By Andy Avram, Interpretive Manager

It's April and we're starting to see the beginnings of the mega May migration. During this month, a birder will have to work a little harder, but each outing should allow for a new first of the year (FOY) bird species. Yellow-rumped warblers, ruby-crowned and golden-crowned kinglets, and yellow-bellied sapsuckers are being seen in many of the parks. Pine warblers and palm warblers have also returned in small numbers. Visiting the lakefront parks should produce showings of Bonaparte’s gulls and Caspian terns, while a few lingering diving ducks and winter gulls are still being seen.

Golden-crowned kinglet

Birders are reporting seeing between 35 and 45 species of birds in single outings at highly-productive parks such as Lake Erie Bluffs, Chagrin River Park, and Veterans Park. April might be a little overlooked due to the sheer craziness of May, but get out and enjoy the parks and the front end of our returning migrating birds! 

Caspian tern

Attention new birders: you are invited to our Return of the Birds event on May 8 at Lake Erie Bluffs!

Palm warbler

Pine warbler

Ruby-crowned kinglet