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Monday, May 31, 2021

Best Bird Watching Destinations In The Mid-Atlantic

Do you live in the Mid-Atlantic and love bird watching? Are you looking for new and exciting destinations to visit to see your favorite birds in nature? You’ve just discovered the ultimate bird watching resource my friend.

In the sections to follow, you’ll learn in-depth info regarding the best free and paid destinations for bird watching all through the Mid-Atlantic including New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. You’ll learn about the top birding hotspots along with their physical addresses and social media pages, YouTube videos, hiking trails, hours of operation, and much more.

Stick around to discover the best kept birding secrets in the Mid-Atlantic below.

Bird Watching Destinations In New York: Free Destinations

Do you plan to visit New York State in the near future? Experience amazing birding opportunities while visiting this wonderful place and keep reading to discover the best free and paid destinations for bird watching in the Empire State.

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge – Free Admission

The National Park Service manages this beautiful bird sanctuary location just 2 miles from JFK Airport in Queens, NY. In the Northeast, this is considered one of the best locations for birding in the area. It rests on 9000 acres of land and they state that more than 330 species of birds exist in this wonderful place.

Location: 

175-10 Cross Bay Blvd.
Queens, NY 11693
Phone: 718-318-4340

GPS: 40.6167° N, 73.8250° W

Hours Of Operation:

The Wildlife Refuge is open 7 days a week, for 12 hours a day. You can visit each day between the hours of 7am to 7pm, from Sunday – Saturday.

Popular Birds Found At This Destination:

  • Gadwall
  • Broad-Billed Sandpiper
  • Peregrine Falcon
  • Short-Eared Owl
  • Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron
  • American Black Duck
  • Tricolored Heron
  • Bar-Tailed Godwit
  • American Oystercatcher
  • Black Skimmer

Hiking Trails:

There aren’t many hiking trails in the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, although there is one main trail. You can also spend time around the entirety of the West Pond, which encompasses a large part of the refuge. In this location, you will also discover a wide range of smaller walking trails in the vicinity of the East Pond.

The main hiking trail is:

  • Cross Bay and West Pond Loop Trail – this trail is really easy to traverse, but it does take time to navigate because it’s 4.2 miles long, which is no small feat. On average, at a medium walking speed, it will take about an hour and 45 minutes to complete.

Jones Beach State Park – Free Admission, Paid Parking

This popular summer hotspot transforms into paradise for birders during the winter months and off-season times of the year. The summer season is an exciting time to experience lots of your favorite local birds. And the winter is even better because you’ll discover a wide range of varying bird species when the beaches are much less populated.

Location:

2400 Ocean Pkwy.
Wantagh, NY 11793
Phone: 516-785-1600

GPS: 40.5963° N, 73.5081° W

Hours Of Operation:

Jones Beach State Park is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. And during most of the year, they do not collect parking fees, permit fees, and other relevant fees like boat docking, rentals, and more.

  • Between 4/3-5/27 on the weekends, they will collect parking and other related fees between 8 AM to 4 PM.
  • Between 5/28-8/8, they’ll collect fees Monday through Friday between 8 AM and 4 PM. On holidays and on the weekends, they’ll collect parking and other related fees between 6 AM to 6 PM.
  • Between 8/9-9/6, they’ll collect relevant fees Monday through Friday between 8 AM to 4 PM. On the weekends and on holidays during this stretch, they will collect fees from 7 AM to 6 PM.
  • Between 9/7-9/12, they will collect relevant fees each day between 8 AM to 4 PM.
  • From 9/13-9/19, they’ll collect relevant fees on weekends and holidays between 8 AM to 4 PM.
  • From 9/20-11/7, they’ll collect relevant fees on weekends and holidays between 8 AM to 3 PM.

Parking And Other Pertinent Fees:

  • Daily car parking – $8 during the off-season, $10 during beach season between 5/28-9/10
  • Nonprofit buses per day – $35
  • Commercial buses per day – $75
  • Boat docking per day – $10
  • Lounge chair rentals per day – $15
  • Umbrella rentals per day – $15
  • Volleyball court rentals per day – $15
  • Metal detecting – $40 permit per season
  • Night sport fishing – with a New York State driver’s license, $35; with an out of state driver’s license – $60; a sport fishing permit for 7 days – $25

Popular Birds Found At This Destination:

  • Common Eider
  • Red-Throated Loon
  • Razorbill
  • Short-Eared Owl
  • Lapland Longspur
  • American Pipit
  • Horned Lark
  • Harlequin Duck
  • Least Tern
  • Piping Plover
  • American Oystercatcher
  • Mountain Bluebird

Hiking Trails:

For the most part, there aren’t traditional hiking trails along Jones Beach. But at the same time, the entire beach itself is a major hiking trail with plenty of birds and other beautiful outdoor scenery to discover along the way. 

And as you can imagine, walking the entirety of the 6.5-mile beach will make it possible for you to see beautiful white sand, amazing birds, and other environmentally friendly sights and sounds along the pristine water.

Even though trails do not necessarily exist, there is a man-made boardwalk for you to traverse that will provide plenty of beautiful and natural things to look at. The Boardwalk trail is called the following:

  • Jones Beach Boardwalk – the boardwalk itself is very easy to travel across and its total length is 3.9 miles. It’s estimated to take around one hour and 40 minutes to complete walking from one end of the boardwalk to the other at a normal walking pace.

Derby Hill Bird Observatory – Free Bird Watching

Located in Oswego County in New York State, you’ll discover the beautiful sights and sounds of Derby Hill Bird Observatory. It’s one of the best places to go to watch hawks in the US. And even more exciting, each spring roughly 40,000 raptors head north to make this beautiful spot their home including eagles, hawks, vultures, and more.

Location:

36 Grand View Ave.
Mexico, NY 13114
Phone: 315-687-9599

GPS: 43° 30.988 N, 076° 14.089 W

Hours Of Operation:

The bird observatory is open seven days a week, and its hours of operation are between 7 AM and 8 PM. Call to find out more information about their holiday schedule and other closing dates.

Popular Birds Found At This Destination:

  • Golden Eagle
  • Rough-Legged Hawk
  • Peregrine Falcon
  • Osprey
  • Northern Goshawk
  • Bald Eagles
  • Baltimore Oriole
  • Canadian Geese
  • Least Tern
  • Red-Tailed Hawk

Hiking Trails:

According to their website, there are many wonderful trails located within the Derby Hill Bird Observatory, although many of them do not have a name. The one trail that sticks out is going to be very special for bird watchers who happen to love bluebirds.

The name of the trail in question is:

  • Bluebird Trail at Derby Hill – this trail is located alongside Sage Creek Drive. I’m not 100% sure how long the trail is or how long it will take to walk, but I do know that there are 18 bluebird boxes along the path. And right now, there are many beautiful bluebirds nesting in these boxes, laying eggs, and currently taking care of their young hatchlings.

