Spring Migration & Wetland Biodiversity at Gilmore Ponds

Theme: Spring Migration & Wetland Biodiversity

Location: Gilmore Ponds Preserve

Date & Time: Saturday, May 4, 2024, 8:00 AM

Meet: We will meet in the Gilmore Ponds south parking lot located at the intersection of Symmes Rd and Bilstein Blvd. (See directions below)

Leader:  Dave Helm, (513) 403-4519, helmmd@icloud.com

Gilmore Ponds is steeped in local birding history and at times can be among the most productive birding sites in our region. The Audubon Society has named it an “Important Bird Area”. Gilmore Ponds is a roughly 270 acre seasonal wetland located in south central Butler County with considerable adjacent privately owned acreage. Gilmore can be very wet or fairly dry from year to year, or season-to-season, depending on the amount of rainfall the area receives. When it is wet, it can teem with water related species. The dense brushy borders and edges and the wet woodlands are always great for warblers and other migrant songbirds during spring and fall migration. This is one of the wet seasons so we can expect a diversity of species on this trip. At one time Gilmore Ponds was privately owned. During the 1980’s the Gilmore Ponds Conservancy, a citizen’s conservation group, was formed to try to protect the area from development. The Conservancy had some success, acquired some land and got the attention of the Butler County Park District, who eventually took control and now owns the property. Today Gilmore Ponds faces a new set of threats but for the time being it is still a wonderful birding site.

Migrant and resident warblers (this is a great Prothonotary Warbler spot) and other songbirds should abound and be very vocal on this date. The wetlands may hold shorebirds, rails, bitterns, herons, egrets and teal. Many marsh species which normally breed only in the northern half of the state have been recorded breeding here over the years during wet spring and summers. Over the past few years the resident Great Blue Heron, Green Heron and Black-crowned Night-Heron colonies have been joined by nesting Great Egrets and Double-crested Cormorants. Most recently, and perhaps most interestingly, Yellow-crowned Night-Herons, which are considered very rare breeding birds in Ohio, have begun successfully nesting here.

Dave Helm, our trip leader, is an expert and skilled birder, botanist, and all-around naturalist. He is also a long-time Audubon Society advocate. With Dave’s expert help we can expect to find a great diversity of species on our walk and almost any species that migrates through our region can be expected here. Dave will also bring our attention to the diverse flora and other fauna of this wonderful wetland.

Gilmore Ponds has a log loop trail, with several shorter side trails, and a few observation decks. Dave’s plan is to follow these trails throughout the preserve. This entire trip will be on foot, but it will consist of flat terrain and at a leisurely birders pace. While the terrain is flat, be warned that the walking could be a bit on the rough side as the trails may become overgrown at times and there may be a few wet or muddy spots. To make your walk more comfortable we recommend waterproof footwear, wearing long pants and bringing sunscreen, insect repellent and water. There are also no restrooms available on the preserve. But for those of us who don’t mind stomping the brush there will be plenty of birds, plants and other animals to see and a unique habitat to explore

This is scheduled as a half-day trip and will end around noon. Butler County Parks requires non-residents to purchase a Motor Vehicle Permit. They can be purchased from Park Rangers if you see one. If you have any questions feel free to contact Dave.

Location: Gilmore Ponds is located in Fairfield in south central Butler County.  Gilmore Ponds proper is bounded on the south by Symmes Road, on the east by the Route 4 Bypass, on the west by North Gilmore Road and on the north by the Butler County Regional Airport. There is parking lot on Symmes Road at the intersection of Bilstein Blvd. and another parking lot on N. Gilmore Rd. just south of the RR tracks. We will meet in the Symmes Rd/Bilstein Blvd Parking Lot.

There are several ways to get to Gilmore Ponds. One way is described below.

Directions 1: To reach Gilmore Ponds from I-275, take the Route 4 exit # 41 and go north on Rt. 4 for about 2.5 miles. Turn right onto the Route 4 Bypass and go about 1.5 miles to Symmes Road. Turn left onto Symmes and go about .5 mile and make a right turn into the Gilmore Ponds parking lot, located directly across from Bilstein Blvd.

Directions 2: You could also take the I-275 Winton Rd exit # 39 and go north on Winton Rd. Be aware that Winton Rd. changes its name to South Gilmore Road in Butler County. Continue north on S. Gilmore Rd to the intersection/stop light at Rt. 4. Cross Rt. 4 and go straight. This road becomes Bilstein Blvd. Continue on Bilstein Blvd to the T intersection with Symmes Road. Go straight through the stoplight and into the Symmes Road Parking Lot.

For preserve information, directions and a trail map visit the Butler County Gilmore Ponds web page link below

https://www.yourmetroparks.net/parks/gilmore-metropark

(Contributed by Jay Stenger)