The Toledo Naturalists' Association will host the 22nd annual North Coast Open birding competition this year on May 20 and 21. The competition covers Lucas, Wood, Ottawa, Sandusky, and Erie Counties, which collectively have many of the top birding sites in the state: the Oak Openings, Magee Marsh, Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Metzger Marsh, Maumee Bay State Park, Pickerel Creek, Pipe Creek, and Sheldon Marsh, among many others. If you're looking for a cure for the Biggest Week hangover/withdrawal, or just need another excuse to get back out to the lakeshore in May, this is it! Breeders should all be back on territory, migrants should still be plentiful, and this is prime time for goodies like Connecticut Warbler and Olive-sided Flycatcher. Teams compete in a variety of divisions: Junior, Senior, Open, Freestyle (ideal for families with little kids), and Human-Powered. The overall winner is awarded the prestigious Peregrine Cup. The competition runs from 7pm May 20 to 7pm May 21. Bird all night or grab a few hours of sleep before the dawn chorus hits. Teams must turn in their lists at the finish line at 7pm on Saturday, which this year is at Tony Packo's in East Toledo. See the "Local Birding" tab on the TNA website (toledonaturalist.org) for rules, registration, and past results. Note that the rules vary slightly from traditional ABA Big Day rules (e.g., everyone on the team must see/hear every bird; no broadcast of tapes/recordings). There is no fee to participate. Feel free to email me with any questions. Cheers, Matt Kemp [log in to unmask] ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]