One of the premier birding sites in northeast Ohio, Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve includes 1.5 miles of shoreline with rare dune plants, a riverine marsh, and mature oak bluff. It is located on the western boundary of the Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve, which is also one of the best birding sites in the state. Here you’ll find diverse wetland communities and habitat types that serve as important breeding and nursery areas for fish and waterfowl, as well as a ‘stopover’ resting site for neo-tropical birds and butterflies as they migrate up to several thousand miles in the spring and fall.
Over 260 bird species have been recorded within or offshore of the Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve and Mentor Marsh. The large-scale removal of invasive phragmites, led by the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, has increased occurrences of highly sought-after marsh birds. The potential for rare bird sightings and new breeding species continues to increase.
Along the east portion and south side of the Preserve, you can overlook the marsh and several mudflats, which are excellent spots for shorebirds and waterfowl in migration. The overlook trail begins by cutting through deciduous forest, full of warblers, vireos, and flycatchers from spring to fall, and hosts a diversity of species year-round. The trail continues to the bluffs, which offer excellent scoping opportunities for mergansers, gulls, scoters, and many species that overwinter on Lake Erie.
Learn more about birding opportunities at cityofmentor.com/birding.