OOS Events | Ohio Ornithological Society

Birds in the Hills 2026

by OOS Events | Feb 26, 2026 | Current News and Events, OOS Events

Artwork by Ann Geise - prints available at anngeiseart.com

Birds in the Hills in Hocking County

May 1-3, 2026

Register Here!

This year, the OOS has partnered with Appalachian Understories, to sponsor the Birds in the Hills festival instead of hosting Warblers and Wildflowers as a separate event. This experimental sponsorship will allow the OOS to continue to provide birding events to our membership and support (instead of compete) with a similar birding event while also reducing the administrative overhead for our volunteer board.

Birds in the Hills is family friendly and takes place in the Hocking Hills. Join us on Friday, May 1, 2026, at 5 p.m., at the beautiful Camp Oty’Okwa in Hocking Hills for a fun-filled weekend celebrating the natural world and the spring migration, with Keynote speaker, Nicole R Jackson How Birds Connect People to Place, Community, and Care.

Birds in the Hills welcomes individuals of diverse ages and backgrounds, providing a chance to explore the biodiversity of the Appalachian region through interactive nature activities led by local guides and naturalists.

If you’ve attended Warblers and Wildflowers in the past, the structure of Birds in the Hills is a bit different, with events and field trips throughout each day. For those who prefer a full day field trip, there will be a “Warblers and Wildflowers” track on Saturday May 2, at no additional cost to OOS members (use “OOSMember” discount code at checkout).

Lodging

Onsite lodging options are available with registration:

Heated dorm-style bunk lodges
Rustic cabins with electricity and heating
Tent camping in an open field or hammock garden
Car camping, van camping, and small RVs are welcome (no hookups available).

There are also many lodging options throughout the Hocking Hills area:

Holiday Inn Express in Logan (~20 minutes from Camp Oty’okwa)
Explore Hocking Hills

If you have questions about the event reach out to Madison@RuralAction.org

Warblers & Wildflowers Weekend 2024

by OOS Events | Mar 15, 2024 | OOS Events, Past News and Events

Warblers & Wildflowers at Shawnee State Park

April 26-28, 2024

Register Here!

Detailed Itinerary

Field Trip Descriptions

Meet the Speakers

Warblers & Wildflowers is just around the corner. Your committee is working diligently to make this an event to remember and we can’t wait to see everyone!

Please note that registration deadline was April 19 at 5:00 PM and registration fees will be non-refundable after March 31 (extenuating circumstances may be considered.)

Join the OOS Shawnee State Park Lodge in Scioto County, OH for a celebration of Warblers and Wildflowers! The last weekend in April gives you a chance to meet the first big wave of spring migration, enjoy excellent presentations and experience the fellowship of fun and avid birders! Rooms and cabins available at Shawnee Lodge until full, and also at the Holiday Inn in Portsmouth view details on the registration page.

Shawnee State Forest, and surrounding areas in Scioto and Adams Counties, is well known among Ohio birders as the place to get a head start on spring. Our tropical migrants arrive here well before they make their way to Ohio’s northern reaches. Some, such as Worm-eating Warbler, Blue Grosbeak and Summer Tanager, seldom make it to Lake Erie, as their breeding range is limited to the southern part of the state. One in particular, Chuck-wills-widow, is confined to a small area in southern Adams County. So, if you want to compile a large Ohio list, you will need to visit here.

Friday night will begin with registration in the lodge lobby beginning at 3 pm. A happy hour cash bar with a presentation by Shawnee State Park Naturalist Jenny Richards highlighting the wonderful biodiversity of the State Park and Forest. After a delicious buffet dinner, Avian Ecologist Dr. Kelly Williams will present on Leveraging movement ecology research to conserve birds across the landscape. Afterward, there will be an evening outing to listen for Chuck-will’s widows.

Saturday we’re up early for morning field trips, lunch in the field, then back to the lodge. Afternoon will be on your own. After a buffet dinner, Wildlife Rehabilitation Specialist Tim Jasinski will present on the intricate world of wild bird rehabilitation and Lights Out Cleveland. Once again, there will be an evening outing to listen for Chuck-will’s widows. Both nights you will have an opportunity to visit the cabins where Mothing stations will be set up for those interested.

Sunday morning birders will be on their own with the possible option to bird with guides remaining for the morning. We will share a map of Shawnee Forest for you to explore on your own.

Just as spring comes earlier for the birds in the Shawnee region, the same is true for wildflowers. The south-facing slopes along the shore of the Ohio River warm up first, kicking off the northward march of spring. The timing of wildflower blooming is tied to the weather much more than the timing of avian migrant arrival, so it is hard to predict what you can find in late April. But the diversity of habitats in this area guarantees that there is sure to be a correspondingly wide diversity of blooms.

