May 4 - May 9, 2025
Starting at
1,649
Ohio
Lake Erie: Birding the Islands and Shores
Program No. 12641RJ
There’s no place like the Lake Erie Islands when it comes to bird migrations: beautiful trees, blue skies and myriad birds passing through. Bring your binoculars, this is a good one!
Enroll with Confidence
We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more
Protecting the Environment
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
800-454-5768
Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
May 11 - May 16, 2025
Starting at
1,649May 18 - May 23, 2025
Starting at
1,649DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
Not seeing the date you're looking for?
To be notified if dates of this program become available, click the button below.
This date is available to book as a private experience for your group!
6 days
5 nights
15 meals
5B 5L 5D
1
Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Put-in-Bay, Ohio
2
Bird Walk, Island Field Trip, War of 1812, Bird Migration
Put-in-Bay, Ohio
3
Bird Walk, Gibraltar Island, Stone Laboratory
Put-in-Bay, Ohio
4
Bird Banding, Nature Museum, Historic Island Winery & Caves
Put-in-Bay, Ohio
5
Middle Bass Island Birding Trip
Put-in-Bay, Ohio
6
Magee Marsh, Program Concludes
Put-in-Bay, Ohio
At a Glance
Welcome to the beautiful Lake Erie Islands, where more than 450 bird species pass through during their annual migration. Witness this journey and gain authoritative knowledge of the many species you observe — including Black-throated Green Warblers, Scarlet Tanagers and Indigo Buntings. Take part in walks, lectures, bird-banding and more, all led by local bird experts.
Activity Level
Outdoor: No Sweat
This program can accommodate most accessibility requirements. The hiking trails on the islands are all relatively short (less than 2 miles) and flat, with slow walking and standing for short increments. Most trails are free of obstacles, though some areas have uneven terrain. Our Group Leaders will make everyone aware of any potential walking hazards. The famous Magee Marsh Boardwalk may have crowds, but the boardwalk is handicap-accessible and equipped with railings and benches at regular intervals.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Enjoy a special field trip to Middle Bass Island on select dates.
- Observe seasonal migrations at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, a 2,200-acre state wildlife refuge located on the shores of Lake Erie.
- Learn about the importance of bird banding during a presentation led by Master Bander Tom Bartlett.
General Notes
Select dates enjoy a special field trip to Canada and require a U.S. passport. Participants are divided between three B&B’s for the duration of the program. Please see Lodging and Meals for details. Requests can be made for specific B&Bs. All Road Scholar birding programs have a maximum participant-to-instructor ratio of 14:1 in the field. We adhere to the American Birding Association’s Code of Ethics. Learn more at http://www.aba.org/about/ethics.html
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Tom Bartlett
Tom is a retired biology instructor with an MS in biology and education from the University of Toledo. He has banded over 90,000 birds of over 200 species since 1971. Tom has led bird banding and census efforts at Springville Marsh State Nature Preserve for more than 35 years and the Lake Erie Islands for more than 25 years. A Road Scholar instructor since 2003, he has traveled and birded extensively across North America, as well as Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru and Great Britain.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Lisa Kutschbach Brohl
View biography
Lisa Brohl lives on South Bass Island in the western end of Lake Erie with her husband Russ. She holds a bachelor’s degree in natural resources management and a master’s degree in environmental studies. She is chair of the Lake Erie Islands Conservancy and a founding board member of the Lake Erie Islands Nature and Wildlife Center and the Put-in-Bay Township Park District. Lisa has been involved with Road Scholar as an instructor or Group Leader since 2000.
Tom Bartlett
View biography
Tom is a retired biology instructor with an MS in biology and education from the University of Toledo. He has banded over 90,000 birds of over 200 species since 1971. Tom has led bird banding and census efforts at Springville Marsh State Nature Preserve for more than 35 years and the Lake Erie Islands for more than 25 years. A Road Scholar instructor since 2003, he has traveled and birded extensively across North America, as well as Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru and Great Britain.
Paula Bartlett
View biography
Paula Bartlett earned her bachelor's in sociology and psychology from Heidelberg College and master's in rehabilitation counseling from Bowling Green State University, which prepared her for a career in working with people with disabilities. Retired since 2010, she has picked back up on a search for bird species with her husband, Tom, that began before their daughter's birth over 35 years ago; they are up to 635 species. Paula volunteers with local parks and the library, and writes, reads, gardens, hikes and does yoga.
