Cypress Black Bayou Recreation Area

The Cypress Black Bayou Recreation Area is a paradise for birding aficionados. Nearly 140 bird species have been recorded at this peaceful and accessible site. The birds are drawn to the park’s Cypress Lake, Black Bayou, and various types of forests. 

The lake and bayou hold Canada Goose, Wood Duck, and Mallard year round, joined each winter by diving species such as Canvasback, Redhead, Lesser Scaup, and Ruddy Duck. Bonaparte's and Ring-billed Gulls, Forster's Tern, and Common Loon also visit during winter. Commonly observed wading birds include Great Blue, Little Blue, and Green Herons, as well as Great, Snowy, and Cattle Egrets, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, and White Ibis. 

Raptors work both in and around open water and forests. Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks are here year-round, whereas Mississippi Kite, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Cooper's, and Sharp-shinned Hawks are seasonal. Woodland bird activity is high year-round, featuring many species of woodpeckers, flycatchers, vireos, thrushes/mimic thrushes, finches, sparrows, warblers, and others. 

This site has numerous amenities, including paved parking, interpretive/identification/directional signage, restrooms/drinking fountains, a nature center, five nature trails (one handicapped-accessible), fishing pier, and a petting zoo. Outdoor recreational activities include hiking, biking, birding, fishing, and nature photography. The site is handicapped-accessible.