Montauk Point State Park – Free Entrance, Paid Parking

Located at the eastern tip of Long Island, this state park provides beautiful ocean views of the Atlantic as it merges with the Block Island Sound. This unique location is wonderful because it presents many beautiful bird watching opportunities along the beach and the rocky shores. Pet lovers are welcome to bring as many as two pets at a time, unless a sign prohibits pets in a particular area.

Location:

2000 Montauk Hwy.
Montauk, NY 11954
Phone: 631-668-3781

GPS: 41° 4′ 15.3264” N, 71° 51′ 25.6896” W

Hours Of Operation:

The park is open all year round. It opens at sunrise and closes at sunset. 

Hunting and fishing are also permitted here, but you must have a permit to participate in these activities. 

They allow surfing from sunrise to sunset between 12/15-3/31.

Parking And Other Pertinent Fees:

  • Parking for cars, SUVs, etc. each day – $8 
  • Nonprofit permit only buses per day – $35
  • Commercial buses per day – $75
  • 4-wheel drive vehicle permit – New York State drivers pay $80 per year, out-of-state drivers pay $125 per year
  • Stargazing permit – New York residents pay $35 per year, out-of-state visitors pay $60 per year
  • Metal detecting – $40 permit per season
  • Night sport fishing – with a New York State driver’s license, $35; with an out of state driver’s license – $60; a sport fishing permit for 7 days – $25

Popular Birds Found At This Destination:

  • Northern Gannet
  • Common Eider
  • Brant
  • Red-Throated Loon
  • Iceland Gull
  • Dovekie
  • Black-Legged Kittiwake
  • Purple Sandpiper
  • Greg Kingbird
  • Great Cormorant
  • Lesser Black-Backed Gull
  • Red-Necked Grebe

Hiking Trails:

There are a number of wonderful hiking trails to enjoy and experience at Montauk Point State Park. The best thing about these trails is that they’re all on relatively flat ground, so they’re easy to travel along. Check them out because I think you’re going to like them.

The trails include:

  • Montauk Point Beach Trail – this trail is easy to travel long and it’s relatively short at 1.4 miles in length. We estimate that it will take around 35 minutes to complete the entirety of this trail from start to finish.
  • Oyster Pond and Beach Loop – also an easy trail to walk along, it’s 2.4 miles in length and takes around an hour to complete.
  • Seal Haul Out – this simple to navigate hiking trail is 1.6 miles long and it isn’t very difficult to walk along. We believe that it should take around 40 minutes to finish the trail from beginning to end.
  • Money Pond, Seal Haul Out, And Oyster Pond Trail – these trails run into one another along the way, and the combination of the three equals roughly 3 miles in length. We believe that it will take roughly one hour and 15 minutes to finish this loop.
  • Point Woods Loop Trail – overall, this trail is around 2.9 miles in total length and it should take about an hour and 15 minutes to complete the full circuit.
  • Montauk Point Loop – by far the largest of these easy trails, the total distance is 6.2 miles in length. It should take about two hours and 45 minutes to complete the trail from one end to the other.
  • Montauk Point Lighthouse – arguably the most beautiful location in Montauk, the trail around the lighthouse is only 0.4 miles and it should take about 10 minutes to complete the whole thing.

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge – Free Bird Watching

The wetlands of Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge are truly a sight to behold during fall and spring migration. This beautiful land is filled with amazing birds all year round, which makes it one of the best places to go to enjoy bird watching. 

It’s better to visit during the summer, spring, or fall, because the winters are brutal and very harsh and the wildlife refuge is often closed during these difficult months.

Location:

3395 US-20
Seneca Falls, NY13148
Phone: 315-568-5987

GPS: 42.9627° N, 76.7409° W

Hours Of Operation:

The Wildlife Refuge itself is open 24 hours a day, because the land is open to the public whenever they deem fit to visit.

The Visitor Center is open from 10 AM to 3 PM on the weekdays from April to November. They open on the weekends as well, but the hours vary and most of the time they’ll be closed due to lack of volunteers.

The Refuge Headquarters Office is open on weekdays from 8 AM to 4 PM.

Popular Birds Found At This Location:

  • Black-Crowned Night-Heron
  • American Bittern
  • Common Gallinule
  • Peregrine Falcon
  • Bobolink
  • Osprey
  • Northern Harrier
  • Sora
  • Sandhill Crane
  • Black Turn
  • Least Bittern
  • Virginia Rail

Hiking Trails:

There are a number of great trails for hikers to enjoy and appreciate while visiting Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. As a matter of fact, there are eight of them in total and they’re all relatively easy to traverse along flat and simple to navigate ground.

The trails in question include:

  • Byron Lapp Memorial Trail and Locktenders Trail – this easy to travel trail is 3.2 miles in total length. We discovered while walking the trail that it takes about an hour and 15 minutes to complete when moving at an average ambulatory pace.
  • Malone’s Creekside Trail – this trail is shorter than the previous one because it is only 1.2 miles in length, which is about a 2-mile difference. It should take about a half an hour to complete walking at a typical touring speed.
  • Seneca Trail at Montezuma – this trail is even faster to travel because it should only take you about 20 minutes to complete. Then again, the trail is only 0.9 miles long, which isn’t very long at all.
  • Esker Brook Nature Trail – this simple to navigate trail is only 1.3 miles long. It will take roughly a half an hour to complete the trail from beginning to end.
  • Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge – Wildlife Drive – although easy to travel, this trail is fairly long at 3.8 miles in total distance. It should take about one hour and 40 minutes to complete.
  • Byron Lapp Memorial Trail and Papermill Trail – this easy to travel trail is roughly 1.7 miles in total distance. We believe it will take about 40 minutes to complete from start to finish.
  • Seneca River Trail – by far the longest trail of all of the trails mentioned today, this behemoth is easy to travel but it’s 10.8 miles long. It should take you between 5-6 hours to complete this trail from one end of the other, which is certainly time-consuming to say the least.
  • Papermill and Erie Canal Trail Loop – this trail is on the longer side because it’s 3.1 miles in total distance, although it isn’t so long that it’s impossible. And it won’t take the entire day to complete. As a matter of fact, it’s such an easy trail to walk that we believe it should take around one hour and 15 minutes to finish the trail in its entirety.

As you can see, there’s so much going on at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. It’s a great place to go to hike, watch beautiful birds in their natural habitat, and enjoy the beautiful outdoor scenery being provided to you by mother nature and protected by the US Fish & Wildlife Service in New York State.

Central Park – Free Bird Watching

Did you know that Central Park is the home of more than 210 different bird species that come to visit each year? It’s hard to believe that this beautiful park is located in the heart of the Big Apple, yet it’s one of nature’s greatest gifts in the area. 

Birds stop by regularly during spring and fall migrations to rest, feed, and enjoy the natural beauty and splendor that mother nature offers in this amazing place.

Location:

Central Park Conservancy

14 E. 60th St.
New York, NY10023
Phone: 212-310-6600

GPS: 40.7812° N, 73.9665° W

Hours Of Operation:

Central Park is open every day of the week, between the hours 6am – 1am.

