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Presque Isle State Park, Pennsylvania

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Presque Isle State Park, Pennsylvania ropolitan area. An annotated bird checkhst can be obtained by sending a self-addressed The Site Guide stampedenvelope, and 25½ to Presque Isle Audubon Society, P.O. Box 1783, Erie, Pa 16507.A booklet, "Finding Bird son Presque Presque Isle State Park, Pennsylvania Isle," with map and checklist, can be ob- tained by sending 35½to the Western Penn- Location Erie, Erie County, northwestern sylvania Conservancy, 204 Fifth Avenue, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh, Pa. 15222. Description A low-lying seven-mile long penin- Birdwatching Presque Isle State Park's shel- sula anchored to the mainland just west of tered waters of Lake Erie and Erie Bay serve the city of Erie, extending northeastward as important resting and feeding places for into Lake Erie. The Park's 3200 water-girt many water birds during migration. Pied- acres form and enclose Erie Bay. The west- billed and Horned Grebes and Whistling ern half of the park is a sand spit varying in Swans are common. Diving ducks congre- width from a few hundred feet to approxi- gate in large rafts of several thousand birds, mately one-half mile, with sandy beach on and Common Goldeneyes, Canvasbacks, the lake side giving way to beach grasses, Buffleheads, both scaup, and all three mer- poplars, and willows in the middle, and gansets often remain throughout winter marshy shore on the bay. The mile-and- Migrating Canada Geese -- and Blue Snow one-half broad eastern part has been formed geesecan occasionallybe seen.Ospreys and by centuries of deposits from the eastward Caspian Terns sometimeslinger in the park lake current; it is characterized by east-west Herring and Ring-billed Gulls are year-round ridgesof old sanddunes (oaks, maples,hem- but not breeding residents. Bonaparte's locks, pines), sand plains and filled lagoons Gulls are present, particularly in spring and (grasses, bayberry, poplars, elders), and fall,-and Great Black-backed Gulls can be ponds, lagoons, and bays, some enclosed seen in winter. During nesting season, relatively recently (200-300 years) by the Common Gallinules and Black Terns breed south-curvinggrowth of the east end of the in the cattail marshesof the west bay; park- peninsula. Erie Bay is about 2 miles wide ing lots along the road provide good observa- (north-south),and is relatively shallow. It is tion points in all seasons.The marshesat the connected to Lake Erie on the east by a West Boat Livery should be checked for b•t- channel deep enough for ocean-going ves- terns, rails, marsh wrens, and sparrows, as sels. Both the bay and the lake freeze over in well as waterfowl; Warbling Vireos should winter (late-December - mid-March), al- be present in spring and summer. The area though patches of open water are usually behind and east of the Administration Build- present. ing, especially around the Lily Pond, is one of the best spots to find large numbers of Access Nearest major airport is Erie. By car, migrant passetines. Almost all warblers, wr- 125 miles north of Pittsburgh, 90 miles east of eos, flycatchers, thrushes, and sparrowsthat Cleveland, 90 miles west of Buffalo. Penn- pass through Western Pennsylvania have sylyaniaRt. 832, which runs north-southin been recorded there. White-throated Spar- the area, goes directly north to the Park en- rows, Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned trance and intersects all of the following Kinglets, and Swainsoh's Thrushes are east-west roads: Pa. Rt. 5, Pa. Rt. 20, and abundant in spring and fall. Watch for Red- Interstats 90. The Park is openyear-round, headed Woodpeckers. Rarities seen there and roadsare paved. Visitors shouldstop at include White-eyed Vireo, Worm-eating and the Park Administration Building (one mile Kentucky Warblers, and Clay-colored Spar- beyond the entrance)for a map, information row. Philadelphia Vireo, Connecticut, Or- on foot trails in the Park, and permissionto ange-crowned, and Mourning Warblers, enter Gull Point Bird Sanctuary at the Park's Yellow-bellied Flycatchers, Lincoln's and east end. Grasshopper Sparrows are frequent m•- grants of interest. East along the bay-s•de Accommodations As the Park is adjacent to a road are tall trees from the Marina to the major city, year-round motels, restaurants, Cement Walk, which attract all the common and markets are readily available. Camping woodland species. Myrtle Warblers and is not permitted inside the Park, although Yellow-shafted Flickers often winter over, campgroundsare available in the Erie met- possibly to feed on the waxy fruit of the Volume 29, Number 3 655 656 AmericanB•rds, June, 1975 Photo /Bus Scott abundant northern bayberry. Numerous Franklin's Gulls; Louisiana, Little Blue and dead trees in the park provide nestingoppor- Yellow-crowned Night Herons; Wilson's tunitiesfor hole-nestingspecies, and perches Plover, and all of the phalaropes.The Piping for an occasional Bald Eagle. The inland la- Plover, now scarce in the Great Lakes, is goonssurrounded largely by marshedpro- recorded in small numbers in spring and late vide suitable nesting sites for many species summer. Favorable south and south-west including Sora and Virginia Rails, American windsin April and May may alsobring excel- and Least Bitterns, Short-billed Marsh lent hawk flights over this area. Common Wrens, and other species. Great Blue He- and Caspian Terns, Killdeer, and Spotted rons are regular visitors. The lagoonsattract Sandpipers appear in warmer seasons. Gull seasonal dabbling ducks; Big Pond and Point is also a likely spot for an occasional Niagara Pond are often most productive. PeregrineFalcon especiallyin fall. The open The Cement Walk and other foot trails in the grassyareas east of Beach l0 attract migrat- vicinity should be tried for a variety of mi- ing Marsh Hawks, Water Pipits and Short- grants. Parking is permitted at the turn- eared Owls. Lark Sparrow, Dickcissel,Scis- around circle west of Thompson Bay. The sor-tailed Flycatcher, and Harris' Sparrow trail west along Long Ridge coursesbetween are rarities recorded in this area. In winter, an extensive pine stand to the north, and Horned Larks and Snow Buntings are often Niagara and Yellow BassPonds to the south. seen. Lapland Longspursand a Snowy Owl This is a likely spotto seeEastern Bluebirds, or two are quite possible.The monthsof May Loggerhead or Northern Shrikes, Sharp- and September are by far the most product- shinned, Red-tailed, Broad-winged, and ive, and a single party can often record well Sparrow Hawks. Raptors can be well ob- over 100 specieson a good day; highesttotal servedparticularly in springmigration when for several parties in a single day is 151, southerlywinds crowd the flights alongthe recorded in May, 1972. Nearly 300 species Lake shore. Behind the east parking lot at are on the park checklist, and about 225 of Beach 10, the Lake and southeastalong the these are recordedin an averageyear. It is beach to Gull Point Bird Sanctuary, is the also worth noting that fall migrations of best area in the Park to see a variety of shore Monarch Butterflies at Presque Isle have and water birds. Many unusualspecies have been, in many years, quite impressive. been recorded in this area, including Buff- breasted Sandpiper; Cattle, Snowy, and Reddish Egrets; Sandhill Crane; Parasitic Ratings Spring •, Summer •, Fall and Pomarine Jaegers; White Pelican; ß-•-•-•-, Winter •t•tV2. American Avocet; Marbled and HudsonJan Godwits; Little, Iceland, Glaucous, and -- Richard Bollinger, Jean Stull Volume 29, Number 3 657 Z L) L) 658 American Birds, June, 1975 .
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