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Oshkosh Big Sit was a birding "festival" in tough times
10th Oshkosh Big Sit: Circle remains unbroken – just expanded

By Anita Carpenter
     In this time of pandemic pandemonium with safer-at-home orders and social distancing, many activities have been cancelled. The Oshkosh Bird Fest, which has been a “first-weekend-in-May” event since 2011, succumbed to the same fate.
However, as my friend and fest organizer Bettie Harriman said, even though the Oshkosh Bird Fest was cancelled, Anita has not been cancelled!
     As part of the yearly event, I’ve hosted and enjoyed the Big Sit for nine years. We’d begin at 6 a.m. in Menominee Park on Lake Winnebago and continue until noon. This year marked our 10th anniversary. I said I’d still like to do the Big Sit even if no one else was present, because I have nine uninterrupted years of data. Besides, Big Sits are fun.
     The fest committee couldn’t announce the Big Sit to the general public, but committee members were invited to participate. Eight individuals showed up with many remarking that this was the first year they could participate instead of being responsible for other activities.
     We had to relax one major restriction. To accommodate all of us, a 17-foot diameter circle did not allow for 6-foot distancing, so we had a “Big Sit Ellipse.” We felt that under these extreme pandemic conditions, we would be forgiven.
The first weekend in May is a bit early for the last major wave of neotropical migrants to arrive in Oshkosh. Together with this year’s cold weather, I wasn’t expecting much, but the forecast was for sunny skies with temperatures in the 50s and southerly winds. There was ​hope.
     Our 6 a.m. bird was a Northern Cardinal. By 7 we had tallied 30 species, including an unexpected Eastern Bluebird and Blue-winged Teal. By 8 we had added nine more species including Forster’s and Caspian Tern, Warbling Vireo, Baltimore Oriole and Osprey.
     As in the past, the first two hours were the best. By 9 a.m., we had recorded seven additional species including a Palm Warbler, the one and only warbler we saw, plus an Eastern Phoebe and a Great-crested Flycatcher.
We ended the Big Sit at 9 a.m., earlier than expected, because the park’s restrooms were locked due to the corona virus!
Our grand three-hour total was 46 species. The yearly average is 48 species ranging from 32 in 2019 to 70 in 2012-when we set up two circles.
     I was ecstatic with the results. Even though we didn’t see big numbers of each species, we all had a wonderful time.
Being with friends, sharing a few good laughs and doing what we all love to do, was a pleasant respite from the worries and uncertainty of the future. Birds are listed in the order seen.


2 May 2020
In Order Seen


Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Mourning Dove
White Pelican
Common Grackle
American Robin
Double-crested Cormorant
Canada Goose
Mallard
Bufflehead
Belted Kingfisher
Barn Swallow
American Crow
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler

Total Count: 46 species


Killdeer
Tree Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
​Chipping SparrowRuby-crowned Kinglet

Ring-billed GullEastern Bluebird
Great Blue Heron
American Goldfinch
Bald Eagle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Hermit Thrush
Herring Gull
Forster’s Tern



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​Warbling Vireo
Osprey
Sandhill CraneDowny Woodpecker
Baltimore Oriole
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Caspian Tern
House Finch
Eastern Phoebe
Palm Warbler
Great Egret
House Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
European Starling
Great Crested Flycatcher
10th Annual OSHKOSH BIRD FEST --  May 2, 2020

We regret to announce that Oshkosh Bird Fest has been
CANCELLED for 2020 

We want everyone to enjoy spring migration this year by getting out by themselves or with the people they live with to do some bird watching on local trails and in parks. Keep your distance from other like-minded folks - at least a 6 ft. wingspan's worth. Enjoy the bird song. Soak in some sunshine and fresh air. Share your photos with us on our Facebook page. Tell us what birds you are seeing. Stay well!

​Save the Date for May 1, 2021
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Rain or shine!  Free!
Fun for the whole family.
Bring your binoculars.
Spend the day at Oshkosh Bird Fest:
     Menominee Park 6:00am-1:00pm

   Oshkosh Masonic Center 6:00pm-9:00pm
          during Oshkosh Gallery Walk


Like us on Facebook!
Check out the daily bird trivia question during the month of April.

Click here for 2019 Schedule of Activities.
2020 Activities will be posted soon.

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Click here to download a Bird Fest poster.
2020 Poster will be available in early spring.
      

Bird and Nature Artists, Photographers, Carvers...
      Interested in having an outdoor space at Oshkosh Bird Fest in Menominee Park from 8:00 am - 1:00 pm?  Email:  oshkoshbirdfest@gmail.com 
      Interested in having an indoor space at Artists of Oshkosh Bird Fest at the Oshkosh Masonic Center from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm during Oshkosh Gallery Walk?  Email:  info@collectionsbycarol.com
      For either venue, please send your contact information as you would like to see it listed here and 3 images in an attachment and one (at organizers choice) will be posted on this page to represent your work.
      

Interested in serving on the Oshkosh Bird Fest Planning Committee? Contact Janet at oshkoshbirdfest@gmail.com
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The Big Sit
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Building a bird house to take home.
Recognized as a Bird City Wisconsin, the City of Oshkosh celebrates International Migratory Bird Day with Oshkosh Bird Fest.
A committee of volunteers works in cooperation with the City of Oshkosh to organize the event.
The City does not provide any financial support.

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​BECOME A SPONSOR TODAY for 2020!
S
imply make your check payable to Winnebago Audubon with Oshkosh Bird Fest in the memo
and mail to Oshkosh Bird Fest, c/o Janet Wissink, PO Box 184, Oshkosh, WI 54903.

Sponsorship levels:     
Eagle............. $  500.00 and up - the sky's the limit!
                                       Peregrine.....  $  250.00 - $ 499.99
                                       Bluebird.......  $ 100.00 - $249.99
                                       Feather..... up to $ 99.99


Eagles will be acknowledged prominently at the event, on posters and small flyers (if received by March 15), and on the website. Peregrines will be listed on posters and small flyers (if received by March 15) and on the website. Bluebirds will be listed on the website with a link to your website. Please provide your logo as a jpg. Feather sponsors will be thanked on the website.
Thank you to our  2019 SPONSORS:
EAGLE SPONSORS:
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PEREGRINE SPONSORS:​
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BLUEBIRD SPONSOR:
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​FEATHER SPONSOR:
                    Andres Alvarez


SPECIAL THANKS TO:
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These organizations are represented on the Oshkosh Bird Fest Planning Committee:
Oshkosh Bird Club
Oshkosh Sustainability Advisory Board
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