Birding Drives are routes for birding trips which can be accomplished in one day, stopping to walk and bird at various eBird hotspots. For each birding drive, a Google map is provided with the route and suggested stops at eBird hotspots. You may save the link to the Google map on your smartphone or tablet, or print a copy on paper to take with you. Links are provided with information about each eBird hotspot. Follow those links for more information about birding each location.
Fayette County Birding Drive
Click on the hotspot names below to view the page about that hotspot.
Fayette County is one of Ohio’s “under-birded” counties (fewer than 1000 eBird checklists). This Birding Drive explores eBird hotspots in the county. When you submit checklists here you help to add to the data about birds in this region of Ohio.
Washington Court House, Ohio 43160
The Robinson Road Trailhead is on the east side of Washington Court House. Take US–22 east and turn right onto Old Chillicothe Road. Drive 1.3 miles and turn left on Robinson Road. The trailhead parking lot is about a mile ahead on Robinson road.
The Robinson Road Trailhead for the Paint Creek Recreational Trail is on the south side of Robinson Road. This parking area also provides access to the Shaw Wetlands, agricultural fields that have been restored as wetland habitat. There are trails which explore this wetland that leave from the parking area.
Tri-County Triangle Trail, Inc. was formed in the early 1990’s with an idea to convert abandoned railroad right-of-ways into public multi-use trails connecting Chillicothe, Frankfort, Greenfield, and Washington Court House. Since this corridor formed a triangle the name for the group was established. The name of the trail was recently changed to the Paint Creek Recreational Trail.
Madison Road Northeast Madison Mills, Ohio 43160
From the Robinson Road Trailhead head east on Robinson Road for .4 miles. Turn left onto Bogus Road and drive 3.5 miles. Turn right onto Washington Waterloo Road and then turn left on Old Springfield Road. Drive 1.3 miles and turn right onto US-62 east. Go 5 miles and turn right onto Madison Road. Madison Mills Cemetery is .4 miles from this turn.
Located on Madison Road near Madison Mills, this large old cemetery is bordered by Paint Creek on the back side and features many old cedars. Along one side is farmland, and on the other is a brushy second-growth woods on private land. Best birding is around the perimeter which, especially in winter, features sparrows.
From Margaret Bowman
Mount Sterling, Ohio 43143
From Madison Mills Cemetery drive southeast on Madison Road for .9 miles. Turn left onto Post Road and drive 2.7 miles. Turn left onto OH-207 north and drive .7 miles. Turn right onto Cook Yankeetown Road and drive 1.6 miles. Turn right on Waterloo Road. In .7 mile Waterloo Road becomes Waters Road. Access to Deer Creek Reservoir in the wildlife area is at the end of Waters road.
The 4,220-acre wildlife area is in central Ohio, four miles south of Mount Sterling on OH-207 and adjacent to the 1,277-acre Deer Creek Lake. It can be reached from the east and west by US-22 and OH-56, and from the north and south by US-62 and OH-3, OH-104, and OH-207.
The topography is flat to slightly rolling. The soils are mostly well drained and of medium to high productivity. Approximately 1,000 acres of row crops and small grains are under cultivation annually. Controlled burning and native warm season grass plantings have also been introduced as part of the wildlife management program.
Most of the Deer Creek Reservoir is in Pickaway County. Continue to explore the whole area if you have more time.