Flock to Columbus parks and rivers for winter bird-watching
This time of year, it's tempting to stick to watching birds battling squirrels at the feeder from the comfort of a warm room.
But there are advantages to birdwatching outside in winter as well.
“My favorite part is that there aren't any leaves on the trees. In spring and summer, they can really get in the way. You can spend a long time trying to see birds in between the leaves,” said Kori Gasaway, who is a board trustee at Columbus Audubon, and a local birder.
“And in winter, there are usually less people out, too, so if you're someone like me, and you kind of like it when it's quiet in nature, there are a lot less people out this time of year.”
Columbus area offers plenty of bird-watching spots
Greater Columbus, she says, is an especially good area for birding because of its many rivers and the parks that have been established near them.
“I recommend that people in central Ohio really
make use of our greenways,” she said. “There are five big rivers that run through central Ohio: the Big Darby, the Scioto, the Olentangy, Alum Creek and Big Walnut. We've made a lot of parks in those areas, and there are a lot of trails, and a lot of trees.
"Wherever you are in Franklin County, you can gravitate to those waterways and find parks. Anywhere there are trees, there are going to be birds.”
Many of the Metro Parks take advantage of local rivers, including Battelle Darby Creek,1775 Darby Creek Road, Galloway; Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport; and, close to Downtown, the Scioto Audubon, 400 W. Whittier St., where the Grange Insurance Audubon Center, 505 W. Whittier St., is located.
In winter, the Scioto Audubon Metro Park often offers glimpses of bald eagles as well as what Grange Audubon Insurance Center education program manager Allison Clark affectionately calls “weird ducks.”
“We have lots of different ducks this time of year,” she said. “The hooded merganser is an interesting one that comes south to this area for the winter because our waterways don't freeze over, and they're primarily fish eaters.
"The female has reddish-brown feathers, and the male has what looks like a white snowball on his head, and has really pretty patterns of black and a reddish color.”
Wetland areas also provide places to watch birds
Metro Parks without rivers often include wetlands, and their own sets of water birds. Pickerington Ponds (7680 Wright Road, Canal Winchester), a frequent stopping point for migrating birds, also has bald eagles nesting near the trail who can frequently be observed flying.
Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks interim communications manager Homa Lily Moheimani recommends Thoreau Lake at Blendon Woods, 4265 E. Dublin-granville Road, Westerville, for birdwatching.
“It has a great waterfowl observation deck. You can take this beautiful little path to the observation deck and watch in a discreet way. People love it,” she said.
Other areas nearby to find birds
Farther afield, Ohio Department of Natural Resources communications manager Brian Plasters recommends Alum Creek State Park, 3615 Old State Road, Delaware; Deer Creek Wildlife Area, 12552 Post Road 1, Mount Sterling; and Kildeer Plains Wildlife Area, 19100 Highway 15, Harpster, all of which are particularly good for spotting raptors this time of year.
“You'll find short-eared owls at Kildeer Plains,” he said. “They're really cool because they're one of the few owls that are active during the day. They're easy to spot flying over the fields, hunting for mice or voles. One of my favorite winter birds is the northern harrier. It's a large hawk. They fly low to the ground, and they've got huge wingspans.
"Of course, everyone's favorite is the bald eagle. They're easy to spot when the foliage is gone, along rivers, or at Buckeye Lake. They don't really migrate too far because there's plenty of food here for them. The populations are increasing so much that it's becoming common to see them.”
Other birds, of course, are around as well.
“People are surprised because some birds actually spend their winter vacations here,” Gasaway said. “They come south from Canada for the winter, because it's warmer. Black-eyed juncos will come and hang out, they're really cute birds. American tree sparrows. Snowy owls sometimes pop up in places.”
The best time to do bird-watching?
Those wishing to catch a peek of the birds might want to get up early or arrive later in the day.
“Morning is the best, but I totally understand not wanting to get up really early,” Gasaway said. “There seems to be a lull — I call it the lunch break — from 1 to 3 in the afternoon.”
“Sunrise or sunset,” Plasters recommends. “If you can (get) out early and beat the rush, so to speak, you will have a lot of access to birds without other people. And sunset. Killdeer Wildlife Area comes alive there in the last 30 minutes. Snowy owls, northern harriers just love that twilight time in the winter. Birds are trying to find their roosts for the night, or catch one last meal before bedtime.”
When you're out looking, you will probably want a pair of binoculars, and maybe a cellphone.
“A good app on your phone, like ebird, will tell you where the fun birds are or let you search by species. And a good map. You'll need a good pair of boots, a good pair of socks, wear some layers,” Plasters said.
He also recommends that if you're going to be looking for birds from your car, “Try to go out with a buddy. The other person can drive and you can spot. Some of these birds move fast. Trying to follow them can be a challenge.”
Beginners to birding can get help and advice from the Metro Parks, which often offer birding programs.
The Grange Insurance Audubon Center offers free weekly introductory bird hikes at 10 a.m. Saturday mornings, for which visitors can register online.
“We provide binoculars and field guides, and then volunteers and staff teach people how to use binoculars,” Clark said. “That includes a walk around the Center and the park.”
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