Caley+Reservation

Also, see Black River-West Branch Important Bird Area
 * =Birding in Ohio=

Lorain County
=Caley Reservation= 18207 West Road Wellington, Ohio 44090 Caley Reservation webpage Caley Reservation trail map

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Caley Reservation
Coordinates: 41.2229343, -82.1778464 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

About the Caley Reservation
Caley is a semi-developed park reserved for wildlife and nature study. Its 507 acres include wetlands, forest, fields and two large ponds. Wellington Creek runs roughly through the middle of the reservation. In addition to bird watching, two popular activities include wildflower hikes and fishing, but visitors are welcome to simply come and enjoy the quiet and natural beauty of this unique park.

John Caley was born in Sheffield Township in 1880, married Christine Ackerman in 1911, and purchased his farm in Pittsfield Township in 1917. He acquired his parents' adjoining farm after the death of his father, Daniel Caley, in 1923. As early as 1926, John acted upon his keenly felt conservation concerns by leasing portions of his farm to the State of Ohio (through the Ohio Department of Agriculture) in an effort to replenish the region's diminished wildlife populations.

John E. Caley's will, dated 1960, promised 320.89 acres of farm and woodland to the National Wildlife Federation Endowment, Inc. The will stipulated that the land be managed "for the purpose that said Corp. was founded and particularly for the benefit of wildlife in the United States and the study of the habits of wild birds and animals...shall not be sold by the Endowment Fund, nor shall the timber be taken off said farm." Mr. Caley died in 1967 and later that same year his property transferred to the National Wildlife Federation.

The Federation assumed active control of the site in 1969 and initially yielded stewardship responsibilities to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (Division of Wildlife). A "Long Range Wildlife Management Plan" dated August 1970 (Simmerer) reflects the ODNR's plans for the site.

The National Wildlife Federation then entered into agreement with the Lorain County Metropolitan Park District (LCMPD) to enhance local stewardship opportunities. From Caley Reservation webpage



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media type="custom" key="27756879" || L255962 US US-OH US-OH-093 41.2229343 -82.1778464 Caley Reservation