Urban Birding Cleveland 2019 by Betsey O'Hagan. An overview of the November 2-9, 2019 Urban Birding Cleveland with David Lindo, The Urban Birder.

1. “See your urban environment as how a bird would: The buildings are cliffs and
green areas are an oasis for nesting, resting and feeding.”
– David Lindo, The Urban Birder

2. This presentation is by Betsey O’Hagan,
Consultant to Western Cuyahoga Audubon
Society, and is shared under a Creative
Commons license,
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC
BY-NC-SA which means you can share and
adapt materials with attribution, for
non-commercial purposes, and distribute under
share-alike licensing.
2

3. Why does Urban
Birding matter?
Urban Birding activities raise
resident and visitor awareness
of bird and habitat conservation.

4. Science Daily
Dec 2, 2019 Antarctic ice sheets could be at
greater risk of melting than previously
thought Antarctica is the largest reservoir of ice on
Earth -- but new research suggests it could be at
greater risk of melting than previously thought.
Source: University of South Australia
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191202124624.htm
Heat from the landmass beneath the
Antarctic ice sheet is a major
contributor to the way that glaciers
melt and flow -- and their impact on
potential sea level rise. Hotter
conditions allow meltwater to lubricate
the base of the glacier, accelerating
its movement and the rate of ice loss.
Our Planet is Heating Up...

5. Science Daily
Nov 14, 2019 For some urban areas, a warming
climate is only half the threat
A new study projects that the growth of urban areas in the coming
decades will trigger ''extra'' warming due to a phenomenon known as
the urban heat island effect (UHI). According to their findings,
urban expansion will cause the average summer temperature in these
areas to increase about 0.5 to 0.6 degrees C -- but up to 3 degrees C
in some locations. Source: Yale School of Forestry & Environmental
Studies
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191114115946.htm
The authors also estimate that urban
areas will increase by up to 1.3 million
square kilometers between 2015 and
2050, an increase of 171 percent over
the global urban footprint in 2015.
This would be the equivalent to building
a new city the size of New York City
every eight days for the next 35 years.
More than 70 percent of the new urban
lands will be concentrated in humid
temperate and tropical zones, primarily
in Asia and Africa.
These findings will help complement a
growing body of research into the
potential effects of a warmer, more
urbanized world, Seto said.
...Because of Climate Change
Caused by Human Impact

6. BBC NewsScience Daily
Last Arctic ice refuge is
disappearing. ... The oldest and
thickest Arctic sea ice is disappearing
twice as fast as ice in the rest of the
Arctic Ocean, according to new
research.
Nov 12, 2019
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191112114009.htm
A third of tropical African plants are on the
path to extinction, according to a new
assessment. Much of western Africa,
Ethiopia, and parts of Tanzania and the
Democratic Republic of the Congo are the
hardest hit regions, standing to lose more
than 40% of their richness of plants.
Nov 21, 2019
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-50477684
Climate Change
Species
Extinction

7. How does climate
change affect birds
and habitat?
Photo: Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos), Urban Birding Tremont
Neighborhood Walkabout, Civilization, 2366 W 11th St, Cleveland, OH 44113
by Tom Fishburn. 11/06/2019.

8. https://www.audubon.org/climate/survivalbydegrees/fl
yway/mississippi

9. Survival by Degrees: 389 Bird
Species on the Brink
“Reducing warming
makes many types of
birds found in the
Mississippi Flyway less
vulnerable.” - National
Audubon Society
New data-based interactive
tools help us track the
effects of climate change
and human impact

10. What can we do today?
Photo: Urban Birding Sandy Ridge Reservation Bird Walk, Lorain County Parks, 6195
Otten Rd, North Ridgeville, OH 44039 by Anna Julnes. 11/08/2019

