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 258 species. E-birders have a lot of catching up to do, with the present E-bird list at 215. Attached is a 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. Basically, the only changes to the story are that The Greenway Trail is now about 13 miles long, and Sean Logan is no longer the director of The Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Take a ride and see another part of Ohio. Hope to see you in the field.


Bob Lane


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      Next door, and to the east of The Bobolink Area, is the wonderfully, habitat diverse, and scenic Columbiana County. Over the past five summer seasons, during The Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas, there have been about 155 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, one of which, this past summer, provided the first documented county record of nesting Sandhill Cranes, producing two youngsters. 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 many, including many Bobolink Area residents. Cliff Swallows can be found nesting on a few of the local barns.
     The southern edge is foothills, adjacent to Jefferson County, and includes the 2265 acre, seldom visited, Highlandtown Lake Wildlife Area. This past late spring there were four Glossy Ibis seen here for several days. Whip-poor-will, Ruffed Grouse, and an occasional Black Vulture are seen here. To the south, nearby, across the county line, are nesting Common Ravens. A hopeful future find for 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, of which, at least seven families with young were found this past season. Black-throated Blue Warblers are seen and heard, but nesting has not been confirmed. Swainson's Warbler has been reported three times in the past several years, but no confirmation. In the late 1960's they were reported from these same locations. 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, Grasshopper Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark, Bobolink, and sometimes Northern Harrier.
     For bicycle enthusiasts; the eleven 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 this past late spring, an adult male, Yellow-headed Blackbird, was present for three days, a first for the county. 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 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. During the present, Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas, in Block 53B5CW, a remarkable 123 species have been 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. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director, Sean Logan, lives here with his family. 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 Depot Road Marsh. The Firestone Yeagley Wildlife Area Parking Lot is 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 easily be seen. At Salem Reservoir Osprey can be found, and in July 2009, a Forster's Tern frequented the bait shop for several days. Sandhill Cranes and Blue-winged Teal have summered at Tritten's Pond in the past. 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.

August 2010
Bob Lane









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