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Suggestions for Where to Go



There are literally dozens of places to go in Ohio for your Birdathon!, and hundreds more outside of Ohio.  The following sites are known and loved by avid birders throughout the state.

Michael Flynn compiled and rated this list of popular birding locations.

Good Locations for a Variety of Species

Rating1
Location
What You Will Find
****
Clear Creek Metro Park
Raptors, Gallinaceous, Wild Turkeys, Grouse, Passerines2
****
Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area Waterfowl, Raptors (including Eagles, Hawks, Owls), Shorebirds, Pheasant, Quail, Woodcock, Shrike, Red-Headed Woodpecker, Sparrows, etc.
**** Magee Marsh Waterfowl, Waders, Rails, Bitterns, Shorebirds, Gulls/Terns, Raptors, Passerines
**** Mallard Club Marsh Waterfowl, Waders, Rails, Bitterns
**** Oak Openings Raptors, Passerines
**** Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Waterfowl, Waders, Rails, Bitterns, Shorebirds, Gulls/Terns, Raptors, Passerines (stop at nature center for bird reports)
*** Big Island Wildlife Area Waterfowl, Waders, Rails, Bitterns, Shorebirds, Swallows, Passerines
*** Crane Creek State Park Waterfowl, Waders, Rails, Bitterns, Shorebirds, Gulls/Terns, Raptors, Passerines (check tower; stop at nature center for bird reports)
*** Killbuck Marsh Waterfowl, Waders, Raptors, Rails, Bitterns, Shorebirds, Passerines
*** Irwin Prairie Waders, Rails, Bitterns, Passerines
*** Maumee Bay State Park Waterfowl, Waders, Shorebirds, Passerines (stop at nature center)
*** Old Woman’s Creek Waterfowl, Waders, Shorebirds, Passerines, Eagle (stop at nature center)
*** Pipe Creek Waterfowl, Waders, Rails, Bitterns, Shorebirds, Gulls/Terns
*** Shawnee State Forest Raptors, Turkeys, Grouse, Passerines
*** Sheldon’s Marsh Waterfowl, Waders, Shorebirds, Passerines
*** Tar Hollow State Park Raptors, Turkeys, Grouse, Passerines
** Toussant Marsh Waders, Rails, Bitterns
** Turtle Creek Waterfowl, Waders, Shorebirds, Gulls/Terns, Passerines
** Metzger Marsh Waterfowl, Waders, Shorebirds, Gulls, Passerines
** Pickerel Creek Wetlands Waterfowl, Waders, Rails, Bitterns, Shorebirds
** Castalia/Resthaven Wildlife Area Waterfowl, Waders, Rails, Shorebirds, Raptors, Passerines
** Highbanks Metro Park Raptors, Passerines
** Greenlawn Cemetery and Dam Waterfowl, Gulls, Waders, Raptors, Passerines
* Delaware/Alum Creek/Hoover Reservoirs Waterfowl, Waders, Raptors, Shorebirds, Passerines

1. Rating is based on field experience, as follows:
**** Priority Areas
  *** Very Good -- go if time allows
    ** Good -- may be redundant
      * Unproven/Redundant
2. Passerines = Songbirds/Perching Birds


Target Species for Specific Locations

If You're Looking for...
Check These Locations...
Black-Capped (not Carolina) Chickadee Pearson Metro Park, Maumee Bay (dawn)
Trumpeter Swan Magee Marsh, Killdeer Plains
Waterfowl many potential sites (including marshes north of Rt. 269/Rt. 6) -- keep working them
Falcons Ottawa NWR, Killdeer Plains
Peregrine Falcon downtown Columbus, OSU
Yellow-headed Blackbird Crane Creek, Ottawa NWR
Mourning Warbler Magee Marsh, Bird Trail
Kirtland’s Warbler Magee Marsh, Ottawa NWR
Bobolink/Dickcissel Killdeer Plains, Hocking County, Clear Creek Metro Park
Henslow’s/Grasshopper Sparrows Oak Openings, Killdeer Plains, Hocking County
Chimney Swifts smaller towns with old buildings (dusk)
Common Nighthawk shopping centers (dark)
Chuck-Wills-Widow Hocking County, Buena Vista Road (twilight)
 

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Page updated
04/10/05

© Columbus Audubon 2005