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    • Responsible Owl Viewing
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    • Timing of Spring Migration
    • Timing of Fall Migration
    • Timing of Fall Shorebird Migration
    • Spring Migration Wave Theory
    • ABA Code of Birding Ethics
    • Birding Ohio
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • Mission and Vision Statement
    • Equality and Diversity Policy
    • BSBO Board of Directors
    • BSBO Staff
    • Visit BSBO >
      • Directions
      • Building Improvements
      • Anna Macke Mikolajczyk Window On Wildlife
      • John Gallagher Memorial Birding Trail
    • eNews
    • BSBO Blogs >
      • BSBO CONSERVATION BLOG
      • BSBO Bird Bander's Blog
      • BSBO Education and Outreach Blog
    • Contact Us
  • Support BSBO
    • Donate
    • Join or Renew
    • BSBO Swamp Shop
    • Education Center
    • Sponsor A Mist Net
    • Help BSBO while you shop
    • Birds and Business Alliance
    • Birder Tea Fundraiser
  • RESEARCH
    • Peer-Reviewed Publications
    • Songbird Research >
      • Migration Monitoring >
        • Migration Tracking
      • Prothonotary Warbler Research
      • Building Collision Study
      • Oak Openings
    • Morning Flight Count
    • Project SNOWstorm >
      • About Project SNOWstorm
      • Meet Buckeye
      • Meet Wolverine
    • Research Highlights >
      • Gray-Cheeked Thrush from Colombia, South America
      • BSBO Bird Bander's Blog
    • Past Research >
      • Colonial Wading Birds
      • Ohio Winter Bird Atlas
      • Shorebirds
    • Reports >
      • Annual Project Reports
      • Navarre Marsh Annual Banding and Survey Data
    • Research Volunteer Form
    • Research Volunteer Page
  • EDUCATION
    • Bird Migration Profiles
    • Family Activities >
      • Free Online Resources
    • Young Birders >
      • Ohio Young Birders Club
      • Youth Birding Camps
    • Teachers >
      • Songbird Banding and Migration Programs
      • Students Against Balloon Releases
    • Group Programs >
      • Presentations by Request
    • BSBO Bird Knowins
  • Conservation
    • BioBlitzes
    • Bird-safe / Birder-friendly Communities
    • Responsible Wind Energy
    • Conservation Updates
    • Position Statement on Feral and Free-Ranging Cats
    • Habitat Designations
    • Easy Ways for YOU to Support Conservation
  • EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
    • Birding with BSBO >
      • BSBO's Biggest Week In American Birding
      • Frequent Flyer Birding
      • Lake Erie Pelagics
    • Birds at Home
    • Highway Clean-up
    • Calendar of Events
  • NW OHIO BIRDING
    • Responsible Owl Viewing
    • Regional Bird Checklist
    • Timing of Spring Migration
    • Timing of Fall Migration
    • Timing of Fall Shorebird Migration
    • Spring Migration Wave Theory
    • ABA Code of Birding Ethics
    • Birding Ohio

Shorebird Migration Monitoring and Habitat Usage

With the assistance of many dedicated volunteers, the Observatory monitors shorebirds during spring and fall migration in the Ohio and Michigan Lake Erie marshes. Species timing, habitat utilization, and habitat parameters are documented to assist in improved management of diked wetlands for this group of birds. Sixty to 150,000 birds have been counted in the area in a single year.  The Lake Erie marshes are the most important stopover sites between Cheyenne Bottoms in Kansas and Delaware Bay on the east coast. Seven years of shorebird data were submitted in the spring of 2000 to the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) for nomination of the Lake Erie Marshes as a Shorebird Reserve Site.

At the September meeting of the WHSRN Council, the Lake Erie Marshes were awarded Regional Shorebird Status. Regional statusprovides the area wetlands with great recognition. There is only one other regional shorebird site in the Midwest and that is Chatauqua NWR, Illinois. This designation exemplifies the value of these wetlands for supplying shorebirds with necessary habitat and food for their long distance migration.  Future land acquisition and restoration grants will be boosted in value because of this Regional Shorebird status. It is the hope of the Observatory that land managers involved will strive to maintain this designation and make a more concerted effort to assist these birds on migration. The Observatory is confident with more years of data that the status can be raised to International Shorebird Status for this region.  To reach International status more than 100,000 birds must be documented in the area. If the area were to attain International Status, it would be a first for the Midwest.
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Birds Elevate Us

We are located at the entrance of the Magee Marsh Wildlife Area
| 13551 W. State Route 2  |  Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449  |  419.898.4070  |