PLANNED FIELD TRIPS

The Amazing Birds & Botany of Shawnee
Neotropical Jewels: Warblers
Birds and Butterflies: Wings of Spring
All Creatures (and plants) Great and Small

Birding 101
Thru the Lens: Photographic Birds
Birds & Wildflowers of Adams County – Edge of Appalachia
Birds & Botany of Adams County – Lynx Prairie

SAVE THE DATE: Warblers & Wildflowers: April 26-28 2024

by OOS Events | Dec 20, 2023 | OOS Events, Past News and Events | 0 comments

Mark your calendars and reserve a room for Warblers and Wildflowers at Shawnee State Park: April 26-28, 2024

It’s time again to plan for next Spring’s Warblers & Wildflowers at Shawnee State Park. Get a jump on spring migration along with the opportunity to see and hear nesting species that don’t migrate further north. And for the botanists in the group, there’s lots of native flora not seen many other places in Ohio.

You can reserve your room or cabin now at discounted prices. Call Shawnee Lodge & Conference Center at 740-858-6621 and tell them you’re reserving a room/cabin for the event with Ohio Ornithological Society on the dates indicated for the discount.

Tentative Schedule

The tentative schedule will start Friday evening with happy hour, a buffet dinner, a short introduction to the Shawnee area, an evening speaker (TBD) and off in search seeking to hear the Chuck-will’s-widows.

Saturday morning will feature a wide variety of bird/botany walks with experienced leaders. Saturday evening, after a buffet dinner, will feature a keynote speaker (TBD) and again go in search seeking to hear Chuck-will-widows. In addition, we will be setting up mothing sheets near the cabins for both nights! It looks to be a great event that you won’t want to miss.

Watch the OOS website, Facebook, your email and see the Chip Notes in mid-January for more information and a link to register for the event. We are looking forward to having a full event this year and hope you will join us for a great weekend!

2024 Winter Raptor Extravaganza at The Wilds!

by OOS Events | Dec 15, 2023 | OOS Events, Past News and Events | 0 comments

2024 Winter Raptor Extravaganza at The Wilds: January 20, 2024

We’re looking forward to birding with members again at The Wilds in Cumberland, Ohio, in 2024! Don’t miss a fun day of birding, seeing old friends and learning about the Common Mudpuppy!

The OOS will return to The Wilds on January 20, 2024, for our annual trip to find wintering raptors and wintering waterfowl! This event is a big THANK YOU to all of the OOS members that help support our great organization. Because of you, we were able to sponsor many conservation programs/projects to organizations in Ohio for the protection of our birds and their habitat.

And the Youth Education Committee is always working on providing Ohio’s youth with opportunities through scholarships, educational opportunities, etc. in order to further their interest/passion to help Ohio’s bird conservation for them and future generations.

Register Here

YOU MUST REGISTER IN ADVANCE! REGISTRATION IS LIMITED!

Once you’re a member, register for the 2024 OOS Winter Raptor Extravaganza by sending an email to Jason Larson at bairdstrogon@yahoo.com and join us for a fun day of birding.

Include the names and emails of all the members of your group. Once you’re on the list, you will receive an email prior to the event with final instructions. If you register for your entire group, you will be the primary contact person and you are responsible for forwarding all information to those participants, if we are not provided with an email address for them.

If you know someone who is not a member and they would like to attend the event, simply have them sign-up for an OOS membership! Members may also invite non-members to attend the event, but an OOS member must make the reservation.

The Wilds is a large reclaimed surface mine grassland area that has abundant wintering raptors and grassland nesting birds. While most of the region is rolling grassland, there are also areas of ponds, lakes, wetlands, spoils forest and remnant hardwood forests. Wide-open vistas make this a great raptor-watching spot. Special species that we may find are: Golden and Bald Eagle, Rough-legged Hawk (light & dark morphs), Northern Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Northern Shrike and Eastern Meadowlark. Open water areas can also attract a large variety of waterfowl. In the past we have seen such rarities as Long-tailed Duck, Greater White-fronted Goose, Snow Goose and Green-winged Teal. If we are very fortunate, we might get to see something like the Prairie Falcon that spent the winter in 2003-2004.

2023 OOS Annual Meeting Recap

by OOS Events | Nov 19, 2023 | OOS Events, OOS Updates, Past News and Events | 0 comments

2023 Ohio Ornithological Society Annual Meeting Recap

OOS members, guests and board members enjoyed a day of birding, good food, a look back at 2023 and to the future in 2024. And, enjoyed chili made by board members and voted for their favorite — East Central Regional Director, Barb Lindenmuth was the winner.