Popular Birds Found At This Destination:

  • Red-Winged Blackbird
  • Black-Chickadee
  • Marsh Wren
  • Scarlet Tanager
  • Cedar Waxwing
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Blue Jay
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • Eastern Wood-Pewee
  • Rose-Breasted Grosbeak
  • Blue Grosbeak
  • Rusty Blackbird
  • Brown-Headed Cowbird

Hiking Trails:

As you can imagine, there are a number of amazing hiking trails to traverse all throughout Central Park. This majestic natural wonderland is large, beautiful, and filled with plenty of trails for you to enjoy as you view the stunning local and migratory birds in the area.

The main trails include:

  • Northwest Central Park Loop – take a somewhat long but leisurely stroll through Central Park on this 3.7 mile easy to navigate trail. It’s estimated to take about one hour and 35 minutes to complete the entirety of the trail.
  • North Woods – another exciting trail of similar length, from start to finish it’s roughly 3.8 miles long. We estimate that it takes about an hour and 40 minutes to finish the trail from beginning to end.
  • Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir Running Path – the easy to travel Jackie Kennedy Running Path is relatively short at 1.7 miles long. On average, it takes a normal traveler on foot to complete the trail in about 45 minutes.
  • Central Park: East and West Drive Loop – as one of the longest trails running through Central Park, remember to wear comfortable shoes because if you plan to finish the trail from start to finish, you’re going to walk 6.1 miles to complete the track. It should take about two hours and 40 minutes to finish the entire trail.
  • Central Park North Woods Trail – this easy trail is roughly 3.7 miles long. By our calculations, it will take one hour and 40 minutes to complete.
  • Manhattan: Central Park Trail – like many of the other trails in Central Park, this easy to travel path is 3.7 miles long. It takes roughly one hour and 35 minutes to complete the trail from start to finish.
  • Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir Running Path to Northern Woods Loop – a little smaller than most of the trails mentioned thus far, this trail is 2.7 miles long from beginning to end and it will take around an hour and five minutes to walk or jog the path in its entirety.
  • Central Park Outer Loop – this is the largest trail within the entire park since it’s 6.4 miles in length. It should take about two hours and 45 minutes to walk, jog, or run from beginning to end.

More than likely, you are going to be walking along these easy paths because you’re here to see the beautiful birds. So, remember, take your time, enjoy the scenery and the remarkable wildlife and have a wonderful bird watching experience the next time you visit Central Park.

Niagara Falls State Park – Free Bird Watching, Paid Parking

Niagara Falls State Park is an amazing place to visit in upstate New York. Not only will you enjoy the powerful waterfalls, you can also enjoy the many attractions like hiking trails, the Niagara Adventure Theater, the Aquarium, Niagara Gorge, and so much more. 

And while you’re here, don’t forget to experience the Visitor Center and the astounding hiking trails filled with so many different bird species that it’s hard to keep track of them all.

Location:

Niagara Falls State Park Visitor Center
332 Prospect St.
Niagara Falls, NY, 14303
Phone: 716-278-1794

GPS: 43.0834° N, 79.0643° W

Hours Of Operation:

Niagara Falls State Park is open 24/7/365. It’s always free to enter the park and walk around. You can enjoy the beautiful waterfalls, or walk along the hiking trails. And always remember to take some time to watch the stunning birds in their natural habitat.

Popular Birds Found At This Destination:

  • Iceland Gull
  • Black-Legged Kittiwake
  • Ring-Billed Gull
  • Bonaparte’s Gull
  • Herring Gull
  • Common Goldeneyes
  • Common Mergansers
  • Canvasback
  • Double-Crested Cormorant
  • Greater Scaup

Hiking Trails:

You’ll appreciate the many spectacular hiking trails scattered throughout Niagara Falls State Park. These trails are perfect for birders looking to watch their favorite birds or discover new species that they’ve never seen up close and personal before.

The top hiking trails in the area include:

  • Goat Island Scenic Walk – arguably the easiest trail out of the recommendations that we’re about to mention, this beautiful and natural scenic walk is 2.3 miles long and takes about an hour to complete.
  • Robert Moses Recreational Trail – not only is this trail long at 5.8 miles, it’s also moderately difficult to travel along with rockier terrain and other inconveniences along the way. Overall, it should take about two hours and 20 minutes to complete.
  • Niagara Gorge Rim Trail and Whirlpool Rapids Loop – also a moderately difficult trail, the total distance is 3 ½ miles and it will take around an hour and 50 minutes to finish from beginning to end.
  • Gorge Rim Trail – this is definitely the longest trail out of the four trails recommended today. All in all, the entire length of the trail is 8.4 miles and it’s moderately difficult to travel along. It should take about three hours and 20 minutes to complete this trail.

Tifft Nature Preserve – Free Bird Watching & Exploration, Donations Recommended But Not Required

The nature preserve is really close to downtown Buffalo since it’s only about five minutes away. It’s located on the Outer Harbor and has more than 262 acres of protected habitat land. 

It also has five miles worth of boardwalks and hiking trails for bird watchers and nature enthusiasts to use and enjoy as they experience the area’s natural wonders.

Location:

1200 Fuhrmann Blvd.
Buffalo, New York 14203
Phone: 716-825-6397

GPS: 42.8462° N, 78.8595° W

Hours Of Operation:

The nature preserve is open every day, 365 days a year, from dusk till dawn.

Popular Birds Found At This Destination:

  • Least Bittern
  • Baltimore Orioles
  • Pied-Billed Grebe
  • Swamp Sparrow
  • Virginia Rail
  • Black-Crowned Night-Heron
  • Marsh Wren
  • Osprey
  • Willow Flycatcher
  • Wood Duck

Hiking Trails:

As I mentioned earlier, there are lots of walking trails and hiking trails along Tifft Nature Preserve. There is also a boardwalk named Heritage Boardwalk for visitors to walk along. Rumor has it that you may see a muskrat walking along the boardwalk or the trails!

In truth, only one of these trails has a name. The trail in question is called:

  • Tifft Nature Preserve Trail – thankfully, this trail is very easy to walk along as you enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds of the nature preserve. You’ll walk along the edge of a lake for 1.9 miles to complete the trail from beginning to end. It should take you about 45 minutes to finish the trail at an average walking speed.

Marshlands Conservancy – Free Admittance, No County Park Pass Required

Experience 147 acres of gorgeous wildlife sanctuary lands the next time you visit Marshlands Conservancy. This lush and diverse habitat is filled with beautiful shores, salt marshes, meadows, and forests to explore. There is a 3-mile-long trail and a half mile shoreline to walk along as you look over the Long Island Sound while viewing many species of stunning birds out in nature.

Location:

220 Boston Post Rd.
Rye, NY 10580
Phone: 914-835-4466

GPS: 40.9560° N, 73.7034° W

Hours Of Operation:

Marshlands Conservancy is 147 acres of protected land open to the public all year round. More than 230 species of birds have been seen here. You can visit the park every day, from dusk till dawn, free of charge.

