Butler County is a bird watchers delight. Whether you’re a birding enthusiast or just getting started in your bird watching endeavors, there are many ways to enjoy birding in Butler County, PA through learning more about bird species found here and visiting birding hotspots.
Butler County is accessible by I-79, I-80 and the PA Turnpike. You might spot Osprey, Bald Eagles, or a Cerulean Warbler. Learn more by downloading the birding handout!
Begin your day in Slippery Rock where you can get all of the necessary supplies at The Birdwatcher’s Store. Not only is the store itself intriguing, but you can begin birdwatching right there. It’s located on a 4-acre sanctuary with birdfeeders outside. It has a huge back window and they provide binoculars for visitors to borrow. They also host birdwatching excursions.
Moraine State Park in Portersville is a great place to spot our feathered friends. The park consists of 16,725 acres and features over 42 miles of scenic shoreline. Bald Eagles, loons, warblers, heron and Osprey are among the many species that can be found throughout the Park.
Osprey are often seen flying over Lake Arthur. Once extirpated from western Pennsylvania, these “fish hawks” have been reintroduced to Moraine through a hacking program begun in 1993.
The first Osprey pair to nest along Lake Arthur as a result of the reintroduction effort raised three young in 1996. Bald Eagles have also been spotted nesting in the park.
Popular places for birding at Moraine include the waterfowl observation deck along old Route 422 (accessible from Route 528) and on the upper deck of Preston’s Pearl, an enclosed pontoon boat where passengers learn about Moraine State Park’s history and wildlife. Preston’s Pearl is operated by the Moraine Preservation Fund (MPF) and cruises are offered from Memorial Day Weekend through October.
Viewers can also take advantage of a webcam featuring a continuous Live Stream of an active Osprey nest along the North Shore of Lake Arthur. This osprey webcam is supported by MPF and Experience Butler County PA, and it allows users 24-hour viewing access available April through September.
An abundance of bird species can be found among the prairie and woodlands at Jennings Environmental Education Center in Slippery Rock. Goldfinches, Song and Field Sparrows, swallows, bluebirds, flycatchers and Woodcocks are among the many birds that can be spotted throughout the center’s 300 acres. Visit Jennings’ prairie area on spring evenings at dusk, to witness the Woodcock’s amazing courtship ritual! The oak-hickory-cherry forest surrounding the prairie features a high density of breeding Carolina Wrens and Blue-Winged Warblers are found on the brushy edges of the prairie.
Jennings Environmental Education Center has been certified an Audubon Society Wildlife Sanctuary since 1999 and is noted especially for its breeding population of Cerulean Warbler.
Together, Jennings Environmental Education Center and Moraine State Park cover 17,025 acres that have been designated as an Important Bird Area #12 by the National Audubon Society and monitored by volunteers of the Bartramian Audubon Society.
Other spots for great birding include Todd Nature Reserve, Buffalo Creek Nature Park, and Succop Nature Park, both operated by the Western Pennsylvania Audubon Society. They feature wooded trails and offer free guided birdwatching walks throughout the week.
A unique day trip includes a visit to Stormy Oaks Nature Conservatory in Valencia where Wildbird Recovery, a licensed wildlife rehabilitation center provides services to birds and educational programming. Check out their events, storytimes, and education programs to learn more about their work with birds.
Butler Birders Club
The newly formed Butler Birders Club is expanding local horizons by offering unique birding opportunities, educational experiences, and even a themed book club for enthusiasts across the county.
The Birdwatchers Store
The favorite destination of wild bird enthusiasts of all ages. They carry optics, feeders, seed, houses, poles, gifts, and more! View birds at their outside feeders and ask about their birding tours.
Jennings Environmental Education Center
They have a gift shop with nature-themed offerings. Find field guides, local artist’s photos, honey, and more!
Moraine Preservation Fund, The Owlet Gift Shop
They have a unique collection of nature gifts and collectables. Find items such as local honey, maple syrup, hand crafted bird houses, a vast assortment of t-shirts, hats, and sweatshirts.
Everything bird. Including a place to watch them.
The Pittsburgh region’s largest selection of feeders, pole systems, the freshest quality seed, books, nesting boxes, bird houses, gifts, and other cool stuff.
All in a century-old schoolhouse on 3.5 acres of Audubon-certified wildlife sanctuary.
Buffalo Creek Nature Park is a joint venture between ASWP and Buffalo Township, with major funding provided by Babcock Charitable Trust, Richard King Mellon Foundation, PA Department of Community & Economic Development, PA Department of Nature Resources, Grable Foundation, and ASWP members and friends from across the region.
