Strawtown Koteewi
Strawtown, IN
Strawtown Koteewi is a 750 acre park with tons of birding potential.
Specialty Species:
Northern Harrier: This is one of the most reliable locations in Hamilton County for Northern Harriers. Look for it hunting in the southern half of the park.
Sandhill Crane: Cranes will sometimes stop in migration, usually in the southern half of the property.
Red-headed Woodpecker: This park is one of the only reliable spots for Red-headed Woodpecker in central Indiana. Watch along the river for these birds.
Grasshopper Sparrow: Many Grasshopper Sparrows breed throughout the property. Look for them in any of the grassland areas.
Dickcissel: Look for Dickcissels throughout the grassland areas.
Lapland Longspur: When it snows, look for these birds along the road through the park and on the road to the west parking lot.
Snow Bunting: Look for these birds along the roadways. Another place to look is about a mile west of the park on Strawtown Avenue on a small horse farm on the north side of the road.
Where to Bird:
- North Loop Trail
- South Loop Trail
North Loop Trail: Park in either of the parking lots and hike the trail that follows the river. The area on this trail can have many sparrows and warblers. Yellow-billed Cuckoos and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks also nest along the trail.
South Loop Trail: After parking you will have to walk under the bridge to get to the South Loop Trail. There is a colony of Cliff Swallows that nest under the bridge. The South Loop Trail is very good for sparrows and Red-headed Woodpecker. Look for Grasshopper, Vesper, Savannah, American Tree, Field, Fox, White-throated, White-crowned, and Chipping Sparrows here too, all of which are present depending on the time of year. The southern half of the park can host unusual raptors during the fall and winter including Golden Eagle, Merlin, Northern Harrier, and Rough-legged Hawk, not to mention the always present Red-tailed Hawks and American Kestrels.
Hours:
Dawn to Dusk
Fees:
None
Accessiblity:
Trails are not rugged but are also not wheelchair accessible.
Trails:
6 miles of trails through the park.
Non-birding Equipment Needed:
- None
Lenght of Visit:
2-3 Hours
Map:
Website:
Directions:
From the North: Take I-65 South to Exit 59 (SR-22/US-35). Turn right (west) and travel 7.9 miles and turn left (south) on SR37. Travel 30 miles to Strawtown Avenue. Turn right (west). The first parking area is 0.5 miles from SR37 and the second one is 0.4 miles after the first.
From the South: Take I-69 north to SR-37. Travel north for just under 12 miles to Strawtown Avenue. Turn left (west). The first parking area is 0.5 miles from SR-37 and the second one is 0.4 miles after the first.
From the East: Take I-69 to SR-38. Travel west on SR-38 for 13.6 miles. Turn right (north) on SR-37 and travel 6.3 miles to Strawtown Avenue. Turn left (west). The first parking area is 0.5 miles from SR-37 and the second one is 0.4 miles after the first.
From the West: From US-31 take SR-32 west for 7.6 miles to SR-37. Turn left (north) and go 6.3 miles to Strawtown Avenue. Turn left (west). The first parking area is 0.5 miles from SR-37 and the second one is 0.4 miles after the first.
Address:
12308 E. Strawtown Ave.
Noblesville, IN 46060
Nearby Birding: