Brecksville Reservation Bird Feeding Overview
- Address: 9000 Chippewa Road. Brecksville, Ohio 44141
- Hours: Daily: Saturdays and Sundays in January and February from 10 am – 12 pm
- Capacity: 15 – 20 visitors
- Ages: All ages
- Fees: Free
Brecksville Reservation Bird Feeding Guide
Brecksville Reservation Bird Feeding
The “Hand Feed a Chickadee Program” at the Brecksville Reservation allows visitors to feed the Chickadees and sometimes other small non-migratory birds like the tufted titmouse and white-breasted nuthatch on Saturdays and Sundays in January and February (and very rarely March) from 10 am – 12 pm at the Brecksville Nature Center.
Feeding the birds has become a relatively easy and recurring theme for visitors due to years of being conditioned to eat out of visitors’ hands, along with scarecrows with human faces strategically placed in the feeding area to help acclimate human presence.
Make sure to bundle up and arrive on a cold or snowy day because it is harder for birds to forage, making it more likely that they’ll eat out of your hands. Once you reach the Brecksville Nature Center, there is a small fence in the feeding area to the left-hand side where you will stand.
Next, find a location that is by smaller branches. While acclimated to humans, birds still do not fully trust us. You’ll notice that they typically fly to small branches first before going to someone’s hand. Positioning yourself next to a small branch gives you a high likelihood that you’ll be able to feed them.
Once you have found the perfect location, stick out your hand with the only recommended bird food, black oil sunflower seed. Feeding tends to occur in waves, and chickadees typically fly from one hand to the next, so keep your arm as steady and still as possible. In addition, do your best to minimize movement and noises to help prevent scaring the chickadees away.
Finally, enjoy the experience. I have had chickadees land on my hand in under a minute and have experienced 20-30 birds land on our hands within a 15 – 30 minute experience.
Expert Tip
Bird/Chickadee Feeding is the most popular activity in the Brecksville Reservation during winter. Because of this, every Saturday and Sunday are packed with crowds wanting to experience this magical event.
Due to this, I recommend going to the Brecksville Nature Center at 9:45 am before they open the feeding area to the public and get a spot on the fence post where the bird feeders and chickadees tend to visit.
In addition, I recommend bringing black oil sunflower seeds. By arriving early with your supplies, you can bypass the line of people trying to get free bird feed from the park and have a more enjoyable experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is open on Sundays in January and February from 10 am to 12 pm.
It is located in the Brecksville Reservation directly outside the Brecksville Nature Center.
Yes. You can access the bird feeding on the paved trail leading up to the Brecksville Nature Center.
The amenities include a restroom, a water fountain, and a park bench.
No, dogs are not suggested as they will scare the birds.
Yes, this experience is for participants of all ages. Children will especially enjoy this up close and personal experience.
Brecksville Reservation Bird Feeding Virtual Tour
How to Get There (Driving Direction)
The easiest way to get to the Brecksville Reservation is to put it on your phone and GPS at the Brecksville Nature Center.
- If arriving from the North, take Royalton Road to Chippewa Creek Road. In 1/4 of a mile, you’ll arrive at the Harriet Keeler Memorial Picnic Area/Brecksville Nature Center parking lot on the right and left-hand sides of the road.
- If arriving from Riverview Road or Valley Parkway (off of Brecksville Road), you’ll continue on Chippewa Creek Road West until you reach the Harriet Keeler Memorial Picnic Area/Brecksville Nature Center parking lot (approximately 1 to 1.5 miles away, depending on which entrance you are driving into).
Learn More About the Brecksville Reservation
The Brecksville Reservation Chickadee Feeding is a fun and exciting activity for families visiting the Brecksville Reservation. The park offers many other activities, including horseback riding at the Brecksville Stables, picnicking, the Salamander Migration, and playing at the Andrew Nature Play Area.
And if you love birds and coffee, you should check out beautifulbeastcoffee for all your coffee needs, while helping birds.
