SCIOTO VALLEY BIRD AND NATURE CLUB SOUTH CENTRAL OHIO

Chillicothe Birding

Yoctangee Park is located just north of the downtown area at end of Paint Street. The small lake running through it is a remnant of a loop of the Scioto River that ran through the city. The running water is long gone, but it is the main attraction of the park. This lake is home to a large population of domestic ducks and geese and a pair of Mute Swans. Many people use the park as a pleasant spot to eat lunch and the food the ducks with their children. During summer there is too much activity to allow many wild waterfowl, but several species turn up in winter. There are hundreds of Canada Geese and Mallards, and usually something else pops up. The high point of birding at this lake was the arrival of a White Pelican a few years ago. There is an excellent road that runs along the lake with ample parking for watching or feeding. The road is one-way and a look-out is necessary to avoid children, bikers, and people picnicking in the shelter houses. The park grounds have been planted with a great variety of trees.

The central street runs north through the park and a road will branch off that runs behind Chillicothe High School past a large ball diamond. Follow this road to the top of the hill and turn right. This road leads down into the Park Annex. The Annex is used for softball diamonds and soccer fields, but there is a shelter house at the north end, and a boat landing at the south end. The boat landing provides excellent views up and down the Scioto River. Several species of duck and geese can often be seen there during winter, and other water birds can be found. Bald Eagles are occasionally be seen flying along the river The trees along the river is fine spots for migrating birds in spring and fall. The Officer Larry Cox walkway runs along the floodwall continues all the way across town. It is a paved walkway, accessible to wheel chairs, and is very popular for walking or jogging. It provides some fine views of the river.

Leave the Annex and go across the street and turn right onto High St. Follow High Street to the traffic light at the ramp up to the US Rt. 35 By-pass. Follow this to the next exit and turn right onto Bridge St. Turn right at the first traffic light, and then turn left and follow the street under Bridge St to the Goldie Gunlock Wetlands. This area was formed when fill dirt was removed to provide an elevated location for the shopping center. The Wetlands entrance is just before the street joins the street into the shopping center. The Wetlands are being developed to have a walking train through the swamp, but this is not completed. Another good location to observe the Wetlands is from the parking lot of Max and Irma's Restaurant. A large variety of birds frequent the Wetlands both on this side and the other side of Bridge St. Most of the Ohio species of heron have been seen here during spring and fall migration, and if the mud flats are open in the fall a good variety of shorebirds can be found. Eventually the other side of the wetlands are scheduled to have a visitor's center and observation blind, but this is in the future as finances permit.

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