Valerie Nose Chornyak
View biography
Valerie was born on Put-in-Bay, Ohio and spent most of her life in Columbus before returning to her home town. She taught jazzercise for almost 25 years and is now very active in her community in many ways including teaching and volunteering at the Senior Center, Nature and Wildlife Center and the Historical Society. When she has a spare moment, Val enjoys an active life of tennis, walking, golf and the OWLS book club. She has three children and seven grandchildren and loves sunsets.
Tammy Martin
View biography
Tammy Martin, now of Napoleon, Ohio, retired from Oberlin College where she worked as a library cataloger. She earned her BS and MS in environmental interpretation from The Ohio State University. During college, Tammy worked as a seasonal naturalist on the Blue Ridge Parkway for the National Park Service. She returned to academia for employment in the library field, during which time she and husband, Dan, raised twins. After their graduation, Tammy found time to revive her interest in birding and hasn’t looked back.
Shane Roberts
View biography
Shane Roberts was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and settled in Perrysburg, Ohio, in 2002. A young age, Shane has had a keen interest in wildlife, especially birds. Since 2002, he has been one of Tom Bartlett’s bird banding assistants. Shane and his wife are members of Kelleys Island Audubon Club, Black Swamp Bird Observatory, and Friends of Magee Marsh. He has served in several positions with the Friends of Magee Marsh and volunteers for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife.
Morgan Drabik-Hamshare
View biography
Dr. Morgan Drabik-Hamshare (Pfeiffer) joined the Ohio Field Station of the USDA APHIS WS National Wildlife Research Center in 2016. She obtained her doctorate and master's from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Her research interests include avian species plasticity, movements and behavior in anthropogenic landscapes. She applies these interests to understanding and preventing wildlife collisions with aircraft. Her current research involves evaluating unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) technology for wildlife hazard management. Morgan is an avid birder; her world life list is at 854 species.
Emily Beal
View biography
Emily Beal is in her second year with Road Scholar. She is originally from Hinckley, Ohio but has spent much of her life on the Lake Erie islands. Emily graduated in 2023 with a degree in wildlife and fisheries resources. Her roles at the Nature & Wildlife Center include Road Scholar coordinator, nature camp coordinator, and assistant director. In her free time, she enjoys swimming, kayaking, and hiking.
Laura Roberts
View biography
Laura Roberts has had an interest in watching birds and other wildlife from a young age, inspired by her mother and frequent visits to Crane Creek State Park (Magee Marsh Wildlife Area). Since meeting and marrying her second husband, Laura’s passion grew, as she and Shane have shared birding and genealogy for over twenty years. Laura has been leading bird watching groups with Shane for many years, more recently for the Road Scholar program while on vacation from her regular work at FedEx Ground.
Diana Steele
View biography
Diana Steele is an avid birder and science writer living in Lorain County, Ohio. She has conducted breeding bird surveys, volunteered as a bird banding assistant, and led field trips for The Biggest Week in American Birding and Black River Audubon Society. She has birded around the world including Antarctica, China, New Zealand, Germany, and Venezuela. In 2019 she traveled to both her 50th state (Alaska) and her sixth continent (Asia).
Suggested Reading List
(2 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Lake Erie: Birding the Islands and Shores
Program Number: 12641
Oliver Hazard Perry and the Battle of Lake Erie
A gripping and absorbing narrative, yet an easily understood and highly readable account of the Old Northwest's most significant military event. The focus of the book is the naval conflict itself. Reviewed in detail are the armament and tactical maneuverings of the two squadrons; however, the stories of the American and British crewmen constitute the heart of this book. The book also relates the important events leading up to the Battle of Lake Erie. Described are the strategic significance of Lake Erie, the campaigns of the War of 1812 in the Old Northwest preceding the Battle of Lake Erie, plus the story of both the building and manning of the American squadron. Containing numerous maps and illustrations, it is a concise and fascinating account of the turning point of the War of 1812 in the Old Northwest.
