27
Great Places for Birding
Locations geographically listed
from north to south |
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Nauvoo State Park
50
N. Wells Street
Nauvoo, IL
217-453-6252 |
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This 148-acre park includes the 13-acre Lake Horton with a mile-long
shoreline. In addition to fishing, boating, camping and hiking,
people return to these serene surroundings for the park's
recreational features. Bird watchers should look for White Pelicans,
Canvasbacks, Lesser Scaup, and Caspian Terns may all be seen in
Nauvoo State Park during migration. Bald Eagles may also be seen
during migration as well as winter. |
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Wakonda State Park
32836 State Park Road
La
Grange, MO
573-655-2280 |
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Wakonda State Park is composed of land that once was mined of gravel
used to surface Missouri's secondary highways. The land has been
transformed into a recreation area featuring six lakes, hiking and
bicycling trails, and a rare sand prairie. 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. |
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Quincy Bay
State Fish and Wildlife Area
Off IL-24
Quincy, IL |
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Located just north of Quincy this site consists primarily of
Mississippi River floodplain forest and wetland habitats
interspersed with various water bodies. Bird watchers should look
for American white pelicans and various waterfowl during fall
migration and bald eagles in winter. In spring and summer look for
various wading birds, ospreys, and neo-tropical songbirds
For more information and directions visit the
National Audubon Society's
Great
River Birding Trail. |
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Ted
Shanks
Conservation Area
3643 Pike 145
Ashburn, MO
573-258-2530 |
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Located
on Highway TT off US 79 between Hannibal and Louisiana, this 6,705
acre area wetlands is teeming with waterfowl, songbirds, mammals and
wildflowers. This site features primitive camping, boat ramps, and
a staffed office with exhibits. Bald Eagles can be seen from late
fall to early spring. Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets can be
seen from late spring thru autumn. |
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The
Clarksville
Tourist Information
Center and
Lock and Dam #24
Highway 79
Clarksville, MO
573-242-3132 |
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Overlooking
the Mississippi River and Lock and Dam #24, the Clarksville
Tourist Information Center offers
information about the town, its history, and local attractions.
Binoculars and spotting scopes are available during the winter for
Bald Eagle watchers. Lock and Dam #24 has an observation platform.
Due to funding problems the Clarksville Tourist Information Center
is open only during special events and by appointment. |
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Two
Rivers
National Wildlife Refuge
County Road 1
618- 883-2524 |
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This refuge consists of
a variety of habitats and is a major migration corridor
for waterfowl, bald eagles and other birds. The refuge is closed mid-October to
mid-December, but the office/visitor center is open weekdays and some weekends
during that period. |
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Pere Marquette
State Park
5 miles west of Grafton
on Route 100
618-786-3323 |
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Illinois' largest state park, Pere
Marquette is famous for the beauty of its fall colors and as a home
for bald eagles in the winter. Plenty of year round activities. |
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Melvin Price Locks & Dam
2751 Berns Highway
East Alton
877-462-6979 |
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Visitors can
watch river craft use the locks and the area is a favorite site for bald eagles in the
winter. Free tours are available daily. |
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Riverlands Environmental
Demonstration Area
301 Riverlands Way
West Alton, MO
636-899-2600 or
1-888-899-2602 |
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1200
acres of wetland
area managed by the Corps of Engineers across the Clark Bridge from
downtown Alton. |
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Confluence
Point
State Park
1000 Riverlands Way
West Alton, MO
636-899-1135 |
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This 1,118-acre park is located on the north side
of the Missouri River at its confluence with the Mississippi
River. A short trail leads visitors where the two rivers meet and
the area is noted for bird watching. |
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Watershed
Nature Center
1591 Tower Road
Edwardsville, IL
618-692-7578 |
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The habitats at the
40-acre Watershed Nature Center include mixed hardwood forests and
grassy meadows. A 1-mile path around its two main ponds gives easy
access to birders looking for waterfowl. A raised walkway through
wetlands and pond edge has been added to a 3000-foot
handicap-accessible path. Birders can expect to see a wide range of
waterfowl, many herons or egrets, hawks, sparrows, and other
songbirds.
For more information visit www.watershednaturecenter.com. |
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Horseshoe
Lake
State Park
3321 Highway
111
Granite City
618-931-0270 |
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2,960 acre park
centered around an oxbow lake with bird watching, nature trails, camping,
fishing, hunting and other recreational activities. |
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World Bird Sanctuary
125 Bald Eagle Ridge Road
Valley Park, MO
636-225-4390 |
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With over 130-acres the WBS is home to eagles,
owls, hawks, falcons, vultures, parrots, mammals and reptiles. A
team of Naturalists offer an array of education programs covering a
variety of environmental topics. Admission is Free
but there is a fee for programs and guided tours.
