Black Swamp Bird Observatory Activities

BSBO Thursday Night Bird Study

BSBO Saturday Lunch Lecture

Other Activites

• March 17, 2007 - Ottawa NWR Auto Tour - 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Drive a seven-mile loop through areas of the Refuge usually closed to the public to view wildlife and a variety of habitats. Call 419-898-0014 for more info.

• March 10, 2007 - Nature Tots - 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM. Quack, quack, chirp, chirp!Do you have a little one who loves to hear stories and make crafts? BSBO and the Oak Harbor Public Library invite kids ages 3-5 to bring their favorite adult to the library to learn about animal noises around us. Please call 419-898-4070 to register.

• March 10, 2007 - Highway Cleanup - 9:00 AM. Meet at the BSBO Nature Center to put on the fun orange vests and do your part to help make the world a little nicer to look at. There are always a lot of laughs and neat “treasures” found along that stretch of Route 2. Call to sign up.

• March 4, 2007 - Canada Goose Day, Magee Marsh Wildlife Area - 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM. Carving demos, a marsh walk, and refreshments fireside! Walks at 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM. Call 419-898-0960 for more info. Free!

• February 17, 2007 - Ottawa NWR Auto Tour - 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Drive a seven-mile loop through areas of the Refuge usually closed to the public to view wildlife and a variety of habitats. Call 419-898-0014 for more info.

• February 11, 2007 - Raptor Volunteer Workshop - 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM. Pearson Metropark Lodge. BSBO is recruiting help for our Spring Raptor Migration Project in the Lake Erie Marsh Region. Learn identification tips and project details. Help us to learn more about the hawks and eagles that use Ohio’s habitats. Call 419-898-4070 to register. All eyes are needed!

• February 10, 2007 - Young Explorers - 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM. Backyard “Rap” Artists - Wassup in Your Backyard? Kids ages 6-11 are invited to explore the world of woodpeckers with this program given at the BSBO Nature Center. Call to register. $2.00 per member, $3.00 per non-member.

• February 10, 2007 - Nature Tots - 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM. Smooth, Scaly, Wet, and Wooly! BSBO is teaming up with the Oak Harbor Public Library to bring Nature Tots to a new location. Please call 419-898-4070 to register.

• January 13, 2007 - Nature Tots - 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Critters Winter Homes! Do you have a little one who loves to hear stories and make crafts? BSBO is teaming up with the Oak Harbor Public Library to bring Nature Tots to a new location. Kids ages 3-5 are invited to bring their favorite adult to the library to find out how animals spend these chilly winter days. Please call 419-898-4070 to register.

• December 10, 2006 - Nature Tots Holiday Fun - 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the BSBO office. Crafts and a snack for your 3-5 year old. Please call to register. $2.00/BSBO member and $3.00/non-member.

• December 10, 2006 - BSBO Nature Center Holiday Open House - 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Stock up on stocking stuffers, enjoy refreshments, and do some winter birding at our Window on Wildlife. There are plenty of great gifts to be found for the nature lover in your family.

• November 15, 2006 - Whoo's Whoo in the Big Woods - 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Join us in the BSBO education classroom for an informative program on the owls of Ohio followed by a night hike. Bring your binoculars. Free!

• November 11, 2006 - Nature Tots - 10:00 a.m. BSBO Nature Center. This program for preschoolers will offer fun activities about Winter Homes. Kids ages 3-5 bring your favorite adult and join in this program for our future naturalists. Please call to register. $2.00/BSBO member and $3.00/non-member.

• November 11, 2006 - Morning Bird Walk at Catawba Island - 8:00 a.m. Meet in the BSBO parking lot to car-pool to Catawba Island as Paul Sherwood leads the way. Paul has two secret locations that he thinks will produce a lot of birds. Unravel the mystery on this short morning field trip. Free program!

• November 4, 2006 - Family Night Program - 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Creatures of the Night is the topic for this family program. Don't forget to dress warm as we seek out species that like the dark, after we have some activities and refreshments inside. Please call to register. $5.00/BSBO member family and $7.00/non-member family.

• November 4, 2006 - Morning Bird Walk at Pearson Metropark - 8:00 a.m. Meet at the BSBO Nature Center to join Paul Sherwood for a drive over to Pearson Metropark to look for woodland birds such as chickadees and woodpeckers. Free program!

