Birders of all skill levels are invited to the Bridges and Birds in Brecksville field trip with Blackbrook Audubon. Ample parking is available at the Station Road Bridge trailhead at 13512 Station Road in Brecksville. Walk leaders will have binoculars to lend.
The Station Road Bridge area of Cuyahoga Valley National Park is known for Yellow-throated and Cerulean Warblers and Louisiana Waterthrush. Bald Eagles have nested here since 2006. The eBird list for this section of the Towpath Trail has 210 species.
When two historic dams were removed at this site in 2020, the Cuyahoga River became free flowing here for the first time in nearly 200 years, benefiting wildlife. Blackbrook will see what other changes they can spot since their last visit in 2015 as they cross the Station Road Bridge and pass under the arches of the Rt. 82 bridge in their search for spring migrants.
After exploring Station Road, the group will carpool five minutes south to Red Lock Trailhead. This location on West Highland Road has only 15 parking spaces, but the mix of habitats provide a good opportunity to spot birds such as Yellow-billed Cuckoo and flycatchers. The group may stop for lunch nearby.
Those who plan to attend should RSVP at blackbrookaud@aol.com. Check for updates on Blackbrook's Facebook page.
Blackbrook Audubon covers Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake Counties as the local chapter of National Audubon Society. For more information, visit blackbrookaudubon.org.
Photo: Yellow-throated Warbler, Cornell Lab of Ornithology