BIRDWATCHING TIME!

Outdoor enthusiasts can glimpse migrating songbirds, waterfowl and shorebirds at state parks, nature preserves and wildlife areas

Spring is birdwatching time in Ohio, when hundreds of outdoor enthusiasts grab their binoculars and field guides and head for wetlands, lake shores and forests to catch a glimpse of the visiting migrants.

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), spring is when dozens of songbirds, shorebirds and waterfowl arrive in the state to nest or to rest on their way to breeding grounds in Canada and the Arctic. State parks, nature preserves and wildlife areas are among the best places to observe these colorful and interesting visitors.

“There’s no better time to be an Ohio birder than in the spring,” said Jim McCormac, avian education specialist with the ODNR Division of Wildlife. “Along Lake Erie, thousands of birds are ‘stopping over’ to feed and rest as they migrate north for the summer. In fact, Magee Marsh State Wildlife Area in Ottawa County has been named one of the top 10 birding destinations in North America by Birder’s World and Wild Bird magazines.”

Here’s a list of places and events that will attract bird watchers in coming weeks: