Northern Berks County

Popular Birding Spots

Lake Ontelaunee

The second-largest lake in the area, Ontelaunee, hosts about half a dozen hot spots. In the winter, it’s a great waterfowl spot as there are no boats allowed on the lake, but watch out for decoys during hunting season. Some of the best views are from the dam bridge on Rt. 73, no longer a hot spot. The lake parking lots are areas where you should put personal safety first.

The Hotspots:
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L9887304
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L129807
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1124527
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1528364
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L8646684
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1494060

Kernsville Dam

Locally, there is a highly skilled and experienced birder who birds this area most every day. His daily grind has uncovered quite a few species that would have otherwise been overlooked here. The downside is that there are a lot of dog walkers. The upside is that it has porta-potties, and it is close to Cabela’s and Hawk Mountain.

The Hotspot:
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L2368351






Hawk Mountain

The pioneer in raptor study and conservation, this place is legendary. There’s a nice visitor’s center and a nearby south lookout. The north lookout, where raptors are counted, is in another county, but from August 15th to December 15th, this is the place to go for raptors. We’ve included two other nearby hot spots in the list.

The Hotspots:
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1585774
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1585781
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1299466
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L10118222
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1004790

Bernharts Dam and Angora Fruit Farm

Once a lake in the shadow of a lead smelter, this area underwent significant rehabilitation and cleanup. The lake is gone, and the dam is gone, but what’s there now is a magnet for shorebirds in the summer. Parking around here is a bit tricky. Angora Fruit Farm was a working farm that’s now a county park that doesn’t get much use other than from birders and mountain bikers. Great habitat here for flycatchers, warblers, and barred owls. The gate opens at 8 a.m.

The Hotspots:
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L166653
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L11436640