Irwin Prairie

To get there: Drive west from Toledo on Ohio 2 to Crissey Road. Continue north on Crissey to Bancroft. Turn west on Bancroft and proceed to the parking lot, about 0.25 mile past Irwin Road on the south side. The boardwalk through the prairie begins here.

The boardwalk winds through second growth woodland and brush before it comes out onto the prairie near Irwin Road. American and Least bitterns once nested here and are still found infrequently. Cooper's and Broad-winged hawks are possible nearby nesters. Five species of rails have been found here. Sora and Virginia rails are fairly common; King Rails have nested occasionally; Yellow Rails have been found several times in the spring, and the rare Black Rail has been recorded at least once.

Irwin Prairie is a good place to watch the courtship flights of American Woodcocks and Common Snipe, especially in March and April. Eastern Screech-Owls, Great Horned, and Barred owls are resident in wooded areas. Another nice feature is the presence of both Alder and Willow flycatchers and the opportunity to compare their calls in May and June. Sedge and Marsh wrens can occasionally be seen or heard from the boardwalk, and Veeries are common in the wet woods surrounding the prairie. White-eyed Vireos nest, and Bell's Vireo, although quite rare, has been known to nest. Listen for the husky phrases of their song that Roger Tory Peterson describes as <B> cheedle cheedle chee? cheedle cheedle chew! <B> About eight species of warblers have been known to nest in the area, including Blue-winged Warblers and Yellow-breasted Chats and, very rarely, Golden-winged and Mourning warblers. LeConte's Sparrows and Western Meadowlarks are rare visitors and should always be kept in mind.

 

Secor Park
To get there: Just across Bancroft Road from Irwin Prairie is Secor Park. Access is from Bancroft on the south, Central Avenue (Rte. 20) on the north, or Wolfinger Road on the east.

This fine tract of mature forest attracts nesting birds rarely found elsewhere in the Toledo area. A checklist of such species would include: Acadian Flycatchers, Yellow-throated Vireos, Cerulean Warblers, American Redstarts, Ovenbirds, Northern Waterthrush (rare), Kentucky and Hooded warblers, Scarlet Tanagers, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.

 

Oak Openings Park

To get there: Follow Ohio 2 west from Toledo to Girdham Road. Proceed south on Girdham and you will soon reach the park.

This 4000-acre tract of oak forest, pine plantation, swamp forest, and open fields, is home to many of the Oak Opening's rarest breeding birds. Barred Owls can often be found just west of the Mallard Lake parking lot, and Red-shouldered Hawks should be looked for where the ravine crosses Oak Openings Parkway east of Wilkins Road. Broad-winged Hawks are fairly common nesting birds and can be found at a number of different localities.

The most exciting ornithological treasures however are the park's breeding songbirds. Nineteen warbler (plus two warbler hybrids) and six vireo species have nested, and there are mid-summer records for at least four additional warbler species. Hooded Warblers have nested near the Mallard Lake lodge, especially north of the lake and across the parkway southwest of the parking lot. Pine Warblers have also nested near the lodge and others may be heard singing along Wilkins Road north to the railroad tracks. Cerulean Warblers are sometimes found along the parkway just southwest of the lake. Red-breasted nuthatches, Solitary Vireos, and Kentucky Warblers favor these same areas. In 1990, Golden-crowned Kinglets nested southeast of the junction of Reed and Wilkins roads, a first for Ohio.

From Wilkins Road and the railroad tracks, follow the trail to the southwest for possible Summer Tanagers, Ovenbirds, Louisiana Waterthrushes; Kentucky, Mourning, Hooded, and Canada warblers. Chestnut-sided Warblers have been known to nest at the south end of the trail near Reed Road.

The dune/prairie habitat along Girdham Road south of the railroad tracks is probably the most reliable for Lark Sparrows. Near the dunes, listen for Prairie Warblers. Six sparrow species, Eastern Kingbirds and Eastern Bluebirds frequent the fields near the junction of Reed and Girdham roads. Pine Warblers are often found in the pine stand across from the dunes and blue-winged Warblers are fairly common in the area. A Blue Grosbeak was seen in 1989 and 1990. After dark. listen for Whip-poor-wills.