Birds of the Lake Erie Region
Birds of the Lake Erie Region observes a year of weather changes and avian migrations - from the wintertime convergence of ducks and other waterbirds on the lake’s last ice-free areas to the excitement of the raptor and shorebird migrations in the fall.
Expert or novice, birders and nature lovers will be moved by Platt’s celebration of these birds and their habitat and by Meszaros’s impressive photographs of the delicate beauty of these exquisite creatures.
Program
At a Glance
Duration
6 days
Program Begins
Put-in-Bay, Ohio
Program Concludes
Put-in-Bay, Ohio
Meals
15
| 5B |
5L |
5D |
Activity Level
Welcome to the beautiful Lake Erie Islands, where more than 450 bird species pass through during their annual migration. Witness this journey and gain authoritative knowledge of the many species you observe — including Black-throated Green Warblers, Scarlet Tanagers and Indigo Buntings. Take part in walks, lectures, bird-banding and more, all led by local bird experts.)
Best of all, you'll...
- Enjoy a special field trip to Middle Bass Island on select dates.
- Observe seasonal migrations at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, a 2,200-acre state wildlife refuge located on the shores of Lake Erie.
- Learn about the importance of bird banding during a presentation led by Master Bander Tom Bartlett.
General Notes
Select dates enjoy a special field trip to Canada and require a U.S. passport. Participants are divided between three B&B’s for the duration of the program. Please see Lodging and Meals for details. Requests can be made for specific B&Bs. All Road Scholar birding programs have a maximum participant-to-instructor ratio of 14:1 in the field. We adhere to the American Birding Association’s Code of Ethics. Learn more at http://www.aba.org/about/ethics.html
Featured Expert
Tom Bartlett
Tom is a retired biology instructor with an MS in biology and education from the University of Toledo. He has banded over 90,000 birds of over 200 species since 1971. Tom has led bird banding and census efforts at Springville Marsh State Nature Preserve for more than 35 years and the Lake Erie Islands for more than 25 years. A Road Scholar instructor since 2003, he has traveled and birded extensively across North America, as well as Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru and Great Britain.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Lisa Kutschbach Brohl
Lisa Brohl lives on South Bass Island in the western end of Lake Erie with her husband Russ. She holds a bachelor’s degree in natural resources management and a master’s degree in environmental studies. She is chair of the Lake Erie Islands Conservancy and a founding board member of the Lake Erie Islands Nature and Wildlife Center and the Put-in-Bay Township Park District. Lisa has been involved with Road Scholar as an instructor or Group Leader since 2000.
Paula Bartlett
Paula Bartlett earned her bachelor's in sociology and psychology from Heidelberg College and master's in rehabilitation counseling from Bowling Green State University, which prepared her for a career in working with people with disabilities. Retired since 2010, she has picked back up on a search for bird species with her husband, Tom, that began before their daughter's birth over 35 years ago; they are up to 635 species. Paula volunteers with local parks and the library, and writes, reads, gardens, hikes and does yoga.
Valerie Nose Chornyak
Valerie was born on Put-in-Bay, Ohio and spent most of her life in Columbus before returning to her home town. She taught jazzercise for almost 25 years and is now very active in her community in many ways including teaching and volunteering at the Senior Center, Nature and Wildlife Center and the Historical Society. When she has a spare moment, Val enjoys an active life of tennis, walking, golf and the OWLS book club. She has three children and seven grandchildren and loves sunsets.
Tammy Martin
Tammy Martin, now of Napoleon, Ohio, retired from Oberlin College where she worked as a library cataloger. She earned her BS and MS in environmental interpretation from The Ohio State University. During college, Tammy worked as a seasonal naturalist on the Blue Ridge Parkway for the National Park Service. She returned to academia for employment in the library field, during which time she and husband, Dan, raised twins. After their graduation, Tammy found time to revive her interest in birding and hasn’t looked back.
Shane Roberts
Shane Roberts was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and settled in Perrysburg, Ohio, in 2002. A young age, Shane has had a keen interest in wildlife, especially birds. Since 2002, he has been one of Tom Bartlett’s bird banding assistants. Shane and his wife are members of Kelleys Island Audubon Club, Black Swamp Bird Observatory, and Friends of Magee Marsh. He has served in several positions with the Friends of Magee Marsh and volunteers for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife.
