by NIAS | Jan 15, 2024 | Along the Mississippi River (mostly Carroll County), Fall Migrating Songbirds, Nesting Species, Spring Migrating Songbirds
Mississippi Palisades State Park
Heavily wooded riverside bluffs and sheltered valleys with stream flowing through some areas. South entrance about 1 mile north of Savanna, off of HWY 84. Park in first lot and walk roads and trails for great diversity of songbirds including unusual warblers such as Kentucky, Northern Parula, Cerulean, and Yellow-throated. Also Pileated Woodpecker, Scarlet Tanager, Louisana and Northern Waterthrush, and many more. Early May birding also provides brilliant wildflowers. Late September can get good Broad-Winged Hawk migration.
Birds Found at this Site:
Spring Migrating Songbirds (April and May)
Nesting Species (May through Mid-July)
Fall Migrating Songbirds (Late August through early November)
Year-round resident species will be found at nearly every location. Visit Audubon.org to learn about the specific species of birds listed in each area.
<< BACK TO BIRDING SITES
by NIAS | Jan 15, 2024 | Along the Mississippi River (mostly Carroll County), Fall Migrating Songbirds, Nesting Species, Spring Migrating Songbirds, Winter Varieties
Lost Mound Unit – Upper Mississippi National Wildlife & Fish Refuge
Sand savanna and sand prairie over which some development from the former Savanna Army Depot is still evident. Wooded high banks along the Mississippi. Entrance off of HWY 84 at Blackhawk Rd. about 7 miles north of Savanna. Follow entrance Rd. until it T’s then go right past refuge office. Drive slowly on the different criss-crossing roads for looks at grassland birds, some unusual such as Northern Mockingbird, Loggerhead Shrike, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-breasted Chat, Western Meadowlark and various sparrows. Whip-poor-wills can be heard off of road that borders river going north from refuge office. This road ends in parking area with river lookout, good for Bald Eagles in winter, with an occasional Golden Eagle. No walking trails, road travel only. Vast majority of refuge closed to private road travel. Bird tours sponsored by refuge have access to closed area. Call (915) 273-2732 for information on tours.
Birds Found at this Site:
Spring Migrating Songbirds (April and May)
Nesting Species (May through Mid-July)
Fall Migrating Songbirds (Late August through early November)
Winter Varieties (December through February)
Year-round resident species will be found at nearly every location. Visit Audubon.org to learn about the specific species of birds listed in each area.
<< BACK TO BIRDING SITES
by NIAS | Dec 20, 2023 | Birding Sites, Fall Migrating Songbirds, Jo Daviess County, Nesting Species, Spring Migrating Songbirds
Wards Grover Nature Preserve
This is a very large tract of woodlands owned by the State of IL and is great for seeing spring migrants and woodland nesting birds such as Scarlet Tanagers, Ovenbird, Acadian Flycatcher, Black and White Warbler, and Pileated Woodpeckers. There are no trails through this large woodland, so be prepared to push through on your own. The preserve is one mile south of Rt. 20 on Willow Rd. and three miles east of Stockton. The parking lot is on the east side of the preserve on Willow Rd. This property is owned by IL Department of Natural Resources.
Birds Found at this Site:
Spring Migrating Songbirds (April and May)
Nesting Species (May through Mid-July)
Fall Migrating Songbirds (Late August through early November)
Year-round resident species will be found at nearly every location. Visit Audubon.org to learn about the specific species of birds listed in each area.
<< BACK TO BIRDING SITES
by NIAS | Dec 20, 2023 | Birding Sites, Fall Migrating Shorebirds, Fall Migrating Songbirds, Fall Migrating Waterfowl/Waterbirds, Spring Migrating Shorebirds, Spring Migrating Songbirds, Spring Migrating Waterfowl/Waterbirds, Winnebago County
Pecatonica River Forest Preserve
Owned by Winnebago County Forest Preserve District; located at 7260 Judd Rd; parking is available at several locations; a very large area with 9.8 miles of trails and several habitat types including prairie, bottomland forest, wetland and riparian, a wide variety of birds can be observed here at all times of the year including Scarlet Tanager, Prothonotary Warbler, Pileated Woodpecker and Sandhill Crane; contact WCFPD for site map.
Birds Found at this Site:
Spring Migrating Waterfowl/Waterbirds (Spring Migrating Waterfowl/Waterbirds)
Spring Migrating Shorebirds (Mid-April through Mid-May)
Spring Migrating Songbirds (April and May)
Fall Migrating Songbirds (Late August through early November)
Fall Migrating Shorebirds (Mid-July through August)
Fall Migrating Waterfowl/Waterbirds (September through November)
Year-round resident species will be found at nearly every location. Visit Audubon.org to learn about the specific species of birds listed in each area.
<< BACK TO BIRDING SITES
