Visitors at the Earth Day Bird Walk at the Wilma H.Schiermeier Olentangy River Wetland Research Park got a surprise this morning: the siting of a rare American Bittern.
During the walk, led by renowned birder Bernie Master, the bird was flushed from cattails in one of the created wetlands on the site. It was later observed flying over the wetlands by all of the bird walk participants.
Photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Master noted, “The American Bittern’s migratory travels are little known and it is rare in central Ohio at any time of the year.”
Wetlands Director Bill Mitsch reports that this is the first sighting of this rare wading bird at the Olentangy River Wetlands.
The American Bittern is listed on Ohio’s Endangered Species list.
My husband and I are fairly sure we saw two of these at Slate Run wetlands also! What a surprise!