Where Should My Team Go Birding?
The easy answer is “wherever you want to go birding!“
Your Birdathon team can go anywhere. You can stay in the Columbus area, go elsewhere in Ohio, or even leave the state entirely. It’s up to you.
Some teams take a competitive, “big day” approach, trying to find as many species as possible. By tradition, these teams stay with it Ohio but visit several areas of the state. If you want to go this route, take a look at our suggested Ohio locations for Big Day Birdathons below.
Other teams, though, stay within the Central Ohio area. They can have just as much fun and raise just as much money. Do you have one or a few favorite Metro Parks? If so, try birding there. Or maybe you want to bird in your own neighborhood.
Ohio Locations for Big Day Birdathons
The following list of Birdathon hotspots in Ohio was compiled by Mike Flynn.
This list is primarily for Birdathon teams who are willing to visit different areas of the state to maximize the number of species that they see.
High Priority Areas
These areas often are highly productive, with good numbers of a variety of species.
- Clear Creek Metro Park (Raptors, Gallinaceous, Wild Turkeys, Grouse, Passerines)
- Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area (Waterfowl, Raptors incl. EAGLES, HAWKS, OWLS; also, Shorebirds, Pheasant, Quail, Woodcock, Shrike, Red-Headed Woodpecker, Sparrows…)
- Magee Marsh (Waterfowl, Waders, Rails, Bitterns, Shorebirds, Gulls/Terns, Raptors, Passerines)
- Mallard Club Marsh (Waterfowl, Waders, Rails, Bitterns)
- Oak Openings (Raptors, Passerines)
- Ottawa N.W.R. (Stop at Nature Center for Bird Reports); (Waterfowl, Waders, Rails, Bitterns, Shorebirds, Gulls/Terns, Raptors, Passerines)
- Big Island Wildlife Area (Waterfowl, Waders, Rails, Bitterns, Shorebirds, Swallows, Passerines)
- Killbuck Marsh (Waterfowl, Waders, Raptors, Rails, Bitterns, Shorebirds, Passerines)
- Irwin Prairie (Waders, Rails, Bitterns, Passerines)
- Maumee Bay St. Park (Stop at Nature Center); (Waterfowl, Waders, Shorebirds, Passerines)
- Old Woman’s Creek (Stop at Nature Center); (Waterfowl, Waders, Shorebirds, Passerines)
- 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)
Medium Priority Areas
These areas can be productive, but typically provide fewer species and lower concentrations of birds than do the High Priority areas. However, many of them are closer to home and each can be very productive if conditions are right.
- 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 & Dam (Waterfowl, Gulls, Waders, Raptors, Passerines)
- Delaware/Alum Creek/Hoover Reservoirs (Waterfowl, Waders, Raptors, Shorebirds, Passerines)