Where to go birding in Ohio

Audubon Important Bird Areas in Ohio
Ohio Birding Drives
Ohio Birding Day Hikes
Roadside Birding

Reporting Rare Bird Sightings and Stakeouts

Top Birding Locations in Ohio

Also, see the list of Top 100 individual hotspots
Updated 6/9/2020
Magee Marsh Wildlife Area – 303 species
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge – 302 species
Headlands Beach State Park – 298 species
Lakefront Reservation – 288 species
Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area – 285 species
Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area – 285 species
Maumee Bay State Park – 285 species
Buck Creek State Park – 282 species
Lorain Harbor – 280 species
Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve – 279 species
Wendy Park, Whiskey Island – 277 species
Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve – 276 species
East Fork State Park – 273 species
Big Island Wildlife Area – 268 species
Lorain Impoundment Lakeside Landing – 268 species
Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge – 265 species
Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve – 267 species
Hoover Reservoir – 262 species
Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park – 261 species
Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area – 260 species
Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve – 259 species
Miami Whitewater Forest – 258 species
Englewood MetroPark – 258 species
Hueston Woods State Park – 257 species
Caesar Creek State Park – 256 species
Pipe Creek Wildlife Area – 255 species
Sandy Ridge Reservation – 255 species
Kelleys Island – 255 species
Findlay Reservoirs – 255 species
Mill Creek Wildlife Sanctuary (restricted access) – 254 species
Fernald Preserve – 253 species
Spring Valley Wildlife Area – 253 species
East Harbor State Park – 252 species
Cuyahoga Valley National Park – 250 species
Funk Bottoms Wildlife Area – 249 species

Resources

Books on Birding in Ohio
All About Birds – online bird guide
Birds of North America
Alpha Codes (4-letter)
Code of Birding Ethics

Websites about Birding in Ohio

Ohio Bird Records Committee
Lake Erie Birding Trail
Lake Erie Public Access Guide
Birding in Ohio from Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Biggest Week in American Birding
A Birder’s Guide to the Biggest Week by Greg Miller
Best Bets for Birding Crane Creek/Magee Marsh
Ohio-birds email list (Ohio Ornithological Society)

Facebook Groups
Birding Ohio
Ohio eBird Q & A
Ohio Rare Bird Alert
Ohio Chase Birds
Bobolink Area of Ohio
Central Ohio Birders
Cincinnati Birders
Medina County Birding
Ottawa County Birding
South and Central Ohio Birders
Summit County Birding
West Central Ohio Birders
Ohio Backyard Birding

eBird is a real-time, online checklist program which has revolutionized the way that the birding community reports and accesses information about birds. Jointly sponsored by the Laboratory of Ornithology at Cornell University and the National Audubon Society, eBird provides rich data sources for basic information on bird abundance and distribution.

This website provides descriptions and maps of eBird Hotspots in Ohio. In eBird, Hotspots are shared locations where birders may report their bird sightings to eBird. Hotspots provide birders with information about birding locations where birds are being seen.

Links to eBird web site

About eBird
eBird Hotspot Explorer
eBird Help Documents
eBird Hotspot Frequently Asked Questions
Lists of all eBird Hotspots world wide
eBird Facebook page

Tips on Managing your eBird Records

How to change the location of a checklist
How to merge a personal location with an eBird Hotspot
How to share a checklist with other birders
How to suggest a personal location as a new eBird Hotspot
How to get a “life list” of bird species at a personal location

Corrections and How to Help
Contact

Organizations and Bird Clubs

Ohio Ornithological Society
Black Swamp Bird Observatory
Kirtland Bird Club
Toledo Naturalists’ Association
The Wilderness Center
Ohio Young Birders Club

Greater Akron Audubon Society
Black River Audubon Society
Blackbrook Audubon Society
Canton Audubon Society
Clark County Audubon Society
Greater Cleveland Audubon Society
Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society
Cincinnati Audubon Society
Columbus Audubon Society
Firelands Audubon Society
Audubon Miami Valley
Greater Mohican Audubon Society
Tri-Moraine Audubon Society