These young red-tailed hawks, at home in a hollow tree far above the valley floor, are permanent residents. Throughout the year, more than 190 species of birds frequent the Middle Fork valley. Fifteen of these species are threatened or endangered. Hawks, osprey, and the American bald eagle are among the most spectacular. The average canoeist will spot many herons (great blues; little greens), kingfishers, flycatchers, sandpipers and killdeer along the water's edge. Hikers traverse a greater variety of habitats, and see the greatest variety of birds, including pileated woodpeckers carving their trademark square holes in hollow tree trunks.

Many birds, including quail, pheasants and wild turkeys nest on the ground. Like the ovenbird, each species has its own way of camouflaging the nest. Regulations limit the training of hunting dogs in the Fish & Wildlife area during springtime while turkeys are nesting, because a hen will abandon her nest if it is disturbed during the week or two that it takes to lay her clutch of eggs (at the rate of one per day).