Pickerington Ponds Metro Park is one of the largest natural wetlands in Franklin County. Home to birds, butterflies and other wildlife that thrive in this environment. The park also attracts people who enjoy bird watching, photography, walking or biking on the extensive trail system.
During a recent visit to Pickerington Ponds on an evening in July, I was able to see great blue herons gliding through the sunset-gilded sky over Ellis Pond and perch along its banks. The birds moved with exaggerated slowness on their long, slender legs, then froze into position, their heads tucked down close to their bodies, presenting the smallest silhouette possible to the baitfish that clustered below the water’s surface. Here and there, one of the big birds darted a long beak into the water and emerged with a shining fish.
Since 1970, over 260 species of birds have been recorded in the area, earning it the designation by Audubon Ohio as one of the state’s important bird areas. The best times for viewing the widest variety of birds are during migrations in spring and fall, but many birds reside in the park all year. Great blue herons, that have a rookery on the south side of Ellis Pond, osprey, red-winged blackbirds and Canada geese are among the most prevalent. However, visitors have also reported seeing less common species, such as glossy ibis, American avocet, marbled godwit, wood duck, American white pelican, great egrets, green heron and little blue heron from the park’s five observation decks. Bald eagles were seen this year, and area birders hope they will nest in the park.
On my visit, American goldfinches and red-winged blackbirds darted among the tall plants that swayed in the warm breeze along the trail. As the sun dipped westward, swallows appeared, small, dark shapes swooping in great arcs over the water. At the observation area at the Bowen Road entrance is a beautiful nature mural created by Pickerington Elementary School students. Strolling onto the observation deck, I saw the shining golden-scaled backs of carp that rolled in the shallows while the frogs began their nightly serenade.
Butterflies, bees, dragonflies and damselflies are also abundant. Visitors may encounter red-spotted purple butterflies fluttering side by side with bumblebees among the pink coneflowers near the parking lot.
It’s likely that visitors to the park will see wildlife, no matter the season. White-tailed deer, raccoon, weasel, coyote and red fox are park residents along with beaver, mink and muskrat in the water. The park also has a bat condo that can house as many as 6,000 big and little brown bats.
The wetlands area formed around 12,000 to 17,000 years ago, when a retreating glacier left a huge chunk of ice behind. The ice melted, forming a glacial kettle lake. In the late nineteenth century, farmers drained the land and farmed it. Eventually, the tile systems used to divert water failed, and the area reverted to natural wetland. Today, that wetland area covers more than 1,616 acres, more than 400 of which have been designated a state nature preserve.
The obvious value of a wetlands park is its beauty. Columbus Metro Parks employees and volunteers work hard to maintain the park and to make it an increasingly healthy and diverse natural habitat.
Garth Lajeunesse, Pickerington Ponds park manager, says that one of the important aspects of managing the wetlands involves removing invasive plants, such as purple loosestrife and phragmites, so that native wetlands plants can flourish, establishing habitat for wetlands wildlife.
Lajeunesse, who has been at Pickerington Ponds for four years, says the trail system is very popular and drawing more visitors all the time. “There are plans in the works to extend the trail system, so people will be able to ride bikes from Pickerington Ponds to Three Creeks. In the four years I’ve been here, I’ve seen a dramatic increase in the number of people who use the trails,” he says.
Trails include Arrowhead Trail, Blacklick Creek Greenway Trail (only trail to permit cycling), Killdeer Trail, Meadowlark Trail and Yellowlegs Trail.
According to Lajeunesse, although Pickerington Ponds does not draw as many visitors as some other Columbus Metro Parks, people who visit usually return. “If people come out and see Pickerington Ponds, they’ll want to come back. It’s a wonderful jewel in the Pickerington area,” he adds
Pickerington Ponds is located at 7680 Wright Road, Canal Winchester, Ohio 43110. Visit www.metroparks.net for directions and more information.
Brenda Layman is a contributing writer for Pickerington Magazine.