Kiroli Park is ecologically and topologically rich. There are streams, small valleys and ridges as well as a lake that draws waterbirds. The lake is outfitted with a covered pavilion that is perfect for viewing wading birds and waterfowl in the shade.
Red-shouldered, Cooper's, and Red-tailed Hawks hunt this area, as does Great-horned Owl. Northern Flicker, Red-bellied, Downy, and Pileated Woodpeckers live here, joined by Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers during the winter months. White-breasted and Brown-headed Nuthatches nest here, whereas Red-breasted Nuthatch is a winter visitor.
Hooded, Northern Parula, and Pine Warblers nest here, and Nashville and Black-throated Green Warblers have been recorded in migration. Both Orange-crowned and Yellow-rumped Warblers are common winter birds here.
The park's extensive trail system traverses ridge-and-valley topography from mature mixed pine hardwoods, to hardwood slopes, to bottomland hardwoods and cypress swamp habitats. Some trails have footbridges over streams. The park has a wide variety of amenities and recreational spaces. There’s paved parking, restrooms, water fountains, a playground, picnic pavilions, a dog park, tennis courts, an amphitheater, and 6.5 miles of nature trails weaving through old-growth forests, ideal for birding. Nature photography, walking, jogging, and biking are popular outdoor recreation activities here. The trail system includes a 1.9-mile hard-surfaced loop that is handicapped-accessible.
