Jayhawk Audubon Bird Watching Sites: Baldwin Woods
Site Name: Baldwin Woods (Wall, Breidenthal, Rice, and Boyd Woods)
Habitat type & General Location: Deciduous woods, 2 miles north of Baldwin, south-eastern Douglas County.
Main Species:
Residents: Sharp-shinned Hawk, Barred Owl, Red-headed and Pileated Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, White-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, N. Cardinal
Summer Visitors: Wilson's Snipe, Chuck-will's-widow, Whip-poor-will, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, E. Wood Pewee, Acadian, Willow, Least, and Great-crested Flycatcher, Red-eyed, Warbling, and Yellow-throated Vireo, Wood Thrush, Parula and Kentucky Warbler, Ovenbird, Louisiana Waterthrush, Scarlet and Summer Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting.
Winter Visitors: Cooper's Hawk, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, White-throated and White-crowned Sparrow.
Migrants: Broad-winged Hawk, Woodcock, Alder, Yellow-bellied and Olive-sided Flycatcher, Philadelphia and Blue-headed Vireo, Veery, Swainson's and Gray-cheeked Thrush, most common migrant warblers include Tennessee, Orange-crowned, Nashville, Yellow, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Blackpoll, Black-and-white, Northern Waterthrush, and Wilson's. Less common, but present most years, include Golden-winged, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Blackburnian, American Redstart, Mourning, and Canada Warbler.
Site Description: The Baldwin Woods area is located along a steep escarpment left from the Kansan Glacial period 10,000 years ago. Most of the slopes face north except for the western end that is bisected by Coal Creek, where both north and south facing slopes occur. Most of the large trees were removed in the 1950's but there are a few large ones remaining and the entire woods is, for the most part, heavily wooded. Dominant species are Red, Black, Chinquapin, Bur, and White Oak, Shagbark and Bitternut Hickory, with Sycamore along the streams. The understory is generally open with scattered thickets of Pawpaw, Gooseberry, Rough-leaved Dogwood, or Buckbrush. Coal Creek is usually intermittent in flow but does often retain small pools throughout the year. The smaller tributaries in the area are all intermittent.
How to get there (directions): Coming from U.S. 56 and Baldwin, turn north on County Road 1055 (same as E 1700 Road), drive 2 miles north to N 500 road. (pull off to left for Breidenthal Parking about 200 yards before the bottom of the hill). Rice Woods is on the south side of N 500 road for the next 0.5 miles. Boyd Woods begins at E 1750 road and continues on the south for 0.25 mile.
If coming from Lawrence, take U.S. 59 south 11 miles, east on U.S. 56 for 4.5 miles and turn north on Co. Rd. 1055 and follow the directions above OR come southeast from Lawrence on 1055 (begins as Haskell Ave. in Lawrence). When you get to the Vinland Airport, turn left (south) and go 2 miles to N 500 road, then follow directions above.
To get to Wall Woods, it is easiest to find the old railroad bed in Breidenthal and follow it west. About 300 yards past Coal Creek (bridge is out) the Wall Woods begins on the south side. There is no ready access from the west end.
Recommended paths/routes: All four tracts have use restrictions. No hunting or collecting (without permission from managers) of animals or plants is allowed.
Boyd Woods is the only one that is completely open to the public. There is an entrance and loop trail in Boyd Woods which begins from a small parking area about 100 yards east of E 1750 and N 500 roads. Baker University manages the area. Currently there is a kiosk at the trailhead and there are plans to develop a map and trail guide. Taking the loop trail is the best way to see/hear the woodland birds. The trail is indicated by sign posts. In the central portion of the trail you will also note the rather large oaks with limbs very close to the ground. This indicates that these trees once grew in an open prairie or along the woodland edge, perhaps 100-150 years ago.
The University of Kansas owns and manages the other three tracts: (from east to west) Rice, Breidenthal, Wall. All three are posted for no trespassing. The best spring birding in the area is the quarter mile stretch of E 1750 road between Rice and Boyd Woods. The large trees arch over the road and many migrants will be found along the edges of the road. Others can be heard singing within a short distance of the road. It is also possible, however, to walk the short trail in Breidenthal as long as you are careful not to stray off of the path and especially careful not to disturb any flagging or other markers that may indicate an on-going, active research project. This trail begins on the west side of County 1055, about 200 yards south of N 500 road. There is an entrance gate with space for 2-3 cars to park (do not block private driveway to the south). The trail goes into the woods, crosses two small tributaries and comes to the top of a bluff over-looking Coal Creek. This is the best place to turn around and return to the parking lot. The old railroad bed is down the trail, across the creek and up the other side of the creek about 100 yards. Be careful as the RR is densely populated with poison ivy.
Accomodations: Hotels, Campgrounds, Restaurants? There is a fairly new motel in Baldwin called The Lodge (785-594-3900). There is also a lovely Bed and Breakfast establishment: The Three Sisters (785-594-3244) Both are very popular, so book well in advance. Numerous restaurants are found along U.S. 56 and in the downtown area at 8th and High Streets. Camping is available at Douglas County State Fishing Lake, 1 mile north on 1055 and east 1.5 miles. Other accommodations are found 12 miles north in Lawrence.
Date written: 23 Feb. 2002 Author: Roger L. Boyd
Map below.
Map showing the Baldwin Woods area with Baldwin at the bottom and the woods to the north. Click to enlarge.