The Nature Center hours are as follows: it’s open on Wednesday through Sunday from 9 AM to 5 PM, and the center is even open on the majority of holidays. On the occasional Friday, the staff at the Nature Center undertakes biodiversity studies, so the center is occasionally closed on Friday. Call in advance to find out if it’s open.

In the summer between July and mid-August, the Nature Center is open seven days a week from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Popular Birds Found At This Destination:

  • Orchard Oriole
  • American Woodcock
  • American Oystercatcher
  • Chestnut-Sided Warbler
  • Willow Flycatcher
  • Scarlet Tanager
  • Baltimore Oriole
  • Osprey
  • Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron
  • Wild Turkey
  • Blue-Winged Warbler
  • Yellow-Billed Cuckoo

Hiking Trails:

The next time you plan on taking a nature trip to Marshlands Conservancy, you may want to spend time walking along their lightly trafficked natural trails. They only have one trail on the premises, but it happens to be a really good one that provides views of lots of wildlife, amazing birds, and it’s a great trail to walk along for people of all hiking skill levels.

The name of the trail is called:

  • Marshlands Conservancy Loop – this easy to travel trail is 2.8 miles long and the terrain is very simple to navigate. It’s a back trail located right in the heart of Rye, New York, that should take you about an hour and 15 minutes to complete if you walk along the trail from beginning to end.

Bird Watching Destinations In New York: Paid Destinations

Bird Treks – Paid Birding Tours

Go on an exciting birding adventure with Bird Treks. For more than 25 years, this stellar company has offered a wide range of birding tours throughout the lower parts of New York State. 

They have designed exciting tours to dazzle the senses and provide their customers with beautiful birding experiences at an affordable price that’s reasonable for everyone.

It doesn’t matter if you are an avid bird watcher or a complete newbie, because their birding adventures will create joyful memories and an amazing experience that’s hard to replicate.

Also, they participate in Birding Eco-Tours. What does this mean? It means that at a minimum, they donate 10% of their profits to conservation efforts in South Africa, India, Guyana, Uganda, and other places around the globe.

Although they operate all around the country, they have a particularly exciting tour at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in New York!

Location:

Birding Ecotours, LLC
PO Box 292574
Kettering, OH 45429
Phone: 937-238-0254

Hours Of Operation:

Their birding tours and wildlife cruises take place all year round in different locations all around the globe. Check their tours page in the US to discover the next time they intend to host a birding tour in Jamaica Bay.

Programs:

Honestly, their programs are so numerous that it’s hard to keep track of them all. They have tours and cruises going all around the world. And they also visit many different locations throughout the United States. Visit their tours page to find out about their latest travel packages.

Birding Bob – Paid Walking Tour

Birding Bob has hosted Central Park Bird Walks for more than 25 years and he doesn’t plan on slowing down anytime soon. His bird walks are fun, invigorating, and they only cost $10 per person.

Besides, there are more than 250 species of birds in the Central Park region throughout the year and many more tend to visit during spring migration. Not only will he show you all of the wonderful birds in Central Park, but Birding Bob will spend time teaching you about them and share stimulating tidbits about these beautiful creatures along the way.

Location:

Central Park South
New York, NY 10028
Phone: 718-828-8262

GPS: 40.7812° N, 73.9665° W

Hours Of Operation:

  • Friday – 8:30 AM-12 PM
  • Saturday – 7:30 AM-1 PM
  • Sunday – 7:30 AM-2 PM
  • Monday – 8:30 AM-1 PM

Programs:

Birding Bob offers a number of different programs that meet from various locations around Central Park. Some of the most popular meeting places include:

  • Conservatory Garden
  • Dock on Turtle Pond
  • Strawberry Fields
  • Boathouse Restaurant

To learn about all of the upcoming walking tours and bird walks taking place all year round, please visit the schedule page to learn up-to-the-minute details.

Bird Watching Destinations In New Jersey: Free Destinations

Bird watching opportunities in New Jersey are surprisingly plentiful. So, if you’re looking for a new place to see a wide array of birds in their natural habitat, we highly recommend visiting the Garden State in the near future.

They have so many bird watching opportunities including the ones mentioned below.

Cape May Bird Observatory – Free Bird Watching, Paid Membership

Visiting Cape May and the Cape May Bird Observatory is an exciting opportunity for birders on the prowl for new bird watching experiences. Within the Bird Observatory, you’ll find a wide array of 171 bird species, numerous programs, and they even offer field trips around the Cape.

Location:

701 East Lake Dr.
Cape May Point, NJ 08212
Phone: 609-400-3868

GPS: 38.9404° N, 74.9623° W

Hours Of Operation:

The Northwood Center for visitors is open seven days a week between 9:30 AM and 4:30 PM. The Bird Observatory hiking trails are open every day from dusk till dawn.

Popular Birds Found At This Destination:

  • Black-Bellied Plover
  • Greater Yellowlegs
  • Dowitchers
  • Clapper Rails
  • Black Ducks
  • Gadwalls
  • Tree Swallows
  • Red-Tailed Hawk
  • Northern Goshawk
  • American Kestrel
  • Broad-Winged Hawk
  • Sharp-Shinned Hawk

Membership Fees (Not Required For Bird Watching)

  • Individual Membership – $39
  • Family Membership – $49
  • Hundred Membership – $100
  • Benefactor Membership – $250
  • Advocate Membership – $1000
  • Individual Lifetime Membership – $2500
  • Couple Lifetime Membership – $3000

Hiking Trails:

There are numerous opportunities to hike or walk along the beach, the Cape, and one very special hiking trail. You’ll have no trouble discovering more than 170 species of amazing birds that migrate in and out of the Cape every year.

The main hiking trail in the area is called:

  • South Cape May Meadows – this easy to travel boardwalk hiking trail is not very long since it’s only 1.7 miles in total. Since it’s on a boardwalk, it’s wheelchair accessible and it should take an average walker about 45 minutes to complete the trail.

Island Beach State Park – Free Bird Watching, Paid Parking

Stretching 10 miles long, this barrier island is narrow and you’ll find it nestled between Barnegat Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. There are lots of wetlands, forest, and tidal marshes in the area, which make it one of the best places to find migrating songbirds, shorebirds, wading birds, Osprey, and Peregrine Falcons. 

Local bird watchers truly consider this location a birding paradise and you will too.

Location:

Physical Address
2401 Central Ave.
Seaside Park, NJ 08752

Mailing Address
PO Box 37
Seaside Park, NJ 08752

Phone: 732-793-0506

GPS: 39.7975° N, 74.0976° W

Hours Of Operation:

You’re allowed to spend time in Island Beach State Park every day from sunrise to sunset. The park office is open every day from 8 AM to 8 PM, if you need to speak with one of the officials managing the park.

