Sample Birding Itineraries
All locations and directions listed under Birding Areas
Coming from the east
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Have a half day?
Start at Old Woman Creek. Here you will find restrooms, a gift shop and exhibits at the visitor center. The friendly staff can direct you and give you more details about the trails and what you can expect to see there. After you have enjoyed your time there, head just a little farther west to Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve. Check the sightings board at the entrance to find out the latest. This place can be great anytime of year! The paved one mile trail will take you down to Lake Erie.
Have a full day?
Start with the previous stops and add the following:
Edison Woods Preserve in Erie County. This large woods has a series of trails that criss-cross 1,400 acres! A variety of habitats including meadows, wetlands and prairies make this an exciting place for birds and other wildlife. Trail map located on Rt. 61 parking area.
Have a weekend?
Start with the previous three stops and add:
Dupont Marsh which runs along the Huron River. Part of the Huron River Greenway runs through here. Then head over to the James H. McBride Arboretum located behind BGSU Firelands Campus. You could easily spend an hour or two here checking out the plantings, grasslands and woods. Resthaven Wildlife Area in Castalia has a large remnant prairie and more than 2,000 acres to explore. A ride into Sandusky and the Jackson Street pier is always fun. Many places to stay and eat in Sandusky. Dont miss Toft's Dairy on Venice Rd. for super delicious ice cream! Check out the possibilities at: www.shoresandislands.com
Coming from the west ..
Have a half day?
Begin your journey at the Ottawa National Wildlife Reserve / Magee Marsh complex. Both places offer visitors centers, boardwalks, and excellent birding opportunities. With over 5000 combined acres, there are many different habitats to discover. This area has been listed as one of the top ten bird watching spots in the country! Come see why
Have a full day?
After exploring Ottawa and Magee, head to Pickerel Creek Wildlife area . This site is great for waterfowl, raptors, and shorebirds. The elevated platform on Rt. 6 is a good place to start. From there you can hike along the dikes. You can obtain a detailed map of Pickerel Creek at www.wildohio.com. This is a large area and you can easily spend a half day there if you drive the whole area and get out to walk the dikes.
Have a weekend?
Start with the previous stops and add East Harbor State Park (Lakeside) and Schedel Arboretum (Elmore). Start with either one, depending on where you want to end up. At East Harbor you will find many different trails to explore and of course it is on Lake Erie. A beautiful place to visit and to bird is Schedel Arboretum. The admission is well worth it! There are many choices for lodging/dining in the Port Clinton area. Check it out at: www.shoresandislands.com
Happy Birding!!