1. Starved Rock State Park


Top Ten Birding Sites and Trails 3. Spring Lake


Routes 71 and 178, Utica - Starved Rock is one of the premier natural areas in the Midwest. Tere are 18 canyons cut by melting glaciers at the end of the ice age that sparkle seasonally with waterfalls or ice falls. 15 miles of trails traverse old growth forests and sandstone bluffs with an amazing diversity of trees and wildflowers. With more than 225 species, Starved Rock provides excellent birding year-round. Look for Louisiana Waterthrush, Scarlet Tanager, Pileated Woodpecker, and Brown Creeper. Bald Eagles


congregate in the winter and fall warblers pass through in droves. Te most productive sites are Point Shelter and Illinois Canyon at the east end along Route 71, the bottomland forest south of the main boat launch and picnic grounds west of the visitor’s center. Te Illinois Waterway Visitor Center, across the river from Starved Rock, hosts guided hikes, nature programs and a museum.


2. Donnelley-DePue State Fish & Wildlife Area


Route 26, DePue - Located at the “Great Bend” of the Illinois River, this state wildlife area contains a variety of wetland habitats critical to migratory waterfowl. Frank C. Bellrose, world- renown waterfowl expert, designated this area an important North American waterfowl migration corridor. Consequently, much of the 3,015-acre complex is managed for waterfowl feeding, nesting, resting, harvesting and viewing. Besides waterfowl, the site supports populations of American White Pelicans late in the summer and Bald Eagles during the winter months.


2 State Fish & Wildlife Area


7982 South Park Road, Manito - Once the main channel of the Illinois River, Spring Lake is now geologically classified as a “meander scar,” an abandoned channel of the river. Guarded by a high sandstone bluff, this 1,946-acre site is one of the few areas where upland pine forests still exist along the river. Spring Lake has a total of 7.5 miles of hiking trails spread over three different trail systems. Besides hiking, these trails are also great for studying birds, insects, and the diverse plant life. A great year-round birding destination, there are spring migrants and a variety of summer residents. Fall waterfowl-watchers will


want to visit the numerous parking sites located along 18 miles of shoreline.


4. Forest Park Nature Center


5809 Forest Park Drive, Peoria Heights - Seven miles of hiking trails traverse bluff forestland and a restored prairie through this designated state nature preserve. Over 100 woodland bird species use the park as migrants, winter visitors or year-round inhabitants. Hikers often encounter the resident wild turkeys or hear Barred Owls calling in the distance. Te nature center’s bird feeding/watering station is always busy with Chickadees, Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatch and Downy Woodpecker, as well as warblers, vireos and other neotropical species, particularly during migrations. Te Peoria Audubon Society meets here regularly. Please contact the nature center for a schedule of guided tours and environmental programs


PILIATED WOODPECKER by Jim Miller


DOWNY WOODPECKER by CD Patterson


CATTLE EGRET by Jim Miller


RED TAILED HAWK by Sean Patterson


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