Location:

Central Indiana

Hamilton County, Indiana

DeLorme Page 39, Grid E-8

GPS:   40º 00' 62" N     86º 07' 55" W

Description:

Opened by the Hamilton County Parks Department in 1990, Cool Creek Park has proven to be one of the best sites in Central Indiana for viewing migrant passerines. The relatively small size of the park (91 acres) makes internal navigation fairly easy and unambiguous. Once inside the park you'll find a mile-long paved loop and two separate parking areas from which you can venture forth onto the park's three trails. The parking lots are located at the Nature Center and the Picnic Area.

The 1-mile-long Beech Trail covers the north end of the park and starts at the Picnic Area parking lot. At 1.5 miles in length, Tulip Trail is the longest footpath in the park. This trail starts at the Nature Center parking lot and courses around the park's outer boundaries. Paw-paw Trail also starts at the Nature Center parking lot. This short trail, some 0.5 miles long, leaves the Nature Center lot and runs through the southern end of the park.

A small creek (Cool Creek) also winds through the park, and although it usually dries up by late summer, it attracts a good number of birds in the spring. Footpaths flank both sides of the creek, allowing for great access throughout much of its length.

The park is very accessible and provides an easy walk for birders of all ages. The Nature Center at Cool Creek is open six days a week, and the staff there can provide additional information about the site. Also of interest at the Nature Center is a feeder area that can be viewed through one-way glass.

Typical Time to Bird Site: 1-2 Hours

Birds:

Overview:

A total of 160 species have been sighted in the park since it opened in 1990. Despite its small size it is an excellent spot for migrant passerines. Warbler migration in both spring and fall is typically very good, with 32 species having been recorded in the park. Thrushes and vireos also migrate through the park in good numbers.

Specialty Species:

Among the many species that nest in the park are Cooper's Hawks , Yellow-throated Vireos , and Yellow-throated Warblers . All three of these species are best found May through August. The Cooper's Hawks in particular are observed with great frequency throughout the park during the summer.

Noteworthy Records:

Green Heron - nesting birds

Golden Eagle

Northern Parula - nesting birds

Lawrence's Warbler - (04-May-1996)

Black-headed Grosbeak - (09-Sep-1997)

General:

Ownership:

Hamilton County Parks and Recreation Department

Nature Center: 317-848-0576

Hours:

Dawn to dusk year-round.

Nature Center Hours: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Tuesday-Saturday, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Sundays. Closed on Mondays.

Fees:

None.

Restrooms:

Portable toilets are available at the Picnic Area, while indoor facilities can be found at the Nature Center.

Lodging:

While there are no camping facilities available at Cool Creek Park, hotel / motel accommodations can be found in nearby Carmel and Indianapolis.

Special Considerations:

Bird hikes led by local experts are conducted each Saturday at 8:00 am. Meet at the Picnic Area (north) parking lot.

Temporal Considerations:

Because Cool Creek Park attracts good numbers of passerines in migration, spring and fall are definitely the most productive times to visit. Nesting birds can be found well into the summer.

Directions:

From the North: Take US 31 south, through the town of Westfield, to the stoplight at 151st Street. Turn left (east) onto 151st Street and proceed for 0.2 miles to the park entrance on the left (north) side of the road. The entrance is immediately after the Westfield-Washington Township fire station.

From the South: Go north on US 31 / Meridian Street (or, alternatively, US 421 / Keystone Avenue) to where the two highways join on the north side of Carmel. Continue north a short distance to 151st Street. Turn right (east), onto 151st Street and proceed for 0.2 miles to the park entrance on the left (north) side of the road.

Links:

Hamilton County Parks and Recreation Department - Cool Creek Park

A brief description and maps of Cool Creek park.

Chipper Woods Bird Observatory

Visit the homepage of CWBO, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing good science to the conservation of birds and their habitats. Much of the bird banding and migration research conducted by CWBO is done at Cool Creek Park.

Credits: