Artwork by Ann Geise - prints available at anngeiseart.com

Birds in the Hills in Hocking County

May 1-3, 2026

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
  • Pine Creek Cabins 
  • Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls
  • Hocking Hills Lodge

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

OOS at Annual Members Meeting at Aullwood Audubon on November 8

Schedule

9am – 12 pm: bird walks. Groups will leave from the nature center at 9 am, led by Sam Romeo, Environmental Educator at Aullwood, and one of our board members to return by noon for lunch. Trails are close to the center so no driving will be required.

12 – 1 pm: Lunch & Speaker. Lunch will be various chilis, provided by OOS board members, to tempt your tastebuds. Our speaker will be Nenita Lapitan, Senior Conservation Manager-Ohio Centers.

1 pm: Election of 2026 new and returning board members
Once the meeting is concluded, members are free to explore the area for additional species and nature on the property. All trails close at 4:30 PM and gates are closed and locked at 5 PM. Please see Aullwood’s Trail Map and Brochure for a complete guide to Aullwood’s farm, center, sanctuary and walking trails, as well as general information about us and details on the “The Troll that Hatched an Egg” exhibit by internationally famous recycle artist Thomas Dambo.

OOS at Butterfly Ridge in Hocking County on August 2

YOU MUST REGISTER IN ADVANCE! REGISTRATION IS LIMITED!

To register, reach out to Trevor Zook and let him know how many will be joining you.

Artwork by Ann Geise - prints available at anngeiseart.com

Warblers & Wildflowers at Shawnee State Park

April 25-27, 2025

Join the OOS at 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. Book your room by March 24 to receive an early bird discount (see details on the event registration page). 

New this year: Are you a student? This year we are excited to offer a 50% registration cost discount for high school and college students. Use discount code “student” at check-out. 

Please note that the registration deadline is April 18 at 5:00 PM and registration fees will be non-refundable after March 31 (extenuating circumstances may be considered.)

Tentative Schedule

Friday night will begin with registration in the lodge lobby beginning at 3:00 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, enjoy nature-inspired music with singer-songwriter Megan Bee and then off to listen for Chuck-will’s-widows or visit the cabins for Mothing.

Saturday will feature a wide variety of bird and botany guided trips with experienced leaders. Saturday evening, after a buffet dinner, keynote speaker Kent Miller will present on his lifetime of joyful exploration & discovery in Ohio followed by another search for Chuck-will-widows or Mothing.

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.

PLANNED FIELD TRIPS

5. Birding 101
6. Thru the Lens: Photographic Birds
7. Birds & Wildflowers of Adams County – Edge of Appalachia
8. Birds & Botany of Adams County – Lynx Prairie

About the Area

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.

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.