Two local chapters of the National Audubon Society challenge everyone who enjoys birds to safely explore the Chagrin River Valley and find as many bird species as they can in the 7th annual Chagrin River Bird Quest. Bird alone or in teams and record species in one 24-hour period from 4 p.m. Friday, September 10 to 4 p.m. Saturday, September 11. Audubon Society of Greater Cleveland and Blackbrook Audubon Society are co-sponsoring this birding event which includes parts of Lake, Geauga, Cuyahoga and Portage counties.
All Bird Quest activities and materials are free, but registration is required by September 10. Register at https://clevelandaudubon.org.
Team check-in will be 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. September 10 at The West Woods Nature Center, 9465 Kinsman Road in Russell Township. Each check-in packet will have a map, checklist, a list of scheduled walks and t-shirts. Teams must turn in their checklists for judging by 4 p.m. Saturday.
This year’s Quest Celebration will be 4:00 – 6:30 p.m. September 11 at The West Woods Nature Center. Audubon will award prizes for the most species overall, most warblers seen, most habitats visited and most creative team name. For more information, visit https://clevelandaudubon.org and click the Chagrin River Bird Quest logo or email birdquest@clevelandaudubon.org.
Audubon Society of Greater Cleveland, which covers territory along the southern half of the Chagrin River watershed, began this contest in 2015 to bring attention to the Chagrin River Corridor IBA, or Important Bird Area. National Audubon declared this watershed an IBA to highlight the many species who use riparian and other habitats along the Chagrin to nest each year and rest during migration. Once again, Blackbrook Audubon Society, which covers the northern half of the Chagrin River IBA in Lake and Geauga counties, joins ASGC as a co-sponsor and hopes to encourage its members to share in the quest. Geauga Park District is also a sponsor.