Popular Birds Found At This Destination:

  • Brown Pelican
  • Piping Plover
  • Saltmarsh Sparrow
  • Black Skimmer
  • American Oystercatcher
  • Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron
  • Tricolored Heron
  • Great Cormorant
  • Least Tern
  • Clapper Rail
  • Osprey

Parking Fees:

  • New Jersey Residents – $6 on weekdays
  • Nonresidents – $12 on weekdays
  • New Jersey Residents – $10 on weekends and holidays
  • Nonresidents – $20 on weekends and holidays
  • New Jersey Residents Motorcycle – $5
  • Nonresidents Motorcycle – $7

Trails & Recreation:

Biking is very popular at Island Beach State Park. There is a main road that runs through the park that’s 8 miles long, with space on the shoulder that’s perfect for those who intend to bicycle along the path while bird watching.

Hiking is even more popular in the area. Although the trails are short and less than 1 mile long, there are eight of them located throughout the island.

Or if you prefer, there are 10 miles of white sandy beaches to explore with lots of bird watching opportunities there as well.

Horseback riding is another regular activity on Island Beach State Park, although it’s only permitted from October 1 to April 30 each year. Trot along the 6 miles of permitted riding areas along the beach and enjoy watching beautiful birds in their natural habitat.

Sandy Hook Unit (Gateway National Recreation Area) – Free Park Entrance And Bird Watching, Paid Parking

Sandy Hook, NJ is an endpoint of 27,000 acres of land that is protected by the National Park Services in New York and New Jersey. This beautiful landscape is filled with many green spaces, beaches, and historical structures known as Gateway National Recreation Area.

While spending time in Sandy Hook, you’ll have an opportunity to go birding and see some wonderful winged creatures in their natural territory. It’s truly a sight to behold and certainly an experience you’ll never forget.

Location:

128 South Hartshorne Dr.
Highlands, NJ 07732
Phone: 718-354-4606

GPS: 40.4458° N, 73.9909° W

Hours Of Operation:

The Sandy Hook Unit of the Gateway National Recreation Area is open every day of the year between 5 AM and 9 PM. Right now, the ranger stations and visitor center remain closed due to the Covid 19 virus.

Popular Birds Found At This Destination:

  • Northern Goshawk
  • Peregrine Falcon
  • Northern Harrier
  • Cooper’s Hawk
  • Northern Gannet
  • Razorbill
  • Great Cormorant
  • Swallow-Tailed Kite
  • Broad-Winged Hawk
  • American Kestrel
  • Red-Tailed Hawk

Parking Fees:

It doesn’t cost anything to enter Gateway National Recreation Area. But between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend, regular parking fees cost $15 per day and beach parking costs $20 per day. Oversized vehicles must pay $50 per day. And for season beach parking passes, it’s $100 per season for a regular vehicle and $200 per season for an oversized vehicle.

Hiking Trails:

Now, I’d like to share the top Sandy Hook, NJ Unit hiking trails in the area. There are truly some amazing places to hike along the beach and other recreational spots that you’ll soon learn about.

The most popular hiking trails in the area include:

  • 9 Gun Battery and Engle Battery Overlooked Tower – this is an easy and relatively short hiking trail that lasts for 0.9 miles in length. You should have no trouble finishing the entire trail in about 25 minutes.
  • Fisherman’s Trail – depending on how quick you are, you should have very little trouble walking the entirety of the one-mile-long Fisherman’s Trail. You’re going to walk in deep sand though, which will slow you down a bit. It should take anywhere between 45 minutes to an hour to complete the entire trail.
  • South Beach and Franklin Delano Roosevelt Boardwalk – this self-explanatory Boardwalk trail is very simple to complete since you can follow the boardwalk from one end to another, which is about 2 ½ miles long. We think it’ll take about an hour to complete from start to finish.
  • Gateway National Recreation Area Loop – this is where things get really interesting because this moderately difficult trail is 10.7 miles long and the longest and most difficult trail in the area. It should take you about 4 ½ hours to complete the entire trail.
  • Sandy Hook Multi-Use Trail – also a relatively long trail but easier to navigate, this trail in Sandy Hook is 9.4 miles long. It’ll take about three hours and 45 minutes to finish the whole thing from beginning to end.
  • Sandy Hook Beach C and D – this hiking trail is much shorter than the last two coming in at 1.3 miles in length. This quick trail should take about a half an hour to finish if you walk from one end to the other.

Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge – Free Admission

This gorgeous wildlife refuge is free to enter and it fully encompasses more than 47,000 acres of land in southern New Jersey. It’s a wide array of coastal habitats that have become the home to many migratory birds traveling back and forth from north to south.

In fact, it’s one of the most active flight paths on the Atlantic Flyway. Seasonal bird migration has never been safer now that this habitat is fully protected and home to more than 555 refugees in the animal kingdom.

It truly is a beautiful place to visit if you love the outdoors and love watching birds and wild animals in nature.

Location:

800 Great Creek Road
Galloway, NJ 08205
Phone: 609-652-1665

GPS: 39.6963° N, 74.1827° W

Hours Of Operation:

The wildlife refuge is open every day of the week from sunrise to sunset.

The visitor center is usually open from Wednesday-Sunday between 10 AM to 3 PM and closed on Monday, Tuesday, and holidays. Due to the Covid 19 virus, the visitor center is currently closed indefinitely.

Popular Birds Found At This Destination:

  • Black Skimmer
  • Roseate Spoonbill
  • Spotted Redshank
  • Curlew Sandpiper
  • Bald Eagle
  • Chuck-Will’s-Widow
  • Peregrine Falcon
  • Osprey
  • Least Bittern
  • Seaside Sparrow
  • Saltmarsh Sparrow

Hiking Trails:

This large and encompassing piece of protected wildlife land has 2 amazing hiking trails for you to peruse at your leisure. These trails will lead you through the preserve, and provide access to many gorgeous birds in their natural habitat, just like nature intended.

The main hiking trails in the area include:

  • deCamp Wildlife Trail – this easy to navigate trail is 2 ½ miles long and it’s pretty simple to walk along because the path is flat and clear. In total, it should take between an hour and an hour and a half to finish the whole thing.
  • Songbird Trail Loop – this trail is moderately difficult because you have to walk through sand and up some inclines along the path. All in all, it’s around 4.7 miles long and it could take anywhere from two hours to 2 ½ hours to complete.

Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge – Free Bird Watching

This particular wildlife refuge is located in Morris County, NJ and it was established on November 3, 1960. It encompasses more than 7768 acres of habitat land and it’s become an important refuge for nearly 250 bird species, turtles, frogs, muskrats, fish, deer, and more. If you love the outdoors and birding, you’ll love this beautiful natural land located in the heart of New Jersey.

Location:

Helen C Fenske Visitor Center
32 Pleasant Plains Rd.
Harding, NJ 07920
Phone: 973-425-1222

GPS: 40.7076° N, 74.4661° W

Hours Of Operation:

Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is open every day, seven days a week, from sunrise to sunset. Occasionally the park might close because of a special event or when weather conditions are extremely hazardous. It’s always best to call ahead to make sure the wildlife refuge is open before visiting.

