This was the season of the raptor. Golden Eagles and Merlins solidified there place within the winter community dynamics of Ohio’s avifauna. Merlins may well be expected anywhere in Ohio during the season, while Golden Eagles are finding south-central and southeast Ohio very much to their liking. Just why that is remains a question for birders to answer in future winter seasons. For now, the winter birdscape has become decidely more interesting. Red- shouldered Hawks, through diligent survey efforts, are proving as numerous and widespread as ever from strongholds in the northeast to the southwest. The Rough-legged Hawk staged a modest but widespread incursion. As to other irruptives, the Common Redpoll led the way with one of the better showings of recent years. The White-winged Crossbill, in its third consecutive invasion, remained as unpredictable as ever, appearing in small numbers at favored cemeteries while scattered individuals brightened a feeding station elsewhere. The Northern Shrike featured in the northeast, with unprecedented numbers spilling over from Pennsylvannia.
Winter gull watching maybe at its nadir for Ohio observers.This season was simply deplorable, continuuing a trend discussed recently by Dolbeer et al. 1999 - see review this issue. Birders could not be too disappointed with a fair diversity of uncommon species including especially rare appearances by Western Grebe and Bohemian Waxwing. Most observers were kept busy by a late fall migration and an early spring migration. A record mild fall season coupled with an abundance of food resources left many facultative migrants (half-hardy species) in good condition to linger into the season. Unlike the El Nino of 1997-98, few of these birds attempted to overwinter in the face of bitter January temperatures. Waterfowl lingered until the first severe weather 3 Jan. In a repeat of recent years, this season saw an exodus of large numbers of puddle ducks ahead of the system, with thousands of birds making landfall the morning of the 2nd. Coincident with the movement was one of the larger concentrations of Snow Buntings. On Lake Erie numbers of bay ducks were unremarkable but the fortunes of Bufflehead continue to soar with yet another record concentration around the Lake Erie islands. After the fall flights, a variety of ducks found the open water below river dams of the Scioto and Maumee quite suitable wintering quarters. Quarters which saw double occupancy with large numbers of Great Blue Herons in attendance.
The thaw began 31 Jan. with spring-like conditions palpable throughout the state by 5 Feb. An early spring matched those of recent years for the arrival of a suite of species. In February, birders gauge the season’s progress by several key species especially the Killdeer, American Woodcock, and Green-winged Teal. All were numerous north to the south shore of Lake Erie by the end of the month. The first diurnal flight along the shores of Lake Erie was detected 26 Feb. but conditions were good as early as the 22nd when Killdeer were suddenly recorded from many stations across the state. The only surprise offered by the spring movement was the early arrival of shorebirds with no less than 5 species present in Ottawa Co. at the end of Feb. Only a few years ago it was unheard of to find either yellowlegs before March. This group apparently remains one to watch closely no matter the time of year. - V.W.F.III