Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge

This location is a beautiful wildlife area and a mecca for birders. 

We enjoy visiting here due to the large population of birds that appear, singing as loud as they can, during the spring and fall migration. 

 

The visitors center is a must see as they have a wonderful collections of  preserved birds on display. Down the lane from the center is a observation (lookout) tower. Make sure to bring your binoculars and you will see plenty of waterfowl, country birds and those moving through the area. 

 

 

 Do you ever think about the specific events in life- the times we embrace life in the moment? 

Here are some of the specifics I thought about when writing a posting about Crane Creek State Park.

1. I was looking at a site that mentioned dedications the other day and realized we were coming to the Crane Creek area long before the Ohio Division of Wildlife built the boardwalk along Magee Marsh which was dedicated on April 30,1989.

2. The first time we took the Magee Marsh boardwalk we found a frightening-looking raccoon walking on our path during the middle of the day so we left the boardwalk and hunted down a wildlife officer to inform him.

3. Our first visit to International Migratory Bird Day remains one of my top 10 best wildlife memories. The first time we arrived during the spring migratory birding festival we walked along the boardwalk with a congregation of experienced birders. They came from all over the world and spoke in various languages. 

Everyone there was most helpful to us. They would stop and quietly explain that size and shape are key to identifying a bird. They would also point out that it's much more than that, locating sections of color and learning calls will also help to better aid in the identification. We learned a great many things that day and had a wonderful time there.  And we were thrilled when many years later USA Today listed that Magee Marsh was voted USA's #1 Birding Destination in North America.

4. The last time we stopped near the beach along Crane Creek Parking Lot it was overgrown and the beach was covered with natural debris. There were no visitors other than us. In retrospect, this change may be a good thing for the species that inhabit the area.

A boardwalk can be accessed from the parking lot. The boardwalk runs through  the woods and provides an awesome view of the wetlands close-up. ( No pets are allowed on the boardwalk at Magee Marsh.)

 

Crane Creek State Park comprises 79 acres of beach and marshlands adjoining the 2,600-acre Magee Marsh Wildlife Area and Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. It is located at 13531 W SR 2 Oak Harbor, Ohio.

If you do not already have plans, perhaps you will join others at one of the best birding destinations in the U.S.A.