Big Birding Weekend

Friday May 17 

Birders Meet and Greet Social 

• 5:00 to 7:00 PM

• Join us at the beach pavilion and mingle with other birders from the area as we prepare for the Big Birding Weekend at the lake. Registration for kayaking and pontoon boat excursions on Saturday and Sunday will be available. Refreshments and snacks will be provided. 

• Cost: Free

• Location: Beach Pavilion 

• No Registration for this event

Opening Ceremony: An Overview of a Birder’s Year Round Paradise 

• 6:00 to 6:45 PM

• Local birder and international tour guide Larry Richardson along with local birder and one of Mosquito Lake’s prothonotary warbler cavity nesting volunteers Steve Craiger will provide a sneak peek of the phenomenal birding that lays upon the shores of Mosquito Creek Lake. 

• Cost: Free

• Location: Beach Pavilion 

• Registration Link: An Overview of a Birder's Year Round Paradise 

Our Owls of Mosquito Lake: Barred Owls

• 6:45-7:30 PM

• Naturalist Jason Lee and retired naturalist Cindy Orth introduce you to one of our nocturnal raptors, the barred owl. Don’t miss this opportunity to get an up-close look at this magnificent bird. 

• Cost: Free

• Location: Beach Pavilion 

• Registration Link: Our Owls of Mosquito Lake: Barred Owls 

Owl Prowl

• 7:45 to 9:00 PM

• Join us for either a night hike on Beaver Trail or through the campground. We’ll call for barred and eastern screech owls to see if we can get them to call back or sneak a peek at these amazing hunters of the night. 

• Cost: Free

• Location: Parking lot between the archery range and camp store

• Registration Link: Owl Prowl 

Saturday May 18

Warbler Walk

• 7:00 AM and 8:30 AM

• Local birder Rick Nelson and Mahoning Valley Audubon Society president Jason Short will lead you on a short hike around the Lakeview Recreation Area Trail. This is an easy stroll for any birder who wants to sneak a peek at some of the warblers that visit our lovely lake.  Meet at the fire ring on the right as you pull into the parking lot.

• Location: Lakeview Recreation Area Trail

• Please check the Big Birding Weekend page for updates and information.

• Registration Links: 7:00 AM Walk, 8:00 AM Walk, and 11:00 AM Walk

Birding with Larry

•  7:00 AM and 9:00 AM

• Take a stroll with Larry Richardson, a local birder with over 50 years of experience on one of our most fantastic birding trails at Mosquito Lake. Larry is an international birding tour guide that has a wealth of knowledge to share. You are never going to leave a hike without learning something new from Larry.

• Location: Turkey Run Trail Staging Area 

• Please check the Big Birding Weekend page for updates and information.

• Registration Links: 7:00 AM Birding with Larry and 9:00 AM Birding with Larry

Bird House Building and Conservation (Limited Space 20 Participants)

• 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM

• Join the Urcheks, a local lakeside family of dedicated volunteers as they share their love of the lake and the avian species that call it home with a chance to build a bird house to take home with you. Local bluebirder Robin Hineman and Ohio Bluebird Society Board of Trustees Heather Harris will be on hand to educate you and your family on the conservation responsibility that comes with owning a bird house. To share the event with everyone, only one bird house per family please. You must register in order to participate in this event. You will receive a confirmation the week of the event if you are one of the 20.

• Location: Mosquito Lake Marina Parking Lot 

• Please check the Big Birding Weekend page for updates and information.

• Registration Links: 10:00 AM Building and 1:00 PM Building

Birding Photography 101

• 10:00 AM

• Steve Craiger and Christine Cope will be on hand to walk you through the odds and ends of birding photography. Steve will have amazing photographs of his favorite avian species, the Prothonotary Warbler and Christine will have some breathtaking shots of her raptor of choice, Osprey.

• Location: Mosquito Lake Amphitheater

• Please check the Big Birding Weekend page for updates and information.

