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  • Home
  • FESTIVAL INFO
    • 2021 Biggest Week Full Announcement
    • BECOME A 2021 SPONSOR
    • FESTIVAL eNEWS & SOCIAL MEDIA
    • CONSERVATION INITIATIVES
    • CONTACT US
  • Area Info
    • LODGING
    • DINING & SPIRITS
    • SHOPPING AND SERVICES
    • HOSPITALS AND PHARMACIES

2020 PUBLIC ACTIVITIES
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Free Public Activities

The Birder's Marketplace

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The Birder's Marketplace, in the lobby of Maumee Bay Lodge and Conference Center, will offer a variety of bird and nature related items, birding travel information, optics dealers, crafts, birding wear and gear, and much more.  

​The Marketplace will be open each night from May 8 - May 17 from 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM. 




Young Birder Walk - Sponsored by the Ohio Young Birders Club (OYBC)

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YOUNG BIRDER WALK: BIRDING THE FAMOUS MAGEE MARSH
Date: Saturday, May 9, & Saturday, May 16
​Time: 9 AM - 12 PM
Location: Meet at the east end of the Magee Marsh Parking Lot (See map at right.) 
Fee: FREE/PUBLIC

Each year, the OYBC offers a young birders walk at Magee and it's always a blast! Join young birders from all over the state and the country and meet some really cool field trip leaders, too! No need to be an Ohio Young Birders Club member to join in the fun. Young birders of all ages are welcome! 

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Click image for larger view

Family Bird Walk

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Activity Level: EASY
Date: Sunday, May 10, & Sunday, May 17
Time: 10 AM - 12 PM
Where:  Pearson Metropark
761 Lallendorf Rd.
Oregon, OH 43616
Fee:  FREE/PUBLIC 
Meet in Parking Lot #4 
Click HERE for a map to the meeting location

Bring the whole family (all ages welcome!) for this enjoyable, family-paced walk in one of the area's great parks! Pearson offers wonderful trails through rich forest, and a window on wildlife where we can enjoy watching birds at the feeders and the waterfall -- so we'll have fun even if the weather isn't perfect. We'll take our time watching for birds and any other interesting things we notice in nature. 


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3rd Annual Biggest Week Bird Trivia Night!
DATE: Sunday, May 10
TIME: 6:30-8 PM
WHERE: Maumee Bay Lodge and Conference Center 
FEE: FREE/PUBLIC
Registration: No pre-registration necessary.
 
Join us for the 3rd Annual Biggest Week Bird Trivia night. Gather your friends - or recruit some new ones from the Birder’s Marketplace -  and form your team (between 3-5 people) for this exciting new festival experience! Questions will focus on the birds, birders, birding. 

See if you and your team have the knowledge to be crowned Biggest Week BIRD TRIVIA CHAMPIONS! ​


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Beginning Birding Walk
Activity Level: Easy
Dates: Saturday, May 9, & Saturday, May 16
Time: 10 AM - 12 PM   
Where:
 Pearson Metropark
761 Lallendorf Rd.
Oregon, OH 43616
Fee:  FREE/PUBLIC 
Meet in Parking Lot #4 

Click HERE for a map to the meeting location

You've decided birding sounds interesting and you'd like to give it a try, but what do you do next? In this fun and easy workshop, we'll walk you through everything you need to know to get started birdwatching. We'll point you in the right direction to find a pair of binoculars and a field guide, basic bird identification tips, and where and how to find birds.  

Binoculars and field guides will be available to borrow for this workshop.

We're excited to offer the following opportunities to learn more about birding. No need to register, and the workshops are free! Just show up ready to meet wonderful new friends, see beautiful birds, and have a great time! 



26th Annual Big Sit For Conservation & Education

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Activity Level: EASY
Date: Saturday, May 9
Time: 5:00 AM - 5:00 PM 
Where:  Magee Marsh  (near the west end of the boardwalk) 
Fee:  FREE – But we hope you’ll consider making a donation! 

Every year for the past 25 years, Tom Bartlett has conducted a Big Sit fundraiser for Black Swamp Bird Observatory’s (BSBO) education programs. It’s part of our World Migratory Bird Day celebration and it's become a wonderful tradition!

Tom and his amazing crew of helpers are such a hoot to hang out with, and they’ll keep a tally board updated with sightings all day long! So stop by and visit, help Tom spot some birds, and make your pledge to support Black Swamp Bird Observatory's education programs!

Your support for the BIG SIT will help BSBO reach thousands of school children each year and help connect them with the joy of birds and the value of protecting and conserving habitat. 


The Annual Biggest Week Bird Tattoo Contest

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Date: Thursday, May 14
Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM 
Where: The Lounge at the Maumee Bay Lodge  
Fee: FREE/PUBLIC

We had such a great response to the inaugural contest in 2013 that we made this an annual Biggest Week event! 

So bring your bird tattoo (publicly shareable, please!) and prepare to impress our judges with the story behind your body art.

We can't wait to see all the wonderful & creative bird tattoos that are entered in the contest this year! The event is sponsored by our friends at Eagle Optics, so the winner is going home with some great optics - and other fun prizes! 


Biggest Week Karaoke Night

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Date: Thursday, May 14
Time: 8-10 PM
Where: The Lounge at the Maumee Bay Lodge 
Fee: FREE/PUBLIC

​Back by popular demand, it's the BIGGEST WEEK KARAOKE NIGHT! Bring your friends, your voice, and your applause and join us for a night of music, laughter, and FUN! 



Birder Prom

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Date: Friday, May 15
​Time: 8-10 PM
Where: The Maumee Bay Lodge Ballroom 
Fee:
$5 donation at the door
Apparel: Deck yourself out in your favorite formal wear, sport your favorite bird t-shirt, or just wear whatever you feel most comfortable gettin' your groove on in! 
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The Biggest Week is famous for introducing totally new ideas to the world of bird festivals, and 2016 was NO exception as we hosted the world's first BIRDER PROM -- complete with a Prom King and Queen wearing custom designer clothing made of bird seed bags! We had so much fun that we've made this an annual Biggest Week tradition. 

So slip on your boogie shoes and get ready to dance the night away as we celebrate the second year of this highly-anticipated event! We'll provide the DJ, the dance floor, the ambiance, and a cash bar. You bring your best moves to the Tanager Tango, the Hummingbird Hop, the Warbler Waltz, and the Songbird Salsa!

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A Birding Festival in Northwest Ohio: "The Warbler Capital of the World"
All rights reserved

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