11. 1. Invest in digital transformation.
2. Become data driven organizations.
3. Make conservation our business.
4. Work for moral good of future generations.
5. Build trusted social networks.
6. Focus on conservation education.
7. Share and collaborate to work together.
8. Meet crisis with action - get to work!
Photo: Lake County Lakefront Bird Walk Tour, Lake Erie Bluffs Observation Tower, 2901
Clark Rd, Perry, OH 44081 by Betsey O’Hagan. 11/05/2019

12. Worldwide digital population as of
October 2019. Published by J.
Clement, Nov 20, 2019
How many people use
the internet? Almost 4.48
billion people were active internet
users as of October 2019,
encompassing 58 percent of the
global population. China, India and
the United States rank ahead all other
countries in terms of internet users.
Global internet usage
By now, a world without the internet
is unimaginable. Connecting billions
of people worldwide, the internet is a
core pillar of the modern information
society. The global online penetration
rate is 57 percent, with North America
and Northern Europe both ranking
first with a 95 percent internet
https://www.statista.com/statistics/617136/di
gital-population-worldwide/

13. In Summary:
New digital strategies combined with collaborative leadership will help us
mitigate the impact of climate change and human activity on urban areas.
Photo: Urban Bird Walk in the Flats-Cleveland’s Rust Belt! Merwin's Wharf, 1785
Merwin Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113 by Patrick McGuigan. 11/02/2019

14. What is Urban
Birding Cleveland?

15. A collaborative platform to
take ideas to action for
bird and habitat
conservation at the local
level.
● Powered by,
○ Social Networks
○ Technology
○ Creativity
○ Data driven
○ DIY ~ Replicable
○ Purposed for Growth
○ Positioned to Scale
○ Virtuous

16. www.wcaudubon.org/urban-bird
ing-with-david-lindo-2019.html

17. Urban Birding 2019 Google Map documents birding locations
and details so the public can join in. http://bit.ly/2MGlvVJ

18. DAY 1. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2019

19. Photo: Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus), Urban Birding Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River
Reservation IBA Bird Walk, Valley Pkwy, North Olmsted, OH 44070 by Gus Lanese. 11/02/2019

20. Photo: Cardinal (Cardinalidae), Urban Birding Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Reservation
IBA Bird Walk, Valley Pkwy, North Olmsted, OH 44070 by Tom Fishburn. 11/02/2019

21. Photo: Urban Birding Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Reservation IBA Bird Walk, Valley
Pkwy, North Olmsted, OH 44070 by Penny O’Connor. 11/02/2019

22. Photo: Barred Owl (Strix varia) Urban Birding Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Reservation
IBA Bird Walk, Valley Pkwy, North Olmsted, OH 44070 by Tom Fishburn. 11/02/2019

23. DAY 2. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2019

24. Photo: Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias), Urban Bird Walk in the Flats-Cleveland’s Rust Belt!
Merwin's Wharf, 1785 Merwin Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113 by Patrick McGuigan. 11/03/2019

25. Photo: Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis), Urban Bird Walk in the Flats-Cleveland’s Rust
Belt! Merwin's Wharf, 1785 Merwin Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113 by Patrick McGuigan. 11/03/2019

26. Photo: Juvenile Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Urban Bird Walk in the Flats-Cleveland’s
Rust Belt! Merwin's Wharf, 1785 Merwin Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113 by Tom Fishburn. 11/03/2019

27. Photo: American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis), Urban Bird Walk in the Flats-Cleveland’s Rust Belt!
Merwin's Wharf, 1785 Merwin Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113 by Tom Fishburn. 11/03/2019

28. Photo: Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus), Urban Bird Walk in the Flats-Cleveland’s
Rust Belt! Merwin's Wharf, 1785 Merwin Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113 by Tom Fishburn. 11/03/2019

29. Photo: Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus), Urban Bird Walk in the Flats-Cleveland’s
Rust Belt! Merwin's Wharf, 1785 Merwin Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113 by Tom Fishburn. 11/03/2019

30. Photo: Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), Urban Bird Walk in the Flats-Cleveland’s
Rust Belt! Merwin's Wharf, 1785 Merwin Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113 by Tom Fishburn. 11/03/2019

