Two local chapters of the National Audubon Society challenge everyone who enjoys birds to explore the Chagrin River Valley and find as many bird species as they can in the 4th annual Chagrin River Bird Quest. Bird alone or in teams and record species in one 24-hour period from 4:00 p.m. Friday, September 14th to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, September 15th. Survey area roughly covers Lake Erie to Munson to Mayfield to Mantua.
All Bird Quest activities and materials are free, but registration is required. A limited number of binoculars are available to lend out and t-shirts are given to participants, as well as maps and recommended sites to visit. Returning teams who use the same name as last year and sponsor a new team will receive a pizza gift card for every team they sponsor. For more information, visit Audubon Society of Greater Cleveland and click the Chagrin River Bird Quest logo on the right.
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. Last year, Blackbrook Audubon had three teams who did well in the contest. This year, Blackbrook, 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.
