Birding locations
Indiana
Pokagon State Park
http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2973.htm
A great spot for birding, with lots of waterfowl, songbirds and shorebirds. Sometimes, Pokagon has nesting Sandhill cranes. It also has Baltimore orioles, Blue-winged teals, Red-headed woodpeckers, Virginia rails, and Yellow-rumped warblers among many others. Pictures from Pokagon
Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary
http://www.indianaaudubon.org/MaryGrayBirdSanctuary/tabid/61/Default.aspx
Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary is owned and managed by the Indiana Audubon Society. It is spectacular during spring migration, when the warblers and vireos return to sing.
Taltree Arboretum & Gardens
http://www.taltree.org/
Taltree Arboretum is a beautiful site and an excellent place to go birding in the spring and fall! With a large grasslands, woodlands and even a lake, Taltree has an enormous variety of birds, ranging from Orchard Orioles to endangered Henslow's Sparrows to Trumpeter Swans, all surrounded by incredible scenery! Plus, the Visitor's Center and unbelievable model train set makes it a great destination for the entire family!
Fox Island County Park
http://allencountyparks.org/parks/fox-island/
This is a wonderful birding location! It has everything from a Brown creeper to Yellow warblers to Blue-winged teals to a Great horned owl. For those people who also like plants, it has some beautiful wildflowers in spring and summer. Pictures from Fox Island
Salamonie Reservoir and State Forest
http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2952.htm
Salamonie has a lot of wildlife, especially birds. The birds include: Belted kingfishers, Bald eagles, Mourning doves, American kestrels, and Cedar waxwings. It also has Wild turkeys among many other species.
Falls of the Ohio
http://www.fallsoftheohio.org/visitor_info.html
Across the river from Louisville, Kentucky, this can be a great birding spot when the Ohio River is low in late summer and early fall. Rarities like Baird's Sandpiper and Buff-breasted Sandpipers have been seen here. In winter, interesting gull species may appear.
Indiana Dunes State Park
http://www.nps.gov/indu/index.htm
The shoreline of southern Lake Michigan is a great spot for loons, grebes, gulls and shorebirds. In between the dunes are forested or swampy areas where migrants like to hide. Spring migration is good for hawk watchers. Brad Bumgardner, interpretive naturalist and president of the Indiana Audubon Society, is the best birder on the planet in my opinion. Pictures from Indiana Dunes
Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area
http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3091.htm
Sandhill Cranes are the main attraction in the spring and fall with late October the best time to visit. This is one of Indiana's largest wetland areas.
Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge
http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=31530
Waterfowl love this place. During the migration season over 15,000 birds may be present at one time. Marshy habitat, open fields and woodlands result in a wide variety of passerines as well. This Refuge is located between Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Louisville.
Eagle Marsh
http://www.lrwp.org/eaglemarsh.php
There are over 200 species of birds here, especially shorebirds and waterfowl. Pictures from Eagle Marsh
Goose Pond FWA
http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3094.htm
An endless assortment of marsh and water birds, and an occasional rarity like the Hooded Crane. You'll find everything from White Pelicans to Northern Harriers. You might want waterproof boots and a spotting scope for the best results.
Ohio
Killdeer Plains
http://bit.ly/gec2XJ
You can spot killdeer, snipe, grouse, bobwhite quail, pheasant, and woodcocks here. You may also see cattle egret, bald and golden eagles, fulvous whistling duck, tundra and trumpeter swans, peregrine falcons, king rail, sandhill crane, American white pelican and American avocet.
Adams Lake State Park
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/adams/tabid/710/Default.aspx
This park is located at the edge of the Appalachian mountain range. You'll often see Wild Turkey, Blue Grosbeak and other species.
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=31540
Spring migration here brings a wide variety of birds. You won't be disappointed!
Green Lawn Cemetery and Arboretum
http://www.greenlawncolumbus.org/nature/arboretum/about_arboretum.php
Yes, it seems odd to list a cemetery, but Greenlawn invites birders and even has a page about birding on its website. This is a great spot during spring migration. You should see almost 50 species of warblers, thrushes and vireos in early May.
Headlands Beach State Park
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/parks/headlnds/tabid/742/Default.aspx
There are a whole series of birding spots along Lake Erie from Cleveland to the power plant in Eastlake. Spring migration is very good here, as is the hawk watching. Don't miss the Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve bordering Headlands with 644 acres of marsh-swamp forest.
Magee Marsh Wildlife Area
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/tabid/19778/default.aspx
Magee Marsh is famous for its migrating songbirds. There is a huge number of different species here, from Trumpeter swans to Cape May warblers! It is good all year, but it is especially good for birding in the spring or fall, during migration.
Illinois
Illinois Beach State Park
http://dnr.state.il.us/Lands/landmgt/parks/R2/ILBEACH.HTM
Illinois Beach State Park is excellent for all kinds of birds. The unique position on Lake Michigan brings ducks and raptors, and the different habitats provide homes for songbirds, like the Yellow-Breasted Chat in summer. During the right time of year, it is a prime location to see kettles of Broad-Winged Hawks or, during winter, Snow Bunting or Snowy Owls can be seen on the dunes.
