Forrest Woods Nature Preserve Important Bird Area

Forrest Woods Nature Preserve
Important Bird Area

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Paulding
Forrest Woods Nature Preserve (restricted access)

About Forrest Woods Nature Preserve Important Bird Area

This IBA represents unique habitat for this part of the state. It is a complex of remnant habitats of swamp forest along Marie DeLarme Creek (a tributary of the Maumee River) constituting one of the highest quality wetlands remaining in the former Great Black Swamp region of Ohio. It ranks with the highest quality forested wetlands in other areas of the state. It is possibly the largest forest in the county, and one of the larger and older stands of forest remaining in a several-county area of heavily agricultural Northwest Ohio. It is a statewide significant floodplain swamp forest-one of best floodplain forests in Ohio of mature canopy including upland and perched swamp forest. It harbors a high diversity of plants and animals, with unique terraced forest on the floodplain.

Bird records show statewide significant diversity and with even higher significance to Northwest Ohio. At least 148 species have been recorded in the woodlands. It is a significant nesting and migratory area for warblers and other forest species. Breeding bird survey conducted during the spring and summer of 2000 and Christmas Bird Count data from 2004. Two recent documented fall records of Kirtland’s Warbler have occurred within five miles of Marie Delarme (M. & D. Dunakin). Kirtland’s Warblers trickle down through western Ohio in fall, but in spring travel over southeast Ohio to the western basin. Also includes a heron colony, and adjacent farm fields have Bobolinks and Eastern Meadowlarks.

From Forrest Woods Nature Preserve Important Bird Area webpage