Event Details
Two local chapters of the National Audubon Society challenge everyone who enjoys birds to explore the Chagrin River watershed and find as many bird species as they can in the Chagrin River Bird Quest. Bird alone or in teams and record species in one 24-hour period from 4 p.m. Friday, September 11 to 4 p.m. Saturday, September 12. Audubon Society of Greater Cleveland and Blackbrook Audubon Society are co-sponsoring this birding event which includes parts of Lake, Geauga, Cuyahoga and Portage counties.
All Bird Quest activities and materials are free, but registration is required by 11:59 pm September 10. Register at https://clevelandaudubon.org.
Team check-in will be 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. September 11 at The West Woods Nature Center, 9465 Kinsman Road (S.R. 87), Russell Twp., OH. Each check-in packet will have maps, a checklist, birding ethics, a list of four guided walks and t-shirts. Teams must turn in their checklists for judging by 4 p.m. Saturday.
Blackbrook Audubon will lead a walk at Chagrin River Park 8:00 a.m. Saturday, September 12. All teams are welcome and even those not registered for Bird Quest can participate in this walk, which will begin at the Rural Road entrance, 1000 Rural Rd., Eastlake.
This year's Quest Celebration will be 4:00 - 6:30 p.m. September 12 at The West Woods. Audubon will award prizes for the most species overall, most warblers seen, most creative team name and youngest birder. The closing celebration includes pizza and raffle prizes.
For more information, visit https://clevelandaudubon.org and click the Chagrin River Bird Quest logo or email birdquest@clevelandaudubon.org.
Audubon Society of Greater Cleveland, which covers territory along the southern half of the Chagrin River watershed, began this contest in 2015 to bring attention to the Chagrin River Corridor IBA, or Important Bird Area. National Audubon declared this watershed an IBA to highlight the many species who use riparian and other habitats along the Chagrin to nest each year and rest during migration. Once again, Blackbrook Audubon Society, which covers the northern half of the Chagrin River IBA in Lake and Geauga counties, joins ASGC as a co-sponsor and encourages its members to share in the quest. Geauga Park District is also a sponsor.
Photo: Common Yellowthroat by Deb Schuster