31. Photo: Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos), Urban Bird Walk in the Flats-Cleveland’s Rust
Belt! Merwin's Wharf, 1785 Merwin Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113 by Tom Fishburn. 11/03/2019

32. DAY 3. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2019

33. Photo: Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), Birding Tour of the Cleveland Lakefront, Cleveland Lakefront
Nature Preserve, 8701 Lakeshore Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44108 by Tom Fishburn. 11/04/2019

34. Photo: Common Loon (Gavia immer), Birding Tour of the Cleveland Lakefront, Cleveland Lakefront
Nature Preserve, 8701 Lakeshore Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44108 by Tom Fishburn. 11/04/2019

35. Photo: Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia), Birding Tour of the Cleveland Lakefront, Cleveland
Lakefront Nature Preserve, 8701 Lakeshore Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44108 by Tom Fishburn. 11/04/2019

36. DAY 4. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019

37. Photo: Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca), Lake County Lakefront Bird Walk Tour, Lake Erie
Bluffs Observation Tower, 2901 Clark Rd, Perry, OH 44081 by Gus Lanese. 11/05/2019

38. Photo: Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis), Lake County Lakefront Bird Walk Tour, Lake Erie
Bluffs Observation Tower, 2901 Clark Rd, Perry, OH 44081 by Gus Lanese. 11/05/2019

39. DAY 5. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2019

40. Photo: Urban Birding Tremont Neighborhood Walkabout, Civilization, 2366 W 11th St,
Cleveland, OH 44113 by Tom Fishburn. 11/06/2019

41. Photo: White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys), Urban Birding Tremont Neighborhood
Walkabout, Civilization, 2366 W 11th St, Cleveland, OH 44113 by Tom Fishburn. 11/06/2019

42. Photo: European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Urban Birding Tremont Neighborhood Walkabout, Civilization,
2366 W 11th St, Cleveland, OH 44113 by Tom Fishburn. 11/06/2019

43. Photo: Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus), Urban Birding Tremont Neighborhood
Walkabout, Civilization, 2366 W 11th St, Cleveland, OH 44113 by Tom Fishburn. 11/06/2019

44. Photo: Ringed-bill Gulls (Larus delawarensis), Urban Birding Tremont Neighborhood Walkabout,
Civilization, 2366 W 11th St, Cleveland, OH 44113 by Tom Fishburn. 11/06/2019

45. Photo: Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia), Urban Birding Tremont Neighborhood Walkabout,
Civilization, 2366 W 11th St, Cleveland, OH 44113 by Tom Fishburn. 11/06/2019

46. DAY 6. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2019

47. DAY 7. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2019

48. Photo: Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator), Sandy Ridge Reservation Bird Walk, Lorain
County Parks, 6195 Otten Rd, North Ridgeville, OH 44039 by Anna Julnes. 11/08/2019

49. Photo: Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Sandy Ridge Reservation Bird Walk, Lorain
County Parks, 6195 Otten Rd, North Ridgeville, OH 44039 by Anna Julnes. 11/08/2019

50. DAY 8. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2019

51. Photo: Grand Public Opening of All People's Trail, Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 S
Park Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44120 by Tom Fishburn. 11/09/2019

52. How is Urban Birding
Cleveland
organized?

53. Behind the Scenes
Goals - Technology - Social
Networks - Project Process

54. 90 Day
Goals
1. Demonstrate hospitality
2. Celebrate assets
3. Share brainpower
4. Grow diverse audiences
Photo: Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor), Urban Birding Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River
Reservation IBA Bird Walk, Valley Pkwy, North Olmsted, OH 44070 by Tom Fishburn. 11/02/2019

55. Digital
Toolbox
1. Technology Platform
2. Internet ID
3. UB Brand
4. E-commerce
5. Content Marketing
Photo: Black-capped Chicadee (Poecile atricapillus), Urban Birding Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River
Reservation IBA Bird Walk, Valley Pkwy, North Olmsted, OH 44070 by Tom Fishburn. 11/02/2019

56. #12-14
Leaders
1. Advise
2. Invest
3. Engage
Photo: Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society, Board Meeting Sept 2019.

