From the shores of Lake Erie in the north to the long and winding Ohio River of its eastern and southern border, Ohio provides amazingly diverse habitats for birds. The hilly Appalachian region of the east and south contain some of the most diverse woodlands in the United States. The Great Black Swamp in the northeast has many marshes and wetlands. And along the shore of Lake Erie sits one of the most famous birding sites on earth—the Magee Marsh Wildlife Area. Known as the “warbler capital of the world,” many thousands of birds stop along along their migration routes during the spring and fall. Ohio has many protected areas for birds including eight National Parks, three National Wildlife Refuges, and over 3.5 million acres of IBAs (Important Bird Areas). The Buckeye State is truly one of the best places to see birds year-round in the U.S.A. From geese to grosbeaks, owls to warblers, grouse to waxwings, Ohio is truly a birder’s paradise.