Pokagon State Park
http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2973.htm
A great spot for birding, with lots of waterfowl, songbirds and shorebirds. Sometimes, Pokagon has nesting Sandhill cranes. It also has Baltimore orioles, Blue-winged teals, Red-headed woodpeckers, Virginia rails, and Yellow-rumped warblers among many others. Pictures from Pokagon
Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary
http://www.indianaaudubon.org/MaryGrayBirdSanctuary/tabid/61/Default.aspx
Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary is owned and managed by the Indiana Audubon Society. It is spectacular during spring migration, when the warblers and vireos return to sing.
Taltree Arboretum & Gardens
http://www.taltree.org/
Taltree Arboretum is a beautiful site and an excellent place to go birding in the spring and fall! With a large grasslands, woodlands and even a lake, Taltree has an enormous variety of birds, ranging from Orchard Orioles to endangered Henslow's Sparrows to Trumpeter Swans, all surrounded by incredible scenery! Plus, the Visitor's Center and unbelievable model train set makes it a great destination for the entire family!
Fox Island County Park
http://allencountyparks.org/parks/fox-island/
This is a wonderful birding location! It has everything from a Brown creeper to Yellow warblers to Blue-winged teals to a Great horned owl. For those people who also like plants, it has some beautiful wildflowers in spring and summer. Pictures from Fox Island
Salamonie Reservoir and State Forest
http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2952.htm
Salamonie has a lot of wildlife, especially birds. The birds include: Belted kingfishers, Bald eagles, Mourning doves, American kestrels, and Cedar waxwings. It also has Wild turkeys among many other species.
Falls of the Ohio
http://www.fallsoftheohio.org/visitor_info.html
Across the river from Louisville, Kentucky, this can be a great birding spot when the Ohio River is low in late summer and early fall. Rarities like Baird's Sandpiper and Buff-breasted Sandpipers have been seen here. In winter, interesting gull species may appear.
Indiana Dunes State Park
http://www.nps.gov/indu/index.htm
The shoreline of southern Lake Michigan is a great spot for loons, grebes, gulls and shorebirds. In between the dunes are forested or swampy areas where migrants like to hide. Spring migration is good for hawk watchers. Brad Bumgardner, interpretive naturalist and president of the Indiana Audubon Society, is the best birder on the planet in my opinion. Pictures from Indiana Dunes
Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area
http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3091.htm
Sandhill Cranes are the main attraction in the spring and fall with late October the best time to visit. This is one of Indiana's largest wetland areas.
Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge
http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=31530
Waterfowl love this place. During the migration season over 15,000 birds may be present at one time. Marshy habitat, open fields and woodlands result in a wide variety of passerines as well. This Refuge is located between Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Louisville.
Eagle Marsh
http://www.lrwp.org/eaglemarsh.php
There are over 200 species of birds here, especially shorebirds and waterfowl. Pictures from Eagle Marsh
Goose Pond FWA
http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3094.htm
An endless assortment of marsh and water birds, and an occasional rarity like the Hooded Crane. You'll find everything from White Pelicans to Northern Harriers. You might want waterproof boots and a spotting scope for the best results.
Ohio
Killdeer Plains
http://bit.ly/gec2XJ
You can spot killdeer, snipe, grouse, bobwhite quail, pheasant, and woodcocks here. You may also see cattle egret, bald and golden eagles, fulvous whistling duck, tundra and trumpeter swans, peregrine falcons, king rail, sandhill crane, American white pelican and American avocet.
Adams Lake State Park
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/adams/tabid/710/Default.aspx
This park is located at the edge of the Appalachian mountain range. You'll often see Wild Turkey, Blue Grosbeak and other species.
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=31540
Spring migration here brings a wide variety of birds. You won't be disappointed!
Green Lawn Cemetery and Arboretum
http://www.greenlawncolumbus.org/nature/arboretum/about_arboretum.php
Yes, it seems odd to list a cemetery, but Greenlawn invites birders and even has a page about birding on its website. This is a great spot during spring migration. You should see almost 50 species of warblers, thrushes and vireos in early May.
Headlands Beach State Park
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/parks/headlnds/tabid/742/Default.aspx
There are a whole series of birding spots along Lake Erie from Cleveland to the power plant in Eastlake. Spring migration is very good here, as is the hawk watching. Don't miss the Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve bordering Headlands with 644 acres of marsh-swamp forest.
Magee Marsh Wildlife Area
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/tabid/19778/default.aspx
Magee Marsh is famous for its migrating songbirds. There is a huge number of different species here, from Trumpeter swans to Cape May warblers! It is good all year, but it is especially good for birding in the spring or fall, during migration.
Illinois
Illinois Beach State Park
http://dnr.state.il.us/Lands/landmgt/parks/R2/ILBEACH.HTM
Illinois Beach State Park is excellent for all kinds of birds. The unique position on Lake Michigan brings ducks and raptors, and the different habitats provide homes for songbirds, like the Yellow-Breasted Chat in summer. During the right time of year, it is a prime location to see kettles of Broad-Winged Hawks or, during winter, Snow Bunting or Snowy Owls can be seen on the dunes.
