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Our 8th Annual BIG Birding Day will be held Saturday, May 10, 2025
You're invited to participate!
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 2024 event. Scroll down to see the species list and report from our 2024 BIG Birding Day.
Locations listed here may change!
This list will be updated and confirmed in early spring 2025.
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 lunch and to talk about our favorite finds at picnic shelter #1 in 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.
You're invited to participate!
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 2024 event. Scroll down to see the species list and report from our 2024 BIG Birding Day.
Locations listed here may change!
This list will be updated and confirmed in early spring 2025.
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 lunch and to talk about our favorite finds at picnic shelter #1 in 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 7th Annual BIG Birding Day - Saturday, May 11, 2024
In celebration of BIG Birding Day our teams spent the day trying to find as many species as they could in a single day. We spent the most time at Chester Woods as it has the most diverse habitat in one location. We also visited the Eastside WMA, the Silver Creek reservoirs, Kutzky Park and the Izaak Walton Wetlands. Individual birders checked their favorite spots to find rarities and other birds we missed earlier. In all we found at 126 species. That's down from last year's record high of 143 when conditions were near perfect.
This year we were hampered by a lack of shorebirds and waterfowl - most of which came through early and had already left the area. Still, we think we found lots of great birds. Favorites included a Lawrence's Warbler, Lark Sparrow, Harris's Sparrow and a Kingfisher. Plus we found 22 species of warblers!
We especially want to thank our experts Mike Degerstrom, Brendan Lanpher, Lance Vrieze, Dave Gross and Sandy Hokanson for leading the walks today. There were many other experienced birders along as well and everyone contributed to the total.
Species list:
Canada Goose
Trumpeter Swan
Tundra Swan
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
Blue-winged Teal
Mallard
Ring-necked duck
Lesser Scaup
Ruddy Duck
Canvasback
Ring-necked Pheasant
Wild Turkey
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Sora Rail
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
Spotted Sandpiper
Killdeer
Greater Yellowlegs
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared Dove
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl
Common Nighthawk
Whip-poor-will
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
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 Kingbird
Blue-headed Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Bank Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Sedge Wren
Marsh Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Eastern Bluebird
Veery
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Northern Waterthrush
Golden-winged Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler
Lawrence's Warbler (hybrid)
Black-and-white Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Palm Warbler
Ovenbird
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Field Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Bobolink
Eastern Meadowlark
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Pine Siskin
House Sparrow
Photos by Brendan Lanpher and Sandy Hokanson
In celebration of BIG Birding Day our teams spent the day trying to find as many species as they could in a single day. We spent the most time at Chester Woods as it has the most diverse habitat in one location. We also visited the Eastside WMA, the Silver Creek reservoirs, Kutzky Park and the Izaak Walton Wetlands. Individual birders checked their favorite spots to find rarities and other birds we missed earlier. In all we found at 126 species. That's down from last year's record high of 143 when conditions were near perfect.
This year we were hampered by a lack of shorebirds and waterfowl - most of which came through early and had already left the area. Still, we think we found lots of great birds. Favorites included a Lawrence's Warbler, Lark Sparrow, Harris's Sparrow and a Kingfisher. Plus we found 22 species of warblers!
We especially want to thank our experts Mike Degerstrom, Brendan Lanpher, Lance Vrieze, Dave Gross and Sandy Hokanson for leading the walks today. There were many other experienced birders along as well and everyone contributed to the total.
Species list:
Canada Goose
Trumpeter Swan
Tundra Swan
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
Blue-winged Teal
Mallard
Ring-necked duck
Lesser Scaup
Ruddy Duck
Canvasback
Ring-necked Pheasant
Wild Turkey
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Sora Rail
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
Spotted Sandpiper
Killdeer
Greater Yellowlegs
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared Dove
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl
Common Nighthawk
Whip-poor-will
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
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 Kingbird
Blue-headed Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Bank Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Sedge Wren
Marsh Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Eastern Bluebird
Veery
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Northern Waterthrush
Golden-winged Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler
Lawrence's Warbler (hybrid)
Black-and-white Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Palm Warbler
Ovenbird
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Field Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Bobolink
Eastern Meadowlark
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Pine Siskin
House Sparrow
Photos by Brendan Lanpher and Sandy Hokanson