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Park Ranger Michael Schramm of the Ohio River National Wildlife Refuge began this week’s Birdwalk off by watching the birds on the three fowl feeders behind the refuge building. Blue jays are pictured above, however cardinals, finches, mockingbirds and a downy woodpecker additionally made an look on the feeders on Saturday.
(Photo by Clara Noelle)
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During the birdwalk on Saturday morning, led by Park Ranger Michael Schramm on the Ohio River National Wildlife Refuge, the contributors noticed over 25 fowl species, from Bald Eagles to Kinglets (pictured above).
(Photo by Clara Noelle)
Park Ranger Michael Schramm of the Ohio River National Wildlife Refuge began this week’s Birdwalk off by watching the birds on the three fowl feeders behind the refuge building. Blue jays are pictured above, however cardinals, finches, mockingbirds and a downy woodpecker additionally made an look on the feeders on Saturday.
(Photo by Clara Noelle)
WILLIAMSTOWN — Park Ranger Michael Schramm led his weekly fowl walk on Saturday on the Ohio River National Wildlife Refuge in Williamstown. Schramm famous that the winter walks normally don’t have lots of people due to the chilly climate, however there are additionally not as many fowl sightings within the winter walks.
Schramm mentioned he leads the fowl walks “pretty much” each Saturday at 8:30 a.m. He mentioned there tends to be much less folks on days the place the climate is dangerous.
“May, September and October are the best,” he mentioned. “August is probably the worst of all. It’s very quiet.”
Though the winter months don’t have loads of fowl exercise, he did level out an exception.
“A polar vortex is the best in winter,” mentioned Schramm. “But nobody wants to come out in the cold.”
During the birdwalk on Saturday morning, led by Park Ranger Michael Schramm on the Ohio River National Wildlife Refuge, the contributors noticed over 25 fowl species, from Bald Eagles to Kinglets (pictured above).
(Photo by Clara Noelle)
During the winter months, the migratory birds transfer south for the higher local weather, however some birds keep like seed consuming birds like chickadees, finches, doves, mockingbirds, robins, blue jays, cardinals and sparrows. Schramm says even in winter, the refuge sees round 25-30 species of birds a day.
Even although this quantity is a small portion of the 185 species of birds one can see on the refuge, excluding the “bizarre stuff,” he added.
Though the refuge is the most important fowl watching scorching spot within the space, one can fowl watch anyplace. Schramm suggests watching birds in locations one normally visits just like the park or their yard if somebody is wanting to start out fowl watching.
“You can only learn by doing it,” he says.
He prompt folks study the birds and the birdcalls of their space. The greatest time for fowl watching is the primary three hours of daylight.
Schramm suggests “eBird” as a supply to assist newbie fowl watchers. “eBird” has details about totally different birds, and it is usually a place for folks to log fowl sightings.
“eBird” has an inventory of scorching spots. There are six hotspots in Marietta alone.
“A lot of people know more birds than they realize,” he says.
Schramm additionally suggests coming to a fowl walk if somebody is desirous to get into fowl watching, there they will have steering into the world of “birding.”
He has been birding for 15 years, and says he’s all the time studying extra. Schramm has a common curiosity in nature, however he has a particular curiosity in birds.
“If you were to focus on one thing, birds are the most obvious,” he mentioned. “It’s more doable.”
He has realized concerning the totally different behaviors of birds and the way totally different species have totally different behaviors.
“Chickadees are the most daring,” Schramm mentioned. He defined they’re normally the primary to return again after the opposite birds fly away from a predator. They have a warning name that tells the opposite birds how shut a predator is, and the opposite birds pay attention.
According to Schramm, birding additionally teaches one about themselves and others.
“People are very visual,” he mentioned.
Schramm says fowl watching has helped him begin listening to the sounds round him higher.
“A lot of people don’t dream with sounds,” he mentioned. “Since I’ve started birding, I’ve begun dreaming with sound.”
Schramm posts occasion updates on the Ohio River National Wildlife Refuge’s fb web page in addition to fowl pictures and info.
