Birding Drives are routes for birding trips which can be accomplished in one day, stopping to walk and bird at various eBird hotspots. For each birding drive, a Google map is provided with the route and suggested stops at eBird hotspots. You may save the link to the Google map on your smartphone or tablet, or print a copy on paper to take with you. Links are provided with information about each eBird hotspot. Follow those links for more information about birding each location.
Hardin County Birding Drive
Click on the hotspot names below to view the page about that hotspot.
This Birding Drive explores eBird hotspots in Hardin County. When you submit checklists here you help to add to the data about birds in this region of Ohio.
Forest, Ohio 45843
From Marseilles, take OH-67 southwest for .3 miles. Turn right onto OH-37 west and go 5 miles. Turn left on Township Road 64 and drive 2.5 miles. Turn left onto County Highway 215 and then turn right onto Township Road 50. Arrive at the Hardin County Wetlands in .5 miles.
The Andreoff Wildlife Area may be entered by permit only. The wetland may be viewed from County Road 50. Please, view birds from the roadside only.
Kenton, Ohio 43326
From the Hardin County Wetlands, drive west on Township Road 50 for 1.7 miles. Turn left onto OH-53 south for 7.9 miles. Make a slight left onto North Main Street and go 1.2 miles. Turn right onto West Espy Street and go .5 miles. Continue straight onto OH-67 west and drive 1.1. miles. Turn left to arrive a Saulisberry Park.
Saulisberry Park is located at a stone quarry, France Lake, located off of OH-67 West. This site is used for fishing, camping, and hiking and there is a playground, a dirt bike track, and a shelterhouse.
Kenton, Ohio 43326
From Saulisberry Park, return to OH-67 and go east for 1.5 miles. Turn right onto West Railroad Street and then turn left onto US-68. Go 2 miles and turn right onto County Road 135. Go .6 miles and turn right onto Township Road 137.
The Hardin County Airport is private property. Please, view birds from the roadside only.
13278 County Road 190 Kenton, Ohio 43226
From the Hardin County Airport, drive southeast on Township Road 137 for .2 miles. Turn left onto County Road 135 for .6 miles. Turn right on US-68 south and drive 3.1 miles. Turn left onto County Road 190. Arrive at Lawrence Woods State Nature Preserve in 1.2 miles.
Lawrence Woods is significant because it is the largest known mature forest in this region and is home to a number of rare plant and animal species. Lawrence Woods features exceptional large trees; oaks, hickories, maples, and beech; good spring wildflowers. Several plant community types are present within the forested area depending on the elevation. The highest and driest sites have an oak-hickory forest type. On the slightly less dry ground, the community grades into beech-maple, beech-oak-red maple, and maple-ash-oak swamp communities.
The forest has large trees of many species including white, yellow, red and bur oaks, as well as beech, white ash, shagbark hickory, red maple, sugar maple, and sycamore. There are substantial buttonbush swamps within the forest in areas which are inundated for most of the year. Heart-leaf plantain (Plantago cordata) occurs in Lawrence Woods. This species is only known from three sites in the state and is an endangered species. Grove sandwort (Arenaria lateriflora), a state-listed species, may be seen along the boardwalk. This is an excellent spot for viewing spring wildflowers.
The Woods Boardwalk trail begins near the northwest corner of the woods. The Prairie Path trail leaves behind the sign in the parking lot.
The fields surrounding the parking area near the boardwalk provide good habitat for Short-eared Owls in the winter. Watch for the owls flying over the fields just after sunset.
Mount Victory, Ohio 43340
From Lawrence Woods, drive east on County Road 190 for 6.6 miles. Arrive at Otterbein Cemetery on the right.
Otterbein Cemetery is located at the intersection of County Road 190 and County Road 209 outside Mount Victory.
The cemetery is located on both sides of the church, and it is still active.