Join the OOS Regional Director Birdwalks!
Every year, the Regional Directors of the Ohio Ornithological Society lead a birdwalk in their region.
Mark your calendars and join them for a fun morning of birding. Learn about birds and birding areas in your region OR venture outside of your region and see what great birding areas are available within our beautiful Ohio.
Regional Directors are working on setting up their walks for 2026.
Be sure to check our website, Facebook and your email for continuing information on these walks as they develop.
Spring Migration Walk at Oak Openings
with Lindsey Kunkel – Northwest Regional Director
Where: Oak Openings
When: Saturday, May 23, 2026 – 9 to 11 am
Register: with Lindsey Kunkel
We’ll meet at Buehner Center on Mallard Lake address: 5240 Wilkins Rd. Whitehouse, OH. 43571. This walk will be about 2.5 miles on paved and well-kept dirt trails. There is also a window on wildlife at this location to view birds at their feeders. There are bathrooms on site, and shelters to eat a packed lunch. Nearest other food is in the town of Swanton or Holland off Airport HWY. The walk will be during migration right after The Biggest Week in American Birding. Oak Openings has alot of great special warblers that call it home for breeding seasons including Hooded Warblers, Kentucky Warblers, Yellow Warblers, and Ovenbirds. We will have many other birds present at this time of year as well like Lark Sparrows, vireos, and many woodpeckers. Many other birds are there year round including different raptors, owls, etc.
Summer Grassland & Wetland Birds
with Leigh Casal, Northeast Regional Director
Where: Bath Nature Preserve, Summit County
When: Friday, June 19 from 8:00 am to 11:00 AM
Register: leigh.casal@ohiobirds.org
Join us for a morning of birding through the diverse habitats of Bath Nature Preserve in Summit County! We’ll explore prime grassland in search of Bobolinks and Henslows’s sparrows and venture into wetlands where we’ve encountered Least Bittern, Marsh Wren, Common Gallinule, Trumpeter Swans and more. Time permitting, we may also explore the tamarack bog and old-growth forest.
Expect to walk around 2 miles on mostly flat terrain, with a few hills. Directions, parking details and more specifics to come. Register with Leigh Casal at leigh.casal@ohiobirds.org.
- ebird list from 2023: 46 species
- ebird list from 2024: 51 species
- ebird list from 2025: 61 species
Late Summer Birding and Botany
with Rick Luehrs, Southwest Regional Director
Where: Huffman Prairie Flying Field
When: Saturday, August 1, 2026 – 8 to 10 am
Register: Register with Rick
We’ll meet at the restroom parking area on Marl Rd. and walk the prairie in its full “superbloom”. We’ll be hoping to see Bobolinks, Henslow’s Sparrows, Orchard Orioles and plenty of Common Yellowthroats. Enter the area off of route 444 via Communications Blvd. right beside the Golf course. Make a left on Hebble Creek Rd., pass the shooting range on the right. Next make a right on Marl Rd. and the parking area will be about a half mile up the road on the left. It will most likely be hot so dress cool and bring water. I recommend spraying your legs with deet as the Chiggers thrive in this habitat. Experienced, non-experienced, young and seasoned birders all are welcome to join us!
Fall Shorebirding at Hoover Reservoir
with John Kuenzli – Central Regional Director
Where: Hoover Reservoir
When: Mid/late September
Register: RSVP to John Kuenzli
Depending on local conditions related to drawdown of the reservoir, the north end of Hoover Reservoir can be a gem for shorebirding enthusiasts! We will walk along the edge of whatever mudflats are available (mud boots strongly suggested) and focus on finding shorebirds (spotting scope suggested). There will also be migrant songbirds to sort through, so be on your toes!
More details to follow about exact meeting location and date since the reservoir conditions may dictate a change in plans (watch your emails early Fall). Walking is flat and easy, though we may end up covering close to 2 miles. We’ll meet at about 8 AM and will plan on birding for a few hours.
