Experienced bird watchers are needed to fill vacant bird monitoring routes in eastern Ohio, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. These routes are organized by the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), which is used to track long-term population changes of many bird species. The driving routes also offer opportunities to visit scenic destinations in Ohio.

“Ecotourism and destination birding are popular vacation activities, and Ohio offers opportunities for both through the Breeding Bird Survey,” said Nathan Stricker, Division of Wildlife biologist and BBS state coordinator. “A morning of bird watching and sightseeing in Ohio’s countryside can make a terrific weekend getaway.”

Nine BBS routes need observers in Athens, Carroll, Columbiana, Gallia, Hocking, Meigs, Noble and Vinton counties. These routes take bird watchers through scenic, rural areas in Ohio’s Hocking Hills region, Appalachian foothills and the Amish countryside. Contact Stricker at (740) 747-2525 or Nathan.Stricker@dnr.state.oh.us for more information, or to volunteer.

Over 4,000 BBS surveys are conducted in June by volunteers across North America. Volunteers must be able to identify a wide variety of grassland, forest and wetland birds by sight and sound. Each survey route is approximately 25 miles long and is completed in one morning.

The information developed from the BBS is vital to understanding how bird populations change over time, and how birds respond to changes in climate, habitat and land use in general. Cerulean warblers, Henslow’s sparrows and ruffed grouse are just a few of the species encountered along these routes.

Announcement from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.