Ohio Young
Birders Club
www.ohioyoungbirders.org
Update
on the Ohio Young Birders Club, December 2007
It all began in May of 2006 when 6 young birders met
with the staff from Black Swamp Bird Observatory, and
volunteers from the Kirtland Bird Club at the Black
Swamp Bird Observatory in Oak Harbor to discuss forming a club
for young people with an interest in birds and nature.
What they helped create was the
Ohio Young Birders Club, a club for young people
ages 12-18.
These dynamic young people recognized that
they would need the support of adults, so the structure
of the club included adult advisors that would provide
them with funding, birding expertise and transportation
to birding locations.
Well,
that’s how it all began, and today, along with support
from our partners, we have accomplished some pretty
impressive things. Since our inception we’ve had 20
partnership sponsored field trips, conducted several
important service projects, and established the John
Gallagher Memorial Scholarship Fund. Membership has
steadily grown, and the club now boasts 82 student
members, 76 adult supporting members, and 17 partnering
organizations. Some of the highlights of what we
accomplished in such a short time:
-
Hosting our first annual conference
that drew more than 80 participants. All of the
presentations were given by young birders! Three
OYBC members gave presentations and another served
as the event’s MC! According to the ABA there has
never been an event like this one!
-
Growing OYBC membership to 150+
members and winning the support of 17 organizations
that have joined the team as OYBC partners!
-
Serving as a model program for
organizations across the U.S. inspiring other states
to launch their own clubs for young birders! New
York, Florida, and Illinois have launched their own
version of our YBC—and many other states have
contacted us asking what we’re doing for young
birders here in Ohio!
-
Arranging monthly field trips and/or
service projects in a variety of locations around
the State of Ohio, including many overnight campouts
and all day events.
-
Conducting a Bioblitz at Crown Point
Farm and Education Center, Bath, Ohio. More than 450
species of flora and fauna were found, identified,
and catalogued.
-
Learning a lot about Ohio’s birds and
environment and HAVING A LOT OF FUN, too!
We could not have accomplished this without the support
of so many of you. For two years in a row, OOS has
offered an additional field trip on their symposium
agendas and has awarded those proceeds to the OYBC,
allowing us to offer trips to Illinois and Indiana to
see Greater Prairie-Chickens and Sandhill Cranes. A trip
to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is planned for this
February! Our partners are developing field trips to
some of Ohio’s best birding hotspots and richest natural
areas, including: Middle Bass Island, Ottawa National
Wildlife Refuge, Green Lawn Cemetery, and Cedar Bog
Nature Preserve.
Many of you have supported us with your donations of
time and money.
We want to thank all of you; parents,
partnering organizations, supporters, and the Ohio
birding community, who have helped us in this effort and
provided us with the resources to make this club a
success.
Sometimes you just
gotta go birding!
For more information visit
www.ohioyoungbirders.org
Last updated on
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
