Bird Watching

Local birders like Jefferson County Park’s varied habitats with prairie, woodland and ponds found along its seven miles of trails. One birder, who walks the park every day, specified that she sees and hears more birds along the 1/2-mile entrance road than on any other trails.

Parking areas can be found at the north access off 32nd Street, in the park by the nature center and in the picnic area. A bird blind, located behind the nature center, is maintained from mid-October to May. The 3.5-acre pond near shelter #3 is a good location for spring warblers in May. Over 130 species of birds have been recorded in the park.

Cedar Creek Wetlands is a great location for migrating waterfowl and pelicans in March and April but you’ll have to do a bit of walking along the Cedar View Trail to get there. The trail parking lot is west of Fairfield off 32nd street. A half mile west and you’ll see a trail that drops down into the wetland. Please note that there are no manicured trails in the wetland area itself although the Jefferson County Conservation staff usually brush mows some trails to provide access for maintenance vehicles and to be used as fire breaks. On wetter than usual years it is not possible to get tractors in the area to mow and you may find yourself blazing your own trail. Cedar View Wetlands is open for hunting so please be aware of waterfowl hunting seasons.

If you’ve got a spotting scope and you just want to see the wetland without getting your feet wet, there is a waterfowl observation deck, constructed by the Jefferson County Trails Council, that sits up on Cedar View Trail. If you happen to be in the area during the first two weeks in May, when warbler migration is at its peak, consider heading a bit farther west down Cedar View Trail to Cedar View Bridge. The bridge spans 400 feet and because of its height (65 feet high over Cedar Creek) it can often put you at eye level with those warblers that are feeding in the canopy along the tree-lined creek.

If you love wetlands but don’t want to walk a long way to get to one, then the Neff Wetland is a great birding spot for you. Local birders love the easy accessibility of this 35-acre area with Fairfield’s Loop Trail running right through the center. Over 100 species of birds have been counted here. It is also adjacent to Lamson Woods, a 43-acre state preserve which gives visitors an additional location for woodland birding. Lamson Woods has been part of bird watching in Jefferson County for over 120 years.