Ohiopyle State Park to offer visitors glimpse of breathtaking birds
OHIOPYLE – Barbara Drbal Wallace sat in her office at Ohiopyle State Park and poured over an impressive list of birds that visitors are likely to see during the spring migratory period. Wallace, Ohiopyle’s environmental education specialist, checked off the ones that are most likely to be found during the state park’s upcoming bird hikes, northern flicker, pileated woodpecker, eastern phoebe, tree swallow, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, golden-winged warbler, gray catbird, common yellowthroat, brown-headed cowbird, American goldfinch. There are many more.
“They’re so beautiful and such amazing little animals,’ Wallace said about birds, some of which could later be heard singing in the woods outside the state park office. “When you think about how much they fly… They’re tough little guys.’
Throughout the spring, birds are returning to Pennsylvania after migrating from as far away as Central and South America, where they stayed for the winter. Some will continue migrating north to Canada while others will stay in Pennsylvania to nest.
Either way, the spring offers opportunities for visitors to see a variety of beautiful birds in Ohiopyle, which the Pennsylvania Society for Ornathology has selected as special areas project and also designated an important birding area.
Wallace explained Ohiopyle is one of 40 important birding areas throughout the state.
“It’s a great migratory stop because the park has 20,000 acres of continuous forest, and it’s connected with Gamelands 51, which also has around 20,000 acres,’ Wallace said. “We have a great habitat for birds.’
Birds enjoy Ohiopyle’s forests, but the state park also maintains some fields that are attractive to birds such as the golden-winged warbler that enjoy the edge between forest and field.
“We’re known for having golden-wing warblers,’ Wallace said. “They’re not rare, but they’re not something you see everyday. Golden-wing and blue-wing warblers have been interbreeding, which is not a good thing because the blues and the hybrids are out-competing the golden-wings in some places. We have a good population of golden-wings here. You can see blues, too.’
This spring, Ohiopyle will sponsor a number of birding activities for visitors to enjoy. On Saturday, Ohiopyle will participate in the North American Migratory Count, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Society for Ornathology.
“We’re asking anyone coming to the park and birding to pick up a sheet at the office between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.,’ Wallace said.
The sheet is a checklist of different species of birds. Visitors who participate are asked to keep count of how many species they see and the number of birds.
“There’s a lot of stuff we’re not going to have, but there is an exhaustive list of birds coming through Pennsylvania,’ Wallace said.
Visitors don’t have to tally their sheets but can simply drop them off at the office when they’re finished. They can put it into the mail slot after office hours.
The project helps officials keep track of what birds are breeding, nesting and migrating in the area.
In addition, Ohiopyle has five bird hikes scheduled through mid-June. They include:
– Sunday, May 19. A bird hike will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Ohiopyle Shelter on the Laurel Highlands Trail, where a brief talk will be held as part of Pennsylvania Hiking Trail’s Week. Then participants will head out on the trail.
– Saturday, May 25. A bluebird hike is scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon with participants meeting at the Tharp Knob Picnic Area. The hike is about one-mile long.
– Monday, May 27 and Sunday, June 2. A leisurely hike on Ohiopyle’s birding trails that takes place from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Participants will hike about two miles through a variety of habitats. Participants meet at the Kentuck Campground Amphitheater.
– Saturday, June 15, another bluebird hike is scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. with participants meeting at the Tharp Knob Picnic Area.
During the bluebird hikes, participants will learn how state parks are trying to help this beautiful creature by erecting bluebird boxes.
“Bluebirds are fairly timid birds, and they were being bullied by mouse sparrows and European starlings. Bluebirds like the same kind of nesting so the bluebirds were losing out,’ Wallace said.
Ohiopyle is also in need of a volunteer to check the bluebird boxes.
“We’re looking for someone who’s willing to come up every week or two and check the boxes. We need to monitor for what kind of nest is there, how many eggs and if there are fledglings, how many,’ Wallace said.
Visitors who participate in the bird hikes can range from the beginner to the expert.
“They can expect to learn some birds by sight and identify some by song,’ Wallace said. “It’s so much fun. We have great luck here. There are so many birds coming through. It’s great, especially during migration.’
The hikes usually last an hour and a half to two hours.
Visitors may want to take water with them. They should wear sturdy footwear, and long sleeves and pants.
The hikes will usually be held even if there’s rain as long as there’s no thunder or lightning.
Visitors who have binoculars should bring them although the state park has some extra to loan. The park can also supply field guides, but visitors can bring their own if they have a favorite.
Cameras are not recommended because birds are difficult to photograph.
For more information on bird hikes or any of Ohiopyle State Park’s interpretative programming, call 724-329-8591. Wallace also does bird hikes for groups and although she’s pretty booked for this season, visitors can call now to schedule hikes for next year.