Historic Bethabara Park is an archeological site with two major parts: the site of the original village with a palisade fence and numerous archeological excavations and a system of trails that lead to a wildlife preservation area that includes a wetlands area with a boardwalk.

To get to the oroginal village area, stay on Silas Creek Pkwy. No. for 1.7 miles past Wake Forest University Drive to the light at Bethabara Road. Turn leftand the Visitor Center will be 0.8 mile on the right. The Visitor Center has restrooms when it is open.

From the parking lot, walk along the bank below the railroad. Many song birds are found in fields and woods in this area including American Goldfinch, Field Sparrow, and Indigo Bunting. Please respect the provate residences.

Check around the Craft Shop before crossing the road to the church. Follow the little branch across the grass of the restoration area, watching especially in the trees. There is a thicket before reaching the main stream, a paved Greenway path, foot bridges and foot paths, and all of it can be very productive for birding. At the paved trail, which follows the creek, go right and look for winter Eastern Towhee, American Goldfinch, White-throated Sparrow and kinglets. In the summer there may be Northern Parula and both Summer and Scarlet Tanager.

Across the main wooden bridge you will see a sign for God's Acre, Bethabara Cemetery, at the top of a moderately steep path through a fine Beech woods. Watch for Pileated Woodpecker year round, and Chuck-will's-widow at dusk in spring and early summer. The woods also offer Acadian and other flycatchers and thrushes. The paved road for the cemetery will take you to the Par (Fitness) Course where you should watch for spring warblers, Blue Grosbeak, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Wood Pewee and Pine Warbler.

You can enter the Par Course directly by taking Reynolda Road. past Pine Ridge/Reynolda Manor shopping centers to Old Town Drive, turn right and go 0.4 miles to Seville Street and turn right. A walking club maintains many foot paths; and the entire area, including the Greenway, is a world of wildflowers.

The second section of Historic Bethabara Park is known to birders by its main feature: The Beaver Pond. One can reach this area by walking the greenway mentioned earlier across Old Town Drive and following the trails to the Boardwalk, birding all the way. Another approach is to continue on Bethabara Road from the Visitor Center (turn right out of the parking lot) toward Reynolda Road. Continue straight after the first Stop Sign (the road becomes Old Town Drive). At the traffic light, turn right onto Reynolda Road. Go north about one mile and turn left into the shopping center "Reynolda Commons", park by the Harris-Teeter Grocery store, walk back up to Reynolda Road, go right over the bridge and down the steps to the walkway under the bridge. Follow that walkway to a bridge that crosses the creek on the left and the Boardwalk will be ahead.

 

Red-shouldered Hawk

At the beaver pond, look for Wood Duck, Mallard, Canada Goose, Red-shouldered Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, Green Heron, Prothonotary and Black-and-white Warblers, White Ibis, Great Egret, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Kingbird, Brown-headed Nuthatch, several woodpeckers, and many others. Beaver and Otter can be seen if you are there early in the morning.