Birding Around DC

At 1754 acres, Rock Creek Park is the largest natural area in the District. That leaves a lot of area to explore, but the best birding areas are confined to a much smaller area on top of the park's western ridge. To see the Rock Creek Park at its best, visit during migration, in May or September. The usual birders' route is to start at the Nature Center, walk south to visit picnic areas 17/18 (known as "the ridge") at dawn, and then check the maintenance yard later in the morning. Sometimes the maintenance yard will be more productive than the ridge. Because the maintenance yard is at the top of a hill, most birds there will be at or below eye level. It is also worth walking through the dog run across Glover Road from the Nature Center. Be careful while crossing or walking on roadways in Rock Creek Park, as some are heavily used by cars. When in the park, remember to look up, as some migrating species are only seen in the park as flyovers. DC Audubon runs a field trip at this location every September.

The Smithsonian's National Zoological Park stands on a bluff overlooking Rock Creek. The zoo contains many exotic and native captive animals, but it is also home to wild birds. Birders are welcome to check the wetlands around the bird house, trees and feeding areas, and the trail along Rock Creek below the zoo. See their page on Birdwatching at the National Zoo.

The National Arboretum consists of 446 acres of fields, woods, and display gardens. It boasts some of the largest stands of conifers in the District. These are located in several large concentrations in the ornamental conifer collection, Hickey Hill, and the state tree grove. Some of the better birding spots are in the Azalea Garden, Fern Valley, Hickey Hill, the Asian Gardens, and a trail that parallels the Anacostia River. Maps provided at the Visitors Center will guide you to these locations. Walking in the Arboretum is fairly easy, as it is either along roadways or on well-maintained trails.

Lotus Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is the only national park for cultivating aquatic plants. Its fourteen acres are adjacent to the 77-acre Kenilworth Marsh, a tidal wetland that provides important habitat for many species of migratory and resident birds. The aquatic gardens consist of a network of artificial ponds used for growing waterlilies and lotuses. (At their peak in early to mid-summer, the aquatic flowers are a beautiful sight.) Beyond the ponds is a short boardwalk that goes out into the marsh. From its two observation platforms one can get excellent views of the mud flats when the tide is low. There is also a river trail that begins near the visitor center and wraps around the north and west sides of the marsh. This trail borders a wooded swamp on one side and the tidal marsh on the other, so that one can see a diverse array of species in a 1.5 mile round trip. The end of the river trail provides a view of the mud flats from the other side of the marsh. While on the river trail, be sure to watch the river as well as the marsh.

Kenilworth Park runs along the east bank of the Anacostia River just south of the Aquatic Gardens. The dominant habitats in Kenilworth Park are open fields and managed meadows. The south end of the football field provides views of the Anacostia River. The north end of the park has some views of Kenilworth Marsh. A visit to Kenilworth Park is a good follow-up (or prelude) to a walk in the Aquatic Gardens.

Anacostia River Park runs along portions of the Anacostia River from Prince Georges County in Maryland to the river's confluence with the Potomac. For birders, the best areas are those on either side of the Pennsylvania Avenue bridge. Poplar Point at the far south end of the park provides views of a different part of the Anacostia River.

The C&O Canal runs 184.5 miles from Georgetown in Washington to Cumberland, Maryland. DC Audubon sponsors an annual bird survey of the canal each January. A little over four miles of the canal run through Northwest D.C. The best access points for birding the canal in the District are at Fletcher's Boathouse in Mile 3 and the Chain Bridge in Mile 4. Many great birding spots are farther up the canal in Montgomery County, Maryland, including the Little Falls Dam, Great Falls, Pennyfield Lock, Violette's Lock, and Sycamore Landing. Fletcher's Boathouse has access to the towpath as well as views of the river. At the Chain Bridge, there are a series of ponds in the rock formations below the bridge. You can view these from the bridge's pedestrian walkway. The boundary between Maryland and DC is approximately a half mile north of the Chain Bridge, near the mouth of Little Falls. Use caution when walking the canal on weekends as the miles closest to Washington are used heavily by cyclists.

Washington's monument to our 26th president is hidden away on a 91-acre wooded island accessible only from the Virginia side of the river. Roosevelt Island offers several habitat types: hardwood forest, tidal marsh, and wooded swamp. There are trails running around the island, including a boardwalk through the marsh.

Hains Point is the birders' name for the portion of East Potomac Park south of the railroad and highway bridges. Most of this manmade island is a public golf course, but there is a road and footpath leading to the point on either side of the course. At the tip of East Potomac Park, there is a statue called "The Awakening." The nearby Tidal Basin, best known for its flowering cherry trees, presents other bird-viewing opportunities.

