Bird is the word

If you have lived here in the Shores and Islands region for any number of years, like I have, you know that this area is known for thrilling adventures, miles of beaches, some of the best fishing in the United States and, more recently, youth sports. In fact, Cedar Point is known as the "Roller Coaster Capital of the World," while the entire region is also known as the "Walleye Capital of the World," and more recently, "America's Sports & Family Fun Capital." But what you may not know is that the Lake Erie Shores & Islands is also known as the "Warbler Capital of the World," and the "Bald Eagle Capital of Ohio" And while not as thrilling and exciting as some of those other names, these two titles help draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to the region each year. National statistics Birdwatching is one of the most popular forms of nature-based tourism. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, here are some noteworthy statistics: • 71.8 million: the number of Americans who enjoy wildlife watching • $55 billion: the amount spent annually by wildlife watchers • 46.7 million: number of Americans who are birders • $36 billion: the amount spent annually by birders Ohio statistics Ohio is a birding hotspot. Whether it is the waterfowl in the winter, songbirds in the summer or the spring and fall migration, Ohio is a destination for birders from around the world. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, here are some noteworthy statistics: • 3.2 million: the number of wildlife watchers in Ohio • $750 million: the amount spent annually by wildlife watchers • 1.6 million: the number of birders in Ohio Each year about 120,000 out-of-state birders visit Ohio, with Lake Erie being the most popular destination. A recent study by Bowling Green State University researchers targeted five Lake Erie birding hotspots. They determined that birders visiting these areas contributed between $26 million and $40 million to the local economy. Money is spent on lodging, gasoline, travel expenses and food. Behold the bald eagle Each spring, hundreds of songbirds make their annual trek north as a part of spring migration. In recent years, the flocks of birds have been large enough to be seen on radar. While the annual Biggest Week in American Birding event is going virtual this year, the birds will still travel through our region, and there are plenty of places along the shoreline to spot a warbler or two. One of my favorite birds to spot is the bald eagle. The bald eagle population in the state of Ohio has been producing record numbers of nests over the past several years. Thanks to a citizen science project, and confirmed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, it has been determined that the Lake Erie Shores & Islands region has the largest number of bald eagle nests in the entire state of Ohio with 122. With early spring as their main nesting times, now is the perfect time to catch a glimpse of these majestic eagles. Before you head out, please remember that while bald eagles are no longer an endangered species, they are still protected under both state law and the federal government Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. So please respect the bird's space and stay at least 100 yards away from a bird or nest. So grab a pair of binoculars, your camera and plan a trek around Ohio's Lake Erie Shores & Islands. Be sure to check out our birding page at shoresandislands.com for more information, and happy birding! Special spots Here are just some of the great places you can see bald eagles and their nests: • Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve; Also seen recently: Greater and Lesser Scaups, Eastern Bluebirds, American Wigeons • East Harbor State Park; Also seen recently: Mourning Doves, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Black-capped Chickadees • Great Egret Marsh Preserve; Also seen recently: Buffleheads, Gadwalls, Ring-necked ducks, Common Goldeneyes • Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge; Also seen recently: European Starlings, Tundra and Trumpeter Swans, Sandhill Cranes • Magee Marsh State Wildlife Area; Also seen recently: Northern Harriers, Northern Shrikes, Red-tailed Hawks • Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve; Also seen recently: Ring-billed Gulls, Lapland Longspurs, Redhead and Gadwall ducks • Huron Lighthouse and Pier; Also seen recently: Horned Larks, Snow Buntings, American Black Ducks