Running on the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail this weekend, I considered myself lucky to glance over toward the Cuyahoga River just in time to see a blue heron take flight. I was still all giddy with excitement when I ran into a ranger about a half-mile down the path.

Here I felt like such a good eco-citizen in telling him that I had spotted the heron—thinking how impressed he'd be. After I told him, he looked at me and smiled, “Oh, you mean a heron like all of those nesting there.”

In fact, he was in the process of observing a “scattering” (the proper term for a group of herons—I looked it up) and a bald eagle nesting in the trees as I ran up with my sighting.

So, whether you are hoping to see a scattering of herons, a wisdom of owls or a convocation of eagles this is the time of year to get a glimpse of some of the incredible bird migrations that make their way through or home in Northeast Ohio.

There are a number of groups and resources to help those who want a guided tour or just need a heads-up on where the best birding sites are in the state. Click here for more information on birding in NEO.