Pickerel Creek State Wildlife Area (Sandusky Bay Loop)
Shorebirds and herons are star attractions at Pickerel Creek, and mid-summer through fall are the best times to visit. Many a rarity has turned up on the area, which harbors some of the best remaining marshes along Sandusky Bay.
Key Species by Season
Spring
- Mallard
- Hooded Merganser
- Black-Crowned Night Heron
Summer
- Least Bittern
- Common Moorhen
- Pied-Billed Grebe
Fall
- Wilson's Phalarope
- Baird's Sandpiper
- Red-Necked Phalarope
Winter
- Short-Eared Owl
- Northern Harrier
- American Kestrel
At-a-Glance
53 - Pickerel Creek State Wildlife Area
Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife
3451 County Road 256
Vickery, OH 43464
419.547.6007
Public Access
Limited public access from mid-August to December 1; open all day the rest of the year
Amenities
Wildlife Observation Window
Driving Directions
From Fremont, drive about 7 miles east on ST 6. To reach the headquarters, turn lefy (north) on CR 256. Follow this road to the headquarters parking area. From the west side of Sandusky, take SR 6 west about 9 miles to this area. From Castalia, take SR 269 north to SR 6, then take SR 6 west to this area; a total distance of about 8 miles.
What to Look For
Shorebirds and herons are star attractions at Pickerel Creek, and mid-summer through fall are the best times to visit. Many a rarity has turned up on the area, which harbors some of the best remaining marshes along Sandusky Bay. Great finds include Tricolored Heron, Eurasian Wigeon, and White-faced Ibis. Depending on water levels, large shorebird concentrations can be present and all of Ohio's regularly occurring species may be expected. Rarer shorebirds have included Hudsonian and Marbled Godwits, Red-necked Phalarope, Whimbrel, and Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Lots of migrant waterfowl pass through in spring, peaking in March, and a good variety of marsh birds breed. Noteworthy among the latter group are Ruddy Duck, Hooded Merganser, Virginia Rail, and some years possibly King Rail and Least Bittern.
Natural Features
Rare and spectacular prairie fringed orchids (Platanthera leucophaea) occur in the area, and bloom in June.
Local Resources
Ohio Division of Wildlife
Ohio Ornithological Society
Sandusky County Convention & Visitors Bureau
About the Sandusky Bay Loop
The massive Sandusky Bay is the most conspicuous bay on Ohio’s Lake Erie shoreline. State Route 2 passes over the bay via a bridge that is over 2.5 miles in length, and is crossed by many of the nearly 7 million visitors each year. This region of Lake Erie is renowned for its marshes and the tremendous numbers of waterfowl that occur in migration. Historically, vast wet prairies occurred, remnants of which still exist.
The most prominent bridge along Ohio’s Lake Erie shoreline is the State Route 2 span over massive Sandusky Bay. Historically, the bay was ringed with mixed-emergent marshes and prairie wetlands, most of which have been destroyed. However, large marshlands are still protected and provide some of the most important bird habitat along Lake Erie. Sandusky Bay and vicinity is a very important stopover area for migratory waterfowl. The total species list for this loop is 313, and three of them – Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Magnificent Frigatebird, and Ancient Murrelet – have only been found in this region.
What To Look For
The massive Sandusky Bay is the most conspicuous bay on Ohio's Lake Erie shoreline. State Route 2 passes over the bay via a bridge that is over 2.5 miles in length, and is crossed by many of the nearly 7 million visitors that come to the Sandusky Bay region each year. This region of Lake Erie is renowned for its marshes and the tremendous numbers of waterfowl that occur in migration. Historically, vast wet prairies occurred, especially along the southern reaches of Sandusky Bay. While most of these prairies have been lost, remnants still exist, such as Resthaven Wildlife Area.
Noteworthy Rarities
The total species list for this loop is 313, and three of them—Blackbellied Whistling-Duck, Magnificent Frigatebird, and Ancient Murrelet— have only been found in this region. Many other rare birds have been seen here, including Eurasian Wigeon, Tricolored Heron, Western Tanager, and White-faced Ibis.
Natural Features
The largest remaining marshes in Ohio buffer the western end of Lake Erie. In addition to supporting tremendous numbers and diversity of birds, these wetlands also harbor many other animals and an impressive diversity of plants. Species of plants that are now threatened or endangered, such as wild rice and bullhead-lily, can still be found. Two interesting reptiles that can be found are the Blanding’s turtle and Eastern fox snake, both of which are largely confined to the western Lake Erie shoreline in Ohio. Large numbers of dragonflies of many species live in the marshes, and occasionally rare migrant dragonflies are found, such as the striped saddlebags.
3451 County Road 256, Vickery, OH 43464
