American Redstart, Magee Marsh OH

The American Redstart is one of the more common warblers in North America…found most places…and nesting over a wide area of the continent. When they come through Magee Marsh in Ohio during the Biggest Week in American Birding they dominate the marshy forest by sheer numbers. They come in droves. It is easy to begin to think…Oh just another American Redstart…but every one is worth a look. They are perky, active, and fearless…often feeding within a few feet of birders on the boardwalk…and their bold colors, two shades of orange, jet black, with a white undertail, make them stand out in any foliage. These shots, as you see, were taken through openings in the foreground foliage, but the bird certainly stands out.

Nikon P900 at 1800mm equivalent field of view. 1/250th @ ISO 400 @ f6.3. Processed in Lightroom and assembled in Coolage Pro.

This is the last day of the Biggest Week in American Birding. I have been here 10 days. I am, but put it mildly, tired out! It has been, as always, a real treat to walk among the warblers and the birders on the Magee Marsh boardwalk…seemingly thousands of each. This week is as close to homecoming as birders get. It is the one time during the year that I can count on some actual face time with many of my social media birding friends. Someone said, “a gathering of the tribe” which implies a bit more blood ties that we actually experience…but it is certainly a convocation of the community…and a celebration of the birds that bring us together. Almost a religious experience, and certainly a spiritual one. Community is good…and the birding community is among the best. Birders are interesting, engaging, mostly very civil folk…people you can enjoy being around even if you are not a birder. And it comes out most strongly where they gather in numbers.

So, though I am tired out after 10 days, I am also uplifted by the community. This is good. Somebody this year coined the hashtag #warblerstock (which dates at least some of us rather obviously), but I do experience The Biggest Week as a kind of spiritual renewal each year. I go home with my eyes full of warblers, and heart full of good feelings…it is not to strong to say…”my heart full of love.” This is good. Happy Sunday!