By Steve Kemme
The Cincinnati Enquirer

COLLEGE CORNER - Hueston Woods State Park will be honored today for its status as a haven for many rare species of birds.

Audubon Ohio will dedicate the park as an "Important Bird Area," a distinction that has been given to 96 other locales in Ohio.

The dedication ceremony will be at 1:30 p.m. during the Miami Valley Audubon Society's celebration marking the 218th anniversary of John James Audubon's birth. Participants will meet in the Acton Room in the nature center before going outside for the ceremony.

A sign designating the park as an Important Bird Area will be unveiled.

"When people see this sign, they'll know they're in a special place," said Jerome Tinianow, executive director of Audubon Ohio.

Hueston Woods was chosen for this honor because rare birds, rare bird habitats and a large number of birds can be found there, he said.

Examples of the rare birds that can be seen at Hueston Woods include cerulean warblers, vesper sparrows, eastern meadowlarks, yellow-crowned night herons and yellow-billed cuckoos.

Audubon Ohio will design a map of the bird area at the park, study the area and develop a plan to preserve and enhance what's there.

E-mail skemme@enquirer.com