Local Groups and Learning Opportunities in Central Ohio
Local Resources
Columbus Audubon — One of the largest National Audubon Society chapters; offers monthly programs, field trips, and conservation events suitable for all ages.
Ohio Department of Natural Resources — Provides backyard wildlife guides and field publications that cover habitat, species lists, and best practices for Ohio wildlife.
Ohio State University Extension: WildSide at OSU — Offers guides on native pollinators, hummingbird plant-by-numbers guides, and “good garden bugs.”
Pickerington Ponds Metro Park — Not a backyard resource per se, but a great local preserve with 260+ bird species and a place to practice birdwatching and learn identification skills.
Ohio Wildlife Center — A non-profit rehabilitation center focusing on fostering awareness of local wildlife through education and wildlife health studies.
Franklin Park Conservatory — A conservatory and botanical garden bringing people and plants together through education, stewardship, and conservation.
Wild Birds Unlimited — Local backyard bird experts with several storefronts that continue education through hosted talks, how-to videos, and their personal podcast.
Useful Websites Online Resources
Podcasts and Media
Nature Centered from Wild Birds Unlimited — Podcast; Local and Backyard Focused. A long-running, monthly podcast about feeding birds and backyard nature, covering topics like feeder maintenance, species behavior, migration, and keeping birds safe.
BirdNote Daily — Podcast; General Bird Knowledge. Short, nature-rich stories about birds and bird behavior (great daily listen).
Columbus Audubon’s Backyard Bird Basics Webinar — Webinar Video. Covers native plants and bird-friendly landscape tips.
Birds & Blooms — Magazine. A popular wildlife magazine focused on backyard birding, plants, and butterfly/insect content.
Wild Birds Unlimited: Nature Centered — Podcasts. A great podcast that has varying discussions of backyard birds.
Quick Resources
Columbus Audubon Local — bird and wildlife guidance events and field trips
ONDR Backyard Wildlife — backyard habitat ideas
OSU WildSide — native pollinators and garden guides
Merlin Bird ID — phone app for quick identification (local recommendation)
