Park Visitor

For a wildlife watching experience you will never forget head to Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park for the boat tours. The tours take place on the Springs and are led by the knowlegable rangers. Be prepared to see manatees, alligators, birds, fish and learn about the fascinating history of Wakulla. Don't forget your camera! To see more manatees join a morning tour and for alligators sunning themselves along the banks opt for the afternoon... or if you can't decide do both!

Sharp-eyed observers may spot the tiny, sand-colored Piping Plover at the beaches at the Point or Gordons Pond areas of Cape Henlopen State Park. Fewer than a dozen pairs of this federally-threatened species nest in Delaware each year.

Birdwatchers will enjoy looking for migrating hawks in Brandywine Creek, Cape Henlopen, and White Clay Creek State Parks. Head down to the beach to see more hawks, Osprey, Piping Plovers, and other shorebirds. The heronry on Pea Patch Island is home to nine different species of wading birds.

Many delight in adding birds to their life list. Bring along the binoculars but at Oscar Scherer State Park in Osprey, the Florida scrubjays will come to you. A threatened species, these bold and curious birds like the scrubby flatwoods habitat found at this park.

The Trumpeter Swan is a graceful bird that thrives in Harriman State Park thanks to conservation efforts. Named for its call, which sounds like a French horn, the trumpeter swan eats aquatic plants and grasses in and around Idaho lakes and ponds.

Grab a field guide, binoculars, and your camera or sketch pad and use your eyes and ears to discover dozens of bird species. A favorite fall activity is hawk watching at Washington Monument State Park and throughout the year, eagle watching at Pocomoke River State Park. Learn more at http://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/.

Bring binoculars. The Hocking Valley Birding Trail hits the highlights in southeast Ohio including Hocking Hills, Lake Hope, Lake Logan, and Rockbridge Nature Preserve. Birding hot spots on the Lake Erie flyway are Maumee Bay, East Harbor, Headlands Beach, and Headlands Dune Nature Preserve.

Virginia State Parks are the anchor for many of the birding trails of Virginia. Our diverse environment gives birders the opportunity to spot a vast variety of species each year, with one of the highlights being the Birding Festival held at Kiptopeke State Park each October. Grab your binoculars and join in the fun!

Walleye is a favorite fish at several sites in the state park system, including Glendo Reservoir where some anglers report catching fish weighing up to 13 pounds. Call ahead to find out about license and fishing regulations.

The National Audubon Society has identified more than 50 different kinds of nesting birds and a list of more than 200 different species of smaller birds at Edness K. Wilkins State Park. Among them: the bald eagle.

A herd of Bighorn sheep is frequently seen in and near Sinks Canyon State Park, including the famous Bam Bam, a young ram,who can be seen on various YouTube videos. Bighorn are easy to identify by their large curved horns.

Many Wyoming State Parks and Historic Sites provide ample opportunities to observe many native species of birds. Edness K. Wilkens State Park near Casper and Keyhole State Park in northeastern Wyoming are among the best venues in the state for bird watching. Bring your binoculars and a list to mark the birds you see.