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Field Trip Report 

 
Event: ​Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society Field Trip to Ohio and Erie Canal 
Report 
Date: ​Sunday, June 17, 2018 
Time: ​8:00 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. 
Location:​ CanalWay Center, 4524 E 49th St, Cleveland, OH 44125 
Leaders:​ Nancy Howell  
Target Species: ​Resident and nesting species in a variety of habitats 
Results: ​6 Birders, 46 Species 

It was a sultry morning on Sunday, June 17 as 6 participants attended the WCAS field trip to the Ohio
and Erie Canal Reservation’s CanalWay Center. A variety of habitats in an urban area, forests, wetlands,
the river, shrub and brushy areas along the Cuyahoga River, provided us with 46 species.

Beneath the high tension power lines the shrubby areas produced many Yellow Warblers, Gray Catbirds,
Northern Cardinals, American Goldfinch and a good number of Willow Flycatchers, many of which
cooperated and sat on bare branches. We observed a female Yellow Warbler gathering nest material,
dried grass and cottonwood fuzz, from the side of the all-purpose trail. She came several times then flew
into the dense shrubs. The male, probably her mate, watched and sang nearby. Indigo Buntings were
heard singing and one was sighted from a distance. They too like the thicket areas.

Wetland areas had numerous Red-winged Blackbirds, both adult and young birds. Tree Swallows fussed
as Common Grackles landed in dead trees where the swallows were probably nesting. American Robins
were common along the trail whether it was in the open or in the wooded area. They are quite
adaptable.

Many pairs of Barn Swallows, nesting beneath a covered shelter area under the railroad trestle,

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swooped in, out and around us. We located active nests by looking at the ground and seeing the
droppings of the young birds. Several nests had little heads poking out just waiting for the adults to
return with food.

Entering the wooded area to get into the shade and to find woodland species, a Baltimore Oriole nest
was noted in a Sycamore tree. We could hear one young bird begging and it was found when an adult
came in to feed. The young bird was recently fledged and had a stubby little tail. Warbling and Red-eyed
Vireos were heard, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were heard, then seen and several other woodland species
were added including Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker and Blue
Jay were added to the list. Orchard Orioles were heard in a couple of places, but hard to see - darn
leaves.

Coming out of the wooded area and heading along the canal we were able to see the sky better and
located Belted Kingfisher that tried to sneak by without calling, a couple of Turkey Vultures and a
Red-tailed Hawk were enjoying the thermals rising from the valley, and a flyby Green Heron was a nice
addition. One Yellow-billed Cuckoo called from across the canal and was briefly sighted. The skulky birds
are hard to find and they slip away easily. Near the end of the walk an Eastern Phoebe made sure we
saw him perched in an open area near a small bridge. Below is the list of species sighted and number of
each species. ​- Nancy Howell, WCAS Board Member

Bird List 

# Species Count

1. Great Blue Heron ​(Ardea herodias) 1

2. Green Heron ​(Butorides virescens) 1

3. Turkey Vulture ​(Cathartes aura) 1

4. Red-tailed Hawk ​(Buteo jamaicensis) 3

5. Ring-billed Gull ​(Larus delawarensis) 2

6. Rock Pigeon ​(Columba livia) 1

7. Mourning Dove ​(Zenaida macroura) 6

8. Yellow-billed Cuckoo​ (Coccyzus americanus) 1

9. Chimney Swift​ (Chaetura pelagica) 1

10. Ruby-throated Hummingbird​ (Archilochus colubris) 3

11. Belted Kingfisher​ (Megaceryle alcyon) 1

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12. Red-bellied Woodpecker​ (Melanerpes carolinus) 2

