The Mary K. Oxley Nature Center is the birding hub of Mohawk Park. To reach the Nature Center, pass the toll booth and take every left turn to a large sign indicating "Mary K. Oxley Nature Center". Turn right at the sign and follow the road east to the parking lot by the Interpretive Building.

GPS coordinates of the Oxley nature Parking lot. N. 36 degrees 13.418' W. 095 54.235' 573 Elevation.

Located in the northeastern section of the park, the Center embraces a wooded lake which holds two sizeable islands, a marsh with boardwalk, wet prairie, dry grass fields, and hardwood groves with scattered cedar, small streams often dammed by beaver, and Bird Creek which batters its way across the county to the Kerr-McClelland Waterway.

The area immediately surrounding the parking lot is a good place to begin birding. The ponds, fields, and groves of trees offer diverse communities to explore. Three trails are accessible from this location, as is the grassy clearing known as the Flowline. Summer birds to find here are Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, orioles, six woodpecker species, four Tyrant flycatchers including Scissor-tailed, herons, egrets, Indigo Buntings, Field Sparrows, hummingbirds, and a few warblers. The wooded area behind the building has had nesting Kentucky Warblers, the Acadian Flycatcher which nests, and perhaps the Willow Flycatcher. Appropriate areas should be checked for Northern Parula, Yellow-throated Warbler, and Dickcissel. Owls are sometimes found in the woods or in cedar trees to the west. Woodcock are possible nearby. The pond near the building is a good place for birds of the season and has even attracted a White-faced Ibis. Winter sparrows coming to feeders are White­throated, Lincoln's, American Tree, Harris's, Goldfinch and Pine Siskin. In the meadow below the boardwalk are Fox and Song sparrows. Eastern Phoebe builds its nest under the boardwalk.

Your visit should include hiking at least one of the trails that allow access to the forests, fields, and wetlands of the Nature Center. The trails may be hiked seven days a week, year-round. The trails are closed to the public during Mohawk Park's curfew hours: 9:00 pm. to 5:00 a.m. You may park outside the gates from 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. to walk the trails even when the gates are closed.

Mohawk Park, containing 3,300 acres, is the largest park in Tulsa and one of the largest city parks in the country. The sprawling park was created as part of the 1924 public works project that piped drinking water from the Spavinaw Dam to Tulsa. More than 800 acres of the park feature Oxley Nature Center with hiking, picnicking, a 5-acre marsh with 600 foot boardwalk and observation tower and 9+ miles trails. The interpretive center houses hands-on exhibits, an observation beehive, restrooms and drinking water. The area is also home to abundant wildlife and waterfowl, the Tulsa Zoo and the Mohawk Park Golf Course, 36 hole disc golf course, several CCC-era picnic shelters, polo field and several miles of equestrian trails.

There are nearly nine miles of trails. Most of them are flat and fairly smooth. Wheelchairs and strollers may be taken down many of the trails unless rain has made the dirt or grass surfaces too soft or muddy. The trails are not set up for horses or bicycles or vehicles of any kind.

To reach the parking area for the North Woods Unit of the Nature Center, continue east to the stop sign (Winston). Turn left and proceed north to the graveled road, following the road around the lake to the end.

From the Oxley Nature Center in the eastern section of the park, continue west to Lake Yahola and turn into the graveled road on the right after crossing the bridge, or from the south, go north on Winston from 36 St. N. [NOTE: On weekends and holidays, April through November, the road north of the North Woods entrance road is closed, necessitating the use of the main Park entrance, 0.3 mile east of Sheridan on Port Road (36 St. N).]

The North Woods is a mature oak-hickory woods with excellent birding the year round. In spring it holds scores of migrating warblers and other species. Several ponds provide habitat for water birds including both Yellow-crowned and Black-crowned Night-Herons, and there have been two reports of Anhinga. Several trails are available. North Woods Trail, beginning at the parking lot, leads north between two ponds. This is fine warbler habitat in early to mid-May, producing the rare Connecti­cut and Hooded warblers; four Empidonax flycatchers sing on location, and in winter Ruby-crowned Kinglets forage with pairs of Golden-crowned. The uncommon Yellow-throated Vireo arrives in April and has nested.

The trail leads to the north shore of Mallard Lake, continuing left onto Beaver Lodge Trail or right to connect with the North Woods Loop. Both are good birding areas. Numbers of Woodcock have been seen along the south shore of Mallard Lake in September. The use of a scope is advised. The swampy areas or pond sides with standing timber are usual­ly full of nesting Prothonotary Warblers. Northern Parula and Kentucky warblers nest as do White-eyed and Red-eyed vireos. In spring be alert for the song of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Check dead stubs in tree tops both spring and fall for Olive-sided Flycatchers. Barred Owl and Pileated Woodpecker are permanent residents. In winter, sparrows and juncos are abundant in grassy clearings, and Winter Wren, Evening Gros­beak and Purple Finch are possible.

The Sierra Club Trail is found by walking east from the parking lot along the small dike east of Yahola. Look over ponds to the right and wet areas to the left. In mid-May the Philadelphia Vireo and the Canada Warbler (uncommon) have come to buttonbush and small trees that fringe the pond. In about 200 yards the trail heads down steps to the left. In a newly opened area which has not been birded extensively, the trail could become one of the better birding spots. On returning to the road, look below the dike for Rufous-sided Towhee and Fox Sparrow in winter. In spring the trees, brush, and edges of both pond and road attract Black-and-white, Swainson's, Magnolia, Black­throated Green, and Palm warblers, plus a dozen more common warbler species. In winter Savannah Sparrow and occasionally a Le Conte's Sparrow are found in grass along the big dike. Search for Sedge Wrens here in March and April.