Oxbow Field Trips

Field Trips

Unless otherwise indicated, all trips start at the upper Oxbow parking lot. To reach the upper Oxbow parking area, go south on US Hwy 50 from the I-275 #16 exit. In about 200 yards, turn left (east) at the edge of the Circle K (between the Circle K and Waffle House) and go over the levee to where the road T’s with a fence directly in front of you. Turn right and go to the Oxbow entrance sign. Turn left into the Oxbow. The upper parking area is immediately on the right. You can also use Google Maps and search for "Oxbow Nature Conservancy".

Spring Migration — Sunday, May 18, 2025, 8:00 AM

Meet: In the upper Oxbow parking lot at the main entrance to the Oxbow

Leader: Dave Helm, 513-403-4519, helmmd@icloud.com

May is without a doubt the best overall month for birding in our region, with the greatest diversity and the most species present. During May, spring migration peaks for many species and summer residents have returned in force. The Oxbow and lower Great Miami River valley is a great place to find them. Birds will certainly be the focus of this trip.

Our Trip Leader, Dave Helm, is an exceptional all around naturalist and expert level birder. Dave is a longtime advocate of Oxbow Inc. and also a board member of our local Audubon Society. Dave has led 100’s of field trips for many conservation groups over the years. He also knows the Oxbow area extremely well and his great knowledge of birds, plants, butterflies and other wildlife comes in very handy on any field trip.

We will likely see raptors (eagles, osprey, and hawks), herons and egrets, terns (possible), shorebirds (sandpipers & plovers), and migrant and resident warblers and many other songbirds, such as flycatchers, vireos, thrushes, tanagers, orioles and buntings among many others over the course of the morning. Dave plans to bird around Oxbow Lake, and if time permits he may move us to other parts of the Oxbow area such as Lost Bridge and the Shawnee Lookout side of the river to take full advantage of the diverse bird life moving through the area on this date.

Most of this trip will be on foot with a couple of short drives from spot to spot. Walking will be easy to moderate and at a birders pace. Be prepared for muddy spots, especially if conditions have been wet. You may want to bring water, sun screen and insect repellent. Binoculars are necessary for seeing small birds. There are no restrooms in the Oxbow but are available at nearby businesses and Shawnee Lookout Park. Contact Dave if you have any questions.

*Note: If we go to Shawnee Lookout Park a Great Parks motor vehicle permit is required. Permits are $10 annual or $5 daily for residents of Hamilton County and $16 annual or $8 daily for non-residents. We may car pool into the Park .

Summer Nature Walk; Botany, Breeding Birds and Butterflies — Sunday, June 22, 2025, 8:00 AM

Meet: In the upper Oxbow parking lot at the main entrance to the Oxbow

Leader: Kathy McDonald, 513-748-0281, mkathymcdonald@gmail.com

Join our trip leader Kathy McDonald for a pleasant early summer morning walk which will emphasize the overall nature of the Oxbow area primarily focusing on plants, breeding birds and butterflies. Kathy, a skilled naturalist with an interest in all aspects of nature, is also a longtime Oxbow Inc. advocate who knows the Oxbow area very well. Kathy was a founder of the Midwest Native Plant Society and is a recent past president and current director of that organization. She has also served on the local Audubon Society and is an Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist.

During June birds are abundant and almost all of them are involved in nesting and breeding activities. You may be surprised that over a hundred species of birds regularly breed within the Oxbow area or in close proximity (Shawnee Lookout). On this trip we can expect to see or hear many species of birds including water birds, raptors (including eagles), and a host of songbirds including warblers, vireos, orioles, tanagers, flycatchers, grosbeaks and buntings and lots more. June is also the peak singing period and the morning chorus of bird songs will be quite vocal, giving us a great chance to track them down and get a look.

Because of Kathy’s strong background in botany, plants will also be prioritized, identified, and Kathy will point out native and invasive plants. She also has a great interest in butterflies and at this season we should see several species. Kathy’s plan is to take a leisurely walk in the Oxbow, looking for birds, butterflies and pointing out interesting plants. Later in the morning Kathy may decide to move to other areas of the Oxbow area depending on the time and reports closer to the date of the trip.

Most of this trip will be on foot with some short drives from spot to spot. Walking will be easy to moderate and at a naturalists pace. The trip will end around noon. Remember that June can be hot by mid-morning. You may want to wear a hat and bring water, sun screen and insect repellent. Binoculars are necessary for seeing small birds. There are no restrooms in the Oxbow but they are available nearby. If you have any questions, feel contact Kathy.