Westchester County Department of Parks

Birds of Ward Pound Ridge Reservation

The Ward Pound Ridge Reservation is a birdwatcher's paradise. From the gently sloping banks of the Cross river in the northern quarter to the high cliffs of Raven Rocks which loom above the Stone Hill River three miles to the south, birds of field and forest abound throughout the year.  This pamphlet contains a useful checklist of the 184 species which have been recorded in the park to date.

The reservation is rich in bird life because its borders circumscribe a wealth of habitats:  deciduous woods, pine and spruce groves, meadow, old fields, high ridges, deep hemlock ravines, steep cliffs, lonely swamps, sunny marshes, quiet rivers, rushing streams and a few scattered ponds.  Maps and trail information are available at the Trailside Nature Museum, located in the heart of the park.  The museum's naturalists are happy to pass on reports of recent sightings of particular interest.  If you need advice, or if you encounter a bird or birds of particular interest, please stop in at the museum.  Your reports will be added to park records and will help in revising this list in the future.

Reservation Specialties
Eastern bluebirds, uncommon in most of Westchester County, can be seen in Pound Ridge throughout the year.  The utility wires along Boutonville and Michigan Roads are the best place to look. Kingfishers, tree swallows, barn swallows, bank swallows, rough-winged swallows, sparrows and starlings also perch on the wires, so keep an eye out for these while hunting for bluebirds.  Bluebirds raise young in nest boxes, which hang from poles and trees throughout the park.

At dawn and dusk and on rainy days, the meadows along Boutonville and Michigan Roads are good places to watch for wild turkey.  After an absence of nearly 200 years, wild turkey resumed nesting in Pound Ridge woodlands in 1895.  Turkeys may be seen throughout the year.

During spring and summers, Wildcat Hollow is usually home to nesting barred owls, winter wrens, solitary vireos, hermit thrushes and black-throated green warblers.

The marsh at the Michigan Road trailhead is one of the best all-round birding sites in the park, particularly during migrations.

The footpaths, which follow the banks of the Cross River provide good birding year-round.  Each spring, one of the first warblers of the year, the Louisiana water thrush, can be found here, bobbing its tail as it runs along, occasionally stopping to belt out a high piping song.

The big sandpit near the junction of Michigan and Boutonville Road is home to nesting bank swallows, rough-winged swallows and kingfishers.

Good hawk watching can be had in autumn from the field just uphill from the parking lot at the Meadow Picnic Area.  Other good sites to see hawks, eagles, falcons and vultures during their southbound flights include the hilltop above the Leatherman's Cave. and the summit of Cross River Mountain.

Inquire at the museum about bird walks and other nature programs, which are offered in the Reservation throughout the year.  Beginners, experts and middle-of-the-roaders are all encouraged to participate.

Good luck and good birding!

Special Note
The casual use of tape recordings to attract birds is forbidden in Ward Pound Ridge Reservation.  Studies have shown that such techniques may place great stress on territorial birds, and in some cases may cause parent birds to abandon eggs or young.  Recording may be used for serious scientific purposes only.  Written permission is required.  Please inquire at the museum.