Morgan Drabik-Hamshare
Dr. Morgan Drabik-Hamshare (Pfeiffer) joined the Ohio Field Station of the USDA APHIS WS National Wildlife Research Center in 2016. She obtained her doctorate and master's from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Her research interests include avian species plasticity, movements and behavior in anthropogenic landscapes. She applies these interests to understanding and preventing wildlife collisions with aircraft. Her current research involves evaluating unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) technology for wildlife hazard management. Morgan is an avid birder; her world life list is at 854 species.
Emily Beal
Emily Beal is in her second year with Road Scholar. She is originally from Hinckley, Ohio but has spent much of her life on the Lake Erie islands. Emily graduated in 2023 with a degree in wildlife and fisheries resources. Her roles at the Nature & Wildlife Center include Road Scholar coordinator, nature camp coordinator, and assistant director. In her free time, she enjoys swimming, kayaking, and hiking.
Laura Roberts
Laura Roberts has had an interest in watching birds and other wildlife from a young age, inspired by her mother and frequent visits to Crane Creek State Park (Magee Marsh Wildlife Area). Since meeting and marrying her second husband, Laura’s passion grew, as she and Shane have shared birding and genealogy for over twenty years. Laura has been leading bird watching groups with Shane for many years, more recently for the Road Scholar program while on vacation from her regular work at FedEx Ground.
Diana Steele
Diana Steele is an avid birder and science writer living in Lorain County, Ohio. She has conducted breeding bird surveys, volunteered as a bird banding assistant, and led field trips for The Biggest Week in American Birding and Black River Audubon Society. She has birded around the world including Antarctica, China, New Zealand, Germany, and Venezuela. In 2019 she traveled to both her 50th state (Alaska) and her sixth continent (Asia).
Activity Level
Outdoor: No Sweat
This program can accommodate most accessibility requirements. The hiking trails on the islands are all relatively short (less than 2 miles) and flat, with slow walking and standing for short increments. Most trails are free of obstacles, though some areas have uneven terrain. Our Group Leaders will make everyone aware of any potential walking hazards. The famous Magee Marsh Boardwalk may have crowds, but the boardwalk is handicap-accessible and equipped with railings and benches at regular intervals.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List
(2 Books)
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call
800-454-5768
Year
- 2025
Date
- May 04 - May 09
- May 11 - May 16
- May 18 - May 23
- Sep 07 - Sep 12
- Sep 21 - Sep 26
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Select trip year and date
- 2025
- May 04 - May 09
- May 11 - May 16
- May 18 - May 23
- Sep 07 - Sep 12
- Sep 21 - Sep 26
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
15 meals | 5B | 5L | 5D |
5 expert-led lectures
11 expert-led field trips
1 hands-on experience
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Location:
Put-in-Bay, Ohio
Meals:
D
Stay:
English Pines Bed & Breakfast
Activity Note
B&B check-in from 3:00 p.m. Walking short distances to dinner and orientation.
Afternoon:
Program Registration: 5:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, walk or take your personal vehicle to join us at The Crew’s Nest waterfront restaurant to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived.
Dinner:
At The Crew’s Nest.
Evening:
Orientation: 6:45 p.m. at Put-in-Bay Town Hall. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. The program is staffed with a birding leader who will provide educational content, a Group Leader who will deal primarily with logistics, and a series of local birding experts who will help lead field trips and provide evening lectures. For most of the time, we will use taxi vans to travel to various birding locations and other locations not accessible by walking. On Tuesday, we will travel by ferry to Gibraltar Island. On Thursday, we will travel by ferry to Middle Bass Island. Breakfasts will be at our B&B. Dinners will be at The Crew’s Nest as well as lunches except Thursday and Friday when we will have box lunches in the field. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Day
2
Bird Walk, Island Field Trip, War of 1812, Bird Migration
Location:
Put-in-Bay, Ohio
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
English Pines Bed & Breakfast
Activity Note
Walking about 1 mile, approximately 4 hours in the morning; uneven terrain. Getting in/out of taxi vans and on/off an open-air train.
Breakfast:
At the B&B.
