©JIM SCHMIDT

Yellow warbler feeds her hungry chicks.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s diverse landscape provides habitat for 248 species of birds, 105 of which breed in the park. A total of 15 of these species are "of concern" for conservation (either listed as federally or state-endangered). The park provides important habitat for such species.

Songbirds
Songbirds are found in CNVP throughout the year, though large numbers migrate through the area in spring and fall. To learn more about these songbirds, researchers are currently performing two studies. A study of the relative abundance of forest songbirds and their specific habitat requirements within the park is underway. Another study focuses on the potential value of electric utility corridors for migrating songbirds.

©JIM SCHMIDT

Great blue heron male forages for nest-building sticks to present to the female.

Wetland Habitats
The park’s riverine and wetland habitats support many different bird species. Great blue herons, not known to nest in the park before the 1980s, now raise young in three heronries within or adjacent to the park boundary. Starting in February, visitors can observe herons carting sticks to repair or build nests at two sites along the Cuyahoga River north of Route 82 and just south of Bath Road. Heron nest monitoring has found hundreds of nests perched high above the river and filled with squawking, awkward young from May to July. Wood ducks, Canada geese, and other waterfowl are found throughout the park.

©LISA ROMANIUK

Eagle with a successful catch.

Raptors
Ten raptors are either summer or year-round residents of the Cuyahoga Valley. For several years, wintering bald eagles have been routinely seen along the Cuyahoga River. In 2006 eagles built a nest in the Pinery Narrows, the first recorded in Cuyahoga County in more than 70 years. That nest was unsuccessful, but eagles returned to build another nearby the following year. The 2007 pair successfully raised one eaglet, marking the official return of nesting bald eagles to the Cuyahoga Valley. The same pair produced another eaglet in 2008. We saw them again nesting early 2009 but by late April, the nest was abandoned. Nest failure may be a result of weather conditions, too small of a nest that results in poor egg insulation, or egg breakage.

Want to Learn More About Our Birds?

• Read our Bird Watching at Its Best site bulletin.
• Investigate bald eagles, great blue herons, and peregrine falcons living in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

©Jim Schmidt

Female wood duck in summer

Going Bird Watching?
Take along our two birdlists:

• CVNP Bird List, 2009
  (Alphabetically by Scientific Name)
• CVNP Bird Checklist, 2009
  (Taxonomic Order)