Mentor Marsh & Carol H. Sweet Nature Center

Mentor Marsh, one of the largest natural marshes remaining along the Lake Erie shoreline, became Ohio’s first state nature preserve in 1971. The marsh is an important breeding and nursery area for several fish that live in Lake Erie. 

Mentor Marsh and the adjacent Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve are among the best places in the state to witness spring migrations of songbirds. Great numbers of waterfowl also stop at the marsh during seasonal migrations, such as blue-winged teal, American wigeon, gadwall, American black duck, Northern shoveler and hooded merganser.