Site Guide to Polk Wetlands
by Jerry Stanley, Russ States & Gary Edwards
As you pull into the small gravel parking lot, you see a wood sign proclaiming State Game Lands 039 Wetlands Restoration Project, more simply known as Polk wetlands. Stretched out in front of you and to the right is a few hundred acres of flat low agricultural land in the flood plain of Sandy Creek. The land extends along the road for about 1/2 mile and varies from about 2 to 4 hundred yards wide. Less than a decade ago this land was farmed for crops and owned by the Polk Center State Hospital. Apparently as part of wetlands mitigation laws, a shallow pond about 1/3 mile long and 50 to 150 feet wide was created from the run off of springs in the surrounding foothills. Control of the property was transferred to the Pennsylvania Game commission, with its primary purpose now, the promotion of goose and pheasant hunting. It has recently become apparent that numerous other species of non-game wildlife have benefited and that it can be a great place to bird watch. Don't worry that the parking lot is small, it is rarely full and there is a large back up lot across the street. The wetlands/pond runs lengthwise paralleling the road. The near shore and bank are quite flat, resulting in a slowly growing emergent vegetation wetlands and depending on water levels, at times some extensive mudflats.
In spring the damp field adjacent to the emergent wetlands may hold 15 or 20 snipe. As yet no rails have been found, but this seems inevitable if the emergent vegetation is allowed to propagate. Green and great blue herons frequent the shoreline along with an occasional great egret. Waterfowl can be numerous in the spring, wood ducks and sometimes hooded mergansers remain to breed. Spring migration has as yet been little evaluated here, but please note no less than 24 species of warblers breed in the county. They begin returning to territories as early as the last week of March (Louisiana waterthrush) and by the end of the first week in May, many will be on territories. This includes such favorites as Blackburnian, magnolia, Canada, cerulean, and yellow throated warblers, any of which can be locally abundant. Combine this with often generous fall-outs of more northerly breeders such as blackpoll, Tennessee, bay-breasted, Wilson's, Cape May, and Nashville warblers, and you might find 25+ species of warblers as easy as falling off a log.
There is mature second growth deciduous with a small amount of evergreens beyond the wetlands lining the banks of Sandy Creek. This area tends to concentrate migrant warbler flocks and would be a good starting point for those intent on warbler and vireo variety. Fields, which formerly grew corn and hay, are now planted with sunflowers and various wild grasses producing seeds attractive to birds and rodents. Some portions are left to grow whatever weeds will start themselves, including burdocks and various thistles. Red-tailed hawks, kestrels, bluebirds, tree swallows and savannah sparrows breed and hunt in and around these fields. Alder and willow flycatchers breed on the adjacent property of a target shooting club, which can be viewed from the property line. Orchard oriole and northern mockingbird, both rare for this county, have also been seen in the vicinity of this property line. Low foothills surround the valley, which holds Polk wetlands. From the center of the fields there is a panoramic view of the horizon, excellent for observing raptors, swallows, etc. In the spring or fall one might see a Merlin strafe the pond, a rough-legged hawk, harrier or osprey might cruise by. Bald eagles are frequent.
In late summer good mixed swallow flocks gather with plenty of cliff, bank and rough-winged to go around. One year we had a pure albino barn swallow. Chimney swifts gather here before migration, often drinking from the pond, providing rare eye level looks. In August, bobolinks may congregate in flocks greater than 300 at a time and evening in late August one may find nighthawks streaming by. A little later in the year indigo buntings and goldfinches become common on the sunflowers.
Local birders first began to explore Polk Wetlands looking for the Holy Grail of Western Pennsylvania Birding, a good shorebird spot. In spring the waters are invariably high, so no mud flats, no shorebirds. However, if the summer is hot and dry as it often is in these parts, there can be as much as one-third mile of mud flats. Late in July the numbers begin to climb and have produced western sandpiper, sanderling, and short-billed dowitcher. Least, pectoral and solitary sandpipers become common, with the solitary numbering up to 3 dozen. Spotted sandpipers breed here, the chicks are of course adorable to watch. Unfortunately early last August, the game Commission inundated the mud flats in order to enhance the wetland's attractiveness to Canada Geese. So ended the shorebird extravaganza even before the migration had peaked. Each year as we watch shorebirds we have always thought out loud that we should check for fall migrant sparrows at Polk. Finally last October we remembered and what we found brought statewide attention to this area. There were hundreds of sparrows throughout the fields between the parking lot and the goose ponds. 90% were song sparrows but there were also more swamp, white-crowned, field and savannah sparrows than I can remember almost anywhere. One might find 6 Lincoln's sparrows in an hour or two. Then amidst the flitting forms of brown and gray and white, a face suddenly appeared, bright orange. It was a LeConte's sparrow, which hung around a few days for many to enjoy. During this time there were also seen clay-colored sparrow, vesper sparrows and marsh wren, all exceedingly uncommon in these parts. Only two weeks later there was also a Nelson's sharp-tailed sparrow. Paths are mowed through planted fields, which provide an excellent way to view the sparrows. Take a few steps and birds start to flush. Stand still and wait for them to alight and look around.
Winter is a slow time at Polk. In some years rough-legged hawks are common. Although not yet reported, short-eared owl is a distinct possibility. Even as cold as this past winter was, a few small trickles of open water amongst the grasses produced swamp sparrows which are quite uncommon here in winter.
The Polk Wetlands provides a full wildlife experience. Butterflies and dragonflies can be abundant. One might come upon an enormous spiny soft-shelled turtle sunning on the bank of the goose pond or a northern water snake as thick as your wrist. No cow pies here, but you are likely to step on coyote scat. For the birder or naturalist intent on solitude, I am told by some locals that the rolling hills on the other side of Sandy creek are remote and wild.
Directions to Polk Wetlands
To reach Polk Wetlands from Interstate 80, take exit 3 north; this is the exit for Route 8. Go north on Route 8 most of the way to Franklin (about 10-15 miles). Just after Route 8 changes from divided to undivided, turn left onto Polk Cutoff. Proceed on Polk Cutoff Road to the bottom of the hill (about 1 or 2 miles). At the bottom of the hill the woods open up into flood plain valley. There is a small gravel parking lot on the left side of the road with a large wooden sign for SGL 039 Wetlands Restoration.
The Wetlands may also be reached by taking Rte.965 or 62 to the small town of Polk and turning south at the first 4 corners at the east-end of town. There is an old fashioned grocery/convenience store in Polk that has cold drinks and food.
The area is in Pennsylvania Game Commission Gameland No. 39, in Venango County.
The map does not exactly show the wetlands restoration area, so anyone who can add to these directions, and/or describe what can be found there, and when, is invited to submit details to Jack Solomon.