​FREQUENT FLYER BIRDING WITH BSBO!

MONTHLY MEMBERS-ONLY
​GUIDED FIELD TRIPS

​Your membership supports our mission to help people fall in love with birds and build support for bird conservation. In addition to many other benefits, we want to express our gratitude by offering members-only guided monthly field trip for 2025. Join us the first Saturday of every month for a guided trip with BSBO staff at some of the best birding spots Ohio has to offer. Let’s go birding together!


Please visit our Field Trips Code of Ethics page to read about the best way to make your trip safe and enjoyable for you and the birds!
Click here: Field Trip Code of Ethics

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Click below for trip checklists

Go Birding with Black Swamp Bird Observatory!

FREQUENT FLYER FIELD TRIPS
1st Saturday of every month

January - Wildwood Metropark 

Date: January 3, 2026
Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
Where: Wildwood Preserve Metropark (Click for Google Maps link)
Fee: ​Free for BSBO Members
Registration Required - Must be a BSBO Member
Participant Limit: 35
​Things to Know: There are accessible bathrooms onsite at the headquarters. There is an indoor Window on Wildlife where we can warm up. Birding will be done from paved paths that are fully accessible. 
Target Species: We will meet in front of the Metz Visitor Center where we can view birds at their fabulous window on wildlife. Target species include winter specialties like Pine Siskin and Purple Finch. We should get to see several species of woodpeckers, nuthatches, and sparrow species like American Tree Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco. We will keep an eye out for woodland species like Pileated Woodpeckers, Fox Sparrow, Brown Creeper and Golden-crowned Kinglets. We might even spot a gobble of Wild Turkeys!

February - Oak Openings Preserve Metropark

Date: February 7, 2026
Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm
Where: Buehner Center, Oak Openings (Click here for Google Maps link)
Fee: ​Free for BSBO Members
Registration Required - Must be a BSBO Member
Participant Limit: 35
​Things to Know: There will be restrooms available at several places we will stop. Expect mostly flat, paved trail surfaces that are accessible. Several trails may be flat, dirt trails that may not be accessible depending on weather. The window on wildlife is fully accessible. 
Target Species: W The trip will start at the Buehner Nature Center where we check the parking lot for Pileated Woodpecker, Barred Owl, and Winter Wren. Next, we will enjoy the warmth of the Window on Wildlife while we watch for feeder birds to come in for close views. Afterwards, we will take a short hike around the pond before transferring to "Tornado Alley" to look for more species like Red-headed Woodpeckers, Red Crossbills, and winter raptors. 

March - Howard Marsh Metropark/Metzger Wildlife Area

Date: March 7, 2026
Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm
Where: Howard Marsh Metropark (Click here for Google Maps link)
Fee: ​Free for BSBO Members
Registration Required - Must be a BSBO Member
Participant Limit: 35
​Things to Know: There will be limited restroom opportunities other than a port-a-john at Metzger Marsh. Most birding will be done roadside with minimal hiking or on non-accessible trails. Howard Marsh has a fully accessible heated restroom. Trails are packed gravel and are accessible. 
Target Species: We will meet at Howard Marsh and look for arriving waterfowl like Gadwall, American Wigeon, Bufflehead, and American Black Ducks. Snow Bunting sometimes frequent the parking lot area, along with Horned Larks. We will keep an eye out for winter raptors like Northern Harriers and Rough-legged Hawks. If we are lucky, we may spot a Peregrine Falcon hunting the waterfowl. We will then transfer to Metzger Marsh if we have time to look for arriving gull species like Bonaparte's Gulls and spend a little time lake watching. Hopefully our group can observe some diving ducks like Greater Scaup, Canvasback, and Common Goldeneye. 

April - Magee Marsh Wildlife Area - Ducks and Doodles!

Date: April 4, 2026
Time: 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Where: Magee Marsh Visitor Center (Click here for Google Maps link)
Fee: ​Free for BSBO Members
Registration Required - Must be a BSBO Member
Participant Limit: 35
​Things to Know: There will be limited restroom opportunities other than a port-a-john at Magee Marsh. Birding will be done around the parking lot areas or boardwalk and may venture out to the beach (where trails would be non-accessible). The trip will conclude near a location for displaying American Woodcocks. 
Target Species: Target species will include newly arrived birds like Blue-winged Teal, Pied-billed Grebes and Ruddy Ducks around the marsh. Trumpeter Swans should be back in full force, and we may even glimpse the season's first White Pelicans returning to Lake Erie. Around Magee the group will search for Rusty Blackbirds, White-throated Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and possibly even Yellow-rumped Warblers! We finish our evening enjoying the incredible display of American Woodcocks as they perform their courtship flights near dusk. 

