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Our 8th Annual BIG Birding Day was held Saturday, May 10, 2025
We had a great day! Scroll down the page for our 2025 results.
To celebrate Global Migration Day we send teams of birders (experts and novices together) all over the Rochester area in search of as many birds as we can find. It's a fun day which takes place at the peak of spring migration so we should see a wide variety of birds. Each year we survey several local habitats that include marshy wetlands, lake shore, woods and prairies. No registration needed - to participate simply show up at one of the locations listed. The photos above were taken during our 2025 event.
Our next BIG Birding day will be on May 9, 2026
2026 Schedule:
Wetlands: 6:30 am – 7:45am
Meet in the Eastside WMA (County 9 Marsh) parking lot. We’ll look for waterfowl, rails, shorebirds, cranes and other birds from the observation deck before leaving to visit the Silver Creek Reservoir where we hope to see pelicans, cormorants and more.
Chester Woods: 8:00 am - noon
Meet in the boat landing parking lot. If you didn't go to the earlier walks we recommend you be at Chester Woods by 7:45 am in case we arrive early. Depending on how many people attend we may divide into two groups. Warblers, sparrows and other songbirds will be our focus. Be prepared for a 3 mile hike. Leaders will decide which trails offer the best possibilities for seeing birds. We’ll likely cover a combination of the Dam Overlook and North Trails.
Lunch: After the morning walks, we'll pause for a picnic lunch and to talk about our favorite finds at Chester Woods. Bring your own food and beverages.
Kutzky Park: 2:00 – 3:00 pm
Meet in the parking lot at 400 16th Ave NW in Rochester. We’ll walk along the creek looking for migrating warblers. This is often a good spot to see Northern Waterthrush as well as Baltimore Orioles and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.
Izaak Walton Wetlands: 3:30 – 4:30 pm
Meet at the wetlands. Located on South Salem Rd, just south of the Weatherhill neighborhood. Park in the area marked or along the shoulder. We’ll circle the wetlands looking for all types of birds including warblers, herons, wood ducks, vireos and other songbirds.
Other notes:
Come to one or all of the hikes. Come and go at your own schedule. This event is appropriate for teens - adults. Event takes place in light rain but will be canceled if thunderstorms are present. Bring binoculars, water, your own lunch/snacks and insect repellent if desired. Be prepared to hike over uneven ground. Results will be posted here following the event.
We had a great day! Scroll down the page for our 2025 results.
To celebrate Global Migration Day we send teams of birders (experts and novices together) all over the Rochester area in search of as many birds as we can find. It's a fun day which takes place at the peak of spring migration so we should see a wide variety of birds. Each year we survey several local habitats that include marshy wetlands, lake shore, woods and prairies. No registration needed - to participate simply show up at one of the locations listed. The photos above were taken during our 2025 event.
Our next BIG Birding day will be on May 9, 2026
2026 Schedule:
Wetlands: 6:30 am – 7:45am
Meet in the Eastside WMA (County 9 Marsh) parking lot. We’ll look for waterfowl, rails, shorebirds, cranes and other birds from the observation deck before leaving to visit the Silver Creek Reservoir where we hope to see pelicans, cormorants and more.
Chester Woods: 8:00 am - noon
Meet in the boat landing parking lot. If you didn't go to the earlier walks we recommend you be at Chester Woods by 7:45 am in case we arrive early. Depending on how many people attend we may divide into two groups. Warblers, sparrows and other songbirds will be our focus. Be prepared for a 3 mile hike. Leaders will decide which trails offer the best possibilities for seeing birds. We’ll likely cover a combination of the Dam Overlook and North Trails.
Lunch: After the morning walks, we'll pause for a picnic lunch and to talk about our favorite finds at Chester Woods. Bring your own food and beverages.
Kutzky Park: 2:00 – 3:00 pm
Meet in the parking lot at 400 16th Ave NW in Rochester. We’ll walk along the creek looking for migrating warblers. This is often a good spot to see Northern Waterthrush as well as Baltimore Orioles and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.
