Presque Isle State Park is a low‑lying, 7.0‑mile‑long peninsula that curls northeastward into Lake Erie from a point just west of the city of Erie.  Geologically, the 3,200‑acre claw‑shaped landform is classified as a curved sand spit.  Narrowest where attached to the mainland and broadest at its curved eastern edge, the spit owes its distinctive shape to the action of prevailing westerly winds, waves, and currents on shifting glacial sands.  Although the still-shifting beaches on the peninsula's lakeside draw millions of visitors each summer, the park has earned a national reputation as one of the most ecologically significant areas in the Great Lakes Region.  The National Park Service designated the peninsula a National Natural Landmark because of the diverse habitats found within its limited confines. These include dune, sand plain, forest, pond, marsh, lagoon, and swamp.  This variety of ecological communities provides ample habitat for an equally wide variety of birds, making Presque Isle one of Pennsylvania's birding "hot‑spots."

DISTANCE: Variable miles
TOPOGRAPHIC MAP: Erie North
DIRECTIONS: From all points south of Erie, take I-79 north to exit 43 (26th Street west).  Follow 26th St. for 1.0 mile to the intersection of PA-832 (Peninsula Drive).  Turn right and follow Peninsula Drive downhill into the park.  From the park entrance, continue on Peninsula Drive for 1.5 miles to the park office on the right.  This will serve as a place to begin several trips to other portions of the park.  The office is open daily and on weekends for questions and maps.  For more specific information call the park office at (814) 833‑7424.

Birding opportunities abound at Presque Isle.  The variety of wetlands, open waters of Presque Isle Bay to the south and Lake Erie to the north, sand beaches, and forests of varying ages all combine to make this an excellent area to visit anytime of the year.  During the spring, migrations from the last weeks of April through the first weeks of May are some of the most prolific, since the bulk of northerly bound birds are passing through the region.  Presque Isle juts farther into Lake Erie, and many land birds use this area to shorten the lake crossing, and conserve energy.  As a result, large migrant flocks often congregate at Presque Isle.  Although earlier or later in the year may not produce as many species, it will still provide a startling array of visitors since each type of bird moves at its own time of the year.

Through the late spring and early summer, Presque Isle has it own resident nesting species, and again the variety of habitats ensures that many different species will be found.  Mid-summer is a slow period, but the ever-present gulls remain conspicuous and provide a challenge to birders since their plumage varies with age.  The lull in activity doesn't last long since shorebird migrations begin as early as the opening weeks in August.  At this time, sand beaches and shallow ponds of the peninsula are prime feeding grounds for birds passing through the region. 

Fall migrations bring return visits from many of the species seen in the spring, but now the songbirds are in fall plumage and a challenge to identify.  The peak of this season is mid‑September to early October.  Even winter has its special attractions since Presque Isle often provides shelter for northern species that have been forced south in especially bitter winters.  Also, as the lake freezes, gulls from all along the southern shore of Lake Erie gather in the sheltered, open waters of Presque Isle Bay.  At times, the gull population reaches several hundred thousand and may include several rare species. 

This guide is not intended as a total list of all of the species that may be seen at Presque Isle, nor of all of the special sites in the park where specific species may be found.  It is intended to provide an overview for the casual birder or beginner to become familiar with the park and the more common species. 

A popular trail for both leisurely walking and birding is Sidewalk Trail (also known as Cement Trail).  From the park office, turn right and continue to follow the perimeter road that hugs the south shore of the peninsula.  This road changes names at several places and becomes Marina Drive as it turns inland to skirt around the marina.  It then becomes East Fisher Drive where it returns to the edge of Presque Isle Bay.  East Fisher Drive follows the edge of a small bay.  At the most northerly end of the bay, on the left side of the road is one end of Sidewalk Trail.   This is clearly marked on a park map that can be obtained at the office.  Park on the side of the road and begin the short walk along the concrete trail that leads across the peninsula. 

The trail is a 1.0-mile-long straight, narrow concrete walk, which crosses from Misery Bay to the Presque Isle Lighthouse.  Much of the trail is in or alongside woodlands that characterize the central and more elevated parts of Presque Isle. The woods and adjacent thickets are especially interesting during migrations when many small birds populate the Isle, including song sparrows, wood pewees, rose breasted grosbeaks, verries, catbirds, white‑throated sparrows, brown thrashers, flickers, indigo buntings, towhees, scarlet tanagers, red‑eyed vireos, many species of warblers, and a variety of common species which travel through western Pennsylvania.  Some of these birds are resident species and a walk on a late May or early June morning gives a chance to enjoy their songs.

