This newsletter covers March, April, and May 2017 and is exclusive content for subscribers to our mailing lists. I’ll discuss interesting spring outdoor activities including viewing waterfalls and birding.
Bob Platt
trekohioblog@gmail.com
Maple Syrup
Early spring is prime time for manufacturing maple syrups. Many parks have demonstrations of maple syrup making in March (or earlier). Review our calendar of Ohio Maple Syrup Events for further details. Last year we visited the Malabar Farm Maple Syrup Festival. Just prior to our visit we had a delicious lunch at the Malabar Farm Restaurant down the road, which featured a number of maple syrup themed menu items.
Waterfalls
Ohio spring is usually rainy, so spring is a great time to view waterfalls. Here’s a list of Ohio waterfalls that we’ve visited divided by region. With a little planning, its often possible to visit multiple waterfalls in one trip.
Mud
With spring rains, spring is also “mud” season. Small creeks that are usually dry now need to be forded. Trails can become miles of ankle deep mud. Be sure to have a pair of good hiking boots with you before you hit the trail. We usually travel with two pairs of shoes on day trips. One pair for in the car, and one pair of boots for hiking. Also useful to have plastic bags for your mud encrusted boots when you return to the car.
Wildflowers
With an unusually warm winter, Deb has already seen reports of spring wildflowers in bloom. Here’s Deb’s report of Early Spring Wildflowers from last year. Deb has also compiled an extensive list of Common Spring Wildflowers of Ohio. Late spring is the time to see the rare Lakeside Daisy in bloom. Here’s a report on our visit to see this rare plant in bloom.
Birding
Spring is prime time for Ohio birders. Eagles and Osprey have built their nests and are raising the next generations. Heron are building and occupying community nests. And migrating birds are on the move. In northwest Ohio, colorful warblers pause in the migration to fuel up before attempting to fly across Lake Erie and on to Canada. Several birding organizations sponsor the annual “Biggest Week in American Birding” centered around Magee Marsh. The normally quiet Magee Marsh is filled with more photographers than the Oscars. Colorful warblers can be photographed flitting from tree to tree and Eagles can be observed making their nests and raising their young. If you go bring a camera with a good telephoto lens and/or a pair of binoculars. The crowds are friendly and more than willing to help a birding beginner. Here’s some links of interest:
- TrekOhio: Heronries in Ohio
- TrekOhio: Biggest Week in American Birding – 2016 – our visit to the event in 2016
- TrekOhio: Birding Resources — In addition to the “Biggest Week in American Birding,” this page lists a few more birding events that are happening this spring.
- TrekOhio: Eagles at Highbanks Metropark in Central Ohio
- TrekOhio: Return of the Osprey to Hoover Reservoir