Popular Birds Found At This Destination:

  • Willow Flycatcher
  • Scarlet Tanager
  • Orchard Oriole
  • Blue-Winged Warbler
  • Swamp Sparrow
  • Marsh Wren
  • American Woodcock
  • King Rail
  • Wild Turkey
  • Barred Owl
  • Indigo Bunting
  • Ovenbird

Hiking Trails:

Hiking the beautiful trails of Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is definitely a fun and exciting experience for bird watchers and wildlife lovers alike. You’ll come across so many of your favorite bird species that you’ll have a difficult time containing your mirth.

Enjoy walking along 5 amazing hiking trails that are called:

  • Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Orange and Red Loop Trails – this may sound like a long and difficult trail, but it’s actually relatively easy and it isn’t that long either. It’s only 1.3 miles in total and it should take around 30 minutes for you to complete to get from one end to the other.
  • Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Blue, Yellow, and Ivory Trails – this trail is moderately difficult and twice as long as the previous trail, coming in at 2.6 miles in length. And just like the last trail, we’ll double the time and estimate all that it will take you about an hour to complete, or maybe a little longer since it’s a bit more difficult.
  • Bird-Blinds Loop – this trail is relatively easy to walk along, but it’s 2 miles long, so there’s definitely some walking involved. We believe that it will take you around 40-45 minutes to complete the entire trail.
  • Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Blue Trail – believe it or not, the Blue Trail is the longest trail of the bunch that we are sharing with you today. It’s 4 ½ miles in length, it’s fairly easy to travel long, and it will take you around an hour and 45 minutes to finish from beginning to end.
  • Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Orange Trail – this trail is also longer than you might originally think and it’s just 1/10th of a mile shorter than the longest trail, coming in at 4.4 miles in total. And like the other trail, it should take about an hour and 40 minutes to an hour and 45 minutes to finish.

High Point State Park – Free Bird Watching

High Point State Park is actually at the summit of Kittatinny Ridge, which is 1803 feet high and located above sea level. Believe it or not, this is the highest elevation located throughout the entire state of New Jersey. It’s also a beautiful place to sightsee, look at the birds, view the beautiful wild animals in their natural habitat, and come for a relaxing and enjoyable day in nature.

While visiting, you might want to spend time walking along the beach, maybe stay at the campgrounds for a couple of nights, visit the concession area, walk along the hiking trails, or stop for a picnic with your friends and loved ones. There’s so much to see and do at High Point State Park in Sussex, NJ.

Location:

1480 Route 23
Sussex, NJ 07461
Phone: 973-875-4800

GPS: 41.2934° N, 74.6990° W

Hours Of Operation:

High Point State Park is open every day of the week including many holidays from dusk till dawn.

High Point Monument, on the other hand, is open every day from 8:30 AM to 4 PM between Memorial Day and Columbus Day, as long as the weather and enough available staff permits. It’s always best to call ahead to find out if they’re going to be open on the day you intend to visit.

Popular Birds Found At This Destination:

  • Cerulean Warbler
  • Common Raven
  • Blue-Headed Vireo
  • Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker
  • Black-Throated Green Warbler
  • Black-Throated Blue Warbler
  • Northern Water Thrush
  • Worm-Eating Warbler
  • Brown Creeper
  • Winter Wren
  • Chestnut-Sided Warbler
  • Hermit Thrush

Hiking Trails:

You may not know this yet, but High Point State Park is a hiker’s paradise. As a matter of fact, this beautiful location boasts 18 amazing trails. Some of these trails are easy, many of them are moderately difficult, and even a few are very hard trails to travel along. 

So, strap on your hiking boots because you’re about to experience a lot of walking if you choose to participate and travel along the amazing hiking trails in this beautiful state park.

Our top 5 trails to travel along include:

  • Duttonville Ridge Trail – although this trail is only 1.8 miles long, do not let it fool you because it’s moderately difficult to walk along due to inclines and rough ground. Even so, it should only take you about 45-50 minutes to complete the trail from beginning to end.
  • Lusscroft Farm Loop – believe it or not, this is one of the most difficult trails that we’re recommending right now because it lies alongside the Kittatinny Mountains and there is definitely rough terrain ahead. The trail is long as well and it encompasses an entire 7-mile stretch from start to finish. Overall, after experiencing all of the ups and downs of this trail, we believe it’ll take between three hours and 45 minutes and four hours to complete.
  • Steeny Kill and Sawmill Lakes Trail – although relatively easy terrain to travel along, this is also a really long trail coming in at 8.7 miles in total distance. If you decide to walk the trail from start to finish, we believe that it will take about four hours to complete the whole trail in its entirety.
  • Sawmill Lake Trail – this is definitely a much easier trail to travel along since the terrain is easy-going and it’s only 1.1 miles long. You should have no trouble completing the entire trail in 30 minutes as long as you walk at a moderate pace.
  • High Point via Appalachian Trail – this trail is definitely on the harder side because it’s moderately difficult and it’s a lot longer than the last trail since it’s 6.3 miles long. If you’re a fast enough walker and have the stamina to complete the entire trail at an even pace, you should finish it in three hours and 15 minutes.

Bird Watching Destinations In New Jersey: Paid Destinations & Birding Tours

Wings Birding Tours Worldwide

Although this company is international and has bird tours in many parts of the world, they also have an exciting birding tour in Cape May New Jersey for those looking for that kind of experience.

The company first began as Northeast Birding, when it was started by Will Russell and Davis Finch in 1973. They have existed in one form or another for nearly 50 years, and they go on exploratory vacation adventures through South and Central America, Alaska, Mexico, Asia, Europe, and the United States and the United Kingdom.

But today we’re here to focus on one particular tour.

The name is: New Jersey: Cape May

This upcoming birding tour and vacation is led by Skye Haas and it takes place between Saturday, September 25 and Friday, October 1, 2021.

The total expense for the trip will cost you $2250. And if you’re willing to pay for a single occupancy supplement, it will cost you an extra $540 on top of the initial price.

Location:

Wings
1643 N. Alvernon Way, Suite 109
Tucson, AZ 85712
Local Phone: 520-320-9868
Toll-Free Phone: 866-547-9868

Scott Barnes and Linda Mack – Island Beach State Park Tour

This birding tour will take you along the Maritime forest, so avid birders can view warblers, tanagers, and vireos as they migrate into the region.

The upcoming event costs $25, which you can sign up for by visiting their Eventbrite page.

Bird Watching Destinations In Pennsylvania: Free Destinations

Are you on the verge of spending time in Pennsylvania at some point soon? Bird watching occasions abound in this neck of the woods. Discover a plethora of free and paid bird watching opportunities the next time you visit the Keystone State.

John Heinz At Tinicum National Wildlife Refuge – Free Bird Watching

At the wildlife refuge, there’s more than 10 miles of hiking trails and plenty of opportunities to see beautiful animals and gorgeous birds in their natural habitat. If you’re interested in walking or biking the trails, you’re definitely in for a treat. There’s even a trail called the Big Boardwalk Loop, which is 1 mile long and it’s accessible by wheelchair.

