Lebanon County nature lovers should prepare their binoculars for this spring because a new viewing platform is coming to the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area.
It will allow visitors to view waterfowl species off of Chapel Road at what is locally known as Risser’s Wetland. It will be accessible from the north parking lot on Chapel Road off Route 897 or the small parking area being constructed near the intersection of the internal portion of Wildlife Drive and Chapel Road.
The platform is lifted three feet off the ground, is 1,000 square feet and has a roof and railing.
Alexander Murray, a land manager group supervisor who covers part of Lebanon County, said the main goal of Middle Creek is to provide a safe place for wildlife and allow the community to view the animals in their natural habitats.
“That does provide us with a unique opportunity for folks, within reason, to view wildlife in its more natural form,” he said. “This is something we’ve been kicking around for some time now, and we think that we would be able to provide a unique opportunity to view wildlife without disturbing it from this area.”
He said the idea for this structure has been “kicked around” for several years now, and many considerations have led to the ultimate decision to start building.
They have to find a balance between keeping the wildlife safe and comfortable and providing additional access to visitors.
The main factors are distance from wildlife and providing other options throughout the management area.
“We still have a lot of other bodies of water on the property that they can use if they feel uncomfortable,” Murray said. “They do have a place that they can go if there was some type of noise disturbance or something that would cause them to leave. We felt we wouldn’t be kicking them out.”
Risser’s, according to a newsletter announcing the new platform, attracts waterfowl species like tundra swans, snow geese, multiple species of duck, and migratory shorebirds.
They aim to finish construction in December so it will be available to the public when the toll road opens on March 1.
Murray said this project involves the entire Middle Creek team, and the education department hopes to put kiosks or signs on the platform to provide additional information about the land and the animals.
“We’re all excited to see it completed and we’re looking forward to seeing folks come out and seeing people utilize it,” he said. “We’re really looking forward to it.”
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