Morning:
We’ll meet at the Town Hall and split into three small groups (up to 10 participants each). We will take taxi vans to our first bird walk around the island, led by expert birders. In addition to public spots, we have permission to bird on private property. We will have a mid-morning break at the Town Hall.
Lunch:
At The Crew’s Nest.
Afternoon:
We’ll board an open-air train for an exploration of South Bass Island to learn about the over 150-year history of the land and people. We’ll drive past the most iconic feature of South Bass Island, Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial, the world’s largest Doric Column. (The Memorial itself will not be open to visitors at the time of the program.) Returning to Town Hall, we’ll have a presentation by a National Park Ranger from the Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial. We’ll learn about the War of 1812 and how the Battle of Lake Erie proved to be a turning point for the Americans against the British and their allies.
Dinner:
At The Crew’s Nest.
Evening:
At the historic town hall, we’ll update our bird checklist with what we spotted this morning, then hear a lecture on bird migration by regional bird conservation experts.
Day
3
Bird Walk, Gibraltar Island, Stone Laboratory
Location:
Put-in-Bay, Ohio
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
English Pines Bed & Breakfast
Activity Note
Getting in/out of taxi vans; driving about 2 miles, approximately 1/4 hour riding time. Getting on/off a boat. Walking about 1 mile, approximately 4 hours in the morning; uneven terrain. Walking short distances on Gibraltar Island.
Breakfast:
At the B&B.
Morning:
We’ll head out on another expert-led walking field trip to find more birds, returning to the Town Hall mid-morning for a short break before returning to look for even more birds.
Lunch:
At The Crew’s Nest.
Afternoon:
Next, we’ll board a boat and cruise for 1/4 hour to Gibraltar Island. This small island is the location of Cooke Castle, the historic summer home of Civil War financier Jay Cooke and later the headquarters of The Ohio State University’s Stone Laboratory, the oldest freshwater lab in the U.S. We’ll have a walking lecture from OSU staff while also looking for birds. We’ll return on the boat to Put-in-Bay with some time to freshen up and relax before dinner.
Dinner:
At The Crew’s Nest.
Evening:
At the Town Hall, we’ll update our bird checklist, followed by a presentation by Master Tom Bartlett on his specialty, bird banding, the act of catching birds and tagging them for study.
Day
4
Bird Banding, Nature Museum, Historic Island Winery & Caves
Location:
Put-in-Bay, Ohio
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
English Pines Bed & Breakfast
Activity Note
Getting in/out of taxi vans; driving about 2 miles, approximately 1/4 hour riding time. Walking up to 1 mile, approximately 4 hours; uneven terrain, steep stairs to caves.
Breakfast:
At the B&B.
Morning:
We’ll take taxi vans to the start point of today’s birding walking field trip, this time focusing on bird banding by master bander Tom Bartlett as discussed in his presentation the previous night.
Lunch:
At The Crew’s Nest.
Afternoon:
We’ll then head via taxi vans to the Lake Erie Islands Nature & Wildlife Center, where we’ll explore the facility and learn about their programming. Finally, we’ll visit Heineman’s Winery and Crystal Cave, a location that holds the world’s largest geode: measuring 35 feet at its widest point!
Dinner:
At The Crew’s Nest.
Evening:
Back at the Town Hall, we’ll update our bird checklists and hear again from local bird experts on the spring warblers that migrate through the region.
Day
5
Middle Bass Island Birding Trip
Location:
Put-in-Bay, Ohio
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
English Pines Bed & Breakfast
Activity Note
Getting on/off a ferry. Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day; generally even trail terrain.
Breakfast:
At the B&B.
Morning:
We’ll take a taxi from our B&B to board a ferry for a 1/2 hour ferry ride to Middle Bass Island. We’ll go on a full-day birding field trip as we walk around the island. Along with experienced birders, we’ll keep an eye out for many different warbler species.
Lunch:
We will meet up for lunch at the Island Grind
Afternoon:
We’ll continue our birding walk around Middle Bass Island. We will be able to join one of our birding experts. At an announced time and place, we’ll board the ferry and return to Put-in-Bay.
Dinner:
At The Crew’s Nest. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
Before we depart from the restaurant, we’ll do a final update of the bird checklist and discuss closing procedures. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
6
Magee Marsh, Program Concludes
Location:
Put-in-Bay, Ohio
Meals:
B,L
Activity Note
B&B check-out 7:00-8:00 a.m. Getting on/off a ferry. Driving own vehicles to Magee Marsh. Walking 1 mile, approximately 3 hours; accessible woodland bird trail.