The park features:
The Butler-Freeport Community Trail is the corridor of the remarkably diverse Buffalo Creek Watershed in the southeast quadrant of Butler County. Starting in Laneville, the trail has Buffalo Creek as its companion for over 3 miles through the forest of the Buffalo Creek Gorge. The Buffalo Creek Gorge is the spectacular view which can be seen from bridge on Route 28 a mile north of the Sarver-Freeport exit. The Trail then picks up Little Buffalo Creek as its companion for another 8 miles, crossing the creek seven times. Many of the smaller tributaries are reminiscent of mountain brooks, offering natural cooling on a hot day and the thrill of rushing, tumbling water in all seasons. Gradually as the trail meanders northward toward Butler, it travels from the woods of the Gorge to a broader forest valley with the trail securely passing between cliffs on one side and the Little Buffalo Creek on the other to more open woods to farmland and village communities before again plunging into forest as it leaves Little Buffalo Creek near it headwaters.
The Butler-Freeport Community Trail is a rail-trail, preserving the route of Butler County’s first railroad (1871), the Western Pennsylvania Railroad which connected the City of Butler to the Allegheny River port of Freeport. As a rails-to-trails project, the trail offers a level, natural crushed limestone surface with a gradual uphill grade as it travels north (barely noticeable to walkers) and the converse downhill grade as it travels south (greatly enjoyed by bicyclists). The trail is enjoyed by people of all ages for walking, jogging, hiking, bicycling, and with the help of Mother Nature, cross-country skiing.
GRLC is a non-profit, grass roots, community group dedicated to the restoration of Glade Run Lake in Middlesex Township, southern Butler County. Built in 1954 and drained due to a hazardous dam in 2011, Glade Run has offered fishing and motorless boating to 16,000 yearly visits, bringing $1.2 million annually to the local economy. This 150 acre property, 50+ acres of which were lake, has been a quiet destination for fisherfolk seeking an opportunity to land big bass, and see herons, bald eagles and beavers. Help us bring back southern Butler County's natural wonder.
Pennsylvania is known for its rolling hills, but the state’s only protected prairie, located in Slippery Rock, is a combination of protected prairie and forest which features rare wildflowers and endangered wildlife.
In addition to its hiking system Jennings Environmental Education Center is specifically dedicated to provide environmental education and interpretation to the community.
Jennings offers a variety of educational programs designed for an audience that varies from students, teachers, and the general public. These informative sessions are designed to increase knowledge and awareness of the beauty and importance of Pennsylvania’s natural resources.
By hiking Jennings’ trail network and community programs, visitors can enjoy the outdoors while learning the skills needed to be good stewards of these natural resources. Jennings’ 20-acre prairie ecosystem is home to distinctive prairie plants, including the spectacular blazing star. Each July, visitors enjoy hikes on Jennings’ 5-mile trail system when the stunning blazing star is in bloom.
Jennings is the first reserve established in Pennsylvania to protect an individual plant species and is also home to the endangered Massasauga rattlesnake. Eastern massasaugas were listed as threatened 2016 due to significant reductions in populations primarily due to habitat loss. Although a massasauga is rarely seen due to their natural camouflage, Jennings’ ecosystem provides an outstanding habitat for these protected animals.
Jennings Environmental Education Center is open every day of the year, sunrise to sunset, and day use areas close at dusk. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and some weekends. Contact the center office for facility seasons and hours, particularly for weekend schedules. Check out its award-winning interactive exhibit.
Jennings is also home to the Foltz School building. This quaint and recently restored one-room schoolhouse is nestled on the edge of Jennings EE Center, along Route 8.
The Moraine Preservation Fund (MPF) is a dedicated nonprofit organization powered by passionate volunteers and a handful of paid employees who work hard to support Moraine State Park through park projects/renovations, environmental educational opportunities and efforts in supporting outdoor recreation. MPF has also lead essential conservation efforts, including Project BATitat, the Osprey and Barn Owl Reintroduction Programs, and the creation of a Native Plant & Butterfly Trail, which flourishes near the park’s gift shop. These initiatives have helped protect and restore the park’s diverse ecosystems, ensuring a thriving habitat for local wildlife.
One way MPF connects visitors to their mission is through the Owlet Gift Shop, located at McDanel’s Boat Launch (just off the North Shore exit on Route 422 in Portersville). This charming shop isn’t just a place to find unique, nature-inspired gifts—it’s also a key source of funding for MPF’s projects. Every purchase directly supports efforts to preserve and enhance Moraine State Park. The shop offers locally crafted goods, educational materials, and park-related souvenirs, making it a must-visit spot for nature lovers. The gift shop is open 6 days a week from May to October, also participating in the Little Shops of Bulter County Shopping Tour in November and December.
Looking for a more immersive way to experience Lake Arthur? MPF also operates Preston’s Pearl, a one-of-a-kind enclosed pontoon boat with an upper deck that offers interpretive tours and a variety of specialty cruises. From May to October, this unique vessel welcomes guests aboard for public tours and private charters. Whether you’re soaking in the serene beauty of the lake or learning about Moraine’s history, Preston’s Pearl provides a memorable adventure for all ages. Keep an eye out for all available cruises on the event calendar! Book your cruise online at https://booking.attractionsuite.com/Attraction/ec/selectTourDate.action?sid=dke1wKr26Zo&calendarType=PrimaryCalendar#date12 or by calling the gift shop.
