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Naturalist's Notes
Brandywine Creek State Park
by Claire Mickletz, Brandywine Creek Naturalist
Read Claire's bio.
The winter season is a great time to sit around the fire or in the rocking chairs at the Nature Center and enjoy the bird activity outside the window. The winter residents at Brandywine Creek include species such as Northern Cardinal, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Dark-eyed Junco, White-breasted Nuthatch, Eastern bluebird, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow and several species of woodpecker. You will see many of these species visiting the feeders behind the Nature Center.
Winter is also a great time to enjoy the snow at Brandywine Creek. When there is enough snow, Hawk Watch Hill is a perfect place to sled. The hill fills up with families enjoying the weather. Fun winter activities include hot chocolate hikes, children’s programs, winter tree walks, lunchtime lectures, bird walks and bluebird box building.
Volunteers start monitoring bluebird boxes for breeding activity in March. We have been monitoring bluebird trails at Brandywine Creek State Park for almost 20 years. Birds that nest in these boxes include the Eastern Bluebird, Tree Swallows, chickadees and House Wrens. You may notice paired boxes at the park (about 25 feet apart), we do this to reduce nest site competition between swallows and bluebirds. We get a lot of questions about the strange looking posts under our boxes, these are predator baffles. If you are interested in starting your own bluebird trail, please contact the park naturalist for information or attend the bluebird program in February to learn more about these beautiful birds.
We look forward to seeing you out enjoying the winter weather at Brandywine Creek State Park, be sure to stop in the Nature Center to say hello!