Another good area, one less visited, is located in the northwest corner of the park. From the intersection of Girdham and Sager roads, walk west along the horse trail until you come to the yellow marker designating the Boy Scout trail. Follow this trail and others nearby into an area of mature forest and a ravine where you can find Cerulean and Hooded warblers, Louisiana Waterthrushes, Acadian Flycatchers, and other forest-dwelling species.

There is always a chance of finding a Golden-winged Warbler by following Girdham Road south to the open area just north of the park maintenance buildings. Check singing birds carefully because typical Blue-wings sometimes deliver Golden-wing songs. Other places to explore include Monclova Road east and west of Girdham; a ravine near the junction of Reed and Jeffers roads, and south along Jeffers to a large open area on the west side of the road. Check for blue-winged Warblers, Yellow-breasted Chats, and Lark Sparrows.

 

Maumee State Forest

To get there: Directions to these scattered parcels of land on the western and southern edges of the Oak Openings are contained within the site descriptions.

In Lucas County, check the wooded tract along Monroe Road between Reed Road and Ohio 64 for Chestnut-sided, Pine, Black-and-white, Kentucky, Mourning, and Hooded warblers. This is also a good Eastern Screech-Owl and Whip-poor-will spot. Where Wilkins Road intersects Ohio 64, walk through the pines and then along a ditch to the southwest. Look for Red-breasted Nuthatches and Solitary Vireos.

An excellent section of forest is located farther west along Ohio 64 between Jeffers and Monroe roads. Nesting Cooper's, Red-shouldered, and Broad-winged hawks can be found here along with Barred Owls and the possibility of Northern Saw-whet Owls. Passerines include Red-breasted Nuthatches, Blue-winged, Chestnut-sided, and Pine warblers. Just west of this area across Monroe Road is a large field which attracted a pair of Blue Grosbeaks in 1988.

The best Fulton County areas can be found by driving west from Manore Road on Archbold-Whitehouse Road (Fulton Co. Road C) to the intersection with County Road 2. There are three good wooded tracts to the northwest, northeast, and southwest of this corner. Veeries are common here and nesting warblers include Blue-winged, Chestnut-sided, Mourning, Hooded, and more. Red-breasted Nuthatches nest, and Solitary Vireos have been seen.

A fine area in Henry County, is reached by driving south on County Road 2 to Henry County Road V (Neowash Road). Beginning at the Lucas-Henry County line, three large tracts run to the west and are bordered on the north by Neowash Road and on the south by Bailey Road (Henry County Road U). The wildest section is along County Road 2 south of Neowash Road. There is a small colony of Great Blue Herons in the swamp forest to the west, and Cooper's, Red-shouldered, and Broad-winged Hawks nest in the vicinity.

A wet meadow farther south on County Road 2 is of special interest. Park at the south end of a line of cedars and walk west into the meadow. Birds to be found here include Common Snipe, Alder and Willow flycatchers, White-eyed Vireos, Blue-winged and Yellow warblers, Yellow-breasted Chats, and Swamp Sparrows.

Toledo Express Airport

To get there: In Lucas County, 0.5 mile north of the junction of U.S. 20 and Ohio 295.

Good views can be obtained of the grassy areas along the runway for occasional Upland Sandpipers, Bobolinks, Savannah and Grasshopper sparrows. Bell's Vireos have been found in the shrubby habitat at the bend in the road and Willow Flycatchers nest nearby. Orchard Orioles can be heard along this road, and Dickcissels are possible.

The <ASchwamberger Prairie <A> north of the airport can be reached from Old State Line Road. Look and listen for White-eyed Vireos, Blue-winged, golden-winged, and Chestnut-sided warblers.

Winter Notes: Winter finches can be found throughout the Oak Openings. Evening Grosbeaks are fairly common and crossbills are occasional. Northern Goshawks are possible in late fall and winter. Black-capped Chickadees are abundant. An area to check for Long-eared and Northern Saw-whet owls is the line of cedars mentioned earlier along Henry County Road 2. Another place to look for these owls is in the cedars and white pines south of the Reed-Girdham Road intersection in Oak Openings Park.