By Joni James
Morgan County has a diverse mix of farm fields, pastures, deciduous forests, White River bottomland, and parks for birding opportunities.
Birding is often about being in the right place at the right time. Most birders know that the best time to search for uncommon or rare birds is during spring and fall migration, and after storms and strong weather fronts pass through. It can be productive to drive county roads after heavy rain events to check for shorebirds, gulls, waterfowl, and waders in flooded low-land farm fields such as Bear Wallow Road and Mahalasville Road southeast of Martinsville.
In northern Morgan County, Pioneer Park in Mooresville provides enjoyable birding opportunities along the creek and adjacent areas. The Fred and Dorothy Meyer Nature Preserve is managed by the Central Indiana Land Trust (CILTI). This site features steep hillsides and ravines of interior forest habitat. The 1.5-mile trail is not constructed, but is marked by logs/limbs on each side, including arrows and pink flagging tape to keep you on the trail. The preserve is located off State Road 67 south of Mooresville on Observatory Hill Road.
The top five birding hotspots are described below. They are listed in order based on the number of species that are currently reported by birders on eBird. Visit Morgan County and enjoy birding our wonderful locations.
White River Greenway Trail (eBird Species: 174)
The White River Greenway Trail is a flat, paved four-mile walking trail (out and back) that parallels White River near Waverly. The trailhead begins in Old Town Waverly Park, (a county park), near the parking lot. The walk provides lovely river views, picnic areas, and access to a sand bar at the river. A gravel pit is adjacent to the trail where waterfowl, loon, eagles, geese, and cormorants have been seen. In winter one may discover Brown Creeper, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and Red-breasted Nuthatch.
Notable Bird Species: Birds documented along the riparian area include Sandhill Crane, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Belted Kingfisher, ten species of Shorebirds, herons, Greater White-fronted Goose, Vireos, Flycatchers, 24 species of warblers, 19 species of ducks, Barred Owl, Cliff and Bank Swallows, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, five species of thrushes, and both kinglets.
Amenities: Restroom port-a-pots available in Old Town Waverly Park near parking lot. Permanent restrooms are built but not always open.
Parking: Paved parking lot
Location: Old Town Waverly Park 8425 Main St., Martinsville, IN 4151
Cikana State Fish Hatchery (IDNR) East Unit (eBird Species: 167)
Cikana State Fish Hatchery is located near Martinsville. The hatchery offices are located at the East Unit off State Road 44, one mile east of Interstate 69. (A smaller second parcel, known as the North Unit, is located along I-69, one mile north of SR 44).
The East Unit along SR 44 provides the best diverse habitat and birding. There are 22 ponds ranging in size from 0.3 to 1.7 acres that come to a total of 21 acres in the open area. Two trails are available to walk. Trail map and info are posted on the kiosk at the parking lot. The property is open to the public daily- dawn to dusk. Note: The gate is closed after business hours, but birders are welcome to still walk the ponds and trails. Park outside the gate in the parking lot. The ponds are drained at various times of the year, so they often attract wading birds, Bald Eagle, and shorebirds. In winter birders may discover Brown Creeper, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and/or Red-breasted Nuthatches as well as winter sparrows.
Hill Trail: This half-mile trail travels through a mature upland forest with plenty of hill climbing and a bench to rest halfway. The Hill Trail is not mowed or cleared regularly.
Swamp Trail: This half-mile trail meanders through a native plant area and wetlands. The trailhead begins near the parking lot and kiosk. There are three “swamp ponds” with several small wetland areas. This is the best birding area after checking the open pond area. This trail is flat but often damp and muddy.
Notable Bird Species: Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Common Goldeneye, Semipalmated Plover, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Spotted Sandpiper, Solitary Sandpiper, Wilson’s Snipe, Green Heron, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Kingfisher, seven species of flycatcher, six species of vireo, nine species of sparrow, 32 species of warbler, Summer and Scarlet Tanagers, Blue Grosbeak, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
Amenities: No restrooms available. Picnic tables near kiosk.
Parking: Small, paved parking lot with kiosk is located just inside the property off SR 44. The parking area is located outside the gate. Do not park anywhere inside the gate if you will be exploring after business hours (8am-4pm).
Location: East Unit: 2650 SR 44, Martinsville, IN 46151. One mile east of Interstate 69.
