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.
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.
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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 |
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
Rain or shine! Free!
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The Big Sit
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.
A committee of volunteers works in cooperation with the City of Oshkosh to organize the event.
The City does not provide any financial support.
BECOME A SPONSOR TODAY for 2020!
Simply 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.
Simply 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:
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
Oshkosh Bird Club
Oshkosh Sustainability Advisory Board
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