Birding Festivals in the Adirondacks:
2014 Great Adirondack Birding Celebration
Heaven Hill Farm and Henry's Woods Field Trip

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Birds of the Adirondacks: Bobolink at Heaven Hill Farm. Photo by Larry Master. www.masterimages.org

• Time: Saturday, 7 June, 9:00 AM and Sunday, 8 June, 9:00 AM
• Fee: Included in Great Adirondack Birding Celebration registration fee
• A la carte price: $30 per person
• Where to Meet: The Heaven Hill Farm parking area, off Bear Cub Road, Lake Placid.
• What to Bring: Gear for a short day trip: hat, binoculars, sunscreen, snack, water, rain gear, insect repellent

The field trip to Heaven Hill Farm and Henry's Woods in Lake Placid -- part of the 12th annual Great Adirondack Birding Celebration -- offers the opportunity to see a wide variety of birds, including those which make their home in meadowland, successional meadows, and woodland.

Heaven Hill Farm is a 600-acre farm, formerly owned by Henry Uihlein and now administered by the Uihlein Foundation. The acreage includes meadowland, successional meadows, and woodland. Bird species usually seen here include Bobolink, Northern Parula, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Black-throated Green Warbler, Hermit Thrush, Broad-winged Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, American Goldfinch, Savannah Sparrow, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Harrier, and Cooper's Hawk. The walking is easy along farm roads.

The field trip continues with a trip to Henry's Woods, a community preserve located just outside of the village of Lake Placid. The preserve was opened to the public in 2008; more trails were added the following year. The entrance to Henry's Woods is on Bear Cub Road, about 1.5 miles from Heaven Hill Farm. Henry's Woods Trail Map

The preserve has five interconnected trails, varying in difficulty:

• Connector Trail: This trail is the initial trail that accesses the trail network. The trail, which is 4-5 feet wide with a crushed stone surface, traverses mixed hardwood-conifer habitat, starting out flat and climbing slightly to the Loop Trail. This trail is about 0.3 miles in length.
• Loop Trail: This two-mile loop is the longest trail in the network and is used to access the Plateau, Switchback, and Rocky Knob Trails. The trail, which is 4-5 feet wide, has a crushed stone surface. The habitat is mixed hardwood-conifer forest. In a counter-clockwise direction, the trail drops slightly to cross a bridge, then circumnavigates a high plateau. On the back (southern) side of the loop, the trail climbs modestly to the top of the high plateau before descending back down to its beginning.
• Switchback Trail: This 0.25 mile trail is the shortest and steepest trails in the system. Starting from the Plateau Trail, the Switchback Trail descends slowly to the first switchback before a steeper grade is met with a couple more switchbacks. The trail exits onto the low side of the Loop Trail.
• Plateau Trail: This one mile trail is mostly flat and is accessed off the Loop Trail. Like the other trails, the Plateau Trail has a crushed stone surface. It follows along the edge of a long plateau and horseshoes back to the Loop Trail. There are outstanding views from a couple key points along the trail.
• Rocky Knob Trail: Accessed from the Loop Trail, the Rocky Knob Trail features the most difficult terrain of the system and climbs rather aggressively with several small switchbacks to alleviate the steepness in areas. It is rather rocky in spots and can be slippery underfoot. The high point of the trail system is along this trail and is formally known as Rocky Knob. From the summit there are great views of Village of Lake Placid and the surrounding area. The habitat is primarily hardwood forest.
  

The birds normally seen along the trails are those that dwell in mixed hardwood-conifer forest and hardwood forest, such as Mourning Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Pileated Woodpecker, and Scarlett Tanager.

Getting There

From the Paul Smith's College VIC parking lot: Turn RIGHT onto Route 30. After 0.8 miles, turn LEFT onto Route 86. Drive 12 miles to Saranac Lake. Continue to follow NY-86E. After driving through Saranac Lake, drive 6.1 miles. Just after passing through Ray Brook, make a slight RIGHT onto Old Military Road, and drive for 2.8 miles to Bear Cub Road, where you bear RIGHT. The entrance to Heaven Hill Farm is 1.5 miles from this intersection. Turn RIGHT at the gate and drive up the long driveway to the farmhouse. Allow about 40 minutes driving time.

From Saranac Lake: Take Route 86 towards Lake Placid. Look for sign to the Olympic Ski Jumps and turn RIGHT onto Old Military Road.  At about 3 miles (just past Olympic Training Center on your left and Uihlein Mercy Center on your right), turn RIGHT onto Bear Cub Lane.  Drive 1.5 miles to Heaven Hill Farm, which will be on your RIGHT.  Continue up the long  driveway to the farmhouse. Allow about 20 minutes driving time.

From Lake Placid: From the intersection of Routes 73 and 86 in Lake Placid, follow Route 73 toward Keene. Continue 0.2 miles to Station Street on the RIGHT. This road is the first RIGHT after you cross the Chubb River. Follow this road for 0.75 miles to Old Military Road. Take a LEFT on Old Military Road and follow for 0.9 miles to Bear Cub Lane on the RIGHT. The entrance to Heaven Hill Farm is 1.5 miles from this intersection. Turn RIGHT at the gate and drive up the long driveway to the farmhouse.

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