• Registration Link: Photography 101

Prothonotary Program

• 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM

• Join Loyd Marshall, who is not only one of our local experts on Prothonotary Warblers but also organizes the cavity nesting program around the lake. This informative presentation on the viewing platform will leave you loving these beautiful birds.

• Location: Lakeview Recreation Area Trail

• Please check the Big Birding Weekend page for updates and information.

• Registration Links: 10:00 AM Prothonotary and 2:00 PM Prothonotary

Pontoon Boat Birding Excursions 

• 8:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM, and 6:00 PM (Times subject to change)

• Allow a local birder to take you for a short two hour tour of the lake. You may not be able to see all of our 7,850-acre lake, but you may be able to sneak a peek at some of our feathered friends from the water. Spots are limited for each trip. Sign-up Friday May 17th at the Meet and Greet. No preregistration to this event prior to the Meet and Greet.

• Cost: Free

• Location: Announced when participants register. 

Backyard Birding (Family Birding)

• 10:00 to 10:45 AM

• Amy Reeher, District Administrator for Trumbull County Soil and Water, will get you up and running for your at home birding experience in the backyard. What birds can you attract with what seeds? Come and find out.  

• Cost: Free

• Location: Trumbull County Agricultural & Family Education Center 

• Registration Link: Backyard Birding

Food Trucks by the Beach

• 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM

• Hungry? We have set up a selection from the most amazing food trucks in Trumbull County. Even if you are not at the lake for the birding, your stomach will want to stop out for this collection of the county's best.

• Location: Parking Lot by the Beach Pavilion 

• Own a food truck? Want to participant? Email jason.lee@dnr.ohio.gov

ABC Scavenger Hunt (Family Birding)

• 11:00 to 11:45 AM

• Search for various items in the environment to complete a scavenger hunt.  Prizes will be awarded!

• Cost: Free

• Location: Trumbull County Agricultural & Family Education Center 

• Registration Link: ABC Scavenger Hunger (Family Birding) 

Kayaking Birding Excursions (2 people for each time slot, bring chairs to sit and relax)

• 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM (Times subject to change)

• Join the Army Corp of Engineers as they kayak on the North side of the lake. Spots are limited for each trip. Sign-up Friday May 17th at the Meet and Greet. No preregistration to this event prior to the Meet and Greet.

• Cost: Free

• Location: Mahan-Denman Ramp 

The Largest Swallow of North America: Purple Martins

• 1:00 PM to 1:45 PM

• Discover the fascinating world of Purple Martins through our program! Learn about their unique nesting habits, migratory patterns, and how to create a welcoming environment for these beautiful birds in your backyard. Join us to explore the conservation efforts at the park.

• Location: Lakeview Recreation Area Trail

• Please check the Big Birding Weekend page for updates and information.

• Registration Links: Purple Matins

Raptor Hallow Live Bird Show 

• 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM

• Josh Kuszmaul from Raptor Hallow is bringing some feathered friends for you to meet first hand. This live bird program will surely get you wanting to get out there and start looking for birds in the wild on your own. 

• Cost: Free (Thanks to our friends at Raptor Hallow)

• Location: Mosquito Lake Amphitheater

• Registration Link: 2:00 PM Raptor Hallow and 4:00 PM Raptor Hallow 

Family Birding Stations: For Birders of All Ages

• 1:00 to 3:00 PM

• Come participate in any or all of the following fun activities, as your time allows.

1. Build a Nest - (STEM Challenge) Discover the different types of nests birds make use of and participate in a challenge to build a nest that can hold the biggest chick.

2. Build a Hummingbird Feeder - Learn how and what to feed a hummingbird and build your own hummingbird feeder from reused materials.

3. Build a Pinecone Feeder - Learn about the types of birds that enjoy peanut butter and suet, and why and make a feeder using a pinecone.

4. Delightful Dendrology - Learn about native trees that are important for bird habitat. Make leaf rubbings, identify trees, and take home a native tree!

5. Bird Morphology - Learn about the structure and function of a bird's anatomy that make it especially suited to be a bird.