57. 1. Recruitment
2. Finances
3. Logistics
4. Marketing
#3 Core Team
Photo: Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Sandy Ridge Reservation Bird Walk, Lorain
County Parks, 6195 Otten Rd, North Ridgeville, OH 44039 by Anna Julnes. 11/08/2019

58. #50 Volunteers
1. Recruitment
2. Finances
3. Logistics
4. Marketing
Photo: Volunteers at "How to Be an Urban Birder" with David Lindo, The
Urban Birder, Bethany Presbyterian Church, 6415 W Clinton Ave,
Cleveland, OH 44102 by Betsey O’Hagan. 11/02/2019

59. #31 Sponsors & Partners
Audubon Society of Greater Cleveland
Bethany Presbyterian Church
Big Creek Connects
Bird Watcher's Digest
Black River Audubon Society
Blackbrook Audubon Society
Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland
Cleveland Metroparks
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority
Cosmic Bobbins
East, Clark Elementary School
Footpath Foundation
Great Lake Erie Educators Exchange
Gypsy Beans
Ithaca Court Occasional House
Kirtland Bird Club
Lake Erie Allegheny Partnership for
Biodiversity-LEAP
Lake Erie Nature and Science Center
Leiden Conservation Foundation
Lights Out Cleveland
Nature Center at Shaker Lakes
Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative (OBCI)
Ohio Ornithological Society (OOS)
Ohio Young Birders Club NE Chapter
Redstart Birding
Rocky River Watershed Council
Sierra Club - Ohio Chapter
VARIEGATE DESIGN
Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society
Western Reserve Land Conservancy

60. Networked Communications
● Audubon Society of Greater
Cleveland
● Bird Watcher’s Digest
● Blackbrook Audubon Society
● Black River Audubon Society
● Cleveland Metroparks
● Freshwater Cleveland
● Jim McCarty, Blogger
● Kirtland Bird Club
● Ohio Young Birders
● Social media and many others
● The Birding Wire

61. 1. Ideas
2. Multimedia
3. Communications
4. Reports
Creator
Community
Photo: Urban Bird Walk in the Flats-Cleveland’s Rust Belt! Merwin's Wharf, 1785
Merwin Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113 by Tom Fishburn. 11/03/2019

