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Dawn Chorus: Spring Birding Along Western Lake Erie [1]

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Date: 2023-05-07

Map of western Lake Erie, with Magee Marsh Wildlife Area marked.

I’ve written here about the geographic funnel that makes western Lake Erie such a great birding spot. Faced with the expanse of water, birds go east to Niagara Falls, central from Sandusky up to Pointe Pelee, or west to Michigan. The National Audubon Society has designated western Lake Erie an Important Bird Area. I’ve been exploring birding areas west of Sandusky, starting with the world-famous Magee Marsh Wildlife Area. I’ve added new places on the way up the far western shore back to home base near Detroit.

Starting in Michigan, there are four places along Lake Erie that I love to visit — Lake Erie Metropark, (eBird hotspot link), Pointe Mouillee State Game Area, (eBird hotspot link), Sterling State Park, (eBird hotspot link) and Erie Marsh Preserve, (eBird hotspot link). Each park requires walking to truly appreciate the wealth of bird species. Due to (thankfully temporary) physical limitations, most of my birding this spring has been from the car or easy short hikes, so there is much more to see than what I have to share here. I hope others can add their experiences and photos of these parks.

Wilson’s Snipe at Sterling State Park. This was a lucky spotting from the parking lot between sleet storms in late April.



Spotted Sandpiper at Erie Marsh Preserve.



Spotted Sandpiper with Red-winged Blackbird in the foreground for scale.

Continuing east along the Lake Erie shore into Ohio, my current favorite places are Howard Marsh Metropark, (eBird link here), Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, (visitor center eBird link here), and Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, (eBird boardwalk link here).

Map of western Lake Erie birding spots from an information kiosk at Magee Marsh Nature Center, showing the richness of the region. Zoomed.

While Western Lake Erie is an international destination for birding, fishing and boating, it has also made national news in recent years because of water quality issues. Contributing to the water quality woes is the loss of natural wetlands, which function like kidneys, filtering out excess nutrients, like phosphorus, that cause algal blooms while providing critical fish and wildlife habitat. Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth—comparable to rain forests and coral reefs, says the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These systems support more than one-third of the threatened and endangered wildlife species in the United States, while providing natural water quality improvements and flood protection. Half of the wetlands in the Great Lakes basin are gone. In western Lake Erie, where just 10 percent of the original 300,000-acres of wetland remain, every acre counts. The largest new wetland restoration project on the Great Lakes, Howard Marsh, takes 1,000 acres near the lakeshore from a willing landowner out of agricultural production and re-create a marsh wetland as buffer between land and lake. Toledo Metroparks

Not long ago, Howard Marsh was a working farm and contributing to the agricultural runoff.

The property, known historically as Howard Farms, is the last remaining large tract of land in the Western Lake Erie marsh region. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife has been interested in the property for more than 20 years, but was not able to come to terms with the owner. With the help of many partners, [Toledo] Metroparks was able to negotiate a deal in 2008 to secure the property. Starting with farmland, Metroparks restored most of the 1,000-acre property to a functioning wetland near the Lake Erie shore. As a marsh, it will filter runoff water before it reaches Lake Erie and provide important spawning habitat for fish and stopover habitat for a variety of birds. And it will create additional opportunities for visitors to enjoy the outdoors. Toledo Metroparks

The motto of Howard March could be if you build it, they will come. It also demonstrates the benefits of recreating wetlands and how quickly nature rejuvenates.

I saw my first ever Black-necked Stilts last year at Howard and was very happy to see six of them this year. They were constantly calling back and forth and chasing off Dunlins and Yellowlegs. Bigger.



Dunlins in flight. There were groups of 30 or more huddled together, snoozing and grooming. They would get restless and suddenly take to the air. I couldn’t tell what was setting them off into flight.

Female Yellow-headed Blackbird in the grass and dandelions, at the parking lot by the visitor center. This bird was another lifer for me last year at Howard. Zoomed.

Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge has several units. The main one includes the visitors center, hiking trails and a wildlife drive. The wildlife drive is open limited days, usually only on weekends for spring through fall. It’s open every day for the Biggest Week in American Birding, this year May 5th through 14th.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher along the wildlife drive.



Black-bellied Plover, a lifer for me, also on the wildlife drive. Thanks to nookular for confirming the ID.



Great Egret posing along the wildlife drive. Check out his breeding finery.

Magee Marsh Wildlife Area. What can I say that hasn’t already been said about this amazing place? It’s known for prime warbler birding during the spring migration but there’s lots to see all year long. And its neighbor, the Black Swamp Bird Observatory, is well worth a visit too.

Last Thursday’s visit (May 4th) was extra special as I met up with a fellow Kossack — MEL in PGH. We had corresponded about our love for Magee Marsh and thankfully were able to coordinate a visit.

Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler in full song.

Mel’s photo of an Eastern Screech Owl, nesting close to the boardwalk. Zoomed.



Mel again caught a fine photo of this Sora, normally a very secretive bird. It was surprisingly cooperative, foraging in the water just feet from the boardwalk. Zoomed.



More highlights of the visit were Virginia Rails, again very close to the boardwalk. This one is coming out of its nest, and was gathering nesting material and foraging for food. Bigger.



Rushing back to the nest. For as small as they are, the Virginia Rail moves really fast, as seen by its wake. Bigger.



I’ve been chasing Ruby-crowned Kinglets for years, hoping for this kind of shot. This obliging subject sat on the same branch for almost 30 seconds at Magee Marsh, putting on a preening show for very appreciative observers.

Another usually secretive bird — Hermit Thrush. There were several along the boardwalk, but they were very difficult to capture. You wouldn’t know that from Mel’s excellent photo. Bigger.

Looking at the eBird hotspot map, there are many more red hot sites all along Lake Erie that are begging to be explored.

What’s up in your birdy world these days?

Any favorite places to share or new areas calling out to you?

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