A prime location to see a variety of beautiful birds is the Magee Marsh wildlife area, according to Rossford resident Bill Heban.

The 1,800-acre parcel of wetland and woodlots lies just 20 miles east of Rossford off State Route 2.

The land was originally acquired by John Magee in 1903 with intentions to convert it to farmland, but high lake levels at the time foiled all of his attempts. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources purchased the property in 1951 from a Detroit duck hunting club, and so the wildlife area began.

“Today, Magee is recognized as the premier location for viewing migrant warblers in the USA,” Mr. Heban noted. “During mid-May, tens of thousands of visitors from all 50 states and around the world gather to witness these tiny, colorful songbirds.”

There are 50 species of warbler in North America, he explained, and on many May days, visitors to Magee can see 25 or more of them.

“I captured this image of a Northern Parula warbler on May 18 this year, and it was just one of nine species that I observed over only a few hours,” he said.

A Rossford native, Mr. Heban describes himself as a wildlife lover and “advanced amateur” photographer specializing in native fauna and flora of the Midwest. Again this year, he is sharing a series of his photos with Record readers.