#7 Kiwanis Lake
Property Manager: City of York (717) 849-2221
GPS address: 300 Pennsylvania Avenue, York, PA 17401
Hours: Dawn til Dusk (10 pm – 6am city parks are closed)
Parking: Street Parking or small lot on Madison Avenue spur off of Newberry Street between Farquhar Park.
Restrooms: Restrooms are not available.
Safety Reminders: Please be aware of your surroundings and practice smart birding.
Best Birding: April through September, dawn until dusk.
Site Description: This area managed by York City was designated as an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society. The reason for this designation is due to a heron rookery that boast numbers of Great Egrets and Black-crowned Night-Herons April-August. If you wish to see young herons in the nest May-June is your best bet. Due to the urban nature of the park it seems unlikely the birds would nest here, however the evergreen trees surrounding the lake are key to the presence of many of the great birds found at Kiwanis Lake. There are other birds here worth searching for other than the main attractions (Night-Herons and egrets).
The lake itself is quite small, just a damming up of a small creek known as Willis Run. For this reason Canada Goose, Mallard, and domestic duck hybrids are the only common/resident breeding waterfowl here. It is possible in migration to find Bufflehead, Ring-necked Duck, mergansers, and American Black Ducks at Kiwanis, but it is unlikely.
This location gives the best views of herons nesting in the county, and in some years roosting Great Horned Owls can be found here within close proximity. Several years ago young Great Horned Owls were found in adjacent Farquhar Park walking under trees at Kiwanis Lake too. The trees at Farquhar and Kiwanis are also great for Cooper’s Hawk and even some years in migration woodland birds like Wood Thrush pass through. Simply cross Madison Avenue to bird under the trees at Farquhar. The Red Cedars down along Kiwanis Lake are great for migrant warblers Palm Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler and Cape May Warbler have been viewed here recently. The cedars are shorter and easier to scan than the Norway Spruces. The spruces here have turned up White-winged Crossbills in irruption years, and more typically hold House Finches and American Goldfinch.
Don’t count out this little gem. Kiwanis Lake may not be a top ten site for birding, but the views that one gets here of the herons, egrets, and the occasional migrant passing through are often second to none. In addition to all this who doesn’t like finding great birds within the city limits. It is a great example of how these animals have adapted to live alongside of people.
Property Manager: City of York (717) 849-2221
GPS address: 300 Pennsylvania Avenue, York, PA 17401
Hours: Dawn til Dusk (10 pm – 6am city parks are closed)
Parking: Street Parking or small lot on Madison Avenue spur off of Newberry Street between Farquhar Park.
Restrooms: Restrooms are not available.
Safety Reminders: Please be aware of your surroundings and practice smart birding.
Best Birding: April through September, dawn until dusk.
Site Description: This area managed by York City was designated as an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society. The reason for this designation is due to a heron rookery that boast numbers of Great Egrets and Black-crowned Night-Herons April-August. If you wish to see young herons in the nest May-June is your best bet. Due to the urban nature of the park it seems unlikely the birds would nest here, however the evergreen trees surrounding the lake are key to the presence of many of the great birds found at Kiwanis Lake. There are other birds here worth searching for other than the main attractions (Night-Herons and egrets).
The lake itself is quite small, just a damming up of a small creek known as Willis Run. For this reason Canada Goose, Mallard, and domestic duck hybrids are the only common/resident breeding waterfowl here. It is possible in migration to find Bufflehead, Ring-necked Duck, mergansers, and American Black Ducks at Kiwanis, but it is unlikely.
This location gives the best views of herons nesting in the county, and in some years roosting Great Horned Owls can be found here within close proximity. Several years ago young Great Horned Owls were found in adjacent Farquhar Park walking under trees at Kiwanis Lake too. The trees at Farquhar and Kiwanis are also great for Cooper’s Hawk and even some years in migration woodland birds like Wood Thrush pass through. Simply cross Madison Avenue to bird under the trees at Farquhar. The Red Cedars down along Kiwanis Lake are great for migrant warblers Palm Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler and Cape May Warbler have been viewed here recently. The cedars are shorter and easier to scan than the Norway Spruces. The spruces here have turned up White-winged Crossbills in irruption years, and more typically hold House Finches and American Goldfinch.
Don’t count out this little gem. Kiwanis Lake may not be a top ten site for birding, but the views that one gets here of the herons, egrets, and the occasional migrant passing through are often second to none. In addition to all this who doesn’t like finding great birds within the city limits. It is a great example of how these animals have adapted to live alongside of people.