Ohio   Mentor Marsh Nature Preserves     LOCATION: Mentor, Ohio DIRECTIONS: From the junction of 1-90 and State Road 44, drive north on State Road 44 for approximately 7 miles to where it ends at the entrance to Headlands Beach State Park. Headlands Dunes Nature Preserve lies in the northeast corner of the state park and is easily reached by following the state park roads to the parking lot next to the beach. To reach the Zimmerman Trail and the birding area around Shipman Pond, turn left at the end of State Road 44, and drive approximately a half- mile to the parking lot on the left at the top of the hill after crossing the pond. The Mentor Marsh Info rmatio n/ Nature Center is reached by turning left on State Route 283 from State Road 44 approximately a quarter-mile before the latter road ends at the entrance to the state park. Drive 0.6 miles west on 283 to Corduroy Road. Turn right on Corduroy and drive a quarter-mile to the Nature/Information Center on the right side of the road. HOURS: Both Nature Preserves are open year round from dawn to dusk. The Nature/Information Center is open weekends 12 noon-5:00 p.m. from April through October. BEST TIMES: Birding activity heats up in early spring with the arrival of northbound waterfowl and continues to grow through April until mid May when songbird migration peaks. With well over 100 species nesting in the area, birders will find something of interest even in the summer.           BIRDING HIGHLIGHTS: One of the best places in Ohio during spring migration. More than 250 species have been recorded in just Mentor Marsh. Add in the wooded dunes and beach of Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve and the open waters of Lake Erie and the shelter waters of Fairport Harbor and you've got incredible birding potential. More than 125 species are regularly seen here at the height of spring migration and 100 species have been recorded on just one trail (Zimmerman) in Mentor Marsh. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Marsh House, Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve, 5185 Corduroy Road., Mentor, OH 44060. Phone: (216) 257-0777.             Select Another Area St. Clair River Metro Beach Metro Park Lake Erie Metro Park Holiday Beach Conservation Area Point Peele National Park Pointe Mouillee State Game Area Oak Openings Metro Park Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Magee Marsh & Crane Creek Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve Cyahoga Valley National Recreation Area Mentor Marsh Nature Preserves