Fort Smallwood Park is an outstanding location for spring and fall hawk migration, spring migration of other bird species, migratory and wintering water birds, and for birds attracted to the habitat in and around the pond.

Most noteworthy is that Fort Smallwood Park is likely the best spot along the entire East Coast for observing migrating spring raptors (i.e., hawks, eagles, vultures and other birds of prey).  Data collected at the site show that large numbers and a good variety fly past the Park.  The average seasonal flight in recent years has totaled over 10,000 individuals.  In all, 19 raptor species have been seen, with a record 14 in one day.  Most common are Sharp-shinned, Cooper’s, Red-shouldered, Broad-winged, and Red-tailed Hawks, and American Kestrels and Turkey Vultures.  Bald Eagles are also regularly seen, and a specialty and rare migrant in late spring is Mississippi Kite.  Days with over 1000 individuals are regularly recorded, and one day of 2600+ occurred in 1999, fueled by a record Broad-winged Hawk flight.  Hawk watch data are reported to the Hawk Migration Association of North America, which has recently embarked on a program to analyze hawk migration data nationwide.  In addition, Fort Smallwood Park has recently been named an Important Bird Area by Audubon Maryland-DC, in conjunction with an international initiative begun by BirdLife International.

The hawk watch site is located on the east-facing shoreline of the Patapsco River, and has proved to be a good location to view the migration.  Days from mid-March through mid-May with southwest winds tend to produce the best spring flights, but noteworthy flights can occur on winds from any direction.   During this time period, volunteer counters are present on most days.  In the fall, southward movements take place mostly from September to November, and northwest winds are the most productive.

Besides raptors, many other bird species migrate past the Park, particularly in the spring.  From the hawk lookout one can observe significant numbers of migrant Northern Flickers, Eastern Kingbirds, swallows, Blue Jays, Cedar Waxwings, Bobolinks, Baltimore Orioles and American Goldfinches.  Swallows and Blue Jays are especially numerous, totaling in the tens to hundreds of thousands.  Additionally, the Park can be good for migrant warblers, especially the trail that parallels the woods along the south side.  Overall, 25 species of warblers have been observed in the Park.

The Park is also a great place to observe wintering and migrating water birds.  Ducks are attracted not only to the waters of the Patapsco River and Chesapeake Bay, but also to the fresh-water pond within the Park.  Canvasbacks, scaup, Long-tailed Ducks, Buffleheads, Common Goldeneyes, Red-breasted Mergansers, and Ruddy Ducks prefer the Bay side, while Wood Ducks, Gadwalls, American Wigeons, Green-winged Teals, Ring-necked Ducks, and Hooded Mergansers may be found on the freshwater pond.  Also to be seen are Common and Red-throated Loons, Pied-billed, Horned and Red-necked Grebes, and Bonaparte's Gulls.  Herons and shorebirds are also seen in good numbers during spring migration, and in early spring, Horned Grebes often use the Patapsco River as a staging area, sometimes gathering by the hundreds.  Cormorants tend to congregate on the rocks offshore on the Park's northwest side and Great Cormorant has been recorded among the many Double-cresteds.

The pond, ringed with trees, shrubs, vines and aquatic vegetation, offers good habitat for a variety of birds.  Bald Eagles and Ospreys often perch in the surrounding trees, where the latter species frequently devours fish it has caught in the pond or River.  Rusty Blackbirds have visited the west side of the pond in the fall and Red-headed Woodpeckers have been seen there as well, foraging among the dead trees.  Nesting in the vicinity of the pond have been species such as Killdeer, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Blue Jay, American and Fish Crows, Eastern Kingbird, White-eyed Vireo, Tree Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Carolina Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Towhee, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, and Baltimore and Orchard Orioles.

Meanwhile, many more species regularly breed in the Park, bringing the total to more than 40 nesting species.  A host of locally unusual or rare birds have also been observed, among them American White Pelican, Willet, Whimbrel, Short-eared Owl, Northern Gannet, Anhinga, Piping Plover, Pomarine Jaeger, Common Raven and several of the rarer gulls.  The Park's bird list stands at an impressive 248 species.

For further information, follow this link to Maryland Ornithological Society website.