13. Downy Woodpecker​ (Picoides pubescens) 2

14. Hairy Woodpecker ​(Leuconotopicus villosus) 1

15. Northern Flicker ​(Colaptes auratus) 3

16. Pileated Woodpecker​ (Hylatomus pileatus) 1

17. Willow Flycatcher ​(Empidonax traillii) 4

18. Eastern Phoebe​ (Sayornis phoebe) 2

19. Warbling Vireo​ (Vireo gilvus) 4

20. Red-eyed Vireo​ (Vireo olivaceus) 5

21. Blue Jay​ (Cyanocitta cristata) 3

22. Tree Swallow ​(Tachycineta bicolor) 6

23. Barn Swallow ​(Hirundo rustica) 27

24. Black-capped Chickadee ​(Poecile atricapillus) 2

25. Tufted Titmouse​ (Baeolophus bicolor) 1

26. White-breasted Nuthatch ​(Sitta carolinensis) 5

27. House Wren​ (Troglodytes aedon) 4

28. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher ​(Polioptila caerulea) 3

29. American Robin​ (Turdus migratorius) 17

30. Gray Catbird​ (Dumetella carolinensis) 12

31. European Starling ​(Sturnus vulgaris) 9

32. Cedar Waxwing​ (Bombycilla cedrorum) 7

33. Common Yellowthroat ​(Geothlypis trichas) 2

34. American Redstart ​(Setophaga ruticilla) 1

35. Yellow Warbler ​(Setophaga petechia) 18

36. Song Sparrow ​(Melospiza melodia) 12

Copyright 2018 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works.
Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society, 4310 Bush Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109
Email: ​info@wcaudubon.org​ Web: ​www.wcaudubon.org
 4

37. Northern Cardinal ​(Cardinalis cardinalis) 8

38. Indigo Bunting ​(Passerina cyanea) 2

39. Orchard Oriole ​(Icterus spurius) 3

40. Baltimore Oriole ​(Icterus galbula) 5

41. Red-winged Blackbird ​(Agelaius phoeniceus) 15

42. Brown-headed Cowbird ​(Molothrus ater) 8

43. Common Grackle ​(Quiscalus quiscula) 8

44. House Finch ​(Haemorhous mexicanus) 6

45. American Goldfinch​ (Spinus tristis) 15

46. House Sparrow (​Passer domesticus) 2

Photos 
 

Photo: Birds-foot trefoil by Penny O’Connor.

Copyright 2018 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works.
Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society, 4310 Bush Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109
Email: ​info@wcaudubon.org​ Web: ​www.wcaudubon.org
 5

 
Photo: CanalWay Birders by Penny O’Connor.
 

 
Photo: Dogbane by Penny O’Connor.

Copyright 2018 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works.
Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society, 4310 Bush Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109
Email: ​info@wcaudubon.org​ Web: ​www.wcaudubon.org
 6

Photo: Poison Hemlock by Penny O’Connor.

 
Photo: Powerline Habitat by Penny O’Connor.
   

Copyright 2018 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works.
Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society, 4310 Bush Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109
Email: ​info@wcaudubon.org​ Web: ​www.wcaudubon.org
 7

 
Photo: Baby Oriole by Anna Julnes.
 

 
Photo: Baby Oriole by Anna Julnes. 

Copyright 2018 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works.
Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society, 4310 Bush Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109
Email: ​info@wcaudubon.org​ Web: ​www.wcaudubon.org
 8

 
Photo: Hummingbird by Anna Julnes.
 

 
Photo: Oriole Nest by Anna Julnes.
 
 

Copyright 2018 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works.
Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society, 4310 Bush Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109
Email: ​info@wcaudubon.org​ Web: ​www.wcaudubon.org
 9

 
Photo: Yellow Warbler Female Collecting Down by Anna Julnes.

Photo: Yellow Warbler by Anna Julnes.

Copyright 2018 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works.
Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society, 4310 Bush Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109
Email: ​info@wcaudubon.org​ Web: ​www.wcaudubon.org
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Copyright 2018 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works.
Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society, 4310 Bush Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109
Email: ​info@wcaudubon.org​ Web: ​www.wcaudubon.org