Location:

Northeast Indiana

Allen County, Indiana

DeLorme Page 29, Grid C-8 (Labeled "Ft Wayne Children's Zoo")

Description:

Franke Park is a heavily used recreational park that is also home to the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo. The largely undeveloped north and northwest sections of the park contain mature deciduous woodland and second growth scrub which taken together serve as an attractive oasis in the city for migrating songbirds.

The trails in the wooded northwestern part of the park--accessed from the BMX track parking lot--can be very good in songbird migration, especially in spring. A good number and variety of migrant songbirds can typically be seen here in a limited amount of time during spring migration. There are a number of good trails leading off from the park road in this area.

Shoaff Lake sometimes has migrant waterfowl, waders, gulls, and terns. The wooded slope above Shoaff Lake can be good songbirding as well.

Typical Time to Bird Site: 2-3 Hours

Birds:

Overview:

Small numbers of waterfowl, waders, gulls, and terns occur in migration. Although the woods harbor a few hawks and owls, songbirds are the main attraction, especially migrant flycatchers, vireos, thrushes, warblers, and sparrows. Among the less common migrants found annually in spring are Hooded, Kentucky, Prothonotary, and Mourning Warblers, along with Northern Parula. Connecticut Warblers are encountered with some regularity, though not every year.

Specialty Species:

None.

Noteworthy Records:

Eared Grebe - Shoaff Lake

American Bittern - pond near Psi Ote Lodge

Worm-eating Warbler - wooded areas; multiple records exist, most in early May

"Lawrence's" Warbler

General:

Ownership:

City of Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department

260-427-6000

Hours:

None.

Fees:

None.

Restrooms:

Indoor restrooms are available in the park but may not be open in winter or early a.m.; restrooms also available at gas stations and restaurants along Coliseum Blvd.

Lodging:

While there are no camping facilities at Franke Park, ample hotel / motel accommodations can be found in Fort Wayne.

Special Considerations:

Insects: Expect mosquitos from mid-May throughout the summer.

Terrain: Many trails are hilly. All may be muddy with areas of standing water in the spring. You may or may not want to wade across the creek to bird on the other side, which is possible with waterproof boots when water is low.

Safety: Theft from parked cars is possible but not epidemic. Lock your car and put valuables in the trunk.

Temporal Considerations:

Franke Park is most productive during spring migration--mid-April through late May--with peak songbird migration occurring during the second and third weeks of May. The park is also worthwhile birding in the fall, from late August through mid-October. During the summer and on nice spring and fall weekends, crowds tend to hamper birding from late morning throughout the rest of the day; thus, birding is usually best in the early morning regardless of the time of year. Franke Park typically has little to offer to birders in summer and winter, although Broad-winged Hawks have nested here in the past.

Directions:

From the North or South: take I-69 to exit #109 on the northwest side of Fort Wayne. Exit south onto SR 930 east and follow it as it turns left (east) onto Coliseum Boulevard. From this light go 1.4 miles east on Coliseum Boulevard (SR 930) to Sherman Boulevard--there's a stoplight at this intersection and a BP gas station on the corner. Turn right (south) onto Sherman Boulevard and continue for 1.1 miles to the Franke Park entrance on your right. Turn into the park here. The zoo parking lot will be immediately on the right after turning into the park. A short distance after passing the zoo lot, the park road forks--take the right fork. Shoaff Lake will appear on the right 0.1 miles after taking the right fork. Park here to check the lake and the wooded slope on the lake's north side. Just beyond Shoaff Lake, one branch of the road is blocked; take the open left fork, which goes uphill to a gravel lot in a large open area (the BMX track parking lot). Park here and walk across the clearing in the direction you were driving to reach the wooded northwestern section of the park.

From the West: take US 30 east across I-69, at which point it becomes SR 930 east. Continue east on SR 930 as per above.

From the East: take I-469 north around the north side of Fort Wayne and exit onto I-69 south at exit #30. Continue south on I-69 to exit #109. Exit south onto SR 930 east and continue as per above.

References:

Keller, Charles E., Shirley A. Keller, and Timothy C. Keller.

Indiana Birds and Their Haunts: A Checklist and Finding Guide. Second Edition.

Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1986.

Credits: