2239 N. State Road 103, New Castle, Indiana 47362

                                        Phone: 765-529-9581

INTRODUCTION: Wilbur Wright is a 1070 acre State Fish and Wildlife Area just north of New Castle on S.R. 103. It consists of 4 wildlife management units, 2 on each side of S.R. 103. The shooting range is in Wildlife Management # 1, so I shy away from birding that unit. Shooting takes place throughout the year. Of particular interest to birders is Wildlife Management Unit #2, the part of which can be accessed from Hillsboro Road. This would be Parking Lot Unit # 2A. The trail from this parking lot leads west all the way to S.R. 103 (1 mile?). It takes you through a mature deciduous woods to the Little Blue River. The trail from Hillsboro Road to the Little Blue River is easy hiking. Beyond that, only the rugged, hardcore birder will want to continue onward. From the R.R. bridge at the Little Blue River, taking the narrow foot path west will take you through dense brush. To the north of this trail will be a gradually sloping hillside with huge trees. The dense brush around this narrow foot path can make this trail impenetrable by mid-summer. For those willing to rough it, the rewards can be worth it. In late May, I logged 3 Canada Warblers and 1 Connecticut Warbler from this section of the trail. In Henry County, most birders go to Summit Lake during waterfowl migration. For wetland species such as rails, bitterns and shorebirds, Province Pond is the most favored site. For warblers and other migrating songbirds, Wildlife Management Unit #2 at Wilbur Wright is the most favored site.

DIRECTIONS: From the intersection of I-465 and I-69 in Indianapolis, drive north on I-69 to the second Anderson exit. Veer right onto exit #26/S.R.109S. Turn right (south) on S.R. 109 S. Turn left (east) on S.R. 36.  Follow S.R. 36 east past S.R. 3. Turn right (south) on Hillsboro Road/Viking Trail (The Blue River Funeral Home is at the northeast corner and the Blue River Valley Jr./Sr. High School is in the southwest corner of this intersection). Drive 2 miles south on Hillsboro Road. At the stop sign and fork in the road, turn right (southwest) on C.R. 300 N.  Drive south 5/10 of a mile to the T-section. Turn right (south) on C.R. 250 N.  Drive south 9/10 of a mile and turn right (west) into the Wildlife Management Unit #2, Parking Lot Unit 2A. This parking lot is concealed by trees. You don't see it until you have already driven by it. So drive slowly and use your odometer to signal this turn-9/10. Park in the small gravel lot and follow the trail west into the forest. Walk west until you come to the first fork in the trail. Veer left (west). Follow this broken asphalt trail west to the Little Blue River. Turn right (west) at the Little Blue River. Follow this narrow foot trail north to the R.R. bridge (about 20 yards). The narrow foot trail T-sections at the R.R. bridge (west/east). If you turn left (west) and cross the R.R. Bridge, the foot trail will lead you roughly 1/2 mile west to S.R. 103. If you turn right (east), the narrow foot path will lead you 1/2 mile east across another R.R. Bridge and back to Hillsboro Road. When you reach Hillsboro Road, you will have to walk south back to your vehicle.     From the T-section at the first R.R. Bridge, continuing east or west on the foot paths take you through dense brush, which is difficult to penetrate. These foot paths become impenetrable by mid-summer. Skulking warblers and other migrating songbirds can usually be found here during migration.

1. The Wilbur Wright State F.W.A. sign on S.R. 103.	2. The Unit #2 Parking Lot sign on Hillsboro Road.	3. The Unit #2 Parking Lot on Hillsboro Road.	4. The Trail leading west from the Unit #2 Parking Lot on Hillsboro Road.	5. The trail which starts at Hillsboro Road dead ends at the Little Blue River.

 

 

6. Huge dead tree next to Little Blue River.	7. View of Little Blue River near the 1st R.R. Bridge, looking southwest.	8. View of the Little Blue River, looking north to the 1st R.R. Bridge.	9. The West R.R. Bridge, looking west.	10. View of Little Blue River from the west R.R. Bridge, looking south.

 

11. View of narrow foot trail, west of the West R.R. Bridge.	12. Mini-meadow - west of the West R.R. Bridge and half way to S.R. 103.	13. Grassland Area at the end of the west trail, as seen from S.R. 103, looking east.	14. Part of the west trail, blocked by multi-flora rose. You will have to fight your way thru it.	15. View from the west trail looking south. Lots of vines and dense brush. Warblers love it.

 

 

16. View from the east trail, looking south. Notice the dense shrubs and wetland vegetation.	17. Another view of dense vegetation from the east trail.	18. View of the east trail, east of the 1st (west) R.R. Bridge.	19. View of the east trail, looking north to the Little Blue River.	20. The trail east of the 1st (west) R.R. Bridge, blocked by a fallen tree.

 

 

21. A mini-marsh, looking south from the east trail.	22. The Little Blue River. Looking south from the 2nd (east) R.R. Bridge.	23. View of the Little Blue River from the 2nd (east) R.R. Bridge.	24. Another view of the river from the 2nd (east) R.R. Bridge.	25. The east end of the 2nd (east) R.R. Bridge. You have to walk the beam to the left, then jump to the bank to return to the trail.

 

                           

INTRODUCTION: Wildlife Management Unit #3 is in the southwest corner of the Wildlife Area. The east border of Unit #3 is S.R. 103. The southern border is the Little Blue River. The western border is the Big Blue River. The Big Blue River and the Little Blue River merge in the southwest corner of Unit #3, resulting in some nice riparian habitat. The northern border of Unit #3 is County Road 200 N.  County Road 200 N. is the best way to access both Wildlife Management Units # 3 and #4. Habitat at Unit #3 includes dense thickets, 2 rivers, grassland areas, scattered woodlots and brushy tree lines.

