Date: 4/23/25 7:25 am From: robert lane <ohiomagpie...> Subject: [Ohio-birds] Summer Birding In Columbiana County
My wife Denise and I, would like to enlighten everyone to the birding opportunities in seldom birded by others, Columbiana County. Even though we live in Mahoning County, we reside only 0.4 of a mile north of the Columbiana County line. Having the advantage of growing up in the area, we have a Columbiana County Lifelist of 263 species. E-birders have done a lot of catching up, with the present E-bird list at 268. Attached is an updated modified story I was asked to write for "The Bobolink" publication, back in 2010, detailing the variety of areas that can be explored in Columbiana County. Take a ride and see another part of Ohio. Hope to see you in the field.
Bob Lane / Damascus
Next door, and to the east of The Bobolink Area, is the wonderfully, habitat diverse, and scenic Columbiana County. During the most recent “Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas” (2006 thru 2012), there were 160 nesting bird species recorded.
The northern half of the county is glaciated, and the southern half unglaciated; varying in elevation from 1446 at Round Knob, to 664 at the Ohio River, a change of 782 feet. The diversity of the county can be described as we see what borders it.
The rolling farmland of the western edge borders Stark and Carroll Counties; The Bobolink Area. In this area, along the headwaters of the Mahoning River, are Great Blue Heron rookeries, and some extensive marsh habitats, with one of five known locations of Sandhill Cranes in the county. In August of 2005, two Black-billed Magpies were found by my wife, Denise, near our hometown of Damascus. They stayed for nearly two months; being seen by over 250 birders. Cliff Swallows can be found nesting on a few of the local barns in this area.
The southern edge is foothills, adjacent to Jefferson County, and includes the 2265 acre, seldom visited, Highlandtown Lake Wildlife Area. This past summer we recorded the first county record of Ruddy Turnstone here. In this area Whip-poor-will, Ruffed Grouse, and Black Vulture can be found. Common Ravens are now a regular find in the appalacian hills of Columbiana County.
The southeast corner is the Ohio River and the state of West Virginia. Here can be found: Peregrine Falcon, Osprey, Double-crested Cormorant, Herring and Ring-billed Gulls, and even an out of season Common Loon on the river.
Everything to the east is the state of Pennsylvania. The vast Beaver Creek State Park and Forest stretches along the tributaries of the Little Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River. This area is nestled in rugged sandstone cliffs, cascading streams, and many hemlock laden hillsides and gorges. In May 2007, the lower portion of the Little Beaver Creek Watershed was dedicated as one of Audubon Ohio's Important Bird Areas. At the state park is a restored operating grist mill and a historic village. Remnants of the Sandy and Beaver Canal can be seen here and throughout the county. A visit to The Beaver Creek Wildlife Education Center, when in the area, is a must! There are over three hundred mounted birds and mammals on display, on weekends, May thru October. There have been 23 species of warbler recorded here in summer. The highlight specie of this area is the Common Merganser. Families with young can be found on The Little Beaver Creek tributaries. In July 2009, a male Blackburnian Warbler was in the pines at the Beaver Creek State Park Campground. Golden-crowned Kinglets nest east of the Pancake Bridge near Sheepskin Hollow State Nature Preserve. Some of the other birds found in this Ohio hotspot are: Blue-headed Vireo, Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, Summer Tanager, Purple Finch, and the following warblers: Northern Parula, Magnolia, Black-throated Green, Pine, Prairie, Cerulean, Worm-eating, Ovenbird, and Kentucky, just to name a few.
The northern edge completely borders Mahoning County and holds most of the human population. Common Nighthawks and Chimney Swifts can be found. At the Egypt Road Swamp are Alder Flycatcher, American Woodcock, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and Blue-winged Teal, along with a colony of Baltimore Checkerspot butterflies. Hard to believe now; but in the early 1980's, the first nesting pair of Canada Geese recorded in the county was here. My, how times have changed!
The eastern interior of the county is comprised of some large tracts of reclaimed strip mines, providing all the grassland species, including numerous Henslow's Sparrow, Dickcissel, Grasshopper Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark, Bobolink, and sometimes Northern Harrier.
For bicycle enthusiasts; the thirteen mile long, paved Greenway Multi-Purpose Trail goes thru marsh area on the north end, then thru open fields, then thru hemlocks, and finally thru large sycamores paralleling the Middle Fork of Little Beaver Creek. For those who want to combine birding with bicycling, this is a dream ride. Sixty species are normally recorded in a four hour ride. Near the Franklin Square Trailhead an adult male, Yellow-headed Blackbird, was present for three days, a first for the county, in 2010. Nests that have been found along the trail are: Mute Swan, Green Heron, Pied-billed Grebe, Common Moorhen, Barred Owl, Wood Duck, Eastern Kingbird, Wild Turkey, Yellow-throated Warbler, and Spotted Sandpiper, just to name a few. About halfway along the trail is the Teegarden Covered Bridge Trailhead Area; at this location you transition from seeing and hearing Black-capped Chickadee to Carolina Chickadee. Here you easily find Belted Kingfisher, Cerulean Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and Baltimore Oriole. Dragonflies abound here, the three inch plus Dragonhunter can sometimes be found near the parking lot in late July.
The last area to be mentioned is our favorite birding spot: the Guilford Lake SP, Firestone-Yeagley WA, and Salem Reservoir Area. Most of the habitats are here, from large bodies of water, to extensive marshland, to sycamore and hemlock lined stream banks. A Western Kingbird was here in late August of 2022. During the last Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas, in Block 53B5CW, a remarkable 123 species were recorded. Guilford Lake has a beautiful State Park Campground, and has summering Double-crested Cormorants, and Ring-billed Gulls, along with nesting Bald Eagles, Great Horned Owls, and Eastern Screech-owl. American Avocets have been at the beach in late June the past five years. On a historic note is the fact that Gillford Reservoir, note the original spelling, was constructed about 1836 to provide water for the Sandy and Beaver Canal. Below and to the east of the causeway is The Firestone-Yeagley Wildlife Area Parking Lot on Depot Road, providing viewing access from your vehicle. American Bittern, Least Bittern, Virginia Rail, Prothonotary Warbler, Marsh Wren, Swamp Sparrow, American Coot, Sora, and numerous Green Heron can be heard and seen here. Common Moorhen and Hooded Merganser families can be found. Sandhill Cranes are always nearby. The last known Barn Owl location in Columbiana County is here, in an old unused barn, which is also home each year, to baby Turkey Vultures. They are raised each year in an old grain bin for about eight weeks, and then fledge from the barn at about ten weeks.
I hope you have enjoyed this review of Columbiana County summer birding opportunities and I would like to extend an invitation to all to come and explore an eastern neighbors backyard.
On a final note: The Beaver Creek Wildlife Education Center is hosting a “Birding Bonanza” competition May 2nd thru May 4th. The Center is open May 3rd and May 4th from 1PM to 5PM.
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