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Bridgestone Firestone Centennial WildernessBirding Seasons: Spring A Summer A Fall A- Winter B
Site Description and Habitats The 10,000 area includes a wide variety of habitats. A 700 acres tract of native warm season grass occurs near the main entrance (north end) and is burned on a rotation to provide continual habitat for grassland species. The majority of the WMA has second growth hardwood forests with some pine plantation in various stages of development. On the south side, not accessible from the main entrance, consists of 2,000 acres of early succession pine plantation (some older) with extensive presence of warm season grasses and native wildflowers and is being converted to open pine savanna via thinning of mature pines and burning open the understory and to kill the younger pines. Check access via the main road towards the checking station and old barn with grain silo. The gate is closed there at times eemingly randomly, but one can park at the entrance (do not block gate) and walk the roads. Hiking trails and paths/mowed roads around the warm season grass fields are open to the public and a pleasant walk in the cool morning weather. Many miles of hiking trails are also accessible throughout the forests near the barn/silo. Bird species of interest Spring and Fall Migration: Sandhill Crane migration can be excellent in November and February from the north side fields (fly overs), numerous warblers can be found in the mature hardwoods on the area, including Bay-breasted, Blackburnian, Chestnut-sided among others, Swainson's and Gray-cheeked Thrush, plus flycatchers and vireos. Summer: Dickcissel (north end), Prairie Warbler, Henslow's Sparrow (north end only), Yellow-breasted Chat, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-winged Warbler, Willow Flycatcher, Broad-winged Hawk, Eastern Whip-poor-wills are insanely abundant, Chuck-wills-widows are present but rare, Common Nighthawk is also fairly rare, Red-eyed, Blue-headed, and Yellow-throated Vireo, Worm-eating, Hooded, Pine, Black-and-white and Yellow-throated Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Scarlet Tanager, Indigo Bunting, Orchard Oriole Winter: Golden Eagle is possible (GPS tracked birds spent time in the area), Savannah Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, among other sparrows, kinglets, Winter Wren, and Hermit Thrush Year-Round: Northern Bobwhite, Red-headed Woodpecker, Field Sparrow, Cooper's Hawk, Barn Owl, Red-shouldered Hawk, Brown-headed Nuthatch (south end), Rarities found at this site: Red Crossbill in late May 2013! Species list via eBird Hotspot Explorer - north end, big grassy fields Species list via eBird Hotspot Explorer - Big Bottom Unit (south end) Submit your data to eBird here
Detailed directions for birding Bridgestone-Firestone Centennial Wilderness South end: Pass the entrance to the Big Bottom Unit only 0.5 miles to a funky 4 way intersection where the main road bares off to the right. Go straight here onto Flowing Well Rd. Go down the road through a small community and in 2/3 of a mile you'll get to a left turn and a sign for Flowing Well Rd. Turn here and explore the thinned pines. Red Crossbills were here in late May 2013. Over the next several years this area should develop into a nice open savanna, assuming it gets burned. Lat-Long (GPS) coordinates Fees and Hours Facilities Contact Info for other sites
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