Register for the 2026 OOS Annual Meeting & Gull Symposium at Lake Erie Nature & Science Center

by OOS Events | Aug 12, 2026 | Current News and Events, OOS Events, OOS Updates | 0 comments

Join the OOS at Lake Erie Nature & Science Center in Bay Village for a Gull Symposium, our annual meeting and elections on Saturday, November 21, 2026.

Registration

The day long event will be free for all OOS members and $35 for non-members (includes one year membership). Please register by November 13.

Schedule

The day long event will include bird walks, lunch, and presentations by featured speaker Amar Ayyash, author of The Gull Guide: North America (Princeton University Press, 2025) and other local gull experts. More details and a final schedule will be provided closer to the event.

Morning Bird Walks

- Option 1: Bird and Gull Walk at Lake Erie Nature & Science Center with time to explore the nature center. It is an easy walk
  (round trip, about a mile) over to Lake Erie through some woods and riparian habitat to the Lake. This will be the easiest birding opportunity for those not too concerned with what they see.
- Option 2: Self Drive to Designated Gull Watching Sites with local gull experts.

Lunch & Members Meeting: Bring your own lunch or pre-pay $10 for pizza from a local pizzeria. OOS will provide drinks.

Afternoon speakers & presentations:

- Tim Jasinksi: Threats to Gulls and Gull Rehab
- Chuck Slusarcyk: Rare Gull Sightings and local hotspots
- Amar Ayyash: Gull ID

About Lake Erie Nature & Science Center

Lake Erie Nature & Science Center educates and inspires each of us to understand, appreciate and take responsibility for our natural world.

Learn more: Mission and Values – Lake Erie Nature & Science Center

2026 Regional Director Birdwalks

by OOS Events | Feb 24, 2026 | Current News and Events

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.

Fall Shorebirding at Hoover Reservoir
with John Kuenzli – Central Regional Director

Where: Hoover Reservoir
When: Saturday, September 12 at 7:30 AM
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!

We’ll meet at 7:30 AM and will plan on birding for a few hours. Walking is flat and easy, though we may end up covering close to 2 miles. 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).

Date and time are subject to change based on water levels. Email John to receive time confirmation or change before the event.

Earlier this year...

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.

Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge (restricted area)

Early Breeding Birds and more
with Barb Lindenmuth, East Central Regional Director

Where: William J. Robertson Nature Preserve, Wayne County
When: Saturday, June 6 from 8:00 am to 10:00 AM
Register: Register with Barb

We will meet at the parking lot with the kayak launch that is located at the north end of the preserve. Address is 85 Morning Star Drive, Rittman, Ohio. The trail is flat and there are restrooms on sight. This preserve often has Osprey, Cedar Waxwing, Belted Kingfisher, swallows and a nice variety of nesting species.

(Be sure to have insect repellent.)

Photo of Dock and pond at William J as sunset

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!