Location:

8601 Lindbergh Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19153
Phone: 215-365-3118

GPS: 39.8858° N, 75.2623° W

Hours Of Operation:

Each day, the refuge trails are open to the public for free from sunrise until sunset. At the moment, the visitor center still remains closed because of the Covid 19 pandemic.

Popular Birds Found At This Location:

  • Yellow-Billed Cuckoo
  • Indigo Bunting
  • Wood Duck
  • Least Bittern
  • American Redstart
  • Black-Crowned Night-Heron
  • Bald Eagle
  • Willow Flycatcher
  • Marsh Wren
  • Swamp Sparrow
  • Acadian Flycatcher
  • Osprey
  • Wild Turkey

Hiking Trails:

As mentioned earlier, there’s around 10 miles of hiking trails located within the John Heinz Wildlife Refuge. Some of these trails do not have a name, but I will share the names and distances of the three that I know about with you today.

They are:

  • John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge Loop from Wanamaker Avenue Trailhead – this is an easy to navigate trail, so it will not be too difficult if you aren’t used to hiking. The total length of the trail is 3.7 miles long and it should take roughly one hour and 30 minutes to finish from beginning to end.
  • John Heinz Lake Loop – another easy to navigate trail that’s similar in length; you should have no trouble completing the 3.6-mile distance in about an hour and a half as well.
  • Big Boardwalk Loop – this Boardwalk Trail is very easy to navigate and it’s less than 1 mile in length. It should take anywhere from 20-30 minutes to complete the trail in its entirety.

Pymatuning State Park – Free Admittance

Visitors have plenty to do the next time they visit Pymatuning State Park. You can stop by Wilson Launch to look at the Eagles, or go fishing for crappie or walleye, or even consider renting a pontoon boat or go on a canoe or kayaking trip down the Shenango River. No matter what, you’ll have an amazing time enjoying the sights and sounds of mother nature in this lovely location.

Location:

Pymatuning State Park Office
2260 Williamsfield Rd.
Jamestown, PA 16134
Phone: 724-932-3142

GPS: 41.3701°N, 80.2359° W

Hours Of Operation:

Pymatuning State Park is open each day, seven days a week, from sunrise to sunset, even on holidays. Their office is usually open at certain times of the day, but you have to call to find out their office hours because they aren’t posted. 

Also, while visiting, all visitors are required to wear masks in indoor public spaces and they must be worn during all outdoor educational programs. And the park recommends social distancing and mask wearing even while visiting outdoor public spaces, although masks aren’t required in this situation.

Popular Birds Found At This Location:

  • Savannah Sparrow
  • Bobolink
  • Sandhill Crane
  • Blue-Winged Warbler
  • Wood Thrush
  • Veery
  • Baltimore Oriole
  • Scarlet Tanager
  • American Redstart
  • Cedar Waxwing
  • Rose Breasted Grosbeak
  • Bald Eagle

Hiking Trails:

This is a hiker’s paradise because there are literally 10 trails to walk along while visiting Pymatuning State Park. But don’t be afraid that these trails are going to be too difficult, because truthfully, every single one of them is easy to travel and navigate. And only one trail is a gigantic 22 ½ mile monster that I’ll tell you about below.

The trails include:

  • Pymatuning Northern Bike Loop – obviously the biggest trail of the bunch, this easy to navigate trail is gigantic at 22 ½ miles. But they call it a Bike Loop for good reason, because if you do plan to travel along this trail, we highly recommend doing so on a bicycle because it will be much faster and a lot more manageable.
  • Padanaram Trail – this one is also easy to navigate but it’s a lot less lengthy when compared to the first trail. It’s only 0.9 miles long and it will take around 20 minutes to complete.
  • Whispering Pine Trail – as I mentioned, every one of these trails are very easy to walk along because they are flat and leisurely strolls. This trail is 0.7 miles long, which should only take between 15 to 20 minutes to complete.
  • Pymatuning State Park Causeway Bike Route – this is another trail for bicycling, although you can certainly walk along as well. It’s 3.9 miles in length, which could potentially take you about two hours to 2 ½ hours on foot.
  • Pymatuning State Park Pavilion #9 Bike Route – the last of the bike routes, this trail is also potentially walkable since it is only 4.7 miles long. It should take about three hours to three hours and 15 minutes to finish in its entirety. Be careful walking along bike routes, because they appear to be part of the main road with cars in many instances.
  • Beaver Dam Trail – this walking trail is easy to navigate and it shouldn’t take that long because the trail itself is only 1 mile in distance. You can finish it in about 25 minutes if you walk at an average pace.
  • Sugar Run Trail – another easy to walk trail, this one is about the same distance as the Beaver Dam Trail because it’s 1.1 mile in length. And just like the previous trail, it should only take around 25 to 30 minutes to finish.
  • Tamarack Trail – this trail is the same distance as the previously mentioned one coming in at 1.1 miles in distance. It should take an average walker about 25 to 30 minutes to finish from beginning to end.
  • Spillway Trail – this trail is a lot larger than the previously mentioned trails coming in at 4.8 miles in total distance. On average, a typical person walking at an average speed can finish this trail in around two hours and still enjoy the beautiful views, wildlife, and the stunning birds.
  • Ackerman Trail – our last trail is 1.9 miles in length, which should only take about 45 minutes to complete. This is an easy trail with lots of beautiful views and amazing scenery to take in as you enjoy the fresh air in this beautiful place.

Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area – Free Entrance

This gorgeous location is home to amazing snow geese, beautiful wetlands, and fields that are transformed into gorgeous natural wonderlands. There are more than 270 species of birds and other wildlife roaming around the management area for all to see in their natural habitat. 

Bird watchers and nature lovers will absolutely adore visiting Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area.

Location:

Visitor Center
100 Museum Rd.
Stevens, PA 17578
Phone: 717-733-1512

GPS: 40.2712° N, 76.2500° W

Hours Of Operation:

Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area outdoor activities and hiking trails are open seven days a week, from sunrise to sunset. At the moment, the visitor center is closed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Popular Birds Found At This Location:

  • Pileated Woodpecker
  • Acadian Flycatcher
  • Orchard Oriole
  • Blue Grosbeak
  • Northern Parula
  • Wood Thrush
  • Grasshopper Sparrow
  • Yellow-Throated Vireo
  • Wild Turkey
  • Yellow-Billed Cuckoo
  • Swamp Sparrow
  • Baltimore Oriole
  • Louisiana Waterthrush

Hiking Trails:

Middle Creek is another great place in Pennsylvania for hiking, biking, and viewing birds and other wildlife in their natural habitat. These trails vary from easy to moderate difficulty, and they also vary in length, so there’s definitely something for everyone.

