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Shawnee Lookout and Oxbow – Spring Migration
Theme: Spring Migration
Location: Shawnee Lookout Park and the Oxbow Area
Date: Saturday, April 15, 2023, 8:00 AM
Meet: at the upper Boat Ramp parking lot across from the main entrance to Shawnee Lookout Park
Leader: Dave Helm, (513) 403-4519, helmmd@icloud.com
By the middle of April spring will be in full swing and this winter’s weather forgotten. Spring migration in general will be near peak and a diversity of avian species should be found in the Lower Great Miami River Valley at this season. In addition, many woodland and wetland plants and wildflowers will be in bloom adding their beauty to the natural scene. Dave Helm, our trip leader, is an expert and skilled birder, an all around naturalist and a long-time Audubon Society advocate. Dave has always been a regular visitor to Shawnee Lookout and the Oxbow and knows the area very well. Dave’s experience will certainly come in handy as birds should be abundant and vocal on this date.
The month of April coincides with the spring migration of a diverse number of families of birds. Ducks, herons and egrets, shorebirds, terns & gulls, raptors (including Bald Eagles) and migrant & returning summer songbirds (including several warbler species) are all expected on this date. Dave’s plan will depend on the weather (flooding?), but he expects to cover several spots on this trip to take advantage of the diverse and numerous species we expect to find. Dave plans to begin at Shawnee Lookout Park to take advantage of the morning chorus of returning migrant song birds, including early warblers. The Shawnee Lookout woodlands should be carpeted with wildflowers on this date and Dave, who also happens to be a knowledgeable botanist, will help us identify the various plants we will see. After we have explored Shawnee Lookout for awhile, Dave will lead us over to the Oxbow proper, making a stop at Lost Bridge (bridge over the Great Miami River) and the adjacent ponds, along the way. These last couple of stops should produce a number of waterfowl, shorebirds and other water birds species.
We encourage you to come out with Dave and witness the great diversity of spring migration on what should be a beautiful spring morning in the Shawnee Lookout and Oxbow area. Much of this trip will be on foot, with short drives from spot to spot, but walking will be easy to moderate and at a birders pace. As always, be prepared for muddy spots, especially if conditions have been wet. For your comfort you may want to consider bringing water, sun screen and insect repellent. It goes without saying that binoculars are necessary for seeing birds well. This field trip will end sometime around noon. Restrooms are available at Shawnee Lookout or nearby businesses. Feel free to contact Dave if you have any questions.
Directions to Shawnee Lookout Park:
Shawnee Lookout is located at 2008 Lawrenceburg Road, North Bend Ohio 45052. To get there from I-275, take the Kilby Road Exit # 21. Turn right onto Kilby Rd and go the short distance to the light at US 50 and turn right. Go about 1.7 miles to Lawrenceburg Road and turn left at the light. Follow Lawrenceburg Road across the bridge (Lost Bridge) over the Great Miami River. Turn right at the stop sign and go about 1.5 miles to the Upper Boat Ramp Parking Lot on the right, directly across the street from the Shawnee Lookout Park entrance.
*Note: A Great Parks motor vehicle permit is required at Shawnee Lookout. Permits are $10 annual or $5 daily for residents of Hamilton County and $16 annual or $8 daily for non-residents. We can possibly car pool into the Park as well.
Shawnee Lookout Website:
https://www.greatparks.org/parks/shawnee-lookout
Oxbow Inc, Website: