Birding Hot Spots
Here are some of our favorite spots near Louisville and Jefferson County, Kentucky, and Southern Indiana. The Kentucky Ornithological Society lists other sites around the state. Click the links to get directions to these sites.
Beargrass Creek Nature Preserve in Louisville - A 41-acre urban forest with over 2 miles of hiking trails located across from the Louisville Zoo at 3745 Illinois Avenue. For more information, check the Beargrass Creek website.
Bernheim Forest - Bernheim Forest is located 25 miles south of Louisville and 4 miles south of Shepherdsville in Bullitt and Nelson counties. From Shepherdsville, travel 4 miles south on KY 61 and 2 miles east on KY 245. See what birds you might find here.
Falls of the Ohio - From I-65 at Louisville, take exit 0 on the Indiana side and follow signs to Falls of the Ohio State Park. Best viewing is with a spotting scope from the State Park overlook; also walk downstream to view additional exposed rock shelves. On a good day, you may find Peregrine Falcons, Ospreys and Bald Eagles. For more information, check the Falls of the Ohio website.
Jefferson County Memorial Forest - The Forest has over 30 miles of hiking trails and is located in Jefferson County off the Gene Snyder Freeway (I-265) and I-65. The address is: 11311 Mitchell Hill Road, Fairdale, KY 40118. Phone # (502) 368-5404. For more information, check the Jefferson County Memorial Forest webpage.
Kentucky State Parks near I-65 - Barren River Lake, Dale Hollow Lake, Green River Lake, Lake Cumberland, Rough River Dam, and others. For more information, check the Kentucky State Parks website.
Mammoth Cave National Park - Located off of Exit 53 on I-65. For more information, check the Mammoth Cave National Park website.
Or try http://mammothbirds.org/birding-spots.html, listing a variety of habitats in pretty accessible locations.
Anchorage Trail - The Anchorage Trail is located at Evergreen Road and Station Road in Anchorage. This two-mile paved trail goes through a diverse habitat of woods, fields, farm crops and wetlands including a lake. The birding is good all year round but especially during spring and fall migrations. One hundred ninety-one species have been recorded for this fairly new trail.
The Parklands of Floyds Fork - The Parklands is beyond the Gene Snyder Freeway between Shelbyville (near Middletown) and Bardstown Roads (near Fern Creek), all in Jefferson County. It follows Floyds Fork, a tributary stream of the Salt River, which is a tributary of the Ohio River. Five connected parks follow Floyds Fork through eastern Jefferson County, with easy birding at each. Our favorites are Beckley Creek Park and Pope Lick Park, although all are excellent birding locations.
Hays Kennedy Park/Garvin Brown Nature Preserve - These spots are next to each other along the Ohio River in Prospect in far northeast Jefferson County. Parking and access for the preserve is at the park. Hays Kennedy Park has a record of attracting rare waders and shorebirds, especially during migration. The Garvin Brown Preserve has grassland habitat that is particularly attractive to wintering sparrows.
Cave Hill Cemetery - Some may think it strange to bird in a cemetery, but Cave Hill Cemetery is a beautiful and historic location in this area. The trees and landscaping make it a favorite birding spot for many.
Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge - Muscatatuck NWR is located in south-central Indiana on U.S. Highway 50, just three miles east of the I-65/U.S. 50 interchange at Seymour, IN. A great spot, especially during the waterfowl migration. During any season of the year there is some bird activity. On slow birding days there are other avenues to explore. Butterflies, turtles, otters, wildflowers or just a quiet walk in the woods.
Patoka Lake - During the winter Patoka Lake is a great place to watch eagles. Members always remember the day they saw an eagle grab a duck, bring it to shore and begin to pluck it's feathers.
Loop Island Wetlands - This 50-acre natural wetlands adjoins the Ohio River in New Albany, Indiana, and is directly across the river from Louisville, Kentucky.
Bernheim Forest - Bernheim Forest is located 25 miles south of Louisville and 4 miles south of Shepherdsville in Bullitt and Nelson counties. From Shepherdsville, travel 4 miles south on KY 61 and 2 miles east on KY 245. See what birds you might find here.
Falls of the Ohio - From I-65 at Louisville, take exit 0 on the Indiana side and follow signs to Falls of the Ohio State Park. Best viewing is with a spotting scope from the State Park overlook; also walk downstream to view additional exposed rock shelves. On a good day, you may find Peregrine Falcons, Ospreys and Bald Eagles. For more information, check the Falls of the Ohio website.
Jefferson County Memorial Forest - The Forest has over 30 miles of hiking trails and is located in Jefferson County off the Gene Snyder Freeway (I-265) and I-65. The address is: 11311 Mitchell Hill Road, Fairdale, KY 40118. Phone # (502) 368-5404. For more information, check the Jefferson County Memorial Forest webpage.
Kentucky State Parks near I-65 - Barren River Lake, Dale Hollow Lake, Green River Lake, Lake Cumberland, Rough River Dam, and others. For more information, check the Kentucky State Parks website.
Mammoth Cave National Park - Located off of Exit 53 on I-65. For more information, check the Mammoth Cave National Park website.
Or try http://mammothbirds.org/birding-spots.html, listing a variety of habitats in pretty accessible locations.
Anchorage Trail - The Anchorage Trail is located at Evergreen Road and Station Road in Anchorage. This two-mile paved trail goes through a diverse habitat of woods, fields, farm crops and wetlands including a lake. The birding is good all year round but especially during spring and fall migrations. One hundred ninety-one species have been recorded for this fairly new trail.
The Parklands of Floyds Fork - The Parklands is beyond the Gene Snyder Freeway between Shelbyville (near Middletown) and Bardstown Roads (near Fern Creek), all in Jefferson County. It follows Floyds Fork, a tributary stream of the Salt River, which is a tributary of the Ohio River. Five connected parks follow Floyds Fork through eastern Jefferson County, with easy birding at each. Our favorites are Beckley Creek Park and Pope Lick Park, although all are excellent birding locations.
Hays Kennedy Park/Garvin Brown Nature Preserve - These spots are next to each other along the Ohio River in Prospect in far northeast Jefferson County. Parking and access for the preserve is at the park. Hays Kennedy Park has a record of attracting rare waders and shorebirds, especially during migration. The Garvin Brown Preserve has grassland habitat that is particularly attractive to wintering sparrows.
Cave Hill Cemetery - Some may think it strange to bird in a cemetery, but Cave Hill Cemetery is a beautiful and historic location in this area. The trees and landscaping make it a favorite birding spot for many.
Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge - Muscatatuck NWR is located in south-central Indiana on U.S. Highway 50, just three miles east of the I-65/U.S. 50 interchange at Seymour, IN. A great spot, especially during the waterfowl migration. During any season of the year there is some bird activity. On slow birding days there are other avenues to explore. Butterflies, turtles, otters, wildflowers or just a quiet walk in the woods.
Patoka Lake - During the winter Patoka Lake is a great place to watch eagles. Members always remember the day they saw an eagle grab a duck, bring it to shore and begin to pluck it's feathers.
Loop Island Wetlands - This 50-acre natural wetlands adjoins the Ohio River in New Albany, Indiana, and is directly across the river from Louisville, Kentucky.