Tims Ford Birding

tims ford park aerial view of the island with a golf course and the lodging areas

Barred owl perched on a tree branch in a forest.

Birding at Tims Ford

Numerous species of birds share the created meadow areas.

Tims Ford State Park is essentially an upland park. Visitors frequently see open field birds such as indigo buntings, song sparrows, and field sparrows in the meadows on either side of the park road near the Visitor Center. Keep an ear and eye out for barred owls on the Spann House Trail. The Evans Point Trail hugs the lake’s edge, making it the perfect place to spot herons, pied-billed grebe, and the occasional bald eagle.

Just across the parking lot from the Visitor Center, guests will find the Nature Center, which is home to our raptor ambassadors, including a red-tailed hawk, a great horned owl, and an eastern screech owl.

Featured Birds

Eastern Bluebird
White-eyed Vireo
Hermit Thrush
Warblers
Brown Thrasher
Field Sparrow
Song Sparrow
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
Great Blue Heron
Purple Martin
Common Yellowthroat
Kentucky Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Whooping Crane
American Goldfinch
Indigo Bunting
Northern Mockingbird
Tree Swallow
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Wood Thrush
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Osprey
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Great Egret
Wintering Terns
Gull
Bay Ducks (Generic)
Wood Duck
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Belted Kingfisher
Common Loon
Northern Bobwhite
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Dickcissel
Red-headed Woodpecker
Wood Warblers
Henslow’s Sparrow
Bachman's Sparrow
Red-shouldered Hawk
Downy Woodpecker
Acadian Flycatcher
American Woodcock
Worm-eating Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Orchard Oriole
Turkey Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk
Pileated Woodpecker
American Robin
Wood Thrush
White-breasted Nuthatch
Eastern Towhee
Pine Warbler
Dark-eyed Junco

Birding Locations

Here is a list of walks or hikes that enable you to view birds at Tims Ford State Park. Pick up a trail map at the Visitor Center.

Visitor Center ADA Paved Trail

Featured birds: Eastern Bluebird, White-eyed Vireo, Hermit Thrush, Cedar Waxwing, Warblers

The paved trail north of the visitor center runs between old field/successional and young forest habitats, ending at a platform overlooking the lake.
Devilstep Public Use Area

Featured birds: American Coot, Sandhill Crane, Great Blue Heron, Purple Martin, Common Yellowthroat

The access road running along forest edges, boat ramp, and small coves offer views of various shorebirds, waders, and winter waterfowl.
Tims Ford Bike Trail

Featured birds: American Goldfinch, Indigo Bunting, Northern Mockingbird, Tree Swallow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

This trail from the Visitor Center to the steel bridge runs alongside an open field and through forest habitats.
Boat Ramp: Kitchen Creek Trail

Featured birds: Osprey, Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Great Egret, Wintering Terns

This section of the Blueway Paddle Trail goes south, passing Leatherwood Island and into narrow Kitchen Creek, featuring heavily wooded shorelines.
AEDC Wildlife Management Area: Woods Reservoir Refuge (U.S. Route 127 Access)

Featured birds: Common Loon, Sandhill Crane, Northern Bobwhite, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Dickcissel

This large area consists of oak-hickory forest, pine savannah, and shrubby grasslands. Woods Reservoir has multiple viewing areas. Over 180 species of birds have been identified.

Tennessee's Watchable Wildlife
Walls of Jericho State Natural Area (Alabama Parking Area)

Featured birds: Common Loon, Red-shouldered Hawk, Downy Woodpecker, Acadian Flycatcher, American Woodcock

This site is a geologic amphitheater within the Bear Hollow Mountain and Skyline WMA’s in Alabama. Seventy-eight species of birds have been identified.

Department of Environment & Conservation
University of the South (Campus Main Entrance)

Featured birds: Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Pileated Woodpecker, American Robin, Wood Thrush

The University of the South (commonly referred to as Sewanee) is located at the edge of the southern Cumberland Plateau, and contains the 20-mile Perimeter Trail and several 1-2 mile forest roads traversing oak-hickory and pine forest, field openings, and blufftop views.

Sewanee The University of the South

Helpful Birding Links

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.