A popular birding route is to park at the end of the parking lot, walk past the kiosk, then descend down to the main trail, turning right. Follow this through woods, then along the edge of Crum Creek on the right, and meadow with successional trees on the left. This stretch along the creek is often quite birdy with songbirds in trees, Belted Kingfisher and Wood Ducks. Baltimore and Orchard Orioles nest in trees dotting the meadow. Eastern Bluebirds and Tree Swallows utilize nestboxes monitored by Natural Lands volunteers.

Hildacy is a good place for sparrows in fall. Look for them in the southeast area, where a sloped trail connects the lower and upper meadows.

The parking lot often hosts an array of activity. Pileated Woodpeckers hang around trees in spring. In the winter, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are reliable in big pine trees. "Roadside viewing" is marked "Unknown" for this hotspot (in accordance with editing guidelines) because although it is not a primary way to experience this hotspot, birding from a vehicle is possible at the parking lot.

Woodpeckers, ducks, orioles, sparrows, bluebirds, swallows, kingfisher, wrens.

Natural Lands, a non-profit land trust organization, owns and cares for the 55-acre Hildacy Preserve. The property is free and open sunrise to sunset, 7 days a week year-round. There is ample parking and about 3.5 miles of trails. Habitat includes meadows, light woodlands, and a tributary of the Crum Creek. 

There are no public restrooms at Hildacy, but a 24-hour Wawa with gas, restrooms, and food is less than 2 miles away, at 1260 N Providence Road, Media PA.

Natural Lands preserve staff work hard to maintain habitat and trails. Paths may be muddy. Hildacy Preserve details and trail map available on website https://natlands.org/hildacypreserve/.