Your 2024 Board of Directors

Executive Board:
Sue Evanoff, President; Jeremy Dominguez, Vice President; Kisa Weeman, Executive Secretary; Bruce Miller, Treasurer; Amy Downing, Recording Secretary.
Regional Directors:
Northeast – Leigh Casal; Northwest – Trevor Zook; Central – Troy Herrel; East Central – Barb Lindenmuth; Southeast – Melissa Wales; Southwest – Tyler Ficker; Directors-at-Large – Ethan Kistler and Shane Myers.

A SPECIAL THANKS goes out to Jason Larson for hosting the event at the beautiful property and facility – Gorman Nature Center in Richland County. And, especially to Gary Cowell, Luke Donahue and Jason Larson for leading trips to Clear Fork Reservoir and the Wild Bird Sanctuary trails where, I believe, a good time was had by all.

2023 Regional Director Birdwalks

by OOS Events | Feb 16, 2023 | OOS Events, OOS Updates, Past 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.

Be sure to check our website, Facebook and your email for continuing information on these walks as they develop.

Migrant Waterfowl, Songbirds and More
with Tyler Ficker, Southwest Regional Director

Where: Spring Valley Wildlife Area, Warren/Greene County
When: Saturday, March 25 at 9 am
Register: Free – tyler.ficker@ohiobirds.org

We’ll meet at 9am in the south parking lot for Spring Valley Wildlife Area (39.563967,-84.018377). The walk will be 2-1/2 to 3 hours depending on how the birding is.

Be sure to wear shoes that are waterproof in case some of the trails are wet. Since there is no clear place to have a group lunch, it will be on your own after the walk.

Early Warblers, Rails, Shorebirds
with Troy Herrel, Central Regional Director

Where: Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park
When: Sunday, April 23 from 8am – 11am
Register: Free – email troyherrel@icloud.com

Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park is a metropolitan park in Central Ohio, owned and operated by Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks. The park is within the Pleasant and Prairie townships, southwest of Columbus. It is the largest park in the Metro Parks system, with 7,103 acres. 1775 Darby Creek Dr, Galloway, OH 43119

We’ll start off at the picnic area (39.9012566,-83.2104955) for songbirds and make our way to the wetlands for water birds and possibly shorebirds.

Breeding Birds and Late Migrants
with Melissa Wales, Southeast Regional Director

Where: Cucumber Tree Run Trail, Athens
When: Saturday, May 27 from 8am – 11am
Register: Free – melissa.wales@ohiobirds.org

Join Melissa at the beautiful Strouds Run access trail through a woodland ravine just off the main business district (East State Street) in Athens. Look for spectacular breeding birds including Cerulean Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Northern Parula, American Redstart, Scarlet Tanager, Ovenbird, Acadian Flycatcher, Blue-headed Vireo, Wood Thrush, and more! It’s not an accessible trail and requires sturdy footwear, and the ability to traverse uneven and at times, hilly terrain. Directions and parking info to come!

Summer Grassland Birds: Bobolinks and Henslow’s Sparrows with Leigh Casal, Northeast Regional Director

Where: Bath Nature Preserve, Summit County
When: Saturday, June 17 from 8am to 11 am
Register: Free – leigh.casal@ohiobirds.org

Join me at Bath Nature Preserve for Summer Grassland Birds. We’ll hope to see Henslow’s Sparrows, Bobolinks, Eastern Meadowlarks and many more. Expect to walk around 2 miles on mostly flat terrain, with a few hills.

Directions and parking details to come.

Bobolink & Song Sparrow photos by Tom Fishburn

Fall Migrants with Jeremy Dominguez, Northwest Regional Director

Where: Magee Marsh Wildlife Area
When: Saturday, September 16 from 8am – 12pm
Register: Free – jeremy.dominguez@toledozoo.org

We will bird along the boardwalk. It’s a flat, easy walk. Some of the birds we might see are neotropic migrants in fall plumage. Warblers such as Blackpoll and Bay-breasted should be abundant, as well as a nice mix of other species including residents and birds Lake Erie might attract.

Meet at the East entrance of the boardwalk, represented by the black and white hiker on the map – please note legend for details. Magee Marsh Wildlife Area Trail Map
Bringing water, snacks and lunch is recommended.
Portajohns will be available

Fall Birding on easy trails with Barb Lindenmuth, East Central Regional Director

Where: Barnes Preserve, Wayne County
When: TBD
Register: Free – email bklinden@hotmail.com.

NOTE: This trip was to be a spring trip and unfortunately had to be changed. Please watch the website and your monthly newsletter as more info becomes available

Barnes Preserve is a lovely 76-acre park of mature woods, restored prairie with two small ponds. It has 1.4 miles of paved trails as well as a grassy trail leading to the larger pond. Meet at the covered pavilion next to the parking lot. (3396 Sylvan Road, Wooster). The walk will be easy and the birds plentiful!

To register, please email me at bklinden@hotmail.com.

Watch for more information soon via website, Facebook and email.