Greenlawn Avenue Dam,
Reservoir and Bike Path

To get there, take I-71 south of downtown Columbus to the Greenlawn Avenue exit and drive east about 1 mile. Just before reaching the bndge, turn north into the dead end street paralleling the Scioto River. Or from South High Street, drive west on Whittier Street to the small park and boat ramp.

On the west side of the river, the bike path passes under the bridge and continues south of Greenlawn Avenue to Frank Road. From mid-April through May, many migrant birds that follow the river can be seen to advantage. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Northern Flickers, Winter Wrens, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Hermit Thrushes, flocks of American Robins, Brown Thrashers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Rufous-sided Towhees, Dark-eyed Juncos, and bands of sparrows give way to flycatchers, vireos, warblers of many species, tanagers, and grosbeaks as the spring progresses.

By the end of April, House Wrens appear and seem to be everywhere along the path. This is also one of the best places around Columbus to look for the first returning Yellow Warblers. Listen for the skeow call of recently arrived Green-backed Herons along the river bank, and overhead watch for diurnal migrants such as Chimney Swifts, Barn Swallows, and mixed flocks of blackbirds. There is also aways a chance of seeing a few Black-crowned Night-Herons or an Osprey along this stretch of the river.

By the first of May, there will be an abundance of Common Yellowthroats, Indigo Buntings, and many other migrating songbirds. The bike path is especially good for Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Veeries, Swainson's and Wood thrushes, Ovenbirds, Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and large numbers of transient Indigo Buntings. Warbling Vireos and Northern Orioles show up early in May and stay to nest in the cottonwoods above the dam. The rapids below the dam should be scanned for Green-backed Herons, a few shorebirds&emdash;most likely Greater and Lesser yellowlegs &emdash; and Belted Kingfishers. At least one pair of Yellow-crowned Night Herons frequently nest south of Greenlawn Avenue.

The reservoir behind the dam attracts waterbirds in the fall, during open winters, and in early spring. American Black Ducks, Mallards, Blue-winged Teals, and American Wigeons appear by mid September. Later in the season, and again in early spring, look for Horned and Pied-billed grebes, some of the diving ducks including Red-breasted and Hooded Mergansers. Flocks of Ring-billed Gulls and occasional Bonaparte's Gulls are seen in spring and fall, and a few Herring Gulls join wintering Ring-bills during the colder months. Double-crested Cormorants have become quite common in recent years, and Great Egrets and Coots are regular migrants.

Some of the more unusual birds that have been seen here include: Little Blue Heron, Cattle Egret, Tundra Swan, Eurasian Wigeon, Greater Scaup, Oldsquaw, White-winged Scoter, Peregine Falcon, Merlin, American Avocet, Hudsonian and Marbled godwits, Franklin's Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Snowy Owl, Clay-colored Sparrow, and Lark Bunting.