Breakfast:
At the B&B.
Morning:
We’ll check out of our B&Bs and say goodbye to Put-in-Bay as we return by ferry to the mainland. Upon reaching shore, we’ll drive independently to Magee Marsh Wildlife Area for a final birding walk. This 2,200-acre state wildlife area on the shore of Lake Erie is mainly popular with waterfowl hunters, but in May, birders from all over the world converge on the marsh for the best opportunity to spot a variety of warblers stopping over before continuing their northward migration.
Lunch:
On the trail, we'll have box lunches at the marsh. This concludes our program.
Afternoon:
If you are returning home, safe travels! If you are staying on independently in the area, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
Please select a day to update the map
Map details are not available for this location.
MEALS
15 Meals
5 Breakfasts
5 Lunches
5 Dinners
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
- May 11, 2025 - May 16, 2025
- May 04, 2025 - May 09, 2025
- May 11, 2025 - May 16, 2025
- May 18, 2025 - May 23, 2025
- Sep 07, 2025 - Sep 12, 2025
- Sep 21, 2025 - Sep 26, 2025
Participant Reviews
Based on 29 Reviews
Sort By:
This trip was both educational and a lot of fun. I really enjoyed visiting the other islands - Kellys, Gibraltor and Middle Bass. Tom Bartlett's bird banding was fabulous! Accommodations at the Ashley Island House were very nice. All the guides/instructors were so knowledgeable and interesting to chat with.
— Review left October 9, 2024
We had a great time! The presenters were very knowledgable and also kind and hospitable. The years that this program has been offered have honed it to a well-oiled experience, as much as is possible when dealing with bird migration and weather.
— Review left September 24, 2024
I thought the Lake Erie Birding trip was spectacular. I saw so many warblers it was crazy - and the guides were so helpful with getting me on the birds and identifying them. I actually thought the banding station time was too much at first, but then after spending some time there, I almost wished there were more! Seeing the screech owl up close was a real highlight and then finding it that night was icing on the cake! I liked the ferry boats and the tours of the winery and cave - they were just the right amount of time away from birding. I really appreciated the flexibility of the organizers in letting me skip out on a couple of things. I was a little worried about the accommodations when my room was too hot the first night, but I spoke with the owner of the B&B and he took care of it immediately. Someone had moved the thermostat up! The only criticism I have is that the food was not that great. It was not bad, but it was certainly not the highlight of the day for me.
— Review left September 15, 2024
Wonderful birding trip- saw a remarkable number of warblers; so nice to have guides to the best birding places on public and private land on the islands and the legendary Magee Marsh. The bird trip leaders for this trip are very good at finding birds and helping everyone see the birds and are very knowledgeable. Excellent bird topic lectures and bird banding demo. I also enjoyed the non-bird topics/tours and learning the history of the islands and the ecology. Pleasant lodgings, nice dinner place; beautiful island.
— Review left May 28, 2024
The instructors in this program are outstanding and I rate this program as one of the best of the 25 I've taken so far.
— Review left May 11, 2024
I highly recommend this birding experience in the beautiful Lake Erie Islands. Lisa, Courtney, and Tammy, ornithology experts, are incredibly knowledgeable about birds, bird songs, local habitats, and migration. They are also friendly and approachable, encouraging all questions. Tom Barlett and his banding team are amazing; spending one morning with them was insightful and inspiring. It took my breath away when Tom placed a tiny, banded ruby-throated hummingbird in the palm of my hand for me to release it back into the wild.
Emily and Hayley were organized and effective as site coordinators. One suggestion is to include an orientation to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's suite of apps the first evening. Also, I'd recommend scheduling one more 1/2 afternoon of free time. This was a lovely week in nature!
— Review left May 7, 2024
If you are already a birder, or just learning, this is the trip. Great birding leaders help you spot and ID many birds, and I'm sure we had over 100 species ID'd by the end. The leaders have a passion for this, the accommodations are comfortable, food ok, and activities varied and interesting. It's nice being with others who are sharing this interest, and caring for the environment.
