners in December (read more below), take a look at some wonderful photographs from the 2020 Audubon Photography Contest.
Click the link above or image below to see more!
CBS This Morning Report - 10/24/20
In late August, people in New Mexico noticed hundreds of migratory birds that had fallen dead right out of the sky. Within a few weeks, the numbers had expanded to thousands of birds across other states. Scientists have been struggling for an explanation as they look to protect birds from other threats. Barry Petersen reports.
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Researchers at Powdermill Nature Reserve in Rector, Pa., spotted this rose-breasted grosbeak that has pink and black male coloring on one half of its body and yellow and brown female hues on the other side.
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The famed conductor traveled at night, employing deep knowledge of the region's environment and wildlife to communicate, navigate, and survive.
Do you want to experience calling owls for yourself? Watch for the upcoming Winter Newsletter and join one of our monthly "Moonlight Night Hikes" at various parks for just that opportunity!
Photo: Harriet Tubman, 1870s. Photo: Harvey Lindsley/Library of Congress
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Coffee with the Birds Goes Virtual! 12/5/20
Enjoy a hot cup of coffee and some baked goodies from the comfort and safety of your own home. You can watch the birds at the Nature Center feeders LIVE on your computer with a naturalist as your viewing guide. Pre-submitted birding topic questions, curiosities and stories will be shared and discussed (click link to share yours!).
Tentative Event Schedule for 12/5/20:
9:30 - 10:15: Coffee with the Birds - Feeder Watching
10:15 – 10:30: Birding Tidbits - Bird Club Forum Video Presentations
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The event will be hosted on the...
Click link to view the channel & subscribe. A huge thanks to Kestrel Imagery, our volunteer sponsor, to make this event possible!
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2020 Mug Club Photo Contest
Thank you to everyone who entered the 2020 Photo Contest! We received 49 entries and a panel of judges has selected the this year's winners! But you'll have to wait till the Coffee with the Birds event on 12/5/20 to find out who the winners are. Look for a Birding Quick Look email later this month with a montage video of all this year's entries.
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Mug Club membership
2021 Mug Club Memberships, which include a mug with the photo contest winner's photo on it, will be available for sale for $25 after 12/5/20. Mug Club members receive a limited edition mug and fun birding perks throughout the year. More information will be forthcoming so stay tuned!
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Click on the links to the checklists below to see what birds we found on our walks this fall!
*picture at right
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 Birding at Bend Area Open Space 11/4/20
 Submit your sightings, photos and videos and I'll share them in these Newswire emails. See below for information on how to submit your sightings!
Here's what's been reported since last time...
Fall Warblers Menagerie - Round 2!
September may be over, but it's never too late for some fun, challenging bird identification! Mike Monfore sent another round of great fall warbler photos so I thought I'd make Round 2 of the Fall Warbler Menagerie. The challenge being that birds change their look on their southward migration (and they don't sing!), creating confusion and difficulty with identifying fall warblers in particular. The birds pictured below were captured by Mike at his Park Township yard and bird bath this fall. Have some fun and see how many you recognize! The answers are in the caption.
Thanks for sharing Mike!
 Clockwise from top left: Bay-breasted Warbler; Tennessee Warbler; Blackpoll Warbler; Palm Warbler; Magnolia Warlber; Nashville Warbler. Photos by Mike Monfore
Fall Warbler?? NOPE!
The bird pictured here may not be a fall warbler, but it still often confuses observers. This Chipping Sparrows changed to a more inconspicuous look before eventually departing from our area this fall. Chipping Sparrows lose their clean cut look with rusty cap and white eyebrow stripe, trading it for a duller overall appearance with and streaky brown cap.
Photo by Mike Monfore, Park Township
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Evening Grosbeaks
Local birders flocked to Linear Park on Harbor Island on Oct. 24th after getting an alert from Beth Miller that Evening Grosbeaks were there. A visitor from Florida had reported them on an earlier checklist. I made it there in time to see the beautiful birds, lifers for me, but after 10 minutes they flew off across the channel into town and were not relocated. They are a rare Ottawa County visitor, and Chip Franke reported they were a new bird to Harbor Island, species #230.
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Cindy Dobrez
Harbor Island, Grand Haven
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HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR BIRD SHARE SIGHTINGS
Click on the "Google Forms" link below to fill out where, when and what birds you saw. As an additional option at the end of the form, you'll have opportunity to upload any bird photos or videos you'd like to share! Please limit photos/videos to 3 per monthly newsletter and they must be <10MB each. Thank you!
*NOTE: You must be signed into a Google account to upload files. We will try to develop a way for others to share photos/videos too.
*Any information or photos shared will be used in future Birding Update Newswire! emails.
Links to Share
Use this link to sign up for this Newswire! email or share it with other who may enjoy it too.
Information and links for local bird clubs, programs & favorite birding websites and resources.
Find a collection of fun and informative "Backyard Birding" videos here.
Use this link to find the Ottawa County Parks "virtual" programs website with lots of fun videos and other resources for kids and adults.
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