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".

Annual Moonlit Evening Winter Walk — Friday, February 7, 2025 at 7:00 P.M.

Meet: At the Shawnee Lookout Old Golf Course Parking Lot (See directions below)

Leader: John Klein, (513) 304-2310, john.kleinp2@yahoo.com

PLEASE NOTE— this is an evening field trip.

One of Oxbow Inc.’s beloved founders, Morris Mercer, loved the night winter woods, especially with snow on the ground. He and his good friend John Klein started this night walk in the Shawnee Lookout woodlands overlooking the Oxbow many years ago. Morris is no longer with us, but John loves the tradition and keeps Morris’s spirit alive by continuing this annual field trip, now known as the Morris Mercer Memorial field trip.

Join John for a unique experience as he leads us on about a two hour night walk around Shawnee Lookout Park to see what the night woods have to offer. On this date there will be a waxing gibbous moon, which is very near to a full moon. The moon illuminates a significant portion of the sky, but isn’t as bright as a full moon, allowing you to still see stars and other details in the night sky; it's considered a good phase for observing lunar features due to the shadows cast on the moon's surface.

Because of this moon phase there will be a fair chance to see deer and other night wood residents. Owls may be heard as well. John will share the history of the Oxbow and the Shawnee Lookout area and also talk about stargazing. As always at some point, John will pass out M & M’s to celebrate Morris’s memory.

Meet John in the parking lot of the closed Shawnee Lookout Golf Course Clubhouse at 7:00 pm. The park is normally closed at this time of night, but the rangers will have the entrance gates open for us. Remember that its nighttime in early February so be sure to dress warmly. This trip will consist entirely of walking, most of it at a moderate pace. Decent footwear will make your trip more comfortable. John is like Morris, in that he would prefer a little snow on the ground. However, severe weather or heavy rain will cancel this trip. If you have any doubts as to whether the trip is cancelled, contact John at his contact numbers shown above. This trip offers a unique outdoor experience and is highly recommended.

Directions to Shawnee Lookout Park: Located at 2008 Lawrenceburg Road, North Bend Ohio 45052. From I-275, take the Kilby Road Exit # 21. Turn right onto Kilby Rd and go to the light at US 50 and turn right. Go about 1.7 miles to Lawrenceburg Road and turn left at the light. Follow Lawrenceburg Road across the bridge (Lost Bridge) over the Great Miami River. Turn right at the stop sign and go about 1.5 miles to the entrance to Shawnee Lookout Park on the left. Follow the Park Rd to the Old Golf Course.

A Motor Vehicle Permit (MVP) is required for all Hamilton County Parks. Visit the Shawnee Lookout website for Park Maps and other info. http://www.greatparks.org/parks/shawnee-lookout

Early Spring Waterfowl Migration — Saturday, February 15, 2025, 8:00 A.M.

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

Leader: Ryan Jorgensen, (630) 333-2631, jorgensen28ryan@gmail.com

Early spring waterfowl migration should be in full swing by this date and they will be the primary focus of this trip. While we may not see this season as spring, the waterfowl do! Many species of waterfowl (ducks, geese and swans) migrate through the Oxbow in large numbers every spring. While some days are better than others, there are always some waterfowl present in the Oxbow area at this season. February is also a great time of the year to find large numbers of Bald Eagles in the Oxbow area. At this time of year resident and over-wintering Bald Eagles numbers are augmented by migrating birds. A diverse assemblage of other species are expected and should be found including seasonal residents and early spring migrants. These include hawks, gulls, grebes, herons and numerous songbirds. Even Sandhill Cranes are possible.

It will be against this backdrop that our trip leader, Ryan Jorgensen, will lead this morning visit to the Oxbow. Our chances of seeing a diversity of birds and other wildlife are very good because Ryan is not just a skilled birder, but is also an expert naturalist as well. Ryan has a Master’s degree in Biological Science at UC where he specialized in herpetology and he is also a board member of our local Audubon Society.

Ryan plans to move around to several locations in the Oxbow area, including Lost Bridge over the Great Miami River, to better our chances of finding a wide variety of species. These plans will depend on accessibility and water conditions, as flooding is the norm in the Oxbow at this season. Spring flooding is a natural occurrence in the floodplain of the Oxbow and in fact can sometimes attract large assemblages of waterfowl, gulls and other water birds when these conditions occur.

Shake off your cabin fever and join Ryan for an interesting morning of wildlife viewing in the Oxbow. Aside from seeing waterfowl and other birds and wildlife, mud and cold weather is also guaranteed, so dress appropriately and wear decent footwear. This morning trip that should end before noon. Walking will be moderate with lots of stops for viewing birds and other wildlife. There are no restrooms available in the Oxbow but there are plenty of nearby businesses with restroom facilities. Contact Ryan if you have any questions regarding the trip.