— Review left May 3, 2024
This was our first experience with Road Scholars.
We had a wonderful experience.
Appreciated that the price was inclusive of all expenses.
I highly recommend the Road Scholar program.
— Review left September 18, 2023
We have already and will continue to highly recommend Road Scholar!
— Review left June 3, 2023
Best time of the year to be birding on the islands and shores of Lake Erie. Road Scholar knows how to organize such a trip. They did a great job!
— Review left May 20, 2023
I had no idea what to expect, but this trip turned out to be one of my favorites. The leaders and instructors were fun, kind, and accommodating to the needs of the individuals in the group, providing side activities on the fly just for fun. For birders, the banding process was quite the education, and I highly recommend this trip! Great fun.
— Review left April 22, 2023
This was a wonderful trip. Great leaders and great fellow travelers. The island is beautiful this time of year. The migratory birds were plentiful and the banding was not just educational but fun
— Review left November 2, 2022
This program attracts both novice bird watcher wanne-bes and experienced bird watchers and photographers. The experiences provided high value and interest to all. Excellent specialist-leaders offered information, inspiration, and local color. We learned a lot about the role of various forms of biological research, too. Highly recommended.
— Review left September 18, 2022
This program was a great learning experience and not limited to avid birders although there were many participating for this fall educational adventure. Some people had seen most of the birds and only 1 or 2 first time life bird. I must have added 55 life birds. Beautiful environment and diversity from private backyards to local and state preserves. Great sense of community and pride for Put-in-Bay leaders and residents. Concise directions for using the ferry and navigating the area.
— Review left September 17, 2022
Fantastic staff and program! Went beyond my expectations!
— Review left July 21, 2022
I know you need feedback both positive and negative and your questions allowed for both. The questionnaire covered everything but was not overly long. I had a fabulous experience. My best birding experience ever.
— Review left May 28, 2022
Great program for birders interested in warblers. The banding program is excellent as well as the lectures included. The guides were enthusiastic and helpful and the director was very organized.
— Review left May 28, 2022
The birds are unbelievable.
— Review left May 26, 2022
I loved this program. The leaders, activities & other participants were lots of fun. I was really inspired by what I saw & I learned so much. This was my 1st Road Scholar trip & I am already planning another one!
— Review left May 23, 2022
A great program to learn about and see lots of birds!
— Review left May 14, 2022
To all birders, do not miss a visit to Magee Marsh. I visited the marsh before the program.
— Review left May 7, 2022
The Lake Erie Birding the Islands and Shores is a terrific learning experience. The island setting, knowledge and professionalism of the extremely personable coordinator and leaders combined with the local charm, culture and history of this unique ecosystem and setting will captivate your imagination.
— Review left October 10, 2021
when we do a road scholar event, we do not always pick subjects that are at the highest level of interest making them sometimes a question as to if we will enjoy and learn from them-- but I must say, we have NEVER been disappointed.
— Review left September 28, 2021
Absolutely recommend this experience and the instructors. I learned so much, and enjoyed the dining together each night - the chef went out of his way to accomodate my preferences. We saw 103 birds on this trip.
— Review left September 22, 2021
Superb program, comfortable accommodation and excellent meals. Undoubtedly the most enjoyable morning of birding I have had on a Road Scholar program was to witness bird banding and the great opportunity to experience the magnificent warblers, vireos, kinglets and other species up close.
— Review left June 21, 2019
Despite some wet days, which we were prepared for, the birds did not disappoint. The group leaders were so unabashedly excited about their expertise that I could not help to get excited, too. There were opportunities to go back to sites on our own to expand our birding time. As on of the other participants said, I am an adult onset birder, and I found others to be encouraging and sharing of their experience.
— Review left May 22, 2019
The instructors, programs, and participants are consistently interesting and fun.
— Review left May 12, 2019
Another perfect birding experience by Road Scholar. From birding South Bass Island, Point Pelee National Park, and Magee Marsh with some of the best bird guides imaginable, this is a not to be missed trip during warbler migration season.
— Review left May 12, 2019
We loved this trip. We saw many birds. The leaders were very knowledgeable and helpful. The accommodations were charming and the food was excellent,
— Review left May 11, 2019
