Summer moves quickly, doesn’t it?
Suddenly you’re deep into the season — vacations, weddings, cookouts, camps, tournaments, festivals, family visits, long drives and late nights. Oh, and those mid-year deadlines you’ve been avoiding at work? Sorry, they’re not going anywhere. The planning, the people and the patience you’re practicing (when do the kids go back to school again?) can make it feel like the world just keeps speeding up.
But somewhere else, just beyond the banks of the Little Miami River, things are slowing down.
Many birders will tell you that July is a notoriously quiet month for birdwatching. Migration season has come and gone. Most of the region’s birds have paired up with their mate and settled into nesting, and the hot, humid days can have even the most ambitious birder dragging in their boots. You might still hear from chickadees, goldfinches and woodpeckers, among others, but migratory birdsong — the soundtrack of spring and early summer — is fading fast. That doesn’t mean the birdwatching has to end, though. It just shifts. Midsummer calls for a different approach — more patience, less movement, some creativity and maybe…a paddle.
Birding by kayak or canoe might not be conventional, but it offers advantages that hiking trails simply can’t, especially when song identification isn’t much help anymore. A paddlecraft lets you glide quietly, unnoticed beneath low branches and alongside shaded banks. You’ll drift where your feet can’t go — up close to perches and secluded habitats where birds feel safe enough to act naturally.
On the water, you might catch cedar waxwings darting out from treetop perches to snatch insects overhead, or spot cliff swallows building mud nests beneath nearly every bridge along the Little Miami. Look for spotted sandpipers pacing along half-submerged logs, or listen for the distinctive, rattle-like call of a belted kingfisher before it plunges headfirst into the water in pursuit of its prey. With paddle access points ranging from Lake Isabella in Loveland to Otto Armleder Memorial Park in Cincinnati’s Linwood neighborhood, the Little Miami offers an extensive, winding ribbon of discovery through some of Hamilton County’s most beautiful natural spaces.
Of course, you don’t need a kayak or canoe to find stillness. Sometimes, the best approach is simply not moving at all. A novel idea, right? Stationary birding can be especially rewarding in the summer when quiet moments lead to surprising appearances. Stay in one spot long enough and you might notice things easily missed when on the move: birds flying in and out of the same thicket, or a noisy scold signaling that you’ve found yourself a bit too close to a nest.
Some birds, like the aforementioned chickadee and woodpecker, come and go from visible cavities, but others are far more discreet. Many birds nest in dense brush or even on the ground. If you flush one out unexpectedly or find yourself being scolded by an agitated avian, there’s likely an active nest nearby — something birders should be mindful of, stationary or otherwise.
If you happen upon a fluffy, awkward-looking fledgling on the ground, don’t assume it’s abandoned and needs your help. Young birds will commonly leave the nest before they’re flight-ready, with their parents likely watching attentively nearby. Unless the bird is found in immediate danger — say, in a roadway — it’s best to give it some space. When in doubt, call a local wildlife rehab center for guidance.
While kindness is reason enough to keep your distance, it’s also the law. Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, it’s illegal to harm or disturb native birds, their nests or even nesting materials. It’s a powerful reminder that the role of birdwatchers — whether paddling, hiking or sitting still — is to observe, not interfere.
So, if the season feels like it’s moving too fast, step off the hamster wheel for a while, try a different pace and go observe.
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Originally passed in 1918 to combat a mass slaughter of birds for the booming hat industry, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) now protects more than 1,000 native species. The century-old agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico prohibits the harming, collection and disturbance of birds, their nests and even nesting materials. The revived prominence of the great blue heron – briefly mentioned in last month’s column – can, in part, be credited to these protections.
Insights for this column were provided by Sean Gallagher, Interpreter, and Amy Roell, Director of Programming with Great Parks. Look for Flying Wild monthly on CityBeat’s website.
This article appears in Jun 25 – Jul 8, 2025.