Kopf+Family+Reservation


 * =Birding in Ohio=

Lorain County
=Kopf Family Reservation= Avon Lake, Ohio 44012 Kopf Family Reservation webpage Kopf Family Reservation map

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Kopf Family Reservation
Coordinates: 41.5054117, -82.0064163 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

About the Kopf Family Reservation
Located between the northern most beach ridge (North Ridge) and the present Lake Erie shoreline, the Kopf Family Reservation sits on a geographic region called the Lake Plain. At one time the park land was covered by Lake Warren. Slowly the land converted to a magnificent forest of oak and hickory, which sustained Native Americans for several thousand years until it was completely cleared by settlers just after 1800. Though poorly drained, this land sustained a wealth of wildlife, including black bears, wolves, and elk. But, like the forest, the settlers displaced most of the larger wildlife species.

As settlers moved into the area, the land was used for vineyards to produce grapes for local wineries. Most of the vineyards disappeared in the early to mid-1900s; around the same time, the land was divided into small "cottage" lots. You can still see some evidence of the vineyards today.

During the 1930s, roads, bridges, and sidewalks were constructed throughout the land as part of a depression-era program. Many of these still exist. (Can you find some of the remains?) Further development of the land was delayed for a while, but developmental pressure eventually emerged, and the future of this land was in jeopardy. A group of concerned citizens formed the Save the Woods Committee to raise awareness of this great stand of woods. Soon the Lorain County Metro Parks and the City of Avon Lake entered a partnership to preserve the woods from further development. The park opened in November of 2008 and we continue to make improvements and add additional trails.

The Kopf Family Reservation consists of 162 acres of woodlands that are filled with pin oak, red oak, and white oak growing next to shagbark hickory. Maple, elm, ash, cherry, and willow trees also add to the forest's diversity. Wildlife is plentiful in the forest including fox squirrel, Virginia opossum, and white-tailed deer are seen often. Bird life is abundant as the woodlands are one of the largest intact natural habitats closely bordering the shores of Lake Erie. This provides an important stopover for migrating songbirds preparing to cross the wide expanse of Lake Erie, as well as for many nesting species. Both Gable Creek and Hieder Creek run through the park and are home to many shiners and minnows From Kopf Family Reservation webpage



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media type="custom" key="27757731" || L2098697 US US-OH US-OH-093 41.5054117 -82.0064163 Kopf Family Reservation