Springville Marsh

This is a State Nature Preserve containing wetland, swamp woods, cattail marsh, sedge meadows, ponds, muck, and fen. It is one of the largest inland wetlands in Northwest Ohio. There is a one-kilometer boardwalk through about 50 acres of the preserve.

Ornithological Summary

This was an Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas I area of special concern. Bird banding and censuses have been conducted since 1988, netting 20,000+ birds banded with a 15-20% recapture rate (several state records for longevity, and one possible national). Over 110 species have been banded on site with reports to 'The Ohio Cardinal, American Birds, and Ohio Birds & Natural History'. Threatened or endangered species breeding here are American Bittern, Least Bittern, and King Rail (possible, with summer records). Species of Concern include Pied-billed Grebe, Virginia Rail, Sora, Common Moorhen, American Coot, and Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Supports one of the highest concentrations of inland breeding Swamp Sparrow populations. Over 10% of the birds banded are Swamp Sparrows.

Conservation Issues

Hydrology has changed in last 10 years and sedge meadows are disappearing. The hybrid narrow-leaved cattail (Typha xglauca) is rapidly gaining dominance.