Bird species of interest at Wayne National Forest:

Below are some common species found in the Wayne National Forest Region:

Broad-winged Hawk

Pilieated Woodpecker

Killdeer

About the Area:

Big Bailey wetland is located on the Athens Ranger District of the Wayne National Forest.  The approximately 6-7 acre wetland is located at the junction of Big Bailey Road (County Road 29) and Carr Bailey Road.   Located in northern Athens County, one mile north and west of Chauncey, Big Bailey has existed ever since the mine-operated railroad was abandoned about 70 years ago. Today it provides habitat for a wide diversity of bird, reptile, amphibian and mammal species.  A small Great Blue Heron rookery is located on the uppermost end of the wetland.

Bird Species that can be seen at Big Bailey include:

Great Blue Herons, Mallards, Wood Ducks, Canada Geese, Kingfisher, Red-winged Blackbirds, Tree Swallows, Screech Owls, Northern Flicker, Eastern Kingbird, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Mockingbird, Song Sparrow.

Directions:  Located on Big Bailey Road (County Road 29) in Dover Township, Athens County approximately 3/4 mile from the intersection of County Road 29 (Big Bailey Road) and State Route 13.

The Wildcat Hollow trail is located on the Athens Ranger District of the Wayne National Forest.  A scenic fifteen mile loop trail winds along ridge tops and stream bottoms; allowing hikers to venture through white pine plantations, open meadows, deep deciduous hardwood forests, quiet stream bottoms, rock outcrops and down old trails, overlooking miles of beautiful landscape. Wildcat Hollow offers the richest and highest diversity of spring wildflowers known on the Athens Ranger District.  Beaver impoundments are also numerous.  In addition to the natural wonders encountered along the trail, hikers will also pass the ruins of a one-room schoolhouse, an oil well site, an abandoned farmhouse, and a variety of Forest activities.

The Wildcat Hollow area is located in the Ohio Hill country.  The trail would be considered moderate to strenuous with steep grades.  An easier five-mile loop is marked within the fifteen-mile trail. 

Species to note at Wildcat Hollow include:

Louisiana water-thrush, Wild turkey, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-tailed hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Acadian Flycatcher, Wood Thrush, Red-eyed Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Yellow-throated Warbler, Black and white Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, American redstart, Worm-eating Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Ovenbird, Summer Tanager, Scarlet Tanager.

Directions:  The Wildcat Hollow trailhead is located in Morgan County on County Road 58.  Follow Forest Service Trail signs off of State Route 13 between Glouster and Corning, Ohio.

Tansky’s Marsh is one of the newest additions to the Wayne National Forest and is one of the largest wetlands on the Athens Ranger District.  This 13-acre wetland is located in Hocking County at the intersection of State Route 93 and Falls Gore Township Road 382 (between the towns of Gore and Orville). 

Species seen at Tansky’s Marsh include:

Canada Goose, Mallards, Wood Duck, Great Blue Heron, Green-backed heron, Yellow Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Song Sparrow, Tree Swallow, Gray catbird, Killdeer, Kingfisher, Red-shouldered Hawk

Directions:  Tansky’s Marsh is located in Perry County at the intersection of St. Rt. 93 and Payne Road (Falls Gore Twp Rd 382).

Greendale wetland is an approximate 20-acre wetland consisting of open water, wet meadow, bottomland hardwood and buttonbush swamp habitat.  An abandoned railroad bed traverses the middle of the wetland that provides for easy hiking and viewing of wildlife.  Greendale Wetland is located on the Wayne National Forest, adjacent to State Route 595, approximately 5 miles north of the intersection of 595 and U.S. 33 in Hocking County (New Straitsville/Haydenville exit) or one mile south of the Hocking/Perry County line on State Route 595.

Species seen at Greendale Wetland include:

Canada goose, Wood duck, Red-shouldered Hawk, Baltimore Oriole, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern kingbird, Hooded Warbler, Indigo Bunting, Yellow Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Yellow-throated Warbler, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Pileated Woodpecker.

Directions:  Approximately 5 miles north on State Route 595 (Hocking County) from the intersection of State Route 595 and U.S. Highway 33.

Meada Road traverses through a reclaim strip-mine.  This area contains a mixture of grassland, shrub and aquatic habitats on either side of the roadway.  This area contains a large array of grassland birds in the summer and Short-eared Owls and Northern Harriers in winter.  The flat, open terrain makes bird watching extremely easy in this area.

Species seen along Meada Road include:

American goldfinch, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Bluebird, Field Sparrow, Prairie Warbler, Henslow’s Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Eastern meadowlark, Indigo Bunting, Gray catbird, White-eyed Vireo, Blue Grosbeak, Wild turkey

Directions:  Meada Road is found in Hocking County and otherwise known as Starr Township Road 315.

As you drive back up St RT 33 from Nelsonville please take the time to check the Borrow Pits along St Rt. 33.  These are large fresh water ponds & quarries that were excavated for building materials.  However, they have become havens for several species of water loving birds.

The Hocking River, from which the entire region gets its name, also follows along much of St Rt. 33.  There are several locations in which you can pull of and park to survey these watery avian hot spots.  In many locations you see remnants of the Hocking Canal which was in operation in the 1880’s.  Holes along the canal walls have actually become nesting spots for several aquatic loving bird species.

A Great Blue Heron rookery is even located along the Hocking River just north of the city of Logan.

Directions:

Big Bailey (Athens County) Located on Big Bailey Road (County Road 29) in Dover Township, Athens County approximately 3/4 mile from the intersection of County Road 29 (Big Bailey Road) and State Route 13.

Wildcat Hollow (Perry and Morgan Counties) The Wildcat Hollow trailhead is located in Morgan County on County Road 58.  Follow Forest Service Trail signs off of State Route 13 between Glouster and Corning, Ohio.

Tansky’s Marsh  (Hocking County) Tansky’s Marsh is located in Perry County at the intersection of St. Rt. 93 and Payne Road (Falls Gore Twp Rd 382).

 Greendale Wetland (Hocking County) Approximately 5 miles north on State Route 595 (Hocking County) from the intersection of State Route 595 and U.S. Highway 33.

Meada Road  (Hocking County) Meada Road is found in Hocking County and otherwise known as Starr Township Road 315.

Logan: Hocking River & Borrow Pits   Along the side of St. Rt. 33 from Athens to Wahkeena Nature Preserve.