Birds of the Lower Ohio Valley - West Virginia
Directions to Noteworthy Locations
Beech Fork Lake
Directions: From Huntington, WV, take U.S. Route 152 South about 7 miles to Lavalette,WV. Turn onto Beech Fork Road and go about 3 miles.
Description: This 7,531-acre site is about 85% Oak-Hickory-Pine Forest and includes a lake of about 720 acres. The forested area is excellent for passerine migration in spring and fall. Water birds, such as ducks, gulls and terns can be found at the lake during migratory periods. During winter the lake attracts geese, ducks, and gulls.
Beech Fork State Park
Directions: From Huntington, WV, take State Route 10 South about 4 miles and turn onto Hughes Branch Road. Go about 4 miles to the end of road and turn left. Proceed about 2 miles to park entrance. Also, from US Route 152 about 20 miles south of Huntington, WV, turn onto Wilson Creek Road. Go about 8 miles to park entrance.
Description: The park totals 3,144 acres, of which, about 70% is Oak-Hickory-Pine forest. About 5 acres of the eastern part of Beech Fork Lake lies within the boundary of the park. This is an excellent site in spring and fall for observing migrating passerines, such as, thrushes, vireos, and warblers. Various species of swallows, vireos, warblers, and tanagers nest during summer.
Cabwaylingo State Forest
Directions: From Huntington, WV, take US Route 152 South about 42 miles and turn onto Missouri Branch.
Description: This 8,123-acre site is mostly forested and has a greater concentration of various pines than is characteristic of the immediate Ohio River Valley. Nesting species characteristic of this area are Blue-headed Vireo, Black-throated Green Warbler, American Redstart, and Scarlet Tanager. Migratory periods are excellent for passerines, such as thrushes, vireos, warblers, and tanagers.
Crown City Wildlife Area
Directions: From Proctorville, OH, on State Route 7, take State Route 775 North to Scottown, OH. Alternately, at Miller, OH, on State Route 7, take State Route 217 West to its intersection with State Route 775 at Scottown, OH, and turn right onto 775. From the intersection of State Routes 775 and 217 go about 4 miles and bear right onto Lawrence County Road 2. Go about 2.5 miles and turn right (at an old blockhouse) onto Co. Road 63.
Description: This site is an 11,000-acre reclaimed mined area donated to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The site is primarily mixed grassland and forest, with small ponds present. The grassland areas are excellent for observing Northern Bobwhite, Blue Grosbeak, Dickcissel, Grasshopper Sparrow, Henslow's Sparrow during the nesting season. Northern Harrier and Short-eared Owl are present in winter.
Green Bottom Wildlife Management Area
Directions: From Huntington, WV, take State Route 2 North about 16 miles.
Description: Previously referred to as Glenwood Swamp in the literature. This approximately 1,100-acre site has become the premier wetland area in West Virginia for its variety of birds. The site, managed by the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, is comprised mostly of agricultural habitat. However, the wetland habitat and its proximity to the Ohio River, bordering on the north, makes this an increasingly important area for species associated with wetland habitats. Pied-billed Grebe, Least Bittern, Virginia Rail, Sora, Common Moorhen, Tree Swallow, Willow Flycatcher, and Prothonotary Warbler nest during summer. Migratory periods are excellent for a variety of species, such as, ducks, herons and their allies, shorebirds, vireos, warblers and sparrows. Various swans, geese, and ducks are present during winter.
Harris River Front Park
Directions: Located at Huntington, WV, along Veterans Memorial Blvd. (2nd Avenue) with access at two points from 8th street to just past 10th street.
Description: This park provides easy access to the Ohio River. It is an excellent site in spring and fall for observing migrating water birds, such as cormorants, ducks, gulls, and terns. This is the best site in our area to observe Purple Martin migration during August and Double-crested Cormorant migration during late summer into November.
McClintic Wildlife Management Area
Directions: From Point Pleasant, WV, take State Route 62 North about five miles and follow WVDNR signs.
Description: Previously referred to as McClintic Wildlife Station in the literature. This 3535-acre site, managed by the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, is composed of a variety of habitats, including mixed hardwoods, shrub, farmland, and wetlands. About 39 ponds, varying in size, are present on the site. This mixed habitat makes the site excellent for a variety of non-passerine and passerine species during migration. Least Bittern, Tree Swallow, and Prothonotary Warbler nest in summer. Winter can provide a variety of geese, ducks, and sparrows.
Ohio River
Directions: Forming the boundary between West Virginia and Ohio in this region, the Ohio River can be accessed at many points along Ohio State Route 7 and West Virginia State Route 2.
Description: The Ohio River is the primary geological feature in this area. While this area is not a major flyway for water birds, the Ohio River is the major influence on the occurrence of water birds and shorebirds in this area. Loons, grebes, cormorants, geese, and ducks can be observed during migration periods and winter. Osprey can be seen during spring and fall migration and Bald Eagle sightings have increased in recent years during migration and winter.
Robert C. Byrd Locks and Dam
Directions: From Point Pleasant, WV, take State Route 2 South about 9 miles. From Huntington, WV, take State Route 2 North about 26 miles.
Description: Previously Gallipolis Locks and Dam, the Byrd Locks and Dam is located at Ohio River Mile 279.2. The West Virginia Department of Natural Resources operates a fish hatchery on adjacent land. The hatchery is accessible during the week and visitors should notify DNR personnel on entering. This site is excellent during spring and fall migration and winter for observing water birds, such as, geese, ducks, gulls, terns, and shorebirds.
