Old Stone Fort Birding
Notification Alert
Bridge Closure
The bridge at Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park is closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic due to construction activity.
Birding at Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park
A 50-acre grass-covered hilltop, embraced by the Enclosure Trail, is believed to have been used as a ceremonial site by Native Americans more than 2,000 years ago.
This area is maintained as grassland making it the perfect place to observe grassland bird species. Sit for a while on one of the benches that line the hilltop and listen to the songs of eastern meadowlarks. Northern parula and red-eyed vireo can be heard or seen throughout the summer as well as the occasional wood duck, which was observed and revered by the Native Americans who occupied this site long ago.
Featured Birds
- Turkey Vulture
- Eastern Bluebird
- Carolina Wren
- White-throated Sparrow
- White-crowned Sparrow
- American Goldfinch
- Cliff Swallow
- Eastern Meadowlark
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Cooper’s Hawk
- Broad-winged Hawk
- American Crow
- Carolina Chickadee
- American Robin
- Pileated Woodpecker
- Blue Jay
- Common Grackle
- Mourning Dove
- Northern Mockingbird
- Northern Cardinal
- Brown Thrasher
- Eastern Phoebe
- Eastern Kingbird
- Great Blue Heron
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Yellow-rumped Warbler
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo
- Cedar Waxwing
- Baltimore Oriole
- Golden-crowned Kinglet
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
- Green Heron
- Pied-billed Grebe
- Barred Owl
- Northern Parula
- Magnolia Warbler
- Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Common Yellowthroat
- Yellow-rumped Warbler
- Black-throated Green Warbler
- Yellow-breasted Chat
- Hooded Warbler
- Summer Tanager
- Northern Bobwhite
- Wild Turkey
- Turkey Vulture
- Northern Harrier
- Red-shouldered Hawk
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Barn Swallow
- American Kestrel
- Sandpipers
- Woodpecker
- Horned Lark
- Blue Grosbeak
- Indigo Bunting
- Redhead
- Bufflehead
- White-winged Scoter
- Canada Goose
- Common Loon
- Pied-billed Grebe
- Horned Grebe
- Killdeer
- Bonaparte's Gull
- Ring-billed Gull
Birding Locations
A hiking map is available at the park.
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Enclosure Trail
Featured birds: Turkey Vulture, Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Wren, White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned SparrowThe enclosure trail surrounds a unique geological feature that was used by Woodland Indians 2,000 years ago. It offers views of the park's three largest waterfalls - Step Falls, Blue Hole Falls, and Big Falls. The path is a loop that follows the perimeter of the mound site, traveling along the deep gorges cut by the rivers on either side of the site. It first goes between the two pedestal mounds flanking an entrance to the enclosure. -
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Nature Trail
Featured birds: American Crow, Carolina Chickadee, American Robin, Pileated Woodpecker, Blue JayThis one mile trail encircles the campground and is a great place to see and hear woodland bird species. Located behind by the camper check-in station, this trail offers a pleasant walk through the woods and returns through the back end of the campground. A short portion passes near the Duck River. -
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Little Duck River Trail
Featured birds: Great Blue Heron, Red-winged Blackbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Cedar WaxwingThis trail winds down the forested hillside and skirts along the riverside of the Little Duck River before heading back up Backbone Ridge.
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Forks of the River Trail
Featured birds: Green Heron, Great Blue Heron, Pied-billed Grebe, Barred Owl, Northern ParulaThis trail is nestled in a bottomland hardwood forest and offers a view of the river where the Duck and Little Duck Rivers meet.This is a pleasant walk off the Enclosure Trail to where the Big Duck River and the Little Duck River meet to form the Duck River. The Duck River has been recognized by National Geographic Magazine as one of the five most biodiverse rivers in the entire world. -
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May Prairie State Natural Area Trailhead
Featured birds: Magnolia Warbler, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-rumped WarblerMay Prairie is a 492-acre natural area in Coffee County near Manchester. The most impressive feature at May Prairie is the open grassland community that protrudes into the surrounding oak forest where the oak barrens begin. In all, 89 species of birds identified.
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Bark Camp Barrens WMA Parking Area
Featured birds: Northern Bobwhite, Wild Turkey, Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier, Red-shouldered HawkThis wildlife management area is located in Coffee County and consists of 2,800 acres of mature woodlands and open fields. In all, 167 species of birds identified.
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Normandy Lake Barton Spring Public Use Area
Featured birds: Redhead, Bufflehead, White-winged Scoter, Mallard, Canada GooseThis public use area over looks Normandy TVA Reservoir. Exposed mud flats and a sandy beach offer an excellent viewing location for waterfowl. More than 130 species of birds have been identified.
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Responsible Birding
- Do not endanger the welfare of birds.
- Tread lightly and respect bird habitat.
- Silence is golden.
- Do not use electronic sound devices to attract birds during nesting season, May-July.
- Take extra care when in a nesting area.
- Always respect the law and the rights of others, violators subject to prosecution.
- Do not trespass on private property.
- Avoid pointing your binoculars at other people or their homes.
- Limit group sizes in areas that are not conducive to large crowds.
Discover More at Old Stone Fort
No events are scheduled at this time, but there's always more to explore.
