Winging It

On the trail of Ohio's best birding

By Jessica Sharon

The Edge of Appalachia's Red Rock Preserve offers a view for visitors © Lucy Miller

In the Appalachian foothills, amid rugged woodlands, high ridges, and historical towns, a tourism industry is beginning to emerge. Travelers come seeking refuge from traffic jams, suburbs, and strip malls, and are transported back to a time when towns were still small and wildlife abundant. Concrete now replaces dirt and cars have long since outnumbered horse-drawn carriages on the region’s winding country roads, yet the backdrop we saw along the drive that crisp January day was a frozen landscape, unchanged in generations.

Guided by the Appalachian Discovery Birding and Heritage Trail brochure and map, our city-escape had been carefully plotted. The handbook, supported by The Nature Conservancy and other partners, highlights the region’s natural and cultural legacy along a 200-mile route that loops through five southern Ohio counties.

On the horizon before us, limestone promontories advertised the direction of Buzzardroost Trail - a bird-watcher’s delight situated within The Nature Conservancy’s Edge of Appalachia Preserve in Adams County that we intended to explore.

The Edge Preserve is one of the most biologically diverse collections of natural systems in the Midwest. Here, 13,000 acres of timbered slopes, prairie openings, and rocky hollows are beautifully merged, creating a sanctuary for a long list of rare plants and animals and an important refuge for the many migratory birds that nest or stopover within the region. In spring, the canopy comes alive here as hooded, pine, and cerulean warblers show off for potential mates, creating a vibrant fuss of colors and sounds.

Steep grades and steps met our boots as we scrambled up and away from the sounds below towards the massive, rocky outcrop that marks the finale of Buzzardroost Trail. Black vultures (buzzards) once nested here, privy to the constant spectacle of Ohio Brush Creek Valley below - a vast mosaic of woodland, prairies, and meadows, dotted by century-old homesteads.

Farmlands still cloak this expanse, and the painted quilt squares we saw adorning many of the aged barns alongside the Ohio River on the southernmost portion of the Trail pay homage to the region’s rich cultural identity. The quilt barns, as they’re referred to, showcase the skilled artistry of generations and interweave the past with the present. These ornamental landmarks connect the dots between the birding and historical sites that flank the Ohio River on our Birding and Heritage Trail map.

Defining the southern border of the state, the majestic Ohio River has for centuries been the backbone of the region, affording communities with a means of commerce, a source for food and water, and a tool for industrial work, while the fertile valley it has carved out over the ages provides habitat to an astounding array of flora and fauna. Many boat ramps in the area allow travelers to test their skills on the mighty river where keen eyes and a bit of luck may offer a rare glimpse of a bald eagle, osprey, or peregrine falcon tracking their prey from treetops lining the banks.

Lacking sharp vision and good fortune, our bird-sightings list was short that winter weekend, but the journey had opened our eyes to reveal a region awash in rich natural and historical treasures deserving of intrigue and protection. On the way out, as pleasant country roads turned into hectic highways and simple Amish farmhouses gave way to sprawling suburban developments, we vowed to take cue from the migrating birds and return again in the spring.

For information on stops along the Appalachian Discovery Birding and Heritage Trail.