Izaak Walton Wetlands: 3:30 – 4:30 pm
Meet at the wetlands. Located on South Salem Rd, just south of the Weatherhill neighborhood. Park in the area marked or along the shoulder. We’ll circle the wetlands looking for all types of birds including warblers, herons, wood ducks, vireos and other songbirds.
Other notes:
Come to one or all of the hikes. Come and go at your own schedule. This event is appropriate for teens - adults. Event takes place in light rain but will be canceled if thunderstorms are present. Bring binoculars, water, your own lunch/snacks and insect repellent if desired. Be prepared to hike over uneven ground. Results will be posted here following the event.
Results from our 8th Annual BIG Birding Day - Sat., May 10, 2025
The weather was sunny with a nice breeze and temps ranging between 50 - 75 degrees. Our 3 dozen or so volunteers were out in force and searched several known birding hot spots including Eastside WMA, Silver Creek Reservoir, Chester Woods, Kutzky Park, Willow Creek, the Izaak Walton Wetlands and more. We found at least 134 species. That's pretty good for one day! Highlights included 21 species of warblers (lots of Blackburnians), a Scarlet Tanager, a Semi-palmated Sandpiper and so many more - really all birds are pretty fantastic.
Many thanks to our expert group leaders including Mike Degerstrom, Brendan Lanpher, Lance Vrieze & Dave Gross - plus all the expert independent birders who shared their lists and everyone else who participated in this fun citizen science event.
Species list:
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Gadwall
Lesser Scaup
Ruddy Duck
Blue-winged Teal
Mallard
Trumpeter Swan
Wild Turkey
Ring-necked Pheasant
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared Dove
Mourning Dove
Eastern Whip-poor-will
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Sora Rail
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
American Woodcock
Semi-palmated Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Baird's Sandpiper
American White Pelican
Killdeer
Pied -bill Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Cooper's Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
American Kestrel
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Barred Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-headed Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Wood Peewee
Eastern Kingbird
Blue-headed Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Bell's Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Horned Lark
Purple Martin
Bank Swallow
Tree Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Northern House Wren
Sedge Wren
Marsh Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Eastern Bluebird
Swainson's Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Purple Finch
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
House Sparrow
Bobolink
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Golden-winged Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Lawrence's Warbler (Hybrid)
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Photos by Brendan Lanpher & Sandy Hokanson
The weather was sunny with a nice breeze and temps ranging between 50 - 75 degrees. Our 3 dozen or so volunteers were out in force and searched several known birding hot spots including Eastside WMA, Silver Creek Reservoir, Chester Woods, Kutzky Park, Willow Creek, the Izaak Walton Wetlands and more. We found at least 134 species. That's pretty good for one day! Highlights included 21 species of warblers (lots of Blackburnians), a Scarlet Tanager, a Semi-palmated Sandpiper and so many more - really all birds are pretty fantastic.
Many thanks to our expert group leaders including Mike Degerstrom, Brendan Lanpher, Lance Vrieze & Dave Gross - plus all the expert independent birders who shared their lists and everyone else who participated in this fun citizen science event.
Species list:
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Gadwall
Lesser Scaup
Ruddy Duck
Blue-winged Teal
Mallard
Trumpeter Swan
Wild Turkey
Ring-necked Pheasant
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared Dove
Mourning Dove
Eastern Whip-poor-will
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Sora Rail
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
American Woodcock
Semi-palmated Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Baird's Sandpiper
American White Pelican
Killdeer
Pied -bill Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Cooper's Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
American Kestrel
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Barred Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-headed Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Wood Peewee
Eastern Kingbird
Blue-headed Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Bell's Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Horned Lark
Purple Martin
Bank Swallow
Tree Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Northern House Wren
Sedge Wren
Marsh Wren
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Eastern Bluebird
Swainson's Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Purple Finch
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
House Sparrow
Bobolink
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Golden-winged Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Lawrence's Warbler (Hybrid)
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Photos by Brendan Lanpher & Sandy Hokanson