Shorebirds & Early Fall Migration

Theme: Shorebirds & Early Fall Migration

Location: Fernald Preserve, the Oxbow & Lost Bridge

Date: Saturday, August 26, 2023

Meet: At 8:00 AM at the Lodge Pond parking lot at Fernald Preserve (1^st parking lot on the right just past entrance). See directions below.

Trip Leader: Luke Thies, (937) 733-9325, thiesluke997@gmail.com

The focus of this trip will be birds, specifically early fall migrants. That’s right, I did say fall. While the calendar and temperature tells us it is still late summer, the southbound fall migration of shorebirds (sandpipers & plovers), long-legged waders (herons & egrets) and several other species begins quite early and will be well under way by this date. So come out and join our trip leader, Luke Thies, as we search for a number of species, especially shorebirds, at a few different locations in western Hamilton County. Luke, who is a board member of our Audubon Society and an employee of Great Parks, is an excellent birder and all around naturalist.

Shorebirds (sandpipers and plovers) and waders (herons and egrets) need exposed mudflats, shorelines and sandbars where they forage for food at water’s edge. When they find these suitable conditions during their southbound migration they will stop to rest and refuel so to speak. Good migratory shorebird habitat in our region is generally scarce and can vary from year to year depending on water levels and other factors. To improve our chances of finding these interesting species on this trip, we will spend some time at a couple of different locations. Locally, late summer is usually a fairly dry season, which results in lower water levels, which in turn provides the habitat that shorebirds and long-legged waders prefer. These seasonally exposed shorelines and shallow edges of wetlands and ponds, and the exposed sandbars found along the Great Miami River, can provide favorable habitat for all of these species.

Luke plans to begin the morning at Fernald Preserve. After birding there for a while, Luke will caravan us to the Oxbow, where we will check out Oxbow Lake and, if time permits, the Lost Bridge sandbars and adjacent mudflats. In addition to several species of shorebirds, we expect that we will find numerous Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons and a few Green Herons. This is also a great time of year to find an unusual or rare species such as Little Blue Heron and Snowy Egret. Other species such as early dabbling ducks (teal and shovelers), Caspian Terns, Osprey and Bald Eagles are likely to be seen as well. The grasslands at Fernald and the wooded riparian corridor of the Oxbow should attract numbers of early migrant and resident songbirds including numerous swallows and even a few early fall warblers. It should be a fun trip and we will likely find a good diversity of birds. While birds will be our main focus, we should see lots of other wildlife and interesting plants.

When we move from Fernald to the Oxbow, Luke will give us good directions to our next stop. We will take our separate cars and caravan (follow Luke) to the Oxbow. You will have directions (see below), but if you do get separated, you’ll have Luke’s phone number. The distance between Fernald and the Oxbow is about 20 miles (about a 30 minute drive). There will be some moderate walking during this trip, but it will be slow and easy. This trip should end by noon or a little after. It is usually hot at this season, so we suggest bringing sunscreen, insect repellant, plenty of water and a hat to make your trip more comfortable. Restrooms are available at Fernald Preserve but there are none in the Oxbow. However there are gas stations near the Oxbow. Feel free to contact Luke if you have any questions.

Visit the Fernald Preserve website at:

https://www.energy.gov/lm/visit-fernald-preserve-visitors-center

Directions to Fernald Preserve:

We will meet at the Lodge Pond parking lot at Fernald Preserve at 8 AM. Fernald Preserve is located in Northwestern Hamilton County. The entrance is located at 7400 Wiley Road, about ¼ of a mile west of State Route 128. Follow the entrance road to the first gravel parking lot on the right, about 4 tenths of a mile beyond the entrance.

Directions to the Oxbow main parking lot:

To get to the Oxbow from I-275 take the Lawrenceburg Indiana/US 50 Exit # 16. At the end of the long exit ramp turn left/south on US 50. Almost immediately, within about 200 yards, turn left onto unmarked Walnut Street which is just past the Circle K gas station and before a Waffle House. Drive over the levee to where the road T’s. There will be a fence directly in front of you. Turn right and go about 100 yards to the Oxbow entrance sign. Turn left into the Oxbow. The parking area is immediately on your right. You can also use Google Maps and search for “Oxbow Nature Conservancy”.

contributed by Jay Stenger