• October 28, 2006 - Highway Cleanup - 9:00 a.m. Meet at the BSBO Nature Center to put on the fun orange vests and do your part to help make the world a little nicer to look at. There are always a lot of laughs and neat "treasures" found along that stretch of Route 2. Call to sign up. 419-898-4070.

• October 22, 2006 - Young Explorers - 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Leaves are the topic for this program for kids in grades 1-6. Join us to celebrate fall, do a little learning with a lot of fun, have a snack and make a craft. Please call to register your kids. $2.00/BSBO member and $3.00/non-member.

• October 21, 2006 - Morning Bird Walk - 8:00 a.m. Meet Naturalist Paul Sherwood at the BSBO Nature Center, then head over to the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge for a relaxing walk. Free program!

• October 14, 2006 - Morning Bird Walk - 8:00 a.m. Meet Naturalist Paul Sherwood at the BSBO Nature Center, then go next door to the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge to see what birds are in the area. Free program!

• October 13, 2006 - Morning Bird Walk - 8:00 a.m. Meet Naturalist Paul Sherwood at the BSBO Nature Center, then grab your binoculars for a bird walk through Magee Marsh. Paul will be seeking out any and all birds that are in the area for your viewing enjoyment. Free program!

• October 8 - 14 - National Wildlife Refuge Week - Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. View the refuge on a 7 mile Auto Tour through areas normally closed to public access (8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) or on a wagon ride (10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.) on October 8. There will also be a display tent from 9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. and the photo contest entries will be displayed. For more info, call the ONWR office at 419-898-0014. Free program!

• October 7, 2006 - Hike the Dikes Walk - 9:00 a.m. Waterfowl! Meet at the Migratory Bird Center at Magee Marsh W/A for an enjoyable walk to explore a portion of the marsh that is usually closed to the public. Don't miss this opportunity to visit one of the jewels in the crown of the Lake Erie Marsh Region. This program is a partnership between BSBO , the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, and Magee Marsh. Free program!

• October 6, 2006 - Night Hike at Magee Marsh WA - 7:00 p.m. Dress for the weather and embark on a walk at Magee Marsh afer evening falls. Meet in the Sportsman's Migratory Bird Center parking lot. Free program!

• September 23, 2006 - Kelleys Island Fall Festival 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Visit www.kelleysislandnature.com

• September 23-24, 2006 - Lake Erie Waterfowlers Festival - Crane Creek State Park 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Duck decoy and decorative decoy contests, retriever trials, and wildlife art for sale. Call 419-898-0960.

• September 17, 2006 - Nature Detectives Program - Animals of the Shore is the topic for the kids program Grades 1-6. Join us at 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM to explore the Lake Erie coastline. Snack and craft project included the afternoon’s events. $2.00/BSBO member and $3.00/nonmember and $5.00/BSBO family. Please call to register your kids. 419-898-4070.

• September 16, 2006 - Auto Tour Ottawa NWR - Drive a 7-mile loop through areas of the refuge usually closed to the public to view other habitats and wildlife. Refuge office and bookstore will be open. 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. 419-898-0014. FREE

• September 9, 2006– Butterfly Festival on Kelleys Island - Celebrate the Monarch butterflies. Join in the fun with programs, crafts, and tagging. 419-746-2399.

• September 9, 2006 - Hike the Dikes Walk - 9:00 AM. Time to Slow Down.... Meet at the Migratory Bird Center at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area for an enjoyable nature walk to explore a portion of the marsh that is usually closed to the public. Don’t miss this opportunity to visit one of the jewels in the crown of the Lake Erie Marsh Region! Free program!

• August 26, 2006 - Saturday Field Trip - with Naturalist Paul Sherwood to Pickerel Creek State Wildlife Area. Meet at the BSBO Nature Center at 8:00 AM to carpool to area destination. Dress for the weather, wear good walking shoes, bring binoculars and prepare for a few hours of exploration of the field. Expect to return back to the Nature Center around noon. Free Program.