Directions: From Huntington, WV, take U.S. Route 152 South about 7 miles to Lavalette,WV. Turn onto Beech Fork Road and go about 3 miles.
Description: This 7,531-acre site is about 85% Oak-Hickory-Pine Forest and includes a lake of about 720 acres. The forested area is excellent for passerine migration in spring and fall. Water birds, such as ducks, gulls and terns can be found at the lake during migratory periods. During winter the lake attracts geese, ducks, and gulls.
Beech Fork State Park
Directions: From Huntington, WV, take State Route 10 South about 4 miles and turn onto Hughes Branch Road. Go about 4 miles to the end of road and turn left. Proceed about 2 miles to park entrance. Also, from US Route 152 about 20 miles south of Huntington, WV, turn onto Wilson Creek Road. Go about 8 miles to park entrance.
Description: The park totals 3,144 acres, of which, about 70% is Oak-Hickory-Pine forest. About 5 acres of the eastern part of Beech Fork Lake lies within the boundary of the park. This is an excellent site in spring and fall for observing migrating passerines, such as, thrushes, vireos, and warblers. Various species of swallows, vireos, warblers, and tanagers nest during summer.
Cabwaylingo State Forest
Directions: From Huntington, WV, take US Route 152 South about 42 miles and turn onto Missouri Branch.
Description: This 8,123-acre site is mostly forested and has a greater concentration of various pines than is characteristic of the immediate Ohio River Valley. Nesting species characteristic of this area are Blue-headed Vireo, Black-throated Green Warbler, American Redstart, and Scarlet Tanager. Migratory periods are excellent for passerines, such as thrushes, vireos, warblers, and tanagers.
Crown City Wildlife Area
Directions: From Proctorville, OH, on State Route 7, take State Route 775 North to Scottown, OH. Alternately, at Miller, OH, on State Route 7, take State Route 217 West to its intersection with State Route 775 at Scottown, OH, and turn right onto 775. From the intersection of State Routes 775 and 217 go about 4 miles and bear right onto Lawrence County Road 2. Go about 2.5 miles and turn right (at an old blockhouse) onto Co. Road 63.
Description: This site is an 11,000-acre reclaimed mined area donated to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The site is primarily mixed grassland and forest, with small ponds present. The grassland areas are excellent for observing Northern Bobwhite, Blue Grosbeak, Dickcissel, Grasshopper Sparrow, Henslow's Sparrow during the nesting season. Northern Harrier and Short-eared Owl are present in winter.
Green Bottom Wildlife Management Area
Directions: From Huntington, WV, take State Route 2 North about 16 miles.
Description: Previously referred to as Glenwood Swamp in the literature. This approximately 1,100-acre site has become the premier wetland area in West Virginia for its variety of birds. The site, managed by the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, is comprised mostly of agricultural habitat. However, the wetland habitat and its proximity to the Ohio River, bordering on the north, makes this an increasingly important area for species associated with wetland habitats. Pied-billed Grebe, Least Bittern, Virginia Rail, Sora, Common Moorhen, Tree Swallow, Willow Flycatcher, and Prothonotary Warbler nest during summer. Migratory periods are excellent for a variety of species, such as, ducks, herons and their allies, shorebirds, vireos, warblers and sparrows. Various swans, geese, and ducks are present during winter.
Harris River Front Park
Directions: Located at Huntington, WV, along Veterans Memorial Blvd. (2nd Avenue) with access at two points from 8th street to just past 10th street.
Description: This park provides easy access to the Ohio River. It is an excellent site in spring and fall for observing migrating water birds, such as cormorants, ducks, gulls, and terns. This is the best site in our area to observe Purple Martin migration during August and Double-crested Cormorant migration during late summer into November.
McClintic Wildlife Management Area
Directions: From Point Pleasant, WV, take State Route 62 North about five miles and follow WVDNR signs.
Description: Previously referred to as McClintic Wildlife Station in the literature. This 3535-acre site, managed by the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, is composed of a variety of habitats, including mixed hardwoods, shrub, farmland, and wetlands. About 39 ponds, varying in size, are present on the site. This mixed habitat makes the site excellent for a variety of non-passerine and passerine species during migration. Least Bittern, Tree Swallow, and Prothonotary Warbler nest in summer. Winter can provide a variety of geese, ducks, and sparrows.
Ohio River
Directions: Forming the boundary between West Virginia and Ohio in this region, the Ohio River can be accessed at many points along Ohio State Route 7 and West Virginia State Route 2.
Description: The Ohio River is the primary geological feature in this area. While this area is not a major flyway for water birds, the Ohio River is the major influence on the occurrence of water birds and shorebirds in this area. Loons, grebes, cormorants, geese, and ducks can be observed during migration periods and winter. Osprey can be seen during spring and fall migration and Bald Eagle sightings have increased in recent years during migration and winter.
Robert C. Byrd Locks and Dam
Directions: From Point Pleasant, WV, take State Route 2 South about 9 miles. From Huntington, WV, take State Route 2 North about 26 miles.
Description: Previously Gallipolis Locks and Dam, the Byrd Locks and Dam is located at Ohio River Mile 279.2. The West Virginia Department of Natural Resources operates a fish hatchery on adjacent land. The hatchery is accessible during the week and visitors should notify DNR personnel on entering. This site is excellent during spring and fall migration and winter for observing water birds, such as, geese, ducks, gulls, terns, and shorebirds.