Area is blessed with birding spots
We in Broome and Tioga counties are fortunate to have access to a good number of natural areas in which to indulge our passions for birding and other nature activities. Cole and Greenwood parks, Hawkins Pond, Jones Park and Roundtop Park in Broome are prime areas. Dorchester Park-Upper Lisle, which has been designated as an Important Birding Area (IBA) by the National Audubon Society.
In Tioga County, the Waterman Nature Center and its Brick Pond, along with many New York State Forest areas, are choice sites to look for birds.
And Broome boasts three other gems:
1) Binghamton’s Ely Park Nature Trail, just south of the golf course, is a rewarding location from early spring through fall. Wood thrushes, indigo buntings, scarlet tanagers, red-eyed vireos and eastern towhees are regularly heard and seen.
Resident warblers are American redstart, ovenbird, common yellowthroat and chestnut-sided warbler.
This is truly an outstanding birding spot, easily accessed, wild and yet well-maintained.
2) The second gem available to us is the 350-acre Binghamton University Nature Preserve. A broad range of species find the preserve, with its varying habitats of pond, marsh, forest and brush, an attractive place to visit in migration or to stay and breed.
A few of the trails can be moderately strenuous, but the most popular for viewing purposes, the Marsh and Pipeline trails, are level.
3) Lastly, county-owned Aqua-Terra Park, off Maxian Road offers excellent birding in brushy and marshy habitats, as well as pond and woods. This park is a treasure for those who relish a closeness with unmanicured nature.
Birders’ Watch is provided by members of the Naturalists’ Club of Broome County. This column was written by Marie Petuh. For information on the Naturalists Club, write P.O. Box 191, Vestal, N.Y. 13850.
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