• August 19, 2006 - Auto Tour Ottawa NWR - Drive a 7-mile loop through areas of the refuge usually closed to the public to view other habitats and wildlife. Refuge office and bookstore will be open. 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. 419-898-0014. FREE

• August 19, 2006 - Saturday Field Trip with Naturalist Paul Sherwood to Toussaint State Wildlife Area. Explore some of the not so known areas in the Lake Erie Marsh Region. Meet at the BSBO Nature Center at 8:00 AM to carpool to area destination. Dress for the weather, wear good walking shoes, bring binoculars and prepare for a few hours of exploration of the field. Expect to return back to the Nature Center around noon. Free Program.

• August 12, 2006 - Nature Tots - 10:00 AM. BSBO Nature Center. This program for preschoolers will offer fun activities about Birds and Their Nests. Kids age 3-5, bring your favorite adult and join in this program for our future naturalists! $2.00/BSBO member and $3.00/nonmember.

• August 12, 2006 - Hike the Dikes Walk - 9:00 AM. Shorebirds! Meet at the Migratory Bird Center at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area for an enjoyable walk to explore a portion of the marsh that is usually closed to the public. Don’t miss this opportunity to visit one of the jewels in the crown of the Lake Erie Marsh Region! Free program!

• August 5, 2006 - Saturday Field Trip with Naturalist Paul Sherwood to Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area. Meet at the BSBO Nature Center at 8:00 a.m. to carpool to area destination. Dress for the weather, wear good walking shoes, bring binoculars, and prepare for a few hours of exploration of the field. Expect to return back to the Nature Center around Noon. Free Program.

• July 29, 2006 - Saturday Field Trip with Naturalist Paul Sherwood to Maumee Bay State Park boardwalk. Meet at the BSBO Nature Center at 8:00 a.m. to carpool to area destination. Dress for the weather. Wear good walking shoes, bring binoculars, and prepare for a few hours of exploration of the field. Expect to return back to the Nature Center around Noon. Free Program.

• July 1, 2006 - Hike the Dikes Walk = 9:00 a.m. Those amazing Eagles. Meet at the Migratory Bird Center at Magee Marsh W/A for an enjoyable walk to explore a portion of the marsh that is usually closed to the public. Don't miss this opportunity to visit one of the jewels in the crown of the Lake Erie Marsh Region. For more information call 419-898-4070.

• June 24, 2006 - Annual Butterfly Count - 9:00 a.m. Join us for our annual butterfly count on the south side of Sandusky Bay. Meet at the observation tower located on SR 6 by Pickerel Creek W/A, Vickery, OH. Don't miss this opportunity to visit some truly amazing places and help us learn more about Ohio's butterfly diversity. Bring a sack lunch and binocs. Call the BSBO Nature Center. 419-898-4070 for more details.

• June 14, 2006 - Highway Cleanup Ditch Pigg'in with Steve Pollick Another fun time along the roadside. We found a wallet last time and someone was looking for it too. Help us clean up a little piece of the earth around Magee Marsh and Ottawa NWR. Meet at the BSBO Nature Center at 6:00 p.m. Bring a snack to share, and we will cook some hot dogs and have a social time after we work.

• June 9, 2006 - All New - Nature Tots Program 10:00 a.m. Meet at the BSBO Nature Center. Children ages 3-5 bring your favorite adult and join us for stories and activities. We'll learn about birds and their nests by reading a great story and making a special craft. Please pre-register by calling the BSBO Nature Center at 419-898-4070.

• June 3, 2006 - Hike the Dikes Walk - 9:00 a.m. Meet at the Migratory Bird Center at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area for an enjoyable walk to explore a portion of the marsh that is usually closed to the public. Don't miss this opportunity to visit one of the jewels in the crown of the Lake Erie Marsh Region. For more information call 419-898-4070.

• May 21, 2006 - Members Field Trip to the Songbird Banding Stations - 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Members only please. One of the coolest benefits of BSBO membership. Join us for an exciting opportunity to view migrating warblers, thrushes, and vireos up close and learn why the beach ridges are an important habitat to conserve. The late warblers (Connecticut, Bay-breasted, Wilson, Canada, etc.) and those confusing Empidonax flycatchers are coming through at this time. What better way to learn ID? Please call the BSBO Nature Center to reserve a seat on the van. 419-898-4070.

• May 14, 2006 - Ottawa NWR Auto Tour 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.