LOCATION: Myriad Botanical Garden
Contributed by Nancy Vicars
35.275141 N 97.31429 W
DESCRIPTION OF AREA: The Myriad Gardens are a welcome oasis in the middle of downtown Oklahoma City for migrating birds. The delightful seventeen acres are as varied as they are beautiful, with trees, graceful hills, inspired plantings, and several lily ponds complete with shimmering carp. There is a public parking lot located on the southeast corner of Robinson & Reno Avenues. This facility is in the immediate vicinity of the Cox Convention & Ford Event Centers and two blocks West of Bricktown.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
From Westbound I-40, exit #150C to Robinson Ave., turn right (North) proceed to Reno Ave. then turn left (West) onto Reno then jog immediately right to enter the public parking lot.
From Eastbound I-40, exit #150B to Harvey Ave., turn right (North) proceed 3 blocks to Reno Ave., turn right (East) onto Reno Ave., go ½ block then turn left to enter the public parking lot.
Year-round: Canada Goose, Mallard, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Blue Jay, American Crow, Northern Mockingbird, Bewick’s Wren, American Robin, European Starling, Great-tailed Grackle, Northern Cardinal, House Finch and House Sparrow.
Spring: Migrating Wood Warblers including Orange-crowned, Nashville, Northern Parula, Yellow, Black & White, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Louisiana Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson’s and Yellow-breasted Chat. Blue-headed, Warbling & Philadelphia Vireos, Eastern Phoebe, Olive-sided, Least and Great-crested Flycatchers, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Clay-colored & Chipping Sparrows, House Wren, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Summer Tanager.
Summer: Eastern & Western Kingbirds, Baltimore Oriole, Brown Thrasher, Gray Catbird and Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
Winter: Sparrow species include Song, Fox, Harris’s, White-throated & White-crowned, Lincoln and Field. Spotted & Eastern Towhees, Hermit Thrush, Orange-crowned & Yellow-rumped Warblers, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Common Flicker, American Goldfinch and Marsh Wren.
Accidental: Common Barn Owl, Cooper’s & Sharp-shinned Hawks, Wood Duck, Belted Kingfisher, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Wilson’s Snipe, Common Poorwill, Killdeer, Red-headed Woodpecker and Black-throated Blue Warbler.
Additional Species observed flying over and or perched on near-by buildings:
Turkey & Black Vultures, Osprey, Red-tailed & Swainson’s Hawks, American Kestrel, Peregrine & Prairie Falcons, Chimney Swift, Purple Martin and Mississippi Kite.
Birding Observation Locations: Beginning at the public parking area, there is an upper and lower pathway that will circle around and through the entire garden. Pay close attention where the habitat includes dense shrubs, hedges and vines as this provides excellent cover for Towhees, Sparrows, Kinglets and Hermit Thrush during the winter season. In the spring and summer, Brown Thrashers and Catbirds like these same areas. Around any water feature always check for Common Yellow-throats and Marsh Wren. Most all the trees and plants produce fruit or berries which in turn attract insects that lay eggs and produce larvae that provide BIRD FOOD. With all this shelter, water and food it is no wonder this is truly a Garden of Eden for the birds.
This bird list is the result of a weekly one year census, beginning October 6, 2001 thru October 10, 2002, by Oklahoma City Audubon members, Nancy Vicars, Max Fuller, Nealand Hill and additional sightings as a result of Oklahoma City Audubon Field Trips over the years.
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