May - Meadowbrook Marsh 

Date: May 2, 2026
Time: 8:00am - 11:00am
Where: Meadowbrook Marsh (Click here for Google Maps link)
Fee: ​Free for BSBO Members
Registration Required - Must be a BSBO Member
Participant Limit: 35
​Things to Know: This park is fully accessible and has accessible port-a-johns available. Trails are paved with little to no grade and are fully accessible. 
Target Species: We This spectacular hidden gem can be some of the best birding in the region tucked along Lake Erie's shore. It's low, scrubby habitat mixed with mature forest gives plenty of excellent habitat for migrating birds. Migratory warblers will be our focus, but we certainly will keep our eyes peeled for other songbirds like White-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Warbling Vireo, Veery, and Least Flycatcher. There is a wonderful platform that overlooks the marsh where we can search for Green Herons, Common Gallinules and maybe even a Least Bittern if we are lucky!

June - Oak Openings Metropark

Date: June 6, 2026
Time: 8:00am - 11:00am
Where: Buehner Center, Oak Openings (Click here for Google Maps link)
Fee: ​Free for BSBO Members
Registration Required - Must be a BSBO Member
Participant Limit: 35
​Things to Know: There will be restrooms available at several places we will stop. Expect mostly flat, paved trail surfaces that are accessible. Several trails may be flat, dirt trails that may not be accessible depending on weather. The window on wildlife is fully accessible. 
Target Species: It will be exciting to return to Oak Openings and see all of the wonderful breeding birds in the region. There are several warbler species that breed here like Hooded Warblers, Pine Warbler, Northern Parula, and Blue-winged Warblers. Scarlet and Summer Tanagers are possible in wooded areas. Highly prized species like Lark Sparrows and Blue Grosbeaks are known to be in the area and we will take time to search for them during our outing. There is plenty of varied habitats to explore and hope to find a good mix of species on this trip. 

​

July - Howard Marsh Metropark

Date: July 5, 2025
Time: 8:00am - 10:30am
Where: Creek Bend Farm ​(Click for Google Maps link)
Fee: ​Free for BSBO Members
Registration Required - Must be a BSBO Member
Participant Limit: 35
​Things to Know: There are restrooms available onsite. There is an indoor nature center with snacks available to purchase. 
Target Species: Breeding season will be in full swing, so we will look for birds like Warbling Vireo, Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, Yellow Warbler, Grasshopper Sparrow, and Yellow-billed Cuckoo. The trail meanders along the river where we can search for Belted Kingfishers, Wood Duck, and Green Heron. 
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August - Howard Marsh Metropark

Date: August 2, 2025
Time: 8:00am - 10:00am
Where: Howard Marsh West (Click for Google Maps link)
Fee: ​Free for BSBO Members
Registration Required - Must be a BSBO Member
Participant Limit: 35
​Things to Know: There are restrooms available onsite. The walking paths are flat, hard packed gravel. There is no shade at this location, please bring water. 
Target Species: Members can meet the parking lot at the new section on Howard Marsh. We will walk the path and explore off the boardwalk, looking for young marsh birds. Pied-billed Grebe, Blue-winged Teal, Ruddy Duck, Caspian Tern, and a variety of Swallows will be just a few of our targets during our trip. 

September - Metzger Marsh

Date: September 6, 2025
Time: 8:00am - 10:00am
Where: Metzger Marsh (Click for Google Maps link)
Fee: ​Free for BSBO Members
Registration Required - Must be a BSBO Member
Participant Limit: 35
​Things to Know: There are port-a-johns onsite. The parking lot and road surfaces are accessible, but dike paths and paths through the woodlot are uneven and non-accessible. Limited shade will be available throughout the trip, water and sun protection are recommended. 
Target Species: Our focus will be on migratory species including shorebirds like Dunlin, Stilt Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper, Common and Forster's Tern and migrating waterfowl. Early songbird migrants may be present in the woodlot area. Our group will spend some time with our morning flight counter, Gautam Apte,  at the Metzger Marsh dike. We will then explore the woodlot and walk the road to search the marsh for shorebird and waterfowl species. 

October - Lorain Impoundment

Date: October 4, 2025
Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm
Where: Lakeside Landing - Lorain Impoundment (Click for Google Maps link)
Fee: ​Free for BSBO Members
Registration Required - Must be a BSBO Member
Participant Limit: 35
​Things to Know: There are port-a-johns onsite. Limited shade will be available throughout the trip, water and sun protection are recommended. 
Target Species: Lorain Impoundment is known for being a prime stopover site for migrating songbirds with highlights this time of year are the sharp-tailed sparrows, Nelson's and LeConte's sparrow. Late season migrants should be in full swing with flocks of blackbirds, sparrows, raptors, and possibly even roosting owls being present at the impound. We will explore the small wetland for late season shorebirds and the brushy areas for songbirds. 

We encourage our Frequent Flyers to attend the Ohio Young Birders Club Conference in place of a November field trip!

November - Haehnle Sanctuary 

Date: November 1, 2025
Time: More info coming soon!
Where: More info coming soon!
Fee: ​Free for BSBO Members
Registration Required - Must be a BSBO Member

December - Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Date: December 5 - December 7, 2025
Time: More info coming soon!
Where: More info coming soon!
Fee: ​Free for BSBO Members
Registration Required - Must be a BSBO Member