Wildlife Watching at Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center
The diverse habitats found in the park are home to many different animals. More than 80 species of butterflies, 23 species of mammals, 27 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 160 species of birds have been documented. The best bird watching opportunities occur during migration.
The Wildlife Watching Area and native garden near the Henrys Forge Historic Area, and the butterfly garden in front of the visitor center, have many opportunities for close-up viewing of birds, butterflies, and small mammals.
Henrys Woods
The portion of the center’s woodlands known as Henrys Woods is one of the most beautiful natural resources in the Lehigh Valley.
Visitors hiking its 1.9-mile trail loop experience the sights, sounds, and coolness of Bushkill Creek as it meanders past dramatic slate outcroppings and old growth stands of hemlock and white oak.
Natural Resources
The rolling terrain of Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center is on the northern edge of the Lehigh Valley near the foothills of the Kittatinny Ridge. Habitats range from fields in various stages of successional growth to mature forests dominated by oak trees.
Approximately 2.5 miles of the beautiful Bushkill Creek and its tributary, Sobers Run, wind through the park property.
Jacobsburg’s natural resources are not only an excellent outdoor laboratory for environmental education, but are also important to many visitors for healthy outdoor exercise and recreation.
The natural areas and open spaces provided by this public resource are becoming increasingly important in a continually expanding urban setting.