Shreve Migration Sensation for birding community, community at large
Among the family activities scheduled at the March 8 Shreve Migration Sensation is dip netting at Willow Road from 10 a.m. to noon.
In past years the annual Migration Sensation held in Shreve to celebrate the return north of migratory birds was all about community — the birding community.
More recently, Andrew Spencer of the Shreve Business Association and other members of the group are looking at the event from the perspective of a different community — Shreve.
“First off, I’m not a big birder,” Spencer said. “I’m big on community. Coordinating this event to me is about our community and offering events like this for people who live in this community. Having said that, we happen to live bordering one of the biggest inland marshes in the country. Because of that, if you’re interested in birds or birding, it’s a great place to be.”
This year the event will be held Saturday, March 8 and marks its 25th anniversary, at least it might. Spencer said they were trying to figure that out, but if not the 25th, it’s close.
The event is designed for anyone from anywhere with an interest in birds in particular and wildlife in general. It is billed as a day of birding, nature exploration and family-friendly activities in the heart of Ohio’s prime bird migration corridor.
The event takes place in what the Ohio Department of Natural Resources bills as the largest inland marsh in Ohio, home to a variety of nesting and migratory birds, which will make their way through the more than 5,000 acres of the Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area and Funk Bottoms Wildlife Area.
Whether you’re a fan of the field sparrow, eager for the egret or just crazy for the common loon, there will be something for bird lovers of any type.
“Millions of birds stop and rest over and feed at the marsh and head back north to where they want to spend their summer,” Spencer said. “The big deal is the small window when birds from all over are crossing over on their migration. If you’re a birder, it’s a great opportunity to check off a few more boxes of birds that are migrating. It’s something you won’t see in the other 350 days of the year.”
The day is full of learning activities or just plain old-fashioned bird watching, with experts on hand to field any questions. There will be things to do, stuff to eat and, of course, plenty to learn about birds who are heading back from their winter retreats to “take advantage of burgeoning insect populations, budding plants and abundance of nesting locations,” according to allaboutbirds.org.
Humans wanting to take part on the one-day event can register and, if they wish, have breakfast at the Clinton Township Garage, 225 E. McConkey St., Shreve, beginning at 7 a.m. The opening festivities will stretch until 10:30 a.m. Maps featuring GPS coordinates will be available.
Spotting locations will feature experienced birders who will be set up with scopes to help locate and identify birds. Locations include Cemetery Road, Clark Road, Funk Bottom Restoration Area and Wright Marsh. Wildlife officer Scott Angelo will answer questions about Shreve Lake’s restoration. More than 100 species were spotted at those locations in 2024.
There will be a trio of featured speakers throughout the afternoon. Leading off at 1 p.m., Matt Valencic of the Greater Cleveland Audubon Society will speak about native plants for birds and insects. Valencic will discuss how birds, insects and plants are linked and how to enhance your own landscape for all three.
At 2 p.m. Dan Best will present Going for the Gold: Three Decades of Protonotary Warbler Husbandry. Best has contributed to increasing nesting success for the golden swamp warblers on the Upper Cuyahoga River in Geauga County and will share his methods.
Dennis Kline will wrap things up at 3 p.m. with Adventures in Birding in the Local Area. Kline has been birding in the Shreve vicinity for more than half a century and will share his stories from that time.
The artistically inclined of all ages can take part in a Watercolor Notecard Workshop with Verna Horvath at the Shreve Library. Sessions, which will be limited to eight participants, will begin every half-hour. Register at the library or by calling 330-567-2219.
Kids will have plenty to do including a passport activity from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., open to age 2-18. Those collecting one stamp from at least five of the seven available stations will earn a plush owl. All passports turned in will be entered in a drawing for an event sweatshirt. Information will be available at registration.
From 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., kids can participate in crafts, games and other nature activities, also at the library. Activities include the Brown’s Lake Bog Guided Hike, beginning birding, dip netting and more.
“The value there is raising up kids who have a value for the natural world around them, being able to share with them what is out there and why it’s important and where it can lead to their future,” Spencer said.
Lunch will be served in the Clinton Township Building, where tables will be available. Shreve’s famous barbecue chicken will be available from noon until sold out.
The Shreve Migration Sensation is free to the public, in part due to a grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. That grant does not cover all expenses, though. Donation jars will be available, along with raffles and T-shirts and sweatshirts for sale. Apparel can be purchased online at dt-custom-creations.square.site.
Schedule of events
—At 7 a.m. doors open, registration and breakfast at Clinton Township Building.
—From 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., passport activity for kids.
—From 8 a.m. to noon, spotting stations, maps available at the Clinton Township Building.
—From 9 a.m. to noon, Brown’s Bog tours.
—From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., marsh animals with wildlife officer Aaron Brown at Clinton Township Building.
—From 10 a.m. to noon, dip netting at Willow Road.
—From 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., kids nature activities at Shreve Library.
—From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., watercolor notecard workshop at Shreve Library.
—From 1-4 p.m., speaker series at Clinton Township Building.
—Lunch at Clinton Township Building.