Lingle Road River Bottoms (eBird Species: 151)
Lingle Road River Bottoms can be a real hotspot for birds that stopover to rest and feed during migration or are brought in from storms during migration. The key is for the field between the road and White River to be flooded or holding water. This site involves primarily birding from your car. It is private property on each side of the road. The agricultural field on the east side of the road is your primary focus. Be aware that when we have received large amounts of rain, the road will be flooded and unsafe to travel. I highly recommend using a spotting scope for observing. It can be difficult at times depending on the water level and any vegetation or crops to find shorebirds, so a scope and tripod are required for best viewing and identifications.
Notable Bird Species: Least, Pectoral, Semipalmated, White-rumped, Stilt, Spotted, and Solitary Sandpiper, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Dunlin, both dowitchers, American Golden Plover, phalaropes, gulls, White-faced Ibis, Snowy Egret, herons, Sora, Sandhill Cranes, mergansers, Peregrine Falcon, Lapland Longspurs, and various Sparrows. This site can have rare or uncommon species present or not. Always right place, right time. When water is present and at the right time of year, one can usually find any number of shorebirds present. You may have to search when vegetation is abundant.
Amenities: No restroom facilities. This site is located a few miles south of Paragon. Great pizza and breadsticks can be enjoyed at Tomato Pie Pizza in Paragon.
Parking: No Parking— drive slowly, temporarily pull over and/or observe from car or near car with scope. Be aware that farming equipment often travels this road. Be safe and courteous. Be aware of flooded/ impassable roads.
Location: From North: Travel State Road 67 South towards Paragon. From Paragon continue south on SR 67 for about three miles to Lingle Road. Turn Left on Lingle Rd and begin birding slowly. You will come to an intersection with South Vickery Rd but continue straight on Lingle. You will soon see on the left side of road and expansive farm field that is hopefully holding water from recent rains and/or White River cresting.
Morgan-Monroe State Forest (Morgan Co) (eBird Species: 145)
Morgan-Monroe State Forest encompasses more than 24,000 acres in south central Indiana, with camping, three lakes, picnicking and multiple hiking trails. If you do not want to walk trails, you can slowly drive the roads into the forest or take the back roads (county roads) using Goose Creek Road or Rosenbaum Road to enter MMSF. Just beware when traveling back roads into MMSF. The roads are very rough with potholes and large loose gravel. It is a beautiful forest and a great way to practice your ear birding for warblers, vireos, thrushes, and tanagers and more. In evening/night along roads, you may hear Eastern Whip-poor-will.
Notable Bird Species: Warblers, tanagers, vireos, flycatchers, thrushes and more.
Amenities: Outdoor restrooms
Parking: Paved lots near the office otherwise gravel pull-offs
Location: South of Martinsville— Exits off I-69
Burkhart Creek County Park (eBird Species: 137)
Burkhart Creek County Park is an 83-acre nature park adjacent to the Ravinia Woods unit of Morgan-Monroe State Forest (another good birding site across the road with a kiosk and small gravel parking lot, but beware during hunting seasons). Burkhart Creek is wheelchair accessible. The park has a wooded hillside near the Duckworth Rd parking lot. The wooded trail winds up and over the small hill. You can often find American Redstarts and Cerulean Warblers here. There are a couple of prairie areas as well as one that is progressing through succession with young trees and shrubs. A small wetland area is located at the south end of the park. These areas are usually quite populated with Common Yellowthroats, Yellow Warblers, Yellow-breasted Chats, Indigo Buntings, Prairie Warblers, and Blue-winged Warblers. At end of the wetland area and across the creek is newer trail through field habitat. A new trail is being built accessing the steep hill next to this field trail.
Notable Bird Species: Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Indigo Bunting, Prairie Warbler, American Redstart, Cerulean Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Tree Swallow, Carolina Wren, and Northern House Wren.
Amenities: One paved trail and others that are gravel or crushed stone. All are flat except for the wooded trails. Restrooms may be available at the Gray Road parking area. Nearby Tomato Pie Pizza in Paragon.
Parking: Two parking lots. One gravel lot on Duckworth Rd and a paved parking lot on Gray Rd.
Location: N Duckworth Road & Gray Road Martinsville, IN 46151. Take SR 67 south and turn onto Duckworth Rd just north of Paragon (Lingle Rd River Bottoms is only 12 minutes away from Burkhart Park).
Photos provided by Joni James
