Top 20 Birding Locations in Kent County
These are the places where the most species have been seen in the Kent County area. Explore these places to get the best shot at finding the species you’ve been searching for.
View these locations on eBird to see their entire species list.
1 | Reeds Lake - Waterfront Park
231 species - View Reeds Lake on eBird
2 | Millennium Park
222 species - View Millennium Park on eBird
3 | Caledonia Waste Water Treatment Plant
211 species - View Caledonia WWTP on eBird
4 | Roselle Park
206 species - View Roselle Park on eBird
5 | Hodenpyl Woods
196 species - View Hodenpyl Woods on eBird
6 | Huff Park
189 species - View Huff Park on eBird
7 | Reeds Lake Blvd.
188 species - View Reeds Lake Blvd. on eBird
8 | Calvin Ecosystem Preserve
179 species - View Calvin on eBird
9 | Pickerel Lake
177 species - View Pickerel Lake on eBird
10 | Ball Perkins Park
170 species - View Ball Perkins Park on eBird
13 | Wetland East of Hotel Ave.
162 species - View Hotel Ave. Wetland on eBird
12 | Byron Lakes
162 species - View Byron Lakes on eBird
11 | Saul Lake Bog Nature Preserve
163 species - View Saul Lake Bog on eBird
14 | Blandford Nature Center
161 species - View Blandford on eBird
16 | Millennium Park - Trestle Trail Ponds
158 species - View Trestle Trail Ponds on eBird
15 | Cornerstone University Campus
159 species - View Cornerstone on eBird
17 | Donald Lamoreaux Park
157 species - View Donald Lamoreaux Park on eBird
18 | Riverside Park
154 species - View Riverside Park on eBird
19 | East Paris Nature Park
154 species - View East Paris Nature Park on eBird
20 | Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
153 species - View Frederick Meijer Gardens on eBird
Best Beginner Birding Locations
These public places are great places for beginner birders to practice their bird identification skills! These parks have a wide variety of ecosystems with open spaces to easily get good looks at different species.
1 | Reeds Lake - Waterfront Park
231 total species seen
The shrub-lined boardwalks and trails of Reeds Lake provide some of the best up-close viewing of a wide variety of species in the Grand Rapids area. As the largest lake for several miles, this park is a great spot to view migrating waterfowl and other wetland birds.
2 | Millennium Park
222 total species seen
Over 1,400 acres of ecosystems are available to explore within Millennium Park. This Kent County Park has a little bit of every ecosystem available for birding, with paved trails offering accessible opportunities to find lots of new species.
3 | Roselle Park
206 total species seen
Running along the Grand River in Ada is a gem of a park that offers some of the best birding in the area. The large wetland is lined by tall trees and shrubs that border the river. Each ecosystem offers some great opportunities to see some great birds.
4 | Huff Park
189 total species seen
This mixed wetland offers a wide variety of opportunities to see the variety of species that are drawn to it. The boardwalks that extend out into the marsh offer a unique opportunity to see these more secretive marsh birds up close.
5 | Blandford Nature Center & The Highlands
167 total species seen
These two birding hotspots are connected by trail and offer great birding opportunities on the westside. Blandford has some excellent deciduous forest and swampy habitat, while the Highlands offers opportunities for many different grassland species.
6 | Saul Lake Bog Nature Preserve
163 total species seen
This preserve owned by the Land Conservancy of West Michigan offers one of the most unique birding experiences in Kent County. The native prairie attracts many different grassland birds, while the birds utilizing the bog are observable from two platforms that extend into the bog.
Want to Learn From Experienced Birders Out in the Field?
Join us on one of our free field trips, and learn from our volunteer guides who are happy to share their knowledge!
