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Greenwich Audubon celebrates spring migration with return of the Bird Breakfast

Baltimore Oriole. Photo by Shari McCollough

By Anne W. Semmes

Greenwich Audubon is set to celebrate the Springtime arrival of migratory birds not only with its early Saturday morning birding tours on offer this weekend led by Audubon Bird Education Specialist Ryan MacLean, but it is bringing back the beloved-by-birders Bird Breakfast on May 6 traditionally held in the rustic Asnes Barn at the peak of spring migration.

“It’s pertinent to have this be the year the Bird Breakfast is coming back,” shares MacLean,” as it precedes by a month the honoring of Gary Palmer at the Audubon Leadership Awards Event to be held June 8. “Gary was largely responsible for organizing the birding groups for the Bird Breakfast dating back to the 1960’s.”

Add also the distinction that the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) will be co-sponsoring and partnering the event with Audubon. “We’re very happy about that,” says MacLean, “as we have local connections on its board.” Yes, MacLean serves on its board, and so does Cynthia Ehlinger, who leads the First Sunday Bird Walks at Greenwich Point. “And she is now COA vice president,” he adds, “and other members will be present.”

Also special to those Bird Breakfasts were the pre-breakfast small birding groups. “We’re going to have at least two groups here, depending on the amount of people, one led by me, one led by Cynthia or another leader, and another group at Audubon’s Fairchild Gardens [on Porchuck Road] So not only will that mean smaller groups, but one of the traditions of the breakfast itself is while people are sitting down and eating, we go through the bird checklist in the style of the Christmas bird count to get a tally of species and hear what the other groups saw.”

What was on those Bird Breakfast menus was likely memorable depending on who was cooking in the Barn’s kitchen! “Our staff will be assisting with it,” tells MacLean, “But any volunteers who wish to help, we would be glad to have them in the kitchen or helping clean!” MacLean provides his email for any prospective kitchen volunteers: ryan.maclean@audubon.org

For those wanting to prime themselves for finding and identifying those Spring migratory birds Bird Educator MacLean is offering four free 7 am Saturday morning “Spring Migration Bird Tours,” which includes the May 6 tour before the Bird Breakfast that runs from 8:30 to 10:30. But take special note of MacLean’s additional Saturday morning workshops from 10 to noon.

“People don’t have to attend all three workshops,” says MacLean, “but they do run as a three-part series where it starts with Birding 101 this Saturday, April 15, which focuses on more of the visual component of learning to identify birds and the tools that you can get to use.” And on April 22, Earth Day, “is ‘Birding by Ear,’ focusing on bird sounds and learning to tell them apart.” And then on April 29: “As we get close to the peak of migration is the workshop ‘Warblers and Neotropical Migrants,’ the telling apart of the different species that are passing through the area at migration’s peak.”

Those workshops, unlike the bird tours, are not free. They are each $30 per person and are recommended for ages 12 and up. And also free is that Bird Breakfast! But donations are encouraged! “Your contributions help support Greenwich Audubon’s conservation work, including advocating for the protection of birds and habitats they depend on for survival.” All ages welcome! But registration is required for each and every one for either the pre-Breakfast bird tour, and/or the Bird Breakfast. To register, visit online at greenwich.audubon.org/events

Historic Bird Breakfast photo with Gary Palmer, second from left, recording bird species. Contributed photo
A more recent Bird Breakfast group of birders. Contributed photo
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