More than 325 bird species make the round-trip each year along the Mississippi Flyway, from their breeding grounds in Canada and the northern United States to their wintering grounds along the Gulf of Mexico and in Central and South America. Add the regions area birds and state parks and natural areas and birders have an abundance of birds to look for and places to look for them. Bald Eagles are the main stars in the region beginning in late September and ending in early March.
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NORTH & EAST OF ST. LOUIS
Bald Eagles
From the middle of December to the middle of March the Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway hosts the second largest overwintering Bald Eagle population in the continental United States. Peak number of eagles occur in January and February. A number of organizations and communities host entertaining and educational programs that allow visitors to get up close and personal with our national symbol as well as see them in their natural habitat.
Wakonda State Park
LaGrange, Missouri
Wakonda State Park is listed on the Great Missouri Birding Trail. 87 bird species have been recorded for the park. Look for grassland species such as Lark and Field Sparrows and the Dickcissel. Also, Bald Eagles, Northern Harriers, American White Pelicans, and Bitterns may be seen along with various waterfowl and wading birds.
Siloam Springs State Park
Clayton, Illinois
Siloam Springs State Park is home to two highly sought after species in Illinois: Worm-eating Warblerand Chuck-will’s-widow. The Worm-eating Warbler can be found in almost any of the ravines found throughout the park. Other species found in the park include Barred Owl, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Hooded Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Ovenbird, Northern Parula, Summer Tanager, Wood Thrush, Pileated Woodpecker, and Red-shouldered Hawk.
Mark Twain Lake State Park
Ralls & Monroe Counties, Missouri
Mark Twain Lake State Park is listed on the Great Missouri Birding Trail. The lake attract a range of migratory waterfowl such as Blue-winged Teal and Ruddy Ducks and hosts numerous open water species including shorebirds and white pelicans in the winter. The park offers five separate hiking trails that explore the woodland and grasslands surrounding the lake. You’ll be able to find nearly every species of Woodpecker. In summer, look for flycatchers, vireos, and a variety of wood warblers. In winter, you’ll find Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Juncos, and White-throated Sparrow.
Ted Shanks Conservation Area
Ashburn, Missouri
Ted Shanks Conservation Area is listed on the National Audubon Society's Great River Birding Trail. Wetland management at Ted Shanks C.A. includes manipulation of water levels in the area’s many pools to provide stopover habitat and food for migratory birds. Ted Shanks C.A. hosts large concentrations of waterfowl during both spring and fall migrations occurring in late November and December and again in February and March. The largest documented concentration of waterfowl at Ted Shanks C.A. occurred in 1978 when an estimated 305,000 ducks were counted. Large numbers of shorebirds, large waders, and a large number of songbirds frequent the area. Several rare wetland birds migrate through or nest here, including Trumpeter Swans, Least and American Bitterns, King Rails, and Common Moorhens. There is good automotive viewing from an internal road system that loops around wetland cells and along forest edges.
Cuivre River State Park
Troy, Missouri
Cuivre River State Park has 12 hiking trails provide a diverse range of habitats than can be experienced. The Lakeside Trail borders the entire shoreline of Lake Lincoln where you might see Bald Eagles in winter, ducks, geese, and swallows. The Big Sugar Creek Trail is an excellent place to find warblers, vireos, woodpeckers, flycatchers, and tanagers, which are among the park’s 207 bird species. Sparrows and other grassland birds can be found along the Blazing Star Trail.
Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge
Calhoun County, Illinois
Two divisions of the Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge are listed on the National Audubon Society's Great River Birding Trail. They report that in the Gilbert Lake Division hundreds of American Bald Eagles use the area quite extensively during the winter, and you can find excellent viewing opportunities from IL-100 (the Great River Road.) The Gilbert Lake area is an excellent stopover for spring and fall migrating warblers, such as American Redstarts, Prothonotary Warblers and also Acadian Flycatchers. Watch for egrets, Bald Eagles, Wild Turkeys, and scan the mudflats for a variety of shorebirds in both spring and fall. The U.S. Geological Survey maintains a checklist for birds that can be seen in this refuge.
Pere Marquette State Park
Jersey County, Illinois
Approximately 230 species of birds have been identified within, at the boundaries or flying over Pere Marquette State Park in the past 20 years. Popular locations for bird watching are Stump Lake, in the river bottoms, McAdams Peak and other overlooks along the scenic drive through the park.
Owls at Pere Marquette State Park
Jersey County, Illinois
The Great Horned Owl, the Barred Owl and the Eastern Screech Owl are common to both Illinois and to Pere Marquette State Park. The Park offers periodic programs on owls on a regular basis which include a lecture followed by a night time hike to listen for these fascinating birds.
TreeHouse Wildlife Center
Jersey County, Illinois
The TreeHouse Wildlife Center sits on approximately eight beautiful acres near the rural town of Dow in Jersey County. It's become an ideal environment for injured or orphaned animals that need time to recuperate. The property features large outdoor cages for animals ready to be released, indoor havens for permanents residents, and a pond for waterfowl. Visitors will be able to see Bald Eagles, a variety of hawks and owls, mammals, and some reptiles in the center.
Olin Nature Preserve
Godfrey, Illinois
Located on the top of the Mississippi bluffs in Godfrey, the Olin Nature Preserve is a nearly 300 acre Illinois Nature Preserve with wide trails through woodlands and native hill prairies, and contains several scenic views overlooking the Mississippi River. The Olin Nature Preserve provides habitat to nearly 150 species of birds at different times of the year.
The Watershed Nature Center
Edwardsville, Illinois
The Watershed Nature Center is one of the best birding spots in the metropolitan Saint Louis area. This site contains all three major habitats in the region - Forest, wetlands, and prairie savanna. A flat one-mile trail (partially paved) circles two small lakes and travels through the three types of environments.
Horseshoe Lake State Park
Granite City, Illinois
Horseshoe Lake State Park is an excellent place for bird watching. It has been said that virtually all species of birds that have been spotted in the state have been seen at one time or another at the Park. In July and August the southern portion of the lake is drained and spread with millet by plane. The resulting mudflats attract many snowy egrets and blue herons in search of clams and snails. During the fall migration, this is a great place for waterfowl and shore birds, including loons, grebes, and cormorants. In winter, watch for a variety of gulls.
Audubon Center at Riverlands
West Alton, MO
The Audubon Center at Riverlands is set in the 3,700 acres of the marsh and wetlands forest of the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary. The Center features a number of interactive exhibits involving birds and the Mississippi Flyway. In addition to the state of the art interior the center has a wrap-around deck and picnic tables overlooking Ellis Bay along with a miniature wetland pond and access to several of the Sanctuary’s hiking trails.
August A. Busch Conservation Area
Saint Charles County, MO
The 6,987-acre Busch Conservation Area contains 3,000 acres of forest in addition to grassland, cropland, old fields, prairie, and wetlands. Features include 72 fishable lakes and ponds, 7 hiking trails, wildlife viewing blinds, hunting, and archery. The property is a great place for viewing a large variety of birds and other wildlife.
Katy Trail State Park
Saint Charles County
The Katy Trail is a 225-mile bike trail with 6 trailheads in St. Charles County. The trail follows the track bed of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT) Railroad (better known as Katy.) Most of the trail parallels the northern bank of the Missouri River. 165 miles of the trail has been designated an official segment of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.
