New signs at Barnes Preserve educate visitors on wildlife and habitat

Visitors to Barnes Preserve will now have the opportunity to learn more about the area’s wildlife and habitat, thanks to the installation of new educational signs throughout the property.

The signs, funded by a series of grants from the State of Ohio, are placed at key points in the preserve including the rain garden, observation deck, and areas that support monarch butterflies and the native plants they depend on for migration.

“The signs will help inform people about what is taking place around them when they come here to walk and exercise,” said Denny Jordan, who has helped guide improvements at the preserve.

The preserve, he said, is especially valuable as a temporary stopover for migrating birds and other species.

“We have several species that use this area as a layover, especially this time of year," Jordan said. "We will see birds that we do not usually see. We see them when they leave and then when they return."

Among the unexpected visitors are black-bellied whistling ducks, a species typically found along the Gulf Coast and further west.

“The birders have come in to see these ducks that you typically only see on the Gulf Coast,” Jordan said. “They have been here for about two years now, and some have stayed and are raising ducklings.”

Looking ahead, plans include a wetlands restoration project to further expand habitat and educational opportunities.

The community has played a key role in sustaining the preserve, which operates entirely through grants, donations and volunteer support. The boardwalk, for example, was funded by private donations.

“We’ve been lucky to have the amount of support from the community,” Jordan said. “Ultimately, the new signage is designed to help visitors understand the broader significance of Barnes Preserve to Wayne County’s ecosystem.”

To learn more about Barnes Preserve, volunteer or donate, visit www.waynecountyparkdistrict.org.

Dan Starcher is the public communications coordinator for Wayne County.