Breaks Birding and Wildlife Trail

Buchanan County

Wildlife abounds in habitats that traverse cliff-sides and rugged terrain, mountain forests, river bottoms, rhododendron thickets, grassy meadows, ponds and lakes. Bird-watching can be spectacular year-round, especially during migration. Trails which meander through mature forests and rhododendron thickets should produce a variety of migratory neotropical passerines in both spring and fall. In fall, the many overlooks within this park should also produce optimal views of hawks in migration. During the summers, this park is home to a large number of nesting neotropical songbirds. In addition to yellow-breasted chat, northern parula, Louisiana waterthrush, common yellowthroat, and hooded and Kentucky warblers, look for black-throated green, worm-eating, black-throated blue, and Swainson's warblers. Other breeding birds include blue-gray gnatcatcher, cedar waxwing, white-eyed, yellow-throated, and blue-headed vireos, white-breasted nuthatch, yellow-billed cuckoo, and great crested flycatcher. Ruffed grouse, wild turkey, and northern bobwhite also nest within the park. Laurel Lake provides a welcomed resting spot for migrating waterfowl. In addition to the wonderful birding, the Breaks offers naturalists opportunities to view a large diversity of other wildlife.