Jordan Lake State Park is home to some of the most vibrant wildlife in North Carolina and the birding is no different. The Bald Eagle Observation Platform offers visitors a dais to watch beautiful birds soar above the trees and lake while enjoying the peaceful nature scenery. Jordan Lake has the largest concentration of American Bald Eagles in the Eastern US.

To access the BEOP at Martha’s Chapel Wildlife Observation Site, drive a half mile down Martha’s Chapel Rd off Farrington Rd at the North End of Jordan lake. Looking for the binocular’s road sign leading to the Observation Dock to find the perfect place to catch a site of the glorious American Bald Eagle.

Although binoculars are recommended, they are not necessary as Jordan Lake has the largest concentration of Bald Eagles in the eastern US. You can find Nest Pairs flocking around the trees and open air as they sear the skies in search of prey for their eaglets.

The best times to go birding are early daytime or late evening from April to June. If luck is not favouring birding at the Observation Point, take a canoe or boat from the Farrington Boat Launch Point and you are likely to see a few of the 152 recorded bird species that make Jordan Lake State Park their home. A few of the popular ones are;

Year round:

• Yellow-Billed Cuckoos
• Chimney Swifts
• Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
• Great Egrets
• Eastern Woof Pewees
• Acadian
• Great Crested Flycatchers
• Eastern Kingbird
• Orchard Orioles
• Yellow Breasted Chats

Migratory Summer Residents

• Warblers
• Prothonotary
• Northern Parula
• Yellow Throated Ovenbirds
• Prairie Ovenbirds
• Hooded Ovenbirds