A great place to bird watch and hike.
The 416 acres of former farmland that makes up Seven Islands State Birding Park, is currently managed to preserve native grassland habitat. Other habitat types found on the property include wetland and wet meadow, hardwood forest, upland pond, stream corridor, and extensive riparian habitat along the French Broad River.
Wildlife to Watch: During the breeding season, nesting birds are quite a highlight here. Easily heard singing well into the summer are Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat, Summer Tanager, Blue Grosbeak and Indigo Bunting. Orchard Orioles nest here too, but leave a bit earlier than the others. Purple Martins nest in a box and gourds erected by the Knoxville Chapter of TOS and Tree Swallows are also present.
In winter, hundreds of sparrows can be found, especially Field, Savannah, Song, Swamp, White-throated and White-crowned, with little effort. It is possibly the most reliable Knox County location to find White-crowned Sparrows. A Loggerhead Shrike may also be present. A Northern Harrier regularly cruises the hilly fields, and Short-eared Owls could occur as the grass fields become established.