62. Gear
1. Books
2. Tee shirts
3. Bookmarks

63. Metrics and Feedback
How many people did we touch?
What are they saying?
What can we learn?

64. 500+
Attendees
Public Survey
46% response

65. 1. We need to make the definition what Urban Birding is.
2. I think I gave it the highest already
3. Closer to Marietta, Ohio
4. It wasn't really apparent what the goal of the urban birding is -- there were no non-birders at the event I attended.
5. O
6. n/a
7. Better time of year
8. I can't!
9. Idk
10. I don't know many other birders
11. I have given the highest rating. In my opinion, we are heading in the right direction with enthusiasm.
12. more advanced notice
13. Clearer expectations up front about participation as a non-member of Audubon, but it was really well organized so I gave it the highest rating.
14. I heard the groups were very large, so more groups but limit size.
15. Lots depends on what is planned for future Urban Birding Cleveland activities. Hard to say without seeing what is/might be planned
16. Nothing - plenty of great opportunities on almost every day to enjoy all places and resources regarding CLE birding.
17. None
18. More events
19. that it is more inclusive with its message
20. Perhaps designing a sub group within the experience for new birders so it is a bit more educational and a learning for new folks. A more formal approach directed towards newbies may invite more folks who want to try but are new to birding.
21. Some regularity in scheduling events (e.g., quarterly) so that interested individuals have something to look forward to and to plan for.
22. smaller groups. less than 20 per bird walk.
23. Info on birds I might see, how it’s different from non-urban birding
24. More educational interactions. More opportunities to interact with a diversity of people, POVs, activities, etc.
25. Warmer month than November. September or October?
26. If i could get more of my community to like.
27. None
28. Promote their activities more
29. Gave highest
30. More advanced notice of events. Hand out with schedule of events.
31. Hold all activities during the daytime. Many people will not drive at night.
32. I went on bird walk at Lakefront Nature Reserve. 4 leaders, about 40 people. They did not break us up. Spent most of the time trying to keep the group together.
33. More community events on the East side of town. I feel a lot of events or meeting places were across town which made the event feel unbalanced throughout Cleveland.
34. Take place during better time of year
35. David Lindo was an excellent birding companion with an infectious enthusiasm. I wish the schedule on the Flats/Scranton hike had provided a greater opportunity for the very young student birders to spend more time with him. He is a valuable role model and birding is a wonderful entry point for
young people to become involved in environmental issues.
36. I can't think of a thing--the entire week was perfect--a lot of great activities were planned and being with David Lindo was awesom.
37. None!
38. more introductions among participants to help with community-building
39. Include an actual Lights Out Cleveland walk that covers at least one complete route.
40. All good
41. Defined routes
42. Gave you highest rating
43. Maybe have addresses or a simple map of all of the destinations we were going to visit in case someone got left behind at a light or something and got separated from the caravan of cars.
44. Provide handouts regarding urban birding
45. It was the weather that threw me off. Nothing can be done about that.
46. Nothing!
47. I gave the highest rating
48. I only went to evening event hosted by the Kirtland Bird Club. The club business prior to the presentation was boring & unorganized. David Lindo’s presentation was engaging and interesting.
49. Nothing! It was really great!
50. Never got a chance to Bird with David
51. more group meal opportunities, wider social media reach and participation, deeper sponsor participation, more in school presentations, more online resources, member web access, more take home resources
52. None
53. More exposure before event.
54. More leadership, more teaching, either from David or other leaders
55. Test audio visual equipment thoroughly prior to public meetings. On walks and more of an educational introduction about what we hope to see and some background about the area and why we expect certain birds to be there
56. None - I gave it a "10"
57. For birder friends, I rate it a 9. Non-birders, only a 5.
58. Marketing in some ways
59. Clarify your mission.
60. None
61. Easier to use website - no scrolling! Info in calendar format and list
62. Have events start and end on time. Notify people when events like group picture are canceled
63. None
64. advanced notice
Public feedback for improvement

66. How Have We Changed?
And what activities will we engage in?

67. BHAG*
Photo: Urban Birding Cleveland Design Lab, LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland, 6705
Detroit Ave, Cleveland, OH 44102 by Betsey O’Hagan. 11/07/2019
“...Urban Birding Trails
in every neighborhood.”
*Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals

68. Project
Labs
1. Strategy
2. Planning
3. Development
4. Fundraising
5. Recruitment
6. Operations Photo: WCAS Conservation Project Lab, Bethany Presbyterian Church, 6145 West
Clinton Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44102 by Mary Anne Romito. 11/09/2019

69. Next Steps?
Join us for
UB CLE Conservation Project Labs
The first Saturday of every month, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. at the
Bethany Presbyterian Church, 6145 West Clinton Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44102
Subscribe www.wcaudubon.org/newsletter-sign-up.html

70. What Ideas Would You
Like To Offer?

71. Thank You
Photographers
● Bill Deininger
● Tom Fishburn
● Anna Julnes
● Gus Lanese
● Pat McGuigan
● Liz McQuaid
● Penny O’Connor
● Betsey O’Hagan
● Mary Anne Romito
● Deb Sweeney
● Kaoru Tsubone Photo: Urban Birding Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Reservation IBA Bird Walk, Valley
Pkwy, North Olmsted, OH 44070 by Tom Fishburn. 11/02/2019

72. Join Us for #UBCLE June 2020
For Information and to Volunteer wcaudubon.org/newsletter-sign-up.html

73. Betsey
O’Hagan
Digital Strategist dedicated to
conservation education and
community building.
Phone: (216) 246-2447
Email: betseymerkel@gmail.com
Thank You!