• Location: Trumbull County Agricultural & Family Education Center 

• Please check the Big Birding Weekend page for updates and information.

• Registration Link: Family Birding Station

Birding Hike on the Bridle Trail of Mosquito Lake

• 1:00 PM

• Experience a beautiful walk with Amanda and Matt Sloan on a birding hike at the Mosquito Lake Bridle Trail! Get ready for an unforgettable journey through the picturesque trail with a lush tree canopy that promises a delightful surprises as you explore the diverse bird species living in this beautiful park.

• Location: Mosquito Lake Horse Trail 

• Please check the Big Birding Weekend page for updates and information.

• Registration Links: Birding Hike on the Bridle Trail of Mosquito Lake

Our Greatest Local Fisherman: The Osprey

• 3:00 PM to 3:45 PM

• Take a journey and experience ten seasons in the life of a male osprey as he comes home to Cortland every March to mate and raise his young.  Learn all about these birds and the ups and downs of their remarkable struggle for survival.

• Location: Trumbull County Agricultural & Family Education Center 

• Please check the Big Birding Weekend page for updates and information.

• Registration Link: The Osprey

Eurasian Eagle Owl and Owl Pellet Dissection

• 6:30 PM to 7:15 PM

• If you have been to our Owl Prowls, then you know Bob and Kathy. They will be bringing an Eurasian Eagle Owl and Barred Owls for the show. Afterwards, join Cathy Poponak and Teresa Craiger for an owl pellet dissection to investigate what owls eat.

• Location: Mosquito Lake Amphitheater

• Please check the Big Birding Weekend page for updates and information.

• Registration Link: Owl Show and Pellet Dissection

Birders Movie Night Out 

• 8:30 PM

• Gather with us to relax after a long day of fun at the amphitheater to wrap up things up for the evening with a movie about what else, birds. Hungry, don’t worry, we will have free popcorn to feed your flock. Feel free to bring a chair and anything you want to roast on the fire.

• Location: Mosquito Lake Amphitheater

• Please check the Big Birding Weekend page for updates and information.

Sunday May 19

Shenango Wildlife Area Spring Migration Birding

• 8:00 AM to 11:00AM

• Join ODNR Divisions of Natural Areas & Preserves and the Wildlife at the Shenango Wildlife Area, one of Audubon’s Important Bird Areas in Ohio. Visitors will have a chance to observe and photograph the variety of migratory birds found at this unique wildlife area.

• Location: Milligan Road Parking Area

• Please check the Big Birding Weekend page for updates and information.

• Registration Link: Shenango Wildlife Area Spring Migration Birding

Pontoon Boat Birding Excursions

• 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM (Times subject to change)

• Allow a local birder to take you for a short two hour tour of the lake. You may not be able to see all of our 7,850-acre lake, but you may be able to sneak a peek at some of our feathered friends from the water. Spots are limited for each trip. Sign-up Friday May 17th at the Meet and Greet.

• Location: Announced when participants register.

• Please check the Big Birding Weekend page for updates and information.

Birding with Larry

• 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM

• Take a stroll with Larry Richardson, a local birder with over 50 years of experience on one of our most fantastic birding trails at Mosquito Lake. Larry is an international birding tour guide that has a wealth of knowledge to share. You are never going to leave a hike without learning something new from Larry.

• Location: Turkey Run Trail Staging Area 

• Please check the Big Birding Weekend page for updates and information.

• Registration Links: 12:00 PM Birding with Larry and 3:00 PM Birding with Larry

Birding Hike on the Bridle Trail of Mosquito Lake

• 1:00 PM

• Experience a beautiful walk with Amanda and Matt Sloan on a birding hike at the Mosquito Lake Bridle Trail! Get ready for an unforgettable journey through the picturesque trail with a lush tree canopy that promises a delightful surprises as you explore the diverse bird species living in this beautiful park.

• Location: Mosquito Lake Horse Trail 

• Please check the Big Birding Weekend page for updates and information.

• Registration Links: Birding Hike on the Bridle Trail of Mosquito Lake