Crane Creek Weekend Information 2010
Friday, May 7 to Sunday, May 9
Crane Creek - Magee Marsh
- Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge and more
Looking for a reason to go...
Check here for last year's trip report and species list.
Lodging Considerations
The Three Rivers Birding Club outing to Western Lake Erie for the warbler migration will take place the first weekend in May. Friday afternoon, May 7, through Sunday evening, May 9, will be the only time that formal 3RBC activities will be held, but many members of our group will be in the area during the four week peak migration season. Most of our members are veterans of this trip to Ohio's birding Mecca and we have found in the last couple of years that there has not been a need for orientation sessions or guided tours. Generally, we've simply bumped into
each other on the boardwalk, birded together a bit, and (since it's
crowded) drifted apart and then repeated the process. However, if this will be your first trip to the area and you would like some guidance, we have will several opportunies for you to connect with other club members. Check with this website often for updates.
Let Jack Solomon know by e-mail snaggle719@yahoo.com if you will be joining the group. If you wish, include you cellphone number so that we can contact you during your stay in Ohio. Also, tell us if this is your first trip to Crane Creek. We will be sure to get you together with one of the leaders or an experienced birder on your first day. Are you new to birding? Let us know if you would like to spend some time with someone who can help you with indentification. Also, if you would like to participate in a group dinner at some point, let us know.
This year the local birding organizations in Ohio are stepping up their game and launching a full fledged birding festival during migration - The Biggest Week In American Birding. There are many opportunities to bird wth world-class experts, take a class or jump on a field trip. For a listing of the organizations, check the links below.
Ohio Birding Information
Lodging Information
*** Please note - The Biggest Week in America Birding will run from May 6 through May 16, 2010. This event is highly promoted, so motels could fill quickly. Make your reservations early
***
Most of the 3RBC members will be staying at one of the many inns and motels in Port Clinton. Jack will probably be camping at Camp Sabroske. Best Budget and the Comfort Inn have been popular in the past. The town has a full range of prices and ammenities available. When reserving your rooms, ask if the hotel offers a birders discount. Some of the hotels do. Check the following websites for information.
Good To Know...
The entire area of the old Crane Creek State Park has been turned over to the Ohio Division of Wildlife and that may change the way that visitors will interact with the facility. There are plans to restore the old park sites by the lake to wildlife habitat by letting nature take its course. ( No more mowing or plant removal.) The first step towards this end was to remove the convenient picnic tables. The parking area will still be available by the boardwalk. Be prepared to provide your own seating for lunch, such as packing folding chairs. Also, have snacks and lunch packed for the day. Food outlets are quite a distance from most of the wildlife viewing areas and most of the folks in the group like to eat and get back to birding without wasting a lot of time traveling around looking for a restaurant. The Nature Center and nearby Black Swamp Bird Observatory at times will sell hot dogs and coffee, but these are volunteer efforts and not always reliable. If you are craving some TLC and restaurant service, Oak Harbor is about 10 miles from the center of activities and has several fast food and family restaurant options.
Photos courtesy of Chuck Tague. To see more of his work, visit his website www.chucktague.com
