Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge

Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge of the United States located in Ohio. This 6857.91acre refuge was established in 1961 to preserve habitat for migrating birds.Staff at the refuge also manage Cedar Point and West Sister Island refuges. The three refuges together now protect approximately 9000acre of habitat and some of the last remnants of the Great Black Swamp in the heart of the Lake Erie marshes. This region has historically been important to fish, migratory waterfowl, songbirds, and shorebirds. Large numbers of migrating songbirds stop in the area to rest during their spring migration. Ottawa is an attraction for birdwatching enthusiasts. It is also home to bald eagles. This wildlife refuge has been designated as a site of regional significance in the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network. In 2002, Birder's World readers voted the refuge as one of their Top 15 favorite spots to see birds, and the American Bird Conservancy has identified the refuge as an Important Bird Area.