Hike 38 miles. Ride your horse for 20 miles. Bike seven miles. Mountain bike for six miles. Snowmobile for 26 miles. Have a picnic at one of the park’s many picnic tables. Keep your boat on the lake with 542 marina slips and 395 mooring spaces.
Each year, over one-million people visit Moraine State Park, making it Butler County’s top attraction. Tour the lake on Preston’s Pearl, a tour boat that offers a variety of cruises on Lake Arthur. Cruises are offered from Memorial Day Weekend through October, and more information can be found at Moraine Preservation Fund. Another unique way to enjoy the lake is through stand up paddleboarding lessons and guided eco tours with SurfSUP Adventures.
The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset, unless otherwise posted. Park information, launch permits, cabin information and assistance can be obtained at the park office near the entrance to the South Shore. The office is open year-round, Monday through Friday, 8 AM-4 PM, and weekends during the summer.
Before visiting, check out the DCNR’s Rules and Regulations, calendar and download the park map.
Opened to the public in May 2011, Preston Park in Butler Township is an 88-acre English garden, home to gardens, ponds, and wooded areas. It’s a perfect spot for picnics, fishing, hiking, bird watching and more.
Preston Park is the former estate of the late English-born Frank Preston, and his wife, Jane, both of whom created the park on the site which was also home to Preston Laboratories. As conservationists, the Prestons' work helped lead to the creation of Lake Arthur and Moraine State Park, McConnell’s Mill State Park, and Jennings Environmental Education center.
Changes to the park have been few over the years, such as an effort to utilize the original iron gates to form a proper entrance drive for the facility and the addition of some parking and restrooms to make the park more accommodating for visitors.
Multiple species of trees, including 40 different types of North American Spruce are part of the Arboretum. Flowering rhododendrons in the spring, a compass rose with mileage and directional markers to international cities, dog trails, hiking trails, and a connection to Saw Mill Run Township Park are other highlights of Preston Park’s magic.
Preston Park was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.
Photos by Melissa Bulfone
While saying that Succop Nature Park is for the birds might be true, it would also be a disservice to all the wonderful things this reserve – operated by the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania – has to offer.
Succop Nature Park beautifully sprawls throughout 50 acres of woodlands, gardens and lush meadows. Located in Penn Township, the property also features two ponds, dog friendly walking trails, and open natural spaces that can be used for a variety of activities.
This environmental and cultural education center, located near the Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport, also offers a comfortable atmosphere that lends itself to business meetings, retreats, classes, weddings, receptions, art exhibits or simply connecting to nature.
Succop Nature Park's historic mansion is tastefully decorated in traditional style, with art and antiques in numerous rooms located throughout the first floor. The estate was first built in 1830 and was purchased in 1921 by T.W. Phillips Jr., the son of the founder of T.W. Phillips Gas and Oil Company.
Phillips’ grandson, Tom Succop and his wife, Jo Ann, donated the estate to the Butler County Community College Education Foundation, which owned, operated and maintained it until the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania took over in 2011.
Today, Succop Nature Park is a birder’s paradise, specializing in all things nature.
The renovations, completed in 2019, include a renovated barn and a WindStax, which is a state-of-the-art windmill. You can read more about it here.
Also operated by the Western Pennsylvania Audubon Society, Todd Nature Reserve is the perfect place for outdoor lovers to explore trails and take in the sights and sounds of nature.
Located in Sarver, this 334-acre park consists of five miles of rustic trails, three streams and a man-made pond.
Todd Nature Reserve is part of Pennsylvania Audubon's Buffalo Valley Important Bird Area program, as well as the Buffalo Creek Watershed Conservation Plan.
The hiking trails, abundant with the natural beauty of the forest, streams and a pond, feature a rugged landscape and rustic views provide a welcome retreat from the highly manicured suburban world. Todd Nature Reserve promotes education, nature study and passive recreation while protecting the reserve’s natural areas by minimizing development.
Ornithologist W.E. Clyde Todd, who made his first significant birding discoveries on the land while visiting his grandfather at the end of the nineteenth century, donated the land that became the first part of the reserve, which began in 1942.
Stormy Oaks Nature Conservancy is located on 14 acres of farmland in Butler County of western Pennsylvania. The Conservancy is the home of Wildbird Recovery, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and natural resources. We achieve this goal by presenting on-site and off-site educational programs, in addition to providing rehabilitation efforts for Songbirds, Swifts, Swallows and Raptors (Birds of Prey). Our continued efforts are supported entirely by the generosity of donations.
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