By Megan Delong, Everyday Akron team member
Yes, it’s the middle of winter — but that does not mean there aren’t birds to watch or places to research so you’re ready for Spring Migration!
Here are a few resources to start:
- Merlin and eBird apps provided by Cornell Labs
- Birding Hotspots website
- Summit Metro Parks
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park
- Wild Birds Unlimited (on Howe Ave.)
- Celebrations and Songbirds
Some bird watching tips:
- Start with a small birding guide. They help you learn what birds look like and when they’re active in Ohio versus when they migrate out.
- Go to a secondhand store and get some binoculars. Or, if you know of a friend or family member that has some, ask to borrow them! Also utilize Facebook Marketplace at this stage. No reason to upgrade and spend a bunch of money if you’re not sure you’re going to keep this hobby for a while.
Local Favorite Birding Areas
Firestone Metro Park
After you pass the pond at Firestone Metro Park, there is a nice boardwalk where chickadees, tufted titmice, and nuthatches expect some snacks. It’s a great way to see birds up close; so much so that we had an Everyday Akron outing there!
There are a few picnic tables, restrooms by the pond, and a mostly flat walking trail until you get more into the Willow trail.
Alder Pond at Goodyear Heights Metro Park
Goodyear Heights Metro Park is a nostalgic spot for me, as I would go here all the time with my parents and our old dog Abby. There are bathrooms at the meadow/ pavilion area as well as spaced out benches. It continues to be a dirt trail then some wooden boardwalk, then leads to an observation deck.
Bath Nature Preserve
One of my favorite places as it houses the University of Akron Field Station. I got the chance to see some trumpeter swans here before I went for a Woodcock Walk at night!
Summit Lake
Close to home and a great spot to see different kinds of waterfowl! Summit Lake is a great walk to see birds all year round. It is a flat trail, and there are different buildings that have restrooms depending on which driveway you turn into. Of course, look out for the geese especially during mating and baby geese seasons.
My own backyard
I’m a bit biased, but I’ve seen a Northern Flicker in my side yard and that just makes me so happy. Sam, my husband, has done a great job at making our yard a native plant oasis for all the birds I want to see.
And you should do the same! Encourage birds to visit your backyard by stocking bird feeders and planting native plants.
Birding Spots Close to Home
Beaver Marsh (Ira Trailhead)
I was first shown the Beaver Marsh along the Towpath Trail by a friend, and I’ve loved it ever since. It gets a bit busy in the late morning, but you can see so many diverse types of wildlife here. This is also close to the Heron Rookery.
Cuyahoga Falls Water Works Park
This is a new spot for me, but I was able to get my first really good sighting of a Belted Kingfisher here! There’s a trail in the back of the soccer fields that leads to a bridge over a creek.
Liberty Metro Park, Twinsburg
A lot of Summit Metro Parks programming happens at the pavilion here. There is a bird viewing area inside the Nature Center, along with interactive exhibits and restrooms.
Wingfoot Lake State Park
You might Wingfoot Lake as the place where the Goodyear Blimp Hanger is, but it’s also great for bird watching and kayaking! The great blue herons and cormorants often end up in my camera roll after visiting.
There is a Nature Center here through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. This area also has playgrounds, mini-golfing, and a dog park. Not a lot of benches between different parts of the park, but lots of picnic tables and benches on the small trail near the lake.
Out of Town Places for Birding
Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve & Headlands Beach State Park
I think Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve is one of my favorite birding spots in all of North East Ohio. Although I have not seen them, there are piping plovers nesting in this area and it is all protected dune/beach habitat. There is a boardwalk down to the beach, while a trail made of sand goes to the end of the dune area and finishes at an old lighthouse.
There are bathrooms near the parking lot before it becomes sandy. There is a boot clean off station so you do not disturb the environment by bringing invasive plants in. There are not a lot of seating options in this park. If you’re in the area, check out the observation deck at the Lake Erie Bluffs to practice your gull identification.
Magee Marsh Wildlife Area
I first learned about Magee Marsh in Northwest Ohio (Oak Harbor to be exact) from a friend recommending that I visit during the Biggest Week In American Birding (BWIAB). I did just that – and it was packed. It was amazing, but you can go any day of the year to see the Bird Trail.
It’s also right next to Lake Erie so bring your earmuffs because it’s windy!
Funk Bottoms Wildlife Area
Another new spot for me, a friend let me know that there are bald eagle nests at Funk Bottoms. Maybe if I went a little earlier in the fall season, I would have been able to see some eagles! But either way, there were a lot of sparrows, woodpeckers, and more.
There are no bathrooms here, and keep in mind that it is near a space that can be used for hunting. The trail behind the old observation tower is flat, but it is a narrow path in the grassland.
Ready to go birding in and around Akron?
Get out there and see what you can find! And be sure to keep your eyes peeled for more Birding & Nature Photography events by Everyday Akron. We hosted two in 2024 that were so fun that we’re excited to do more this year!
This blog post was written by Everyday Akron team member Megan Delong. Megan and her husband Sam live in Akron with a cat named Scully. Megan loves birdwatching, public art, and breakfast food. You can find her on Instagram at @megandelongg.