Parks in Profile: Oak Openings Preserve Metropark

The information board at the Buehner Center

Northwest Ohio is a hotbed for bird activity.  For those of us who live here, we know that the region boasts many interesting year round residents in addition to the multitude of possibilities that migration might bring through.  But Northwest Ohio is a fairly big area.  When people come here for birding during Spring migration, they usually find themselves congregating at one of the many migrant traps along the lake.  Further west, however, is a park that offers equally great birds, beautiful scenery, and has provided my family with a wonderful setting to explore nature.  I'm talking of course about Oak Openings Preserve Metropark.

Despite being the largest of all the Toledo Area Metroparks, Oak Openings Preserve is just a small part of the much larger Oak Openings region.  The area overlaps the political borders of Lucas, Henry, and Fulton counties.  It also extends to the north, creeping into the Michigan counties of Monroe, Wayne, and Washtenaw.  The varying habitats of this region provide refuge for many rare plant species as well as breeding grounds for a plethora of different kinds of birds.

Although Oak Openings Metropark is a sprawling landscape, it is relatively easy to navigate.  The park is boxed in by 3 major roads.  Route 64 makes up the western and southern borders of the park.  Airport Highway is to the north, and route 295 borders the park to the east.  Some of the best birding, however, can be found on Sager and Girdham roads.

A must stop in Oak Openings

Sager Road lies just to the south of Airport Highway.  On the north side of the road is a large open field.  The field is owned by the Toledo Express Airport, but birding from the road is all that is needed.  Eastern Meadowlarks and Grasshopper Sparrows frequent this area in the summer months.  A Mountain Bluebird hung out in the field for a week or so a few years back.  On the other side of the road there are bramble patches and thickets perfect for Yellow-breasted Chat.

Mature and Immature Lark Sparrows

If you head west from the airport on Sager you will eventually dead end into Girdham Road.  The birding can be spectacular all up and down Girdham, but the best spot is arguably near the intersection of Girdham and Reed.  Here you will often find more Red-headed Woodpeckers than you know what to do with.  There are days when every few seconds you see flashes of black and white zip through the trees.  The field at the northwest corner of the intersection is an excellent spot for Lark Sparrows in spring and early summer.

Olive-sided Flycatcher in Tornado Alley

From Girdham and Reed you might choose to head east into the heart of the park.  If you go this way you'll want to stop at the Buehner Center.  The window on wildlife has seen it's share of rarities, including several Red Crossbills this past March.  The trails around the Buehner Center might deliver a Barred Owl, Pileated Woodpecker, or a number of wood warblers in the spring and summer.  Several warbler species spend the breeding season at Oak Openings.

Another popular place to bird is Tornado Alley.  Located just south of the Lodge where Wilkins Road dead ends, Tornado Alley is a prime example of how malleable habitat can be.   In 2010 a tornado ripped through 147 acres of the park, drastically altering the landscape.  The Metroparks staff have worked tirelessly on clearing away storm damage and managing the area in an ecologically conscious fashion.  Additionally, the area is prime for vast numbers of birds including many different sparrow species.  It was here that I was fortunate enough to get lifers such as Olive-sided Flycatcher and Merlin.

Lets say you decided to head west from Girdham and Reed.  You could then head down Jeffers Road in search of Black-billed Cuckoo or Blue Grosebeak in the summer.  The pine stand at Jeffers and route 64 can be good for Pileated Woodpecker and Pine Warblers.  A Red-tailed Hawk is often perusing the scrub brush area on the east side of the road.

Although I believe I covered some of the more popular areas, Oak Opening Preserve Metropark offers so much more.  It truly is a diamond in the rough.  Go out and explore this beautiful place.  I am certain one visit will not be enough!