The Ohio Lake Erie Birding Trail Guidebook is durable enough for treks in nature. (Submitted photo)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

NORTHERN OHIO – In June, 2024, Ohio Division of Wildlife Avian Education Coordinator, Jamey Emmert, began traveling across northern Ohio, stopping at wildlife areas, state parks and nature preserves along the Ohio Lake Erie Birding Trail. By the time she was done, she had visited 90 birding hotspots and gathered enough information for a project that will change this year’s birding experience for thousands of bird enthusiasts.

Emmert was conducting research for the new, updated version of the Ohio Lake Erie Birding Trail Guidebook, a birder’s bible for people looking for premier birding hotspots across northern Ohio. The book is available now, in time for the Biggest Week in American Birding.

The original Ohio Lake Erie Birding Trail Guidebook, printed in 2014, was more of a conversational coffee table book, and the Ohio Division of Wildlife and its partner in this project, Ohio Sea Grant, wanted to publish a new version that was more convenient for birders on the go.

“We wanted to create one that was durable and small enough to carry in a backpack,” Emmert said.

Ohio Division of Wildlife Avian Education Coordinator, Jamey Emmert, stopped by Tiffin on April 11 to lead a bird walk and talk about the new Ohio Lake Erie Birding Trail Guidebook. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

As she traveled the trail last year, Emmert searched for changes at each site for updates to the book, and she visited two new sites that were added to the 2025 edition: Osborn MetroPark in Erie County and Howard Marsh Metropark in Lucas County. In all, the Ohio Lake Erie Birding Trail spans 312 miles across the top of the state, with a few slightly inland sites.

The Osborn MetroPark encompasses 172 acres and features the Roger Johnson Nature Center with a year-round wildlife watching window.

“We couldn’t pass up the chance to add this one,” Emmert said. “It didn’t exist in 2014. It has a beautiful building and is a great place to go winter birdwatching.”

Emmert said she was often asked why Howard Marsh Metropark was not included in the original guidebook, so it was a must addition to the 2025 edition. She said she had a “heart-stopping moment” when she spotted a Yellow-headed Blackbird at Howard Marsh.

The new Ohio Lake Erie Birding Trail Guidebook, with updated information and two new birding hotspots, is now available for purchase. (Submitted photo)

“About 260 species have been spotted there, like American Avocet and Black-necked Stilt,” Emmert said. “It has a kayak share program that is self-serve with a credit card. You can see some really cool stuff.”

Emmert encountered many surprises as she visited the trail’s 90 sites.

“I was surprised by how many places I had never visited, like Meadowbrook Marsh, until I started this. I didn’t know about Meadowbrook, and I was smitten with it,” she said

The Ohio Lake Erie Birding Trail Guidebook dedicates an entire page to each birding site. Readers will find information on location, public access times and amenities. A “What to Look For” section on each page provides an overview of the site and a glimpse into which birds may be flitting about the trees. A “Noteworthy Rarities” section lets birders know which lesser-seen birds have been spotted there. The guidebook comes with a sturdy, foldable map and bird checklist that can be purchased separately.

“We added amenities to the book, like whether it is pet-friendly,” Emmert said.

The Ohio Lake Erie Birding Trail is separated into seven loops, from the Oak Openings Loop on the west to the Ashtabula Loop on the east. The map, which color-codes the different loops, makes it easy for birders to discover new sites, whether they want to explore just a few or conquer the entire trail.

Emmert spent an exciting year compiling information for the Ohio Lake Erie Birding Trail Guidebook, and now she is ready for the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s next project: creating the Ohio River Birding Trail and an accompanying guidebook. Emmert will travel Ohio’s southern border looking for birding hotspots to create a brand-new birding trail.

For now, birders can purchase the new Ohio Lake Erie Birding Trail Guidebook at the Magee Marsh Visitor Center gift shop, the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge gift shop, and online at https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/see-the-sights/lake-erie-birding-trail.

“We want to see people build an adventure and explore new sites or discover new locations near home,” Emmert said.