Tune In -- FLIGHT PATH: The World of Migratory Birds

Last evening I was able to participate in the private viewing of a new documentary produced locally -- but quite literally filmed internationally -- that showcases the tremendous importance of northwest Ohio as a stopover for neotropical bird migrants who are currently making their way north from their "wintering grounds" in Central America, the Caribbean, and even as far away as South America to their "breeding grounds" in the northern U.S. and Canada.

As I find myself smack dab in the middle of "The Biggest Week in American Birding," I quite simply don't have the time to elaborate much right now. I had about a 16-hour day yesterday and I have to get back in the truck to get to the marsh now.

What I will say is that this one-hour production is the first of what we hope could be as much as a 13-part series. It lays the groundwork for a much broader curriculum that a whole host of talented contributors envision will ultimately educate both the general public and more specifically targeted youth demographics (through companion teaching tools that will be made available for schools).

Episode one will be released locally tomorrow evening (Thursday, May 9th) -- airing on WGTE at 8:00 p.m. It will be available online starting Friday morning and then will be released statewide in the coming weeks. The ultimate goal is to have this first episode, and ultimately the entire series, "picked up" nationally by national public media. This is a story not only worth telling, but worth sharing with the rest of the country (and the world).

Standing Rush has been honored to be involved in this very worthwhile project. Whether your interests lie in birds and birding specifically, or conservation in general, this is a program that will provide new insights and a renewed hope. If you are new to the subject entirely, please consider tuning in to learn just how important our very own backyards are to this incredible story.

UPDATE #1: Initial air times on WGTE --

Thursday, May 9 at 8:00 p.m.
Friday, May 10 at 2:00 a.m.
Friday, May 10 at 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 12 at 12:00 a.m.
Sunday, May 12 at 10:00 a.m.

UPDATE #2: Information for those outside of NW Ohio interested in watching should check in on WGTE's website to stream the documentary online. As of today (5/9/19), it is available here.

Welcome WGTE/Public Television

Roy, mid-interview; per usual, his modesty in communicating complex concepts of marsh management
makes the delivery of his message easily digestible and enjoyable

Yesterday afternoon, we were flattered at the opportunity to tour two talented, young videographers from WGTE (Toledo's public media outlet) around the marsh. To their credit, Kaitlyn and Courtney weren't deterred by decent chances of afternoon thunderstorms, unpredictably warm temps (5-10 degrees above the forecast), or a dewpoint that lead to oppressive humidity at times through the late afternoon and evening.

As the skies opened and the rain poured down the heaviest (literally just as their van pulled in the driveway), we were all feeling a bit sheepish about our collective decision to move forward with our plans. But both the weather gods and the wildlife gods ultimately shined upon us. I think our guests were pleased with the amount of activity in front of their cameras, and we were pleased with the opportunity to continue to tell our story to a broader audience.

Cedar waxwing; tough light, dense cover,
still such a cool bird

Good friend Steve Pollick (retired Outdoors Editor from The Blade) was the initial catalyst for this outing. Ever and ally and an advocate of mine, Steve finally approached me with an opportunity to help him on one of his projects. Flight Path: The World of Migratory Birds is a really exciting project being spearheaded by WGTE and the Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO). Both are leaders in their respective arenas, and both put an extreme premium on presenting their passions with professionalism. (As a sidebar, northwest Ohio should count both among a shortlist of community gems.)

The video embedded in the link above begins to tell the story of Flight Path, but in essence it's an opportunity to spotlight the critical role of northwest Ohio in the intercontinental migration of literally dozens and dozens of bird species. The creative team has already collected footage in Panama and they are heading into Ontario next week. We were flattered that they were interested in collecting footage at Standing Rush as part of the story in between.

The modest images presented here will pale in comparison to what they captured while we were together. Spoiler alert -- highlights included but weren't limited to: a fairly close encounter with a pair of trumpeter swans and five young (2-week old) cygnets, literally 40+ eagles (mostly juveniles), lots of wading birds (a determined great egret chasing minnows proved to be a favorite), a couple indigo buntings, and of course plenty of other illusive song birds -- including our resident swarm of yellow warblers.

Had to include this candid shot of a yellow warbler;
they proved to be Kaitlyn's nemesis but this one cooperated
with me as Roy was being interviewed by the bunkhouse
(I'm pretty sure this male is guarding a nest in a portable
duck blind near our shop)

The bonus of last night's effort is that in addition to providing b-roll footage for the birding documentary, the visuals and running commentary will also be edited into one or more short video pieces to support a national/international effort called Rare: Creatures of the Photo Ark.

You can learn more about renowned photographer Joel Sartore and his productions by visiting his "visual ark." Our involvement comes with the project's broader goal to take land preservation and wildlife conservation to the local, grassroots level. Our story will join many others, large and small, to help speak to the power of a collective force toward conservation. They may serve as stand-alone pieces, but they will also help promote the broader project. It's a classic example of "think globally, act locally."

We're pleased to be included and will certainly provide updates and links as finished products become available.

Kaitlyn chasing herons and egrets through the southern unit of the West Marsh; breaks in the clouds even allowed for some
blue sky and nice evening light (I was struck by how much greener everything looked compared to just a short week or so ago)

P.S. A flock of eight American white pelicans visited our East Marsh just before the film crew arrived. This is the second time in a week and the third time this year we've gotten to see them. Unfortunately, they didn't stick around to pose for the cameras!