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.
Wooster Area Birding Drive
Click on the hotspot names below to view the page about that hotspot.
1328 Dover Road Wooster, Ohio 44691
Secrest Arboretum is located at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center of the Ohio State University near Wooster.
Look at, learn about, and love the plant life around you. Over the past 100+ years, we have grown into an expansive outdoor laboratory and landscape garden.
The best way to bird Secrest is to walk the many trails and paths through the gardens and trees. This is one location in the Wooster were Northern Mockingbirds are reliably found. Red-breasted Nuthatches are often in the pines. Some summers Hooded Warblers have been in the wooded areas throughout the breeding season.
Silver Road Wooster, Ohio 44691
Wooster Memorial or “Spangler” Park is found off of US-250 just five miles West of town. Consisting of over three hundred and twenty plus acres of pristine woodland for hiking. There are over six miles primitive of trails, scenic overlooks, the Rathborn Run, picnic pavilions, and public restrooms Wooster Memorial offers some wonderful educational opportunities or just a place to get back to nature.
There is field habitat at the west side of this park, accessible from the Education Area parking lot. This lot is not always open, but you can park near the gate when it is closed. From the picnic pavilion take the trail west (left) and go through the woods on the Education Trail to get to the large field.
The park has an extensive trail system, mostly through wooded areas. These can be excellent for woodland birds.
Oak Hill Road Wooster, Ohio 44691
Located on Oak Hill Road, Oak Hill Park was officially dedicated on October 15th, 2011. It has many wonderful features, including a 1.7-mile long trail, named in honor of Donald and Alice Noble. The 10-feet wide paved section is for walking, jogging, or biking and the adjacent grass berm is wide enough for cross-country skiing. Included in the park is the City’s first official sledding hill, intended to bring more families together for winter recreation. The park’s path can be linked into the other paths along the city’s northern corridor, creating nearly eight miles of walking and biking trails. Situated about 100-yards from the park’s entrance is a large pavilion donated by the Rotary Club of Wooster for community and educational gatherings. Near the pavilion, an eighth-mile trail geared for people who may not have the time or ability to use the longer and hillier terrain was donated by Joan and Gene Buehler. Named in their honor, this gradual path will help handicapped individuals safely use wheelchairs and walkers to enjoy the surrounding flora.