The names of the trails include:

  • Elder Run Loop – this easy to navigate trail is 2.3 miles in length and takes roughly 55 minutes to complete.
  • Elders Run, Middle Creek, Volunteer, Fireline, to Forest Demo Trail Loop – this moderately difficult trail is 3.6 miles in length and it should take roughly one hour and 25 minutes to complete from beginning to end.
  • Willow Trail Point – definitely one of the easier trails, this simple to navigate walking path is 1 mile long and takes about 25 minutes to finish.
  • Spicebush Trail – although it isn’t very long at 0.7 miles, this trail is also moderately difficult to navigate so be prepared. It should take you about 20 minutes to walk the entirety of the trail.
  • Valley View Trail – this easy terrain is very simple to walk along as you’ll soon see. It’s 1.7 miles in total distance and takes roughly 55 minutes to go from end to end.
  • Horse-Shoe Trail Loop via Middle Creek Trail – this is by far the most difficult trail because it’s moderately difficult with a few twists and turns in the terrain and it’s 11 ½ miles long, which is a doozy! It should take five hours and 35 minutes to make it all the way through this trail from start to finish.

Bald Eagle State Park – Free Bird Watching

Believe it or not, this beautiful state park goes above and beyond to provide guided walks, environmental education, campfire programs, and other exciting in-person activities. 

They connect with youth groups and local schools to help the children get outdoors and learn about the environment. And best of all, there are plenty of wonderful bird watching opportunities including watching Bald Eagles and Osprey in their natural habitat.

Location:

149 Main Park Rd.
Howard, PA 16841
Phone: 814-625-2775

GPS: 41.0226° N, 77.6450° W

Hours Of Operation:

The park itself is open seven days a week, 365 days a year, from sunrise to sunset. The office of the park opens sporadically, so call them to find out about specific hours and seasons.

Popular Birds Found At This Destination:

  • Red-Next Grebe
  • Long-Tailed Duck
  • Tundra Swan
  • Bald Eagle
  • Osprey
  • Worm-Eating Warbler
  • Hooded Warbler
  • Orchard Oriole
  • Chestnut-Sided Warbler
  • Scarlet Tanager
  • American Woodcock
  • Wild Turkey
  • Ruffed Grouse

Hiking Trails:

The state of Pennsylvania is truly filled with some amazing hiking trails. And the trails at Bald Eagle State Park are no different. The best part is that each one of these trails is very easy to navigate although they vary in distance and they’re all on the longer side.

The names of the trails are:

  • Woapalanne Path and Lakeside Loop – this easy hiking trail is 3.4 miles long and takes about an hour and a half to complete.
  • Hunter Run – this trail is also easy but it’s longer than the previous one coming in at 4.6 miles in total length. We believe it will take around two hours and 15 minutes to complete the trail.
  • Butterfly Trail – this simple to navigate trail is 1.9 miles long and it takes about 45 minutes to finish from beginning to end.
  • Skyline Drive Trail – this trail is relatively flat and doesn’t possess any difficult terrain, and it’s also 3.3 miles in total length. At an average walking speed, you should complete the trail in about an hour and a half.
  • Nature Inn Loop – the level of difficulty is easy while walking along this flat and unencumbered path. It’s 2.1 miles long and it should take an hour to walk the entire distance.

Loyalsock State Forest – Free Entrance

The Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry manages this beautiful forest land and they take great care of it all the while conserving wild plants in their native habitat. This beautiful forest land is the perfect place to view animals and birds out in nature. 

The scenic beauty is hard to miss and it’s also a great place to spend time with friends and family while enjoying much-needed recreational downtime.

Location:

Loyalsock District Office
6735 Route 220
Dushore, PA 18614
Phone: 570-946-4049 (office hours Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM)

GPS: 41.5109° N, 76.7202° W

Hours Of Operation:

The main office is open Monday through Friday between 8 AM and 4 PM. The forest is always open 24/7/365.

Popular Birds Found At This Destination:

  • Golden-Crowned Kinglet
  • Magnolia Warbler
  • Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker
  • Northern Saw-Wet Towel
  • Blackburnian Warbler
  • Ruffed Grouse
  • Purple Finch
  • White-Throated Sparrow
  • Black-Throated Green Warbler
  • Brown Creeper

Hiking Trails:

It shouldn’t surprise anyone to learn that Loyalsock State Forest is riddled with an abundance of hiking trails. In fact, there are so many trails that it’s hard to keep track of them all, but by my calculations there are 32 of them in total.

The top five most popular trails in this beautiful forest include:

  • Loyalsock Trail – this behemoth of the trail is 56.4 miles long, it takes multiple days to finish, and it’s moderately difficult because the terrain can get rough at certain points. If you plan on hiking this entire trail, make sure you are fully prepared with food, water, shelter, and more because it will take many days to finish.
  • Angel Falls Trail – this is definitely much smaller than the previous trail clocking in at 3 miles in total distance. The trail is moderately difficult to walk along and it will take about an hour and 45 minutes to complete the entire circuit.
  • Ketchum Run Gorge – I hate to break the news to you but this trail is hard. There are lots of obstacles in the way, streams along the path, falling trees, and other natural wonders throughout this forest path. It’s 5 miles in distance and it will take around two hours and 45 minutes to complete.
  • Fern Rock Nature Trail – this is definitely one of the easier trails in this forest. It’s a total of 2.3 miles at full distance and it should take around an hour or a little over an hour to complete.
  • Eagle Lake Trail – this trail is also moderately difficult, with lots of twists and turns and natural obstacles in your path. It isn’t the longest trail in the world coming in at 2.4 miles, which we believe will take about an hour to get from start to finish.

Bird Watching Destinations In Pennsylvania: Paid Destinations

Fieldguides Birding Tours

Fieldguides has a dedicated staff of motivated individuals that will take you on beautiful birding tours and hikes in Pennsylvania. Although, please realize that this company has tours all over the United States of America and other parts of the world too.

In particular, the tour we’re talking about today is called Pennsylvania’s Warblers & More. It takes place during the peak of Eastern spring birding, where you have an opportunity to see lots of amazing songbirds and a wide array of incredible warblers.

Some of the birds you can expect to see on this tour include:

  • Golden-Winged Warbler
  • Cerulean Warbler
  • Worm-Eating Warbler
  • Empidonax Flycatcher
  • Upland Sandpiper
  • Henslow’s Sparrow
  • and many more

Contact Information

9433B Cave Road, #2-105
Austin, TX 78733
Local Phone: 512-263-7295
Toll-Free Phone: 800-728-4953

Final Thoughts About Bird Watching In The Mid-Atlantic

As you can undoubtedly tell, there was much to learn and uncover about bird watching in the mid-Atlantic. Even better, we discovered some of the most exciting bird watching experiences and tours taking place throughout New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

If you intend to visit any one of these wonderful places at some point in the future, you should definitely check out the recommended bird watching hotspots for each state. These wonderful places are always waiting for you, but you have to take the initiative and make it a point to visit them the next time you’re going on a family or business trip.

Believe it or not, you will absolutely adore seeing wild birds in their natural habitat no matter who you happen to be with including friends, loved ones, and coworkers too. If you love birding, then you’re definitely going to love these gorgeous locations scattered throughout the mid-Atlantic region of the United States of America.

The post Best Bird Watching Destinations In The Mid-Atlantic appeared first on BirdInformer.com.



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