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Spring Migration at Spring Grove Cemetery
Theme: Spring Warbler and Song Bird Migration
Location: Spring Grove Cemetery
Date and Time: Sunday, May 7th 2023, 8:00 AM
Meet: At 8:00 a.m. just beyond the tunnel at the Spring Grove main Spring Grove Ave. entrance. See directions below
Leader: Jack Stenger, (513) 503-3389, jackstenger@gmail.com
The focus of this field trip will be migrant songbirds, especially warblers, as the spring migration of northward bound neo-tropical species will be at peak on this date. Spring blooms and plants are also at peak during this period and they will also be pointed out during this morning walk through the beautiful grounds of Spring Grove Cemetery. Our leader, Jack Stenger, is an expert birder and naturalist. Jack is a conservation biologist with the Hamilton County Great Parks and is a life time ASO advocate. Jack’s birding skills are off the charts and he will help us identify birds by sight and sound. With Jack as our leader we won’t miss much.
Birds will be very vocal and with Jack’s guidance we can expect to see (and hear) many species of warblers as well as many other songbirds including flycatchers, vireos, swallows, thrushes, tanagers, sparrows, grosbeaks, buntings, orioles, waxwings, finches, hawks and more. The park-like grounds at Spring Grove (733 acres) are beautiful at all seasons, but especially so during the spring. Spring Grove Cemetery is a good example of a “migrant trap”. Birds migrating through our urban and residential areas are drawn to this “island of green” in an otherwise heavily populated area to forage and rest before continuing on their way north. At times the spring birding here can be spectacular.
Jack’s plan is to take a leisurely morning walk throughout the cemetery grounds and see what we can find. The trip will mostly be on foot, but walking will be at an easy birding pace with frequent stops to observe birds, plants and other animals. At some point Jack will likely caravan us to move to another section of the cemetery. This trip will end sometime around noon. You of course can break off at any time you choose. Binoculars are necessary to see small birds well. Restrooms are available at the cemetery main office and remain open during regular gate hours. Water and sunscreen might make for a more enjoyable trip. If you have any questions feel free to contact Jack.
Directions:
Meet Jack at 8 AM at the main entrance to Spring Grove Cemetery, which is located at 4521 Spring Grove Avenue just west of the Winton Road intersection. To find our meeting spot, drive in the main gates of the cemetery and go straight. You will go through a short tunnel (old RR archway). Just beyond the tunnel, pull over on the right, park alongside the road and look for Jack.
You can visit the Spring Grove Cemetery website at:
https://www.springgrove.org/locations/spring-grove-cemetery-arboretum/
This is a link to Spring Grove Cemetery Maps: