Great Wisconsin Birding& NatureTrail Mississippi/Chippewa Rivers Region RJ & LINDA MILLER Welcome Welcome to Wisconsin, where a wonderful world of wildlife watching awaits you. Environmental tourism has become an important part of our diverse mix of outdoor recreation. Extensive wetlands, millions of acres of wild places, a broad range of natural habitat, and a commitment to environmental stewardship have made Wisconsin an outstanding regional birding opportunity. Riecks Lake Park near Alma in Buffalo County. More than any other state in the Great Lakes basin, Wisconsin is positioned to promote and Contents enjoy this popular activity. Introduction __________________________________ 2 To that end, we have launched the Great State Natural Areas ____________________________ 3 Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail. This Code of Ethics ________________________________ 3 project divides the state into five wildlife- Mississippi/Chippewa Rivers Region Map __________ 4-5 Using the Guide________________________________ 5 viewing regions. Driving trails that link Waypoint Index ________________________________ 6-7 important wildlife sites within each region are County Profiles being developed. The program will also Buffalo County ____________________________ 8-10 produce a series of birding guides to these Chippewa County __________________________ 11-13 regions – one each year. This is the second in Crawford County __________________________ 14-17 Dunn County ______________________________ 18-21 that series, a guide to the Eau Claire County __________________________ 22-25 Mississippi/Chippewa Rivers Region. Grant County ______________________________ 26-29 Wisconsin – life’s so good. Jackson County ____________________________ 30-33 La Crosse County __________________________ 34-37 Pepin County ______________________________ 38-40 Pierce County ______________________________ 41-44 St. Croix County ____________________________ 45-48 Trempealeau County ________________________ 49-51 Jim Doyle, Governor Vernon County ____________________________ 52-55 More Sources of Tourism Information______________ 56 Wisconsin Welcome Centers ____________________ 57 1 Wing your way State Natural Areas Wisconsin’s State Natural Areas through Wild Wisconsin (SNAs) protect outstanding exam- ples of native biological commu- The Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail nities such as prairies, pine bar- is your invitation to observe the fascinating and rens, bogs, and boreal forests. diverse world of wildlife that exists in every They also preserve significant corner of the state. geological and archaeological features and are often the last By 2008, the Wisconsin refuges in Wisconsin for rare DNR Endangered Resource species of animals, plants, fungi, Program will have developed MIKE MCDOWELL lichens, and a host of other a series of five highway-based organisms. viewing guides, each highlighting unique regional ecosystems of Wisconsin. Each will link a set of Code of Ethics waypoints, refuges and wild Least Bittern. places that offer the best The Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail is your gate- birding and wildlife watching opportunities. way to the natural world of Wisconsin. The Code of Ethics This is the second of those five guides; the serves to guide you as you seek your favorite waypoint sites Mississippi/Chippewa Rivers Birding and Nature across the state. Trail. It covers thirteen Wisconsin counties in the ● Treat birds and other animals with respect, never disturbing Mississippi or Chippewa River watershed. or collecting anything in their habitat. Opened in 2005, it includes 67 waypoints from ● Trails, roads and paths found at the sites provide good the sandbar sloughs of the Mississippi River to access to the property. Avoid leaving them unless you are the trout streams of Grant County. in a wilderness area. In 2006, the Lake Michigan Birding and ● Wisconsin has strict trespass laws. Nature Trail will debut followed in successive Private property does not have to years by the Central Sands Prairie and Southern be posted or fenced in Wisconsin. MIKE MCDOWELL Savanna Trails. The first guide in the series, the Ask permission if you want to Lake Superior Northwoods edition, was released enter private land. Know where in 2004 and is still available in you are – pay attention to posted limited numbers. property boundary signs. Waypoints on each trail ● Dogs must be leashed on all state lands during the bird-nesting sea- will be marked with the pro- Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly. gram’s distinctive Sandhill son from April 15 through July 31. Crane logo. As you travel, ● Lead by example. Leave the property litter-free and in good watch for these signs – they condition for the next traveler. are your invitation to the fasci- ● Give nature a voice. Thank the property owner, manager nating world of Wisconsin or staff person for the opportunity to enjoy nature at their Waypoint marker. wildlife. site. 2 3 Rice Lake St. Croix Bruce 8 35 BARRON Falls Barron Cameron Ladysmith 8 St. Croix Turtle Lake 65 County 27 Pgs. 45-48 40 Osceola 46 Dunn i 13 County 7 Holcombe W New 55 53 New 6 Pgs. 18-21 Auburn TAYLOR M 56 Richmond 64 64 Cornell Gilman 64 Somerset ST. CROIX MedfordGreat Wisconsin Bloomer CHIPPEWA 57 58 63 Chippewa 9 Hudson DUNN Chippewa 8 County Falls Cadott Pgs. 11-13 AbbotsfordBirding& NatureTrail St. Paul 94 Knapp 18 29 54 29 Menomonie 19 Mississippi/ChippewaMARA Rivers Region 61 48 River 23 Prescott Downsville Eau Claire Unity 10 Falls Elmwood 20 26 Eau Claire M wa 22 Ellsworth PIERCE ippe 24 County Ch 21 CLARK 47 16 EAU CLAIRE 25 Pgs. 22-25 Spencer 35 50 17 52 43 Augusta 46 63 Bay 10 r 49 e Durand v Marshfield City PEPIN i Maiden Eleva Osseo Fairchild R Pierce Rock 44 Using the Guide 51 85 Mondovi County Red Wing 45 Neillsville 13 Pgs. 41-44 Stockholm Information for this guide was 4 93 94 WOOD Nelson 12 Pepin ck BUFFALO Hixton la Pittsville gathered locally from Wisconsin 35 B M 52 Pepin iss Independence Wabasha is 3 Whitehall JACKSON DNR and federal Forest Service County sip W pi Alma 54 61 Pgs. 38-40 Black 32 Nekoosa personnel, from naturalists, birders, 1 River Falls 37 95 Babcock 5 53 35 34 33 and a range of wildlife enthusiasts. 63 Buffalo TREMPEALEAU 36 n 2 Millston 80 si Each site was nominated locally and County Jackson n R Fountain co iv City is Pgs. 8-10 er 54 County W evaluated as part of the regional 27 14 Rochester 62 Pgs. 30-33 Trempealeau project. 14 60 21 Trempealeau LA CROSSE A Tomah JUNEAU County 59 40 Onalaska Sparta Site information includes a 61 90 12 Pgs. 49-51 MONROE contact phone number, driving 42 W. Salem New Lisbon 71 Wilton directions, a small locator map, a 39 La Crosse Mauston La Crosse description of the property, common 90 38 41 County 61 Ontario Union 94 52 Pgs. 34-37 14 Center 90 and rare birds and wildlife, and a 67 63 33 Stoddard Westby er Web site if available. Except as v 65 MINNESOTA VERNON i Genoa 63 R 82 Hillsboro La Valle noted, admission to these properties Vernon 56 66 Viroqua County Reedsb is free. Hours are included, even 64 80 Pgs. 52-55 82 Readstown though most properties are open 14 SAUK De Soto Lansing o RICHLAND o Crawford 23 24/7. 14 p a County k 35 c Prairie d i Richland As you would expect, most of K Pgs. 14-17 IOWA 61 61 Center Lynxville 27 Spring these waypoints are remote, wild CRAWFORD 60 Green 13 locations. While every effort has 10 11 28 52 Muscoda Wauzeka Black E Prairie 15 Boscobel been made to provide accurate driv- 80 18 du Chien 12 30 Barneveld Mt ing instructions, we recommend that Fennimore IOWA 18 Bridgeport Bl you bring a county map or gazetteer 18 Moun 31 GRANT Dodgeville to help in finding these sites. Other 27 Lancaster 63 Grant 52 80 Mineral Point prudent equipment would include a 133 County 23 7 Pgs. 26-29 61 compass, flashlight, water, a granola 29 Belmont LAFAYETTE bar or two, insect repellant, and a Cassville 151 Platteville Potosi 81 Dickeyville Darlington good pair of walking/hiking shoes. Cuba City 4 Gratiot 11 5 Waterloo Dubuque 20 Waypoint Index Page Page Buffalo County Pepin County 1. Buena Vista Park, Alma________________________________________________8 43. Chippewa River State Trail, Durand/Eau Claire___________________________38 2. Merrick State Park, Fountain City ______________________________________9 44. Lower Chippewa River State Natural Area, Pepin ________________________39 3. Riecks Lake Park, Alma ________________________________________________9 45. Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area, Stockholm _______________________40 4. Tiffany Bottoms State Wildlife Area, Nelson_____________________________10 46. Nine Mile Island State Natural Area, Durand ____________________________40 5. Whitman Dam State Wildlife Area, Buffalo _____________________________10 Pierce County Chippewa County 47. Freedom Park Learning Center, Prescott ________________________________41 6. Brunet Island State Park, Cornell _______________________________________11 48. Kinnickinnic State Park & Delta State Natural Area, River Falls ____________42 7. Chippewa Moraine Ice Age National Scientific Unit & Interpretive Center, 49. Morgan Coulee Prairie State Natural Area, Maiden Rock _________________43 New Auburn _________________________________________________________12 50. Nugget Lake County Park, Plum City ___________________________________43 8. Lake Wissota State Park, Chippewa Falls ________________________________12 51. Rush River Delta State Natural Area, Maiden Rock_______________________44 9. Old Abe State Trail, Wildflower Trail, & Lake Wissota State Park Trails ____13