Pennsylvania's Great Lakes Region
www.pagreatlakes.com
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Pennsylvania is well-known for being a nature adventure state, and birding is fast becoming a popular outdoor pastime. With numerous parks and trails, Pennsylvania's Great Lakes Region has no shortage of hot spots for novice or experienced bird watchers. Three of the four counties even host their own annual birding festivals in the Spring and Summer months.
Birders World magazine lists PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK as "one of the top birding spots in North America." Presque Isle's location on the Atlantic Flyway makes it a hot birding spot for birds to stop, feed and rest during their migration across Lake Erie. Over 325 different species have been identified including owls, warblers, woodpeckers, herons and thrushes. Another point of interest at Presque Isle is the multitude of water fowl and other birds that can be found among the lagoons.
TOM RIDGE ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER, the gateway to Presque Isle State Park is the perfect place to learn about the array of birds that call Presque Isle home. A complete checklist of birds is also available at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center for free.
Next stop in Erie County is Millcreek Township, at the ASBURY WOODS NATURE CENTER. This area boasts a 200-acre tract of land with a variety of different features, making it home to a variety of birds.
As you travel south, we encourage you to plan a stop at the ERIE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, located in Crawford County. The Wildlife Refuge provides a nesting place for migratory waterfowl as well as other species of animals. The Refuge is also responsible for creating and maintaining over 2,500 acres of wetlands, providing a diverse area to view wildlife. Some of the birds commonly seen here include osprey, red-tailed hawks, bald eagles, as well as many different waterfowl.
PYMATUNING WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA is another fun place to scope out for birding enthusiasts. This features learning exhibits and different feeders placed in close proximity to the nature building, providing an easy opportunity to do some quality observing. One of the most well-known features of this area is the ability to regularly spot bald eagles. Boasting 21,122 acres, PYMATUNING STATE PARK is the largest of its kind in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. With such a vast area of land there are many great opportunities to bird watch.
Pausing in Crawford County, we find another point of interest - the GENEVA MARSH. This is the largest marsh in Pennsylvania and is the home to a number of migratory birds and other critters, making it an important wetland habitat of Northwest Pennsylvania. Bring your small boat or canoe and go exploring!
Venango County is another great place to stop, with a large amount of interest in birding and about 250 species of birds to watch. Just stop at OIL CREEK STATE PARK, TWO MILE COUNTY PARK and KAHLE LAKE to witness the array of birds that call these areas their home.
Our next stop is Mercer County, with a variety of places to look for birds starting with BUHL FARM PARK. With a large amount of land and lakes settled in between, there is an abundance of birds and waterfowl of which to catch a glimpse. THE MAURICE K. GOODARD STATE PARK is another great Mercer County place to bird watch. This 2,856- acre park featuring Lake Wilhelm, wetlands, fields and forests provides a diverse number of habitats that serve as homes to many animals, waterfowl, eagles and osprey.
