What is the New York State Birding Trail?
The New York State Birding Trail offers a detailed map of world-class birding opportunities throughout the state, including several beautiful sites that are home to an array of unique birdlife right here in St. Lawrence County. Though not an actual interconnected trail system, the NYS Birding Trail is a network of accessible birding locations that are promoted for everyone to enjoy.
2024 I Bird NY Challenge
March 1st to November 1st
The 2024 I BIRD NY Challenge invites you to use your observation skills to identify any 10 bird species of your choosing in New York State. Participants who successfully complete this fun challenge will be awarded a commemorative patch, can download a completion certificate, and be entered into a drawing for great birding prizes!
The challenge is open from March 1 through November 1 to participants of all ages and abilities, and available in Spanish. Participants may also earn a bonus entry into the prize giveaway by submitting a photo documenting their experience completing the I BIRD NY Challenge.
More information is available at www.dec.ny.gov
This year’s featured bird is the American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)! Find more info about American Kestrels here.
Official NYS Birding Trail Locations in STLC
Check out these bird watching hotspots in St. Lawrence County.
Is your favorite bird watching spot missing? Send us a note here.
Chippewa Bay Preserve
Thousand Islands Land Trust
Chippewa Bay Preserve is a mix of forest and wetland habitat and is considered part of the wildlife corridor that links the Adirondacks in the south with Algonquin Park to the north. It is a great place to spot the common merganser, common goldeneye, Canada goose, mallard, red-winged blackbirds, and black-capped chickadees.
Cranberry Lake Camp Ground & Day Use Area
The Cranberry Lake area is one of the largest remote areas remaining in the state, making it a beautiful setting to find an array of unbothered birdlife including forest songbirds, warblers, vireos, waterfowl, loons, chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, forest raptors, bald eagle, and osprey.
Crooked Creek Preserve
Thousand Islands Land Trust
Crooked Creek Preserve is one of the most significant wetlands on the St. Lawrence, providing habitat for countless species and making it a perfect place for bird watching and wildlife. Bald eagles regularly fly overhead and it's also a great place to spot the Canada goose, common merganser, cliff swallow, red-winged blackbirds, and black-capped chickadees.
Hart's Falls Preserve
St. Lawrence Land Trust
Hart's Falls Preserve is an ecosystem of brilliant wildflowers and diverse trees, attracting a wide variety of birds including the Eastern bluebird, pileated woodpecker, chestnut-sided warbler, scarlet tanager, song sparrow, and the American goldfinch. The main trails cover each area of the preserve allowing birding from many vantage points.
Higley Flow State Park
Higley Flow State Park is a beautiful area for birdwatching along the picturesque Raquette River and the Adirondack foothills. Find the scarlet tanager, rose-breasted grosbeak, common loon, ruffed grouse, barred owl, belted kingfisher, and pileated woodpecker.
Leonard Pond Trail
The Leonard Pond Parcel is a beautiful location for birdwatching along the Grasse River. Birdlife includes the gray jay, boreal chickadee, black-back woodpecker, palm warbler, Canada warbler, and the snow goose. Common loons can also be observed in the spring, summer and fall.
Robert Moses State Park
Robert Moses State Park offers a variety trails that wind through fields, forests and wetlands to overlooks showcasing spectacular views bustling with birdlife including the wild turkey, peregrine falcon, great blue heron, bald eagle, red-winged blackbird, snowy owl, and ruffed grouse.
Upper and Lower Lakes Wildlife Management Area
Indian Creek Nature Center
The Indian Creek Nature Center is a wildlife haven with a myriad of resident and migratory birds. As part of the Lisbon Grasslands Important Birding Area (IBA), the nature trails in this area are a great place to find pied-billed grebe, American bittern, least bittern, Norther Harrier, black tern, sedge wren, LeCone's and Nelson's Sharp-tailed sparrows. Newly refurbished observation platforms provide birders with excellent vantage points as well as multiple wheelchair accessible locations.
Wilson Hill Wildlife Management Area
The Wilson Hill Wildlife Management Area is in close proximity to the St. Lawrence River, making it an ideal area for nesting and migrating waterfowl. During spring and fall migrations, it is not uncommon to find 15 to 20 different species of waterfowl in the area, including migrating dabbling and diving waterfowl, breeding waterfowl, black terns, ring-necked ducks, redhead, least bittern, and bald eagles.
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