Georgetown Reservoir is one of several storage reservoirs maintained for the Washington Aqueduct. While drinking water for Washington's human residents is the primary purpose of the reservoir, birds find it very useful as well. The reservoir is surrounded by a chain-link fence and is off-limits to the public. However, birders may view the impoundments from the sidewalk. A visit to the reservoir can easily be combined with a walk on the canal for a longer birding trip.

Constitution Gardens is located north of the World War II Memorial and east of the Vietnam Memorial. It consists of a shallow lake with a small island on one side, with shrubs and grassy areas surrounding the lake. This is one of the few areas of the Mall with trees other than elms and with an understory, making it a migrant trap.

Battery Kemble is a strip of forested parkland running from Nebraska Avenue just south of American University to Canal Road near Fletcher's Boathouse. The park lies on either side of a stream valley. During the Civil War, the site held a battery to guard approaches to the Chain Bridge. Trails run from the intersection of Nebraska Avenue and Foxhall Road south to MacArthur Boulevard and Chain Bridge Road.

Glover-Archbold Park is another important migrant trap in northwest Washington. Like Battery Kemble, Glover-Archbold is a strip of forest running south from Van Ness Street to Canal Road. A stream, Foundry Branch, runs through the park to the Potomac. The most interesting section for birders is just above Reservoir Road. Follow the trail that runs north into the park.

Fort Dupont is the largest park that has grown around an individual fort in the Fort Circle Parks system. It is bounded on the south by Massachusetts and Alabama Avenues, on the west by Minnesota Avenue, and on the north by Ridge Road. Like most of its sibling parks, Fort Dupont Park consists mainly of upland forest, with some edge and scrubby areas. This park tends to be underbirded despite good habitat. It has a well-maintained trail system with easy public access.

At Great Falls, the Potomac River cascades through a narrow gorge. Both the Maryland and Virginia sides of the river have parks with hiking trails along the falls. On the Maryland side, eagles nest by the river above the parking lot; black crowned night herons fish below the falls at dusk. Check for migrant songbirds along the towpath in the spring.

At Great Falls, the Potomac River cascades through a narrow gorge. Both the Maryland and Virginia sides of the river have parks with hiking trails along the falls. Great Falls National Park occupies the Virginia side of the river and includes the Patowmack Canal and several hiking trails. Try the Swamp Trail and the Patowmack Canal for migrating and nesting songbirds. In winter, check the dam above Great Falls for ring-necked ducks, bufflehead, mergansers, goldeneyes, and other water birds.

Dyke Marsh is a tidal wetland just south of Alexandria, Virginia. There are two trails. One, a footpath, winds through the woods and out into the marsh, ending with a boardwalk and observation platforms overlooking the Potomac. The hiker/biker trail runs between the marsh and the parkway to points south of the marsh. While you are visiting, be sure to check the groves in the picnic area and the mudflats at the mouth of Hunting Creek

Piscataway National Park, Maryland, established to preserve the view from Mt. Vernon on the opposite bank. Woods, marshes, and fields. Bald eagles, ruby-crowned kinglets.

Established as a preserve for bald eagles. Take US 1 south to VA 242 (Gunston Road). Left on Gunston Road, past Pohick Park on left to small parking lot on right.

Huntley Meadows has 1,425 acres of wetland and forest habitat in Fairfax County, Virginia. The park is open from dawn to dark daily. It offers a boardwalk, observation towers, and several miles of trails. There is a beaver pond along Dogue Creek and Barnyard Run. Herons, rails, egrets, sparrows.

Hughes Hollow, part of the McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area, consists of an array of freshwater impoundments, fields, and wooded swamps. The impoundments are good for finding waterfowl, shorebirds, and swallows. The fields and forests are good for finding woodpeckers, flycatchers, sparrows, and finches. Red-headed woodpeckers are a possibility here. The C&O Canal near Sycamore Landing Road is a good spot to look for Cerulean Warblers in late spring.

Waggoner’s Gap is a small gap in the Kittatinny Ridge (also called Blue and North Mountain) where PA Route 74 crosses between Cumberland and Perry Counties. The main site sits on the spine of the mountain 75 yards east of the highway. This site is essentially a rock pile with steep descents on both sides. This enables watchers to see both sides of the ridge from one spot. This gives the advantage of being able to see off wind birds easily and increases the wind directions that are productive without requiring a physical move.