The Biggest Week in American Birding Day 1

[@wyattsmith2498]

I’m from Northwest Ohio and I went to my first Biggest Week last spring! Some highlights were seeing two separate Green Heron nests and American White Pelican flyovers.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

@@wyattsmith2498 it was really cool to see the Green Heron nests on the boardwalk

[@Whimbrel24]

Great video guys! I was there on the boardwalk when I ran into Ryan Sallmann! You probably don’t remember me, but my name is Andy and I had my girlfriend Laura with me. We talked birds and your show for a minute or two. You were as cordial and kind as you appear on the show. It was nice to meet you! Another interesting fact is we stayed in the same hotel! I saw Derek getting into the elevator. I told Laura straightaway, “that’s Derek from the birding show we really like! Her reply, “Badgerland Birding!” I hope you guys enjoyed birding the area. We live in Columbus which is about 2 hours and 15 minutes away. We drive up all the time. The auto tour at Ottawa is one of my favorite spots in the state. Late summer through fall that place will hold huge numbers of shorebirds and there is no place better for ducks! Okay, take care guys! Come to Central Ohio someday, I will show you the good spots!!

[@wheeling827]

Oh you got the Brewster's Warbler, cool! Magee Marsh is such an awesome place. Great video guys!

[@BadgerlandBirding]

@@wheeling827 thanks so much!

[@marksak455]

I ran into you guys in the parking lot before you went to see the Brewsters! It was my first time down there too and it was super enjoyable!

[@BadgerlandBirding]

It was great to see you!

[@scaupVR]

man i went there last year and saw over 12 lifers so fun

[@BirdNirdz]

Definitely a slow year. Can’t wait for next year. Also can’t wait for the upcoming videos!❤😊 Edit: Glad you could see the Brewster’s Warbler. I couldn’t sadly 😢. Oh. And and have you seen the bald eagle?!?!? 🤪🤣

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Havvvveee you seeeeen the eaagggglllessss???

[@BirdNirdz]

@@BadgerlandBirding 🤪🤪🤪🤪

[@Kellysher]

I live about an hour and a half from Magee Marsh, but I take off work for a week to hit all 5 locations in the spring. Magee, Mertzger, Ottawa, Howard Marsh, and Maumee Bay. I always go early to the boardwalk, as the crowds get too crazy for me. You can enjoy the surrounding woods, and lake area too at Magee when it gets too busy. Ottawa has a cool wildlife drive. For non warblers, I think my favorite spot is Howard. I’ve seen some more unusual birds there like black necked stilts, yellow headed blackbirds, horned lark, and white pelicans that aren’t easy to get closer to home. Some years are better than others! I can’t wait to see more of your videos in OH. I went to this festival 5 years ago. That is what hooked me into birding. I literally had no idea there were so many birds to see close to home. I love seeing you guys in my neck of the woods!

[@BK-db3gc]

Thanks! Very helpful to get a real-time view of what one can expect when attending this famous festival. Well done!

[@kevinreichenbach5326]

You guys must be rain magnets. You had similar luck down in Texas too. 😜👍

[@BadgerlandBirding]

That’s true ! 🤣

[@JA51711]

Fantastic video. 🙏

[@Ron-ui3xj]

Are there vegan options at the festival? Or in the vicinity? Thanks for your answer. Greetings from The Netherlands.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

I’m honestly not really sure. It’s near Toledo and I’m sure Toledo probably would. Could contact the festival and check!

[@Oltoir]

Excellent vid, cant wait for the rest! I was there a few times the following week and heard (and saw) that it was overall a "meh" year, species wise. You pointed out the fun parts about the boardwalk - lots of camaraderie amongst complete strangers, and the birds are almost always at eye-level, not way up in a canopy. Happy birding

[@BadgerlandBirding]

@@Oltoir yeah it felt like a down year based on what people were saying. The Prothonotary Warblers eventually stole the show though

[@skeansmith]

Great video! Thank you for sharing. Simple capture of what it is like to go out and discover a world of birds and the places they inhabit.

[@NathanWebb-c5h]

The Magee Marsh looks so interesting.

[@AdrenalineBirding]

Awesome video! 👍

[@csfsangle]

Oh my word Yes! Awesome vid, great birds I bet you guys had an awesome time there. I hope you guys go next year ( if your not working of course:) cuz I would love to see you there! Next year its from the 9th to the 18th

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Would love to see you down there! Hopefully we’ll be back again

[@markshen3280]

Hong Kong 🇭🇰 SAR has a few warblers as well…Sulphur-breasted Warbler, Limestone Leaf Warbler, and the Two-barred Warbler.

[@markshen3280]

In Hong Kong 🇭🇰 SAR, and in Singapore 🇸🇬, as well as places in Asia like Malaysia 🇲🇾 and Japan 🇯🇵, the most common sparrow is the European Sparrow.

[@Johnnywhipple-y1z]

Hey Derek and Ryan, have you seen a Little Gull before? There was one reported in Sheboygan county in Wisconsin, which you probably know of already via the Wisconsin rare bird alert. I was just wondering because we might be going tomorrow morning.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

We got one there earlier this year! It’s been a great year for them! Good luck!

[@Johnnywhipple-y1z]

@@BadgerlandBirding Just got back from Sheboygan, we got it!

[@BadgerlandBirding]

@@Johnnywhipple-y1z awesome! Congrats!

[@cyborg8623]

Magee is always better in the rain!

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Haha except the boardwalk gets so slippery!

[@markshen3280]

Hong Kong 🇭🇰 SAR in the New Territories, near where I live, I see the Great Egrets, Little Egrets as well as Cattle Egrets.

[@AllAmericanPlaneSpotter-iw4wm]

I love this! I go to Western Lake Erie every May! I live in Dayton, so it is not too far, only a couple of hours away.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

@@AllAmericanPlaneSpotter-iw4wm nice!

[@shayk8021]

when is this festival?

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Always in May, but they switched the week for next year. In 2025 it’s May 9-18!

[@coloneldust4286]

Hey guys, love your content! This is Michael, I met you guys at the board walk and at the huge lodge. It was sweet meeting you in person! (I wore a large neon green hat too if that rings a bell haha)

[@FrogieFishOfficial]

Second comment club!

[@BadgerlandBirding]

@@FrogieFishOfficial 🥈

[@JA51711]

I am from Eastern Pennsylvania and I am not seeing any warblers this past spring- I had just two vireos. Is Rachel Carson's silent spring starting to happen? I really hope people educate themselves about our bird populations and what we need to do to protect them.

[@Ron-ui3xj]

People know what to do, they just don't do it.