A few weeks after Great Parks’ annual Winter Bird Count, the final numbers are in, and they tell a compelling story of avian biodiversity in Greater Cincinnati. In a single day, staff, volunteers and community members spread out across all 22 Great Parks destinations, documenting 76 unique bird species. Notable sightings included the American wigeon, last seen during the 2010 Winter Bird Count, and the Lapland longspur, a first-time observation for the count.
In total, 57 dedicated volunteers and staff members ventured out on the trails, peering overhead in hopes of spotting their elusive subjects among bare branches. This year, Great Parks’ interpretive naturalists piloted educational hikes as part of the count, welcoming 20 additional community members. Every sighting, whether from a seasoned birder or a first-time participant, contributes to one of our nation’s longest-running community science efforts, providing valuable data that helps Great Parks track long-term trends, measure biodiversity and guide land management decisions across Hamilton County.
The success of this year’s count highlights something avid birders already know to be true: winter may be a quieter season, but it’s one of our region’s most rewarding times to break out the binoculars. Fallen leaves give way to clearer lines of sight through deciduous treetops, revealing behaviors often overlooked in busier seasons and survival strategies that resident songbirds and woodpeckers rely on through the coldest months. Reduced foliage exposes meadows and other open areas, offering prime hunting grounds for birds of prey like red-tailed hawks and black vultures, and an unobstructed view for their onlookers. Waterfowl like Canada geese, wood ducks and mallards congregate near riverbanks and wetlands, keeping regional waterways alive with activity.
The same seasonal conditions that made the Winter Bird Count so productive also create an ideal setting for guided exploration in the weeks ahead. Beginning Jan. 10, Great Parks’ annual Winter Hike Series returns to Winton Woods, with hikes continuing each Saturday through Feb. 10 at different Great Parks destinations. As part of the series, guests may participate in one of several themed hikes, including a specialized birding experience on Jan. 10, 17 and 24, though any of the series’ hikes can be an opportunity to spot some feathered friends.
On Valentine’s Day, Woodland Mound will host an observation site for the Great Backyard Bird Count, a worldwide community science effort launched in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. Looking even further ahead, Great Parks’ year-round bird walks and Birding 101 programs offer continued opportunities for birders of all experience levels to build confidence, slow down and connect with the natural world.
Winter may strip our region’s landscapes to their most barren state, but for those willing to pause and look closely, it presents some of the clearest windows into the lives of birds, and an open invitation to keep watching as we dream of warmer days ahead.
Insights for this column were provided by Alex Golden, nature interpreter with Great Parks and lead organizer of the 2025 Winter Bird Count. Look for Flying Wild monthly on CityBeat’s website.