For more information visit www.worldbirdsanctuary.org |
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Pickle
Springs
Natural Area
Dorlac Road
Ste. Genevieve County, MO |
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Designated
a National Natural Landmark, this area has geologic features and
plants that occur in few other places. |
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Hawn
State Park
12096 Park Drive
Ste. Genevieve County, MO
573-883-3603 |
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With
pine and oak forests, sandstone bluffs and canyons, and clear
sand-bottom streams, this nearly 5,000 acre park is considered on of the
most scenic in Missouri. The park has many nature trails, picnic
areas and a campground for those who wish to get out and enjoy
nature. |
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Turkey Bluffs State Fish and Wildlife Area
4301 S. Lakeside Drive
Chester, IL
618-826-270/6 |
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This site consists of open areas, cultivated fields, hay
fields, brushy areas, and mature stands of bottomland and
upland forest. Scenic overlooks provide good views of the
Mississippi River. Picnic areas and scenic overlooks provide
good views of soaring eagles and hawks during fall
migration. Forested areas provide good locations for
observing neo-tropical migrant species. |
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Tower Rock Conservation Area
PCR 460 (off Highway A)
Perry County, MO
573-290-5730 |
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Tower Rock, also known as Grand Tower, is a small landmark limestone
island carved by the Mississippi River. The mainland offers picnic
facilities and a 1/4 mile hiking trail to a viewing platform that offers
a scenic view of Tower Rock. The island itself is accessible if the
river is particularly low, otherwise it is only accessible by boat.
Tower Rock is a designated National Historic Site as it is mentioned in
the journals of the explorers Marquette and Joliet in 1673 as well as
Lewis and Clark in 1803. |
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Kinkaid Lake
Jackson County, IL
618-684-2867 |
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Lake
Kinkaid is a 2,750 acres body of water located in the Shawnee Hills
region of southwestern Illinois. The lake attracts anglers because of
its abundance of game fish and over 90 miles of shoreline and water
depths to 75 feet. There are three recreation areas along the lake and
the area offers picnicking, hiking, wildlife viewing, swimming,
horseback riding, and camping opportunities. |
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Little Grand Canyon
Hickory Ridge Road
Jackson County, IL
618-253-7114 |
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The Little Grand Canyon National Natural Landmark is a small,
but dramatic, part of the 280,000-acre Shawnee National Forest.
A small creek with a tiny watershed has carved an impressive box
canyon, more than 200 feet deep, leading down to the Big Muddy River.
The Little Grand Canyon area features loop Trail that is a challenging
3.6-mile hike offers scenic views, chances to see wildlife, and
interesting geological features. The site offers picnic facilities,
restrooms, and interpretive signage. |
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LaRue-Pine Hills
LaRue Road
Wolf Lake, IL
618-687-1731 |
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As
with many places in the Shawnee National Forest, the beauty we see today
is rooted in its geologic history. At LaRue-Pine Hills it took millions
of years to form its bedrock before nature’s erosive forces took over
and created the 150-foot limestone bluffs that now rise out of the
Mississippi floodplain. These massive bluffs extend roughly 5 miles
along Highway 3 are as impressive today as they were to explorers
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in 1803. There are two hiking trails
at LaRue-Pine Hills. The Inspiration Point is a 1/4 mile trail that
leads to a rock pinnacle called Inspiration Point. White Pine Trail is a
T-bone trail with stretches of 2 miles and 2 1/2 miles. |
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Trail of Tears State Forest
3240 State Forest Road
Jonesboro, IL
618-833-4910 |
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Trail of Tears State Forest is one of five Illinois' state forests in a
system that was established to set aside lands for the growing of timber
needed in production of forest products, for watershed protection and to
provide outdoor recreation. The Forest consists of just over 5,000 acres
and lies within the southern section of the Illinois’ Ozark Hills
region, one of the most rugged landscapes in Illinois. The name is a
memorial to the winter of 1838-39 forced migration of the Cherokee,
Creek, and Chickasaw nations through the area. During the 1930s a
Civilian Conservation Corps camp operated in the Forest
constructing many of the stonework stabilization walls and log stone
shelters within the picnic area and along the Forest roads. The park
offers picnicking, camping, hiking, wildlife viewing and hunting
opportunities. |
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Trail of Tears State Park
429
Moccasin Springs
Jackson, MO
573-290-5268 |
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Trail of Tears State Park is a memorial to the members of the
