11. View of Brush Creek, from the 2nd foot bridge of McVey Memorial Forest.	12. The McVey Memorial Forest Parking Lot on C.R. 700 N.	13. Map of the Canoe Run, at the McVey parking lot on C.R. 700 N.	14. Trail Map of the McVey Memorial Forest.	15. View of a trail inside the McVey Memorial Forest.

INTRODUCTION: The Randolph County Wildlife Management Area is 419 acres large. It lies east of S.R. 1, between C.R. 750 N. and S.R. 28 in Randolph County. The Leeka Parcel is on the west side of S.R. 1 near the powder blue, steel Mississinewa River Bridge. This Wildlife Area is managed by the Wilbur Wright State Fish and Wildlife Area (Phone: 765-529-9581). The heart of this Wildlife Management Area is the Mississinewa River, which flows right through the middle of it. The river draws wildlife from miles around. As the old saying goes, "Where you find water, you shall find birds". The big draw for birders is the riparian habitat this river provides. Species which nest along the river include Black-billed Cuckoo, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Yellow-throated Warbler, Yellow-throated Vireo, Wood Thrush, Pileated Woodpecker, Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Wood Pewee, Great-crested Flycatcher and many more. Between the forested areas along the river and the county roads are grassland areas. On the outside perimeter of these county roads are farm fields. Some of these farm fields are almost always flooded in spring, providing excellent wader and shorebird habitat. The county roads which usually have flooded fields in spring include C.R. 600 W., C.R. 700 W., C.R. 750 W. and C.R. 825 N. at S.R. 1.  I consider the Randolph County Wildlife Management Area to be a spring migration site. Fish and Wildlife Areas are not maintained like a state park. There are no mowed paths. So by mid-summer, the vegetation is at least waist high and difficult to penetrate. The D.N.R. does plow a path around the perimeter of the wildlife area in late fall. This is done so hunters can have easy access during hunting season. It also benefits birders the next spring, before vegetation gets too high. But by mid-June the vegetation becomes impenetrable. Fish and Wildlife Areas should be avoided during the hunting season (November and December). If you are going to bird a Fish and Wildlife Area during this time period, please wear orange. At some Fish and Wildlife Areas, birding during this time is not a problem. Especially when you are birding a marsh right next to the county road.

DIRECTIONS:

RANDOLPH COUNTY WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA - SOUTH (south of the Mississinewa River on C.R. 750 N.): The directions to this site are the same as for the McVey Memorial Forest. So we shall start from the McVey Site. From the McVey Memorial Forest Rest Area, turn right (north) on S.R. 1. Drive north 3/10 of a mile and turn right (east) on C.R. 750 N. Roll down the windows and start car-birding from this point forward. At 1 mile you will see a yellow and black Elbow sign. At this elbow, veer left (east), staying on C.R. 750 N. Drive east 1.9 miles on C.R. 750 N. (from S.R. 1). Turn left (north) at the "Randolph County - Wildlife Management Area" sign (an abandon white farm house is here).  After parking in the gravel lot next to the farm house, walk north along the grassy D.N.R. service road. When you reach a fork in the service road (a aluminum farm shed is here), continue straight (north) toward the forest. Walk north through the forest to the Mississinewa River. Turn left and walk west along the river, birding this riparian habitat for perhaps 100 yards. Turn around and retrace your steps back to the fork in the service road. At the fork, turn right (west) and follow this road through a open brush area with scattered trees. The service road will eventually become an ATV trail and lead you through a tall grass prairie. The ATV trail will veer northwest and lead you into the forest. The trail will dead end at a T-section just 10 yards into the forest. Turn right (east) and follow this wide dirt trail as it winds north to the river. When you reach the river, turn left (west) and bird the river for perhaps a half mile. When the trail dead ends, turn around and follow the trail east back to your vehicle.

RANDOLPH COUNTY WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA - NORTH (north of the Mississinewa River on C.R. 825 N.): From the south unit, turn left (east) on C.R. 750 N. Continue car-birding the Fish and Wildlife Area on the north side of the road. Drive east 7/10 of a mile to the stop sign / T-section. Turn left (north) on C.R. 650 W.  Drive east 6/10 of a mile to the 2-way stop. Turn left (north) on C.R. 600 W. The farm land on the east side of the road is at a very low elevation and should provide excellent shorebird habitat in spring. Stop at the bridge and listen for birds along the river. After driving north 1 mile, turn left (west) on S.R. 28. Drive 1.5 miles west and turn left (south) on C.R. 750 W Drive 8/10 of a mile south. When C.R. 750 W. elbows right (west), stop and listen for grassland species on the left (south) side of the road. After driving 1.5 miles in a southwesterly direction, turn left (south) at the elbow, into the Randolph County Wildlife Management Area - North Unit parking lot (the road you are now on is C.R. 825 N.). From this gravel parking lot, a plowed path runs along side the woodland edge of the Mississinewa River. The river is just 10 yards inside the woodland edge. Walk this woodland edge for perhaps a 1/2 mile or so, birding the grassland area on your right, and the woodland edge and river to your left. When finished, turn left (west) on C.R. 825 N.  Drive west 1 mile to the intersection of S.R. 1 and C.R. 825 N. Park 20 yards east of the stop sign. Scan the field in the northeast corner for shorebirds and waders. During spring when normal precipitation occurs, this field is almost always flooded.

1. The Randolph County Wildlife Management Area sign on C.R. 750 N.	2. The parking lot at the Randolph County Wildlife Management Area on C.R. 750 N.	3. The grassland area at the Randolph County Wildlife Management Area on C.R. 750 N.	4. The service road at the Randolph County Wildlife Management Area on C.R. 750 N. This service road is leading you north to the forested Mississinewa River.	5. A view of the Mississinewa River, from the trail on the south bank (access from C.R. 750 N.).

 

6. A view of a flooded Mississinewa River from a trail on the south bank (access from C.R. 750 N.).	7. A view of the tall grass prairie south of the Mississinewa River.	8. A Quad-runner trail runs through the tall grass prairie and on to the forested Mississinewa River.	9. A view of the forest on the south side of the Mississinewa River (access from C.R. 750 N.).	10. Another view of the Mississinewa River, from the trail on the south bank (access from C.R. 750 N.).

 

11. Garssland area next to the forested Mississinewa River.	12. The Randolph County Wildlife Management Area Parking Lot on C.R. 825 N., on the north side of the river.	13. The plowed path next to the forested Mississinewa River, accessed from the parking lot on C.R. 825 N. Birding is good in the grassland area to your right, and the forested river to your left.	14. This farm field at the intersection of C.R. 825 N. and S.R.1 is almost always flooded in spring. Look for shorebirds.	15. The powder blue, steel Mississinewa River Bridge at the intersection of S.R. 1 and C.R. 825 N.