At a Glance
-
Location: St. Marys, Pleasants County, WV
-
Habitat: Riparian forest; open water; meadowlands
-
Species on eBird: 183 (as of 3/20/21)
-
Checklists on eBird: 173 (as of 3/20/21)
-
Highlight species: There seems to be a constant possibility of surprises here, with a good mix of sparrows, warblers, and waterfowl throughout the year. Interesting finds in past years include Harris’s Sparrow and nesting Long-eared Owls. The island also provides a good vantage point to scan for Peregrine Falcons on and around the St. Marys Bridge.
-
Nearby attractions: Ohio River Islands NWR Visitor Center in Williamstown; Daniel Boone National Forest is nearby on the Ohio side of the river; there are many nearby access points to the Ohio River with varying amounts of visibility to check for waterbirds; Marietta, Ohio, is less than 30 minutes away along I-77 with a small but mighty bar and restaurant scene, various boutique shops, and parks.
Links
Middle Island Overview
Middle Island is a delight to visit any time of year. After more than a year of inaccessibility, a brand new bridge welcomes you to this piece of the Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge—a NWR that can otherwise be difficult to access without boats to get to other river islands! Middle Island always seems to surprise me with the number of birds and activity present. You can drive your car right onto the island and complete a short driving tour; there are also many hiking trails throughout the island and a wildlife blind near the middle of it that overlooks a shallow inlet. It’s worth checking to see if the NWR visitor center (off the island, about 25 minutes away) has anything planned while you visit—they have birders on staff!
Updates
February 2022: While this wasn’t our sighting, it’s one worth noting! A rare leucistic (lack of pigment cells) Red-tailed Hawk was photographed on Middle Island. Check out this beauty!
January 9, 2021: We visited Middle Island briefly as we ventured into our Tyler County Exploration. We didn’t stay long, but it was wonderful: the most bird activity I had seen in weeks around WV! Several Song, Swamp, and White-throated Sparrows and many mallards and herons around the photo blind, but the best part was scoping a Peregrine Falcon on the St. Mary’s bridge—a lifer for Jimmy! Can’t wait to go back in the spring and catch some migration action there. See our checklist here.
