Go Bird! Providence, Day Three

What do birders do on a very rainy day? That was the challenge for ABA staff today as the weather in Providence was every bit as bad as predicted, with lots of rain. But with a good dose of innovation, the staff came up with an interesting day for the 100 ABA members in attendance. Our group started out this morning at the Swarovski Optik factory, where we saw how binoculars and spotting copes are repaired and rifle scopes are assembled. Several members even got their “bins” cleaned by the very engaging Swarovski staff. We then went over to the Audubon Society of Rhode Island’s education center, where we took in the exhibits and then headed out on the trails down toward the bay for a bit of birding. We had just given up on finding the coveted Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow and were enjoying a small flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers when the heavens opened up.We were 15 minutes from shelter and everyone got thoroughly soaked.

We returned to the Crowne Plaza Hotel to dry out and eat lunch, then headed to Providence’s Roger Williams Park and its Museum of Natural History. The museum has an outstanding trove of bird specimens, all collected more than 100 years ago by a naturalist in Maine and purchased for the museum in the early 1900’s. Attendees were given a special opportunity to view a wonderfully preserved specimen of Ivory-billed Woodpecker and spent considerable time studying the other bird specimens on permanent display, including a Passenger Pigeon, many other American birds, and a few Birds of Paradise from New Guinea. All hopes are for a fine crossing tomorrow morning on the ferry over to Block Island and several hours of exciting birding as errant passerines gather at the island’s north end to head back to the mainland and resume their migratory journey south.

Chuck Bell, ABA board member