About one‑third along the way of Sidewalk Trail, you will pass Ridge Pond, one of the interior wetlands of Presque Isle.  As is the case with many of these small sheltered bodies of water, it is a good place to look for species common to this wetland habitat.  Among the birds to be found here are American and least bitterns, wood ducks, several species of rails, green-backed herons, great blue herons, swamp sparrows, tree swallows, red-headed woodpeckers, and marsh wrens.  The pond is shallow and used by dabbling ducks, which are those who feed by tipping up and putting their head below the water to get food from the shallow bottom.  These include mallards, pintails, teal, and American widgeons. 

Other trails meet or cross Sidewalk Trail.  The park map is the most up‑to‑date source of information for these and should be used to take side trips.  Continuing northwest, the trail reaches the opposite side of the peninsula at the Presque Isle Lighthouse across the perimeter pond.  Beyond is open sandy beach and Lake Erie. 

During the summer, the beaches are crowded and not good for birding.  At other times of the year, they are excellent vantage points to view waterfowl that are accustomed to deep water.  These include tundra swans, Canada geese, grebes, snow geese, canvasbacks, scaup, old squaw, golden eyes, buffleheads, and mergansers.  At times, these birds form large rafts containing several thousand birds which are usually far from the shore but easily identifiable with a spotting scope.  Once on the north side of the Sidewalk Trail, you have the option to make a large loop following the perimeter road to the east and back to the car, or simply return by backtracking on the same trail.

Another popular birding area is Gull Point, the easternmost portion of Presque Isle.  To reach this area from the park office, follow the perimeter road past the south end of Sidewalk Trail, and past the Perry Monument.  Beyond the monument, the road swings to the north and the Lake Erie side of the peninsula.  As the road begins to turn west, look for signs for Beach #10.  Turn into the parking lot and drive to the far eastern (right) end of the lot.  Park here and look for a bulletin board on the edge of the parking lot.  Beside the bulletin board is the beginning of a trail that leads to Gull Point.  Another way to reach Gull Point is to go from the parking lot to the beach just to the north and turn to the right walking the beach out to the point.  The latter is more scenic, but will produce fewer birds.

Again, the open lake is good for deepwater ducks as noted above.  Behind the beach, to the south, a variety of shrubby habitats provide cover for birds similar to those found along Sidewalk Trail.  This area is easilier reached by taking the Gull Point Trail rather than walking the beach. 

When at the eastern tip of the peninsula, large flocks of gulls can be seen during most parts of the year.  The most common species are herring, ring‑billed, and bonaparte's gulls.  During the fall, the population at the point, and in Presque Isle Bay, increases through October and November until peaking at several hundred thousand gulls around December.  Along with the common varieties, other species include great black‑backed, Thayer's, Iceland, glaucous, and little gulls.  Again, a spotting scope, and a wellspring of patience, are invaluable to making positive identifications. 

Other species found at Gull Point, especially during migration, are shore birds.  These small-to-medium-sized birds can be seen on open, sandy beaches and around the margins of ponds and wetlands.  They feed on invertebrates found in the mud and sand, and capture their food by probing with long beaks.  The best time to see these birds is during migrations in the fall.  Species you can expect to find include plovers, yellowlegs, sandpipers, sanderlings, dunlins, and common snipe.  A 60-acre portion of Gull Point is designated as a natural area and is so marked with signs and a single strand fence.  This area is closed to visitors and the restriction should be observed while birding in the area.

Before birding at Presque Isle, make sure you have a good field guide such as "A Field Guide to the Birds East of the Rockies," by Roger Tory Peterson, published by Houghton Mifflin Company and available at most book stores.  Another valuable reference is the "Birds of Erie County," by Jean & James Stull and Gerald McWilliams, published by Allegheny Press, Elgin, PA  16413.  You may also want to call the recorded Audubon Bird Hotline ‑ 963‑0560 at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve since they carry news of rare species seen at Presque Isle.