DIRECTIONS: From I-465 and I-69 in Indianapolis, drive north on I-69 to the 2nd Anderson exit. Veer right onto exit # 26/S.R. 9/S.R. 109 S. Turn right(south) on S.R. 109. Drive south to S.R. 36. From the junction of S.R. 109 and S.R. 36, drive east on S.R. 36 for 15.9 miles. Turn right (south) on S.R. 103. Drive south on S.R. 103 for 3.1 miles. Turn right (west) on C.R. 200 N. (a large brown and yellow Wilbur Wright sign is here - a black and yellow "No Outlet" sign is also here). For those who are physically challenged or do not enjoy long hikes, the best way to bird Unit #3 is by accessing the D.N.R. Service Roads along C.R. 200 N. There are quite a few of these roads along C.R. 200 N. Be sure to park along the road and not in front of the wire rope. Do not block D.N.R. Service Roads. Step over the wire rope and walk into the grassland areas. You can set up your scope here and scan the grasslands and shrubby tree lines. The avian activity along this county road can be quite good. The first 15 feet on each side of the road is mowed. Beyond that are tree lines with vines and dense shrubs. The Guerilla Birder will want to skip these service roads for a rugged hike along the rivers. Once you have turned right on C.R. 200 N., drive 6/10 of a mile west to the dead end at the cement bridge. Park in the small gravel lot on the left (south) side of the bridge. The land south of C.R. 200 N. is Unit #3. Unit #4 is on the north side of C.R. 200 N. From this bridge, walk south on the grassy D.N.R. service road along the Big Blue River. Large trees and brush line the west bank of the river. To your left (east) is dense brush and scattered trees. Walk along the river for roughly 1 mile. When you reach the end of this grassy road, turn left (east) and walk to the plowed trail, which should only be 20 yards to your east. I think the D.N.R. plows this trail in the fall so hunters can access the unit. Walk south on this plowed trail, which will eventually turn left (east) and border the north side of the Little Blue River. After 1/4 mile, the dense brush will give way to open grassland areas with brushy tree lines. Portions of these fields are often plowed. Continue birding east along the southern border of Unit 3# and the Little Blue River until you reach S.R. 103. Hike the plowed trail north along S.R. 103 until you reach C.R. 200 N. Turn left (west) on C.R. 200 N. and hike back to your vehicle. This hike can be abbreviated in 2 ways: 1. Turn around when you reach the dead end at the Big Blue River and return to your vehicle.  2. While walking along the Little Blue River, cut north across the grassland areas to C.R. 200 N.  This is close to a 4 mile hike.

 

26. The D.N.R. sign at the dead end of C.R. 200 N.	27. C.R. 200 N., looking west.	28. The dead end at C.R. 200 N. Beyond the cement bridge and chain linked fence is the prison.	29. The D.N.R. service road leading south along the Big Blue River.	30. The plowed path which leads all the way around the perimeter of Unit 3.

 

31. The Little Blue River serves as the southern border of Wildlife Management Unit 3.	32. The grassland areas typically are bordered by brushy tree lines and plowed lots.	33. Another view of tree lines, grasslands and plowed segments of the grassland areas.

 

 

                            

INTRODUCTION: Wildlife Management Unit #4 is on the north side of C.R. 200 N. It is bordered to the north by farm land. The western border is the Big Blue River. S.R. 103 serves as it's eastern border. Unit #4 has more dense brush and scattered trees out in the grassland areas than Unit #3. As you walk north along the Big Blue River, you will notice a mature forest on the west side of the river. As with Unit #3, Unit #4 has a plowed path which completely encircles this wildlife area.

DIRECTIONS: The directions for Unit #4 are the same as with Unit #3 (see above). Once you have reached the dead end on C.R. 200 N., you will want to park in the gravel lot on the right (north) side of the road (next to the bridge). Start hiking north along the Big Blue River. You will notice a large mature forest on the other side (west) of the river. This forest is dense with brush and vines. You should be able to pick up most of your woodland species birding by ear here. A screech owl tape should bring birds to the woodland edge at the river. Continue hiking north for approximately 1 mile. For those who have no desire for a 4 mile hike, turn around and hike south back to your vehicle. Guerilla Birders will want to continue the exploration of Wildlife Unit #4. At the 2nd set of yellow boundary markers, turn right (east) and seek out the plowed trail which encircles Wildlife Unit #4. Simply follow the plowed trail east. It will eventually turn right (south) and take you back to C.R. 200 N. Turn right (west) on C.R. 200 N. Hike this road west back to your vehicle. Birding along C.R. 200 N. can be quite productive.

 

34. The D.N.R. sign at the dead end of C.R. 200 N., on the north side of the road.	35. The service road leading north along the Big Blue River, in Unit 4.	36. A view of the open brush - grassland areas, looking east from the Big Blue River.	37. Open brush-grassland area in the northwest corner of Unit 4.	38. Tree and brush line at the north end of Unit 4.

 

39. Grassland area and tree line on north side of Unit 4.	41. Plowed path along the north border of Unit 4.	41. Lots of heavy brush and tree line in Unit 4.	42. Grassland area on the east side of Unit 4.	43. Near the southeast corner of Unit 4, briar patch on the right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ Home ] [ Up ] [ Province Pond ]

Send mail to spancol@aol.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2003 Steve Pancol
Last modified: 02/08/07