If you think good bird-watching requires long hikes into mosquito-infested forests, you've never been to the Robert and Martha Gaddy Wild Bird Garden in Tower Grove Park. "St. Louis is a great place for birding because of the Mississippi River -- a natural flyway for migratory birds," confirms Denise Kirkpatrick, owner of a Wild Bird Center franchise in south county. One of the best spots for birdwatching, says Kirkpatrick, can be found in the heart of the city, in Tower Grover Park. During spring and fall, the park is home to warblers, woodpeckers, hawks, thrushes, sparrows and many other birds. Kirkpatrick suggests arriving early as birds are most active in the morning. The Wild Bird Garden is located at the northwest corner of the park, along South Kingshighway and Magnolia Avenue. Other popular birding sites: the Woodland Pool and Cypress Circle at the east end of the park. For birding tips, visit one of the local Wild Bird Center shops (see
www.wildbirdcenter.com), or call the St. Louis Audubon Society at 314-822-6595 or the Webster Groves Nature Study Society at 314-935-8432.