Have a Warbler-ful Day: Ohio Birding - May 2026
We pile into two mini vans early morning on May 17 and depart from Saw Mill River Audubon's Pruyn Sanctuary. Twelve hearty birders bound for Ohio's warbler capital as the biggest week in American birding wraps up. Of course, I do an ebird list in every county we pass through.
10 hours and 60 checklists later we arrive at the famed Magee Marsh Boardwalk. See the Trip Report
The Magee Marsh Boardwalk (map link) in Lucas County Ohio is a 1.5 mile elevated boardwalk through the marsh on the shores of Lake Erie. Massive numbers of songbirds stop here during spring migration earning this spot the title of "Warbler Capital of the World."
They say a picture paints a thousand words ... so here are a few of my snaps along the boardwalk which we visited at one point during each day we were here.
Metzger Marsh (map link) is a huge wetland area on the edge of Lake Erie a little to the west of Magee Marsh. Both are within the larger Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. We spent a few hours birding this area and were rewarded with great views of trumpeter swans courting (see swan video) along with shorebirds, and other species.
On one of our days, we headed a bit inland to the visit the Oak Openings Preserve Metropark on the other side of Toledo (map link). We ultimately stop for lunch at the Buehner Center and Mallard Lake. Yes, there were two mallards in the lake.
On the way there we made a couple of stops along the road and spotted a Lark Sparrow. The leaders of the group also started down a path on the heels of a Palm Warbler before geting busted by park security for being a "closed" section.
After lunch we searched in vain for a Kentucky Warbler, but came up short. We did find a Hooded Warbler, and some cool Emerald Green Tigers.
Our home away from home for 4 nights were in 4 cottages at the Maumee Bay Lodge & Conference Center in Maumee Bay State Park. These enabled the group to self cater, and we had some delicious meals cooked by Charlie Roberto.
That's a wrap. And note, we got back to Pruyn before 7pm, which qualifies as 6ish!