Cherokee tribe that lost their lives during their forced relocation in
the winter of 1838-39. The peaceful, serene setting and the abundance of
recreational opportunities of the 3,415-acre park are in sharp contrast
to the tragic history that gives the park its name. The park preserves
the native woodlands much as they appeared to the Cherokee. Mature
forests cover much of the park, which is characterized by sharp ridges
and steep ravines. Located directly on the Mississippi River, visitors
can view the plentiful wildlife, including white-tailed deer, turkeys,
hawks and foxes. The park offers camping, fishing, swimming, hiking,
backpacking, primitive camping and equestrian pursuits. |
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Union County
State Fish & Wildlife Area
2755
Refuge Road
Jonesboro, IL
618-833-5175 |
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The Union County State Fish & Wildlife Area was acquired by the
Illinois Department of Natural Resources in the late 1940s and developed
a wintering goose population in excess of 50,000 birds by 1964. The area
encompasses 6,202 acres in the Lower Mississippi River bottomlands
division of Illinois. Public use in the refuge is limited. Sightseeing
and wildlife photography are permitted and the area is one of the few
places in Illinois where so many wild geese can be closely observed and
photographed in their natural habitat. Fishing is permitted from March 1
to October 15 on the area’s two lakes. Approximately 2,050 acres at the
south end of the main site are designated as a Public Hunting Area. |
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Horseshoe Lake
State Fish & Wildlife Area
Illinois Route 3
Miller City, IL
618-776-5689 |
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Horseshoe Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area is a 10,200 acre area
that includes a 2,400 acre shallow oxbow lake located seven miles north
of Cairo. Visitors may be reminded of the Deep South with the abundance
of bald cypress, tupelo gum, swamp cottonwood trees, and wild lotus. The
first 49 acres of the park were purchased by the Illinois Department of
Conservation in 1927 for development as a Canadian Goose sanctuary. The
site offers picnic, camping, fishing, wildlife viewing, and hunting
opportunities. |
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Columbus-Belmont State Park
350 Park Road
Columbus, KY
270-677-2327 |
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Columbus-Belmont State Park sits on bluffs overlooking the Mississippi
River. The park is the site of a Confederate fortification built during
the Civil War to prevent Union forces from using the river. Some of the
artillery and the six-ton anchor that held the great chain stretching
across the river are on display in the park. In 1934 the Civilian
Conservation Corps built a stone monument to hold the chain. The park
hosts an annual Civil War Days reenactment that includes battle
re-enactments, living history exhibits and military encampments in
October. There is a 2.5-mile self-guided hiking trail in the Park. The
park features seasonal facilities that include a Civil War Museum, a
snack bar, gift shop, and miniature golf course. A river cliff
campground is open year round utility hookups and grills. |
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Ten Mile Pond
Conservation Area
MO-102
East Prairie, MO
573-649-2770 |
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Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area is a 3,755-acre area that was once a
lowland hardwood forest intermingled with cypress sloughs. Most of the
area is flooded seasonally and was an important habitat for wintering
waterfowl, furbearers, eagles, and other wildlife species. Visitors can
view wildlife from the handicapped accessible Richard T. Reed
Observation Platform located at the C/D parking lot. Duck and goose
hunting and viewing waterfowl are the most popular outdoor activities on
the area. Bald eagles are common on the area from late fall through
early spring. |
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Big Oak Tree State Park
13640 MO-102
East Prairie, MO
573-649-3149 |
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Big Oak Tree State Park is an oasis of forests located in the abundance
of farmland of southeast Missouri. In the 1930s, citizens of southeast
Missouri began to realize that their magnificent lowland forests were
about to disappear forever and began a campaign to save a large oak tree
and 80 acres surrounding. The campaign attracted statewide attention and
in 1938 over 1,000 acres were purchased and dedicated as Big Oak Tree
State Park. Today, trees in the park are unsurpassed in the state for
their size with several trees more than 130 feet tall and four trees
qualifying as state champions. The park features a boardwalk that winds
its way through the park past some of the park's largest trees and gives
visitors a chance to view a variety of wildlife. An interpretive center
explains the forest and swamp ecosystem in the park. Big Oak Lake
provides 22 acres of fishing. Picnic sites, a picnic shelter, and a
playground are all nestled under towering trees, which makes the park a
great place for a family to spend the day. |
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