Contributed by Fernando Corrada
Delta Park Important Bird Area Spotlight
Delta Park is located in Colchester in Chittenden County. This magnificent natural area encompasses 55 acres of diverse habitats that include lakeside marshes, buttonbush swamp, sand beaches, grassland, river, and lake. Delta Park is one of 17 Important Bird Areas (IBA) in Vermont and has been owned and managed by the Winooski Valley Park District since 2008. The current checklist includes 251 species, making it the top birding spot in Vermont!
Delta Park is a multi-use area. Visitors partake in birdwatching, biking, walking, kite surfing, kayaking, fishing, and sunset watching. The main parking lot is located at the Colchester Point Fishing Access Area with very limited facilities, including a picnic table, one porta-potty, and a boat ramp. Closer to the lakeshore, past the bike path, is a small parking lot for 4 cars at the end and 2-3 cars at the entrance (right side).
Birding at Delta Park can be divided into four sections:
From the main parking lot, walk along the Winooski River looking for ducks, Belted Kingfisher, Bald Eagle, Osprey, egrets, and herons. There are forests on both sides of the river; on the west side you can get close to the woods edge and listen for songbirds, woodpeckers, thrushes, and other woodland species. The forest you see on the east side of the river is Derway Island and is a separate birding hotspot in eBird. Next to the boat ramp you will find a trail that follows the river to the south. This trail leads to the southern edge of the forest and to a marsh area and a swamp where access is limited depending on the season. This area is very good for woodland birds like songbirds, thrushes, flycatchers, and sparrows. On the river look for ducks, egrets, herons, and, if the river water level is low, several shorebird species like Greater/Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Sanderling, etc. During Spring and Fall migration expect to find many warblers, flycatchers, vireos, thrushes, ducks, and shorebirds in good numbers, with some uncommon species moving on rather quickly.
Island Line Trail is a multi-use trail and bike path that goes from Shelburne to the Colchester Railroad Causeway and beyond if you take the seasonal bike/people ferry. Walk south on the bike path until you get to the metal bridge, where you will have fantastic views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains to the west and the Winooski River and Derway Island to the east. This path is an excellent place to see migrating songbirds in great numbers, as well as waterfowl.
The shoreline trail begins at the small parking area west of the bike path and goes west for a short distance until you reach the sandy beach and the north bay. This area between the small bushes and the forest edge is very productive, especially during bird migration. The mudflat area here is dependent on the seasonal rainfall, so sometimes the lake water level is very high and a large portion of the grasses and shoreline will be underwater, greatly reducing the shorebird habitat. Follow the trail south to the reedy area and listen for sparrow and warbler species. As you continue south on the path, you will get to a point where the kiteboarders set up shop when the wind conditions are favorable. From this point the trail continues for about 0.4 miles and ends at the mouth of the Winooski River and the metal bridge. If a wide portion of the shoreline is exposed, there will be a lot of shorebird species in this area.
If you look toward the lake, you may see a couple of long thin sandy strips that change in dimensions with the lake water level and wind conditions. Be mindful of the currents and the wind. If the conditions are good, these islands will be full of gulls, terns, shorebirds, and ducks.
It is worth visiting Delta Park throughout the year—surprise sightings are always possible. It offers easy access, diverse habitats, and most of the time is not too busy with the exception of peak biking times on the bike path in good weather. Weather conditions can change quickly, so bring extra clothing to keep you warm and dry. Be mindful that some of the grassy areas and the forest edges have ticks, so take appropriate measures and check your body when you get home. It is a safe area, but it’s not advisable to leave any valuables inside your vehicle as break-ins have occurred in the past.