Lake Erie Islands
Natural History Studies
" News from Tom"
Islands Checklist of Birds
Attached below is the most current checklist of the Birds of the Lake Erie Islands. There are two forms. One is a copy of a poster but it can be printed and used as a checklist. It will have small type but still useful. The other is a two sided excel list which should be easier to use. The excel list are as of 2018 AOU standards. The poster is from the 2016 AOS standards but hopefully will be updated soon.
Excel list:
Poster:
Fall 2019 Lake Erie Islands (USA)
Proposed Bird Banding/Avian Studies Schedule
H. Thomas Bartlett (Federal Permit #21624)
1833 South Winfield Drive
Tiffin, Ohio 44883
419-447-0005
567-278-2300 or 419-937-6255
All banding is weather permitting; we do not band in high wind, rain, snow or predators and sometimes shutdown due to an over load of birds to process. The safety of the birds comes first.
No pets allowed around the nets. No flash allowed when photographing birds.
Kelleys Island Fall 2019 schedule is listed under the Kelleys Island section of this webpage. The Bass Islands Fall 2019 schedule is listed under the Bass Islands section of this webpage.
The Kelleys Island banding station is located just after the white gate at the end of Monaghan Road (after Camp Patmos). Please park in the marked area about 100 yards before the gate and walk in. Since this is a restricted preserve, visitors must remain with a staff member at all times. No pets around the nets , please. It is ok to drop off handicapped individuals at the gate and return to the parking area. There is very limited parking after the gate and there are private homes on the point, so plaase do not block the drive. The main owl banding location is at the Scheele Preserve on Monaghan Road just north of Hamilton Road intersection. There are a few parking spots near the station but most parking is on the west side (clearly marked). Please do not park directly across from the banding station as this is private property. The alternate owl banding station is at the North Pond State Nature Preserve parking lot on Ward Road. All banding stations will have signs.
South Bass Island banding station is located at the back of the Vineyard Bed & Breakfast by the red barn on the east side of South Bass Island. There will be a sign along the road marking where to turn in. If it is not wet, drive to the back to the red barn. If it is wet, please park by the house and walk to the red barn.
Middle Bass Island banding station is located at the East Point Preserve on the far eastern side of the island. Please drive into the preserve to park. We have also started an alternate banding site at the Forested Wetland Preserve on Fox Road. There is parking there and along the road.
Update to 2019 Research on the islands
As of August 2019, we have banded 52 days on the Lake Erie Islands. Over this period we have banded 2546 individual birds of 89 species and one hybrid. It has been one of our better years.
I have banded 20 days on Kelleys Island and Dr. James Marshall has banded one. We have banded 943 individuals of 69 species. Highlights have been 3 Black-billed Cuckoo, 2 Yellow-billed Cuckoo, a Chimney Swift (my first ever!), 4 Eastern Bluebirds (first documented nesting record for the islands), 3 Connecticut Warblers, and 18 Mourning Warblers.
On South Bass Island I have banded 7 days, Dr. Marshall has banded 10 days, and Tom Kashmer banded one (the Purple Martin colonies). We have banded 1072 individuals of 57 species. Highlights are a Chimney Swift, 339 Purple Martins, 38 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Golden-winged Warbler, 2 Blue-winged Warbler, 1 Blue-winged X Golden-winged Warbler hybrid (rare), and 1 Orange-crowned Warbler.
On Middle Bass Island, we have banded 10 days. 473 individuals of 53 species have been banded by myself and Dr. Marshall. Highlights include 5 Eastern Bluebirds, a Savannah Sparrow, a Blue-winged Warbler, 2 Golden-winged Warblers, an Orange-crowned Warbler, and one Hooded Warbler.
On North Bass Island, Dr Marshall was only to get over 3 days this summer. His team banded 58 individuals of 8 species. The only highlight was a Common Grackle which was new to the island banded list but not an uncommon bird.