Breeding Black-throated Blue Warblers in Ohio?

Left turn on an obscure road in Kirtland. Past the horse farm nestled against the river. Across the bridge and along the river. The East branch of the Chagrin river is more a mountain stream than a river. Except during heavy rain or snow met it runs clear. Possibly the reason this river system was named "Sha-ga-rin" or clear water by first Americans. Here it is wild and scenic, nearly 2000 acres of forest surround us when we reach the end of the road.

Up an obscure track and a mile deep in pristine, old growth forest where the world is 1000 shades of green. Always climbing, up, up, almost 400 feet above the river. Past wild geraniums and blue cohosh. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Wood Thrush, Scarlet Tanager, and Dark-eyed Juncos call from the trees and forest floor. Hooded-warblers, pop through the under-story flashing their tail spots. The last 150 feet of climb is along a hogback that slopes away steeply on either side. Once on top. Stop, listen, wait...

zurr-zurr-zree!

Then again, from a different direction:

zurr-zurr-zree!

They're here! For the 3rd year running we have found Black-throated Blue Warblers in this location during the breeding season.

While finding Black-throated Blues in June is not unprecedented in the state of Ohio. Singing males have been found before, this is extraordinary. The fidelity to this location, and multiple individuals. Last year we established them as probable nesters based upon finding multiple birds singing on territory for 4 weeks in a row. We photographed males, but that was it. We never saw a female, let alone a nest. Given the thick foliage and steep terrain it is not the easiest place to track down tiny, fast moving bird among the leaves.

This year the birds are back again, and so are we. We will spend more time listening and looking. If we are successful Ohio will have a new breeding species.