Top Ten Birding Sites and Trails 5. Banner Marsh


Route 24, Banner - Another Important Birding Area (IBA), this 4,363-acre complex of marshes, shallow lakes and deepwater habitat boasts over 100 bodies of water which serve as a major holding area for migrating waterfowl, Osprey, Bald Eagle, and Short-eared Owls as well as many songbirds - Gray Catbird, Common Yellowthroat, and American Goldfinch. American lotus, a striking native water lily, shows pastel-yellow blooms all summer long. Belted Kingfishers and nesting Wood Ducks are common. Look for the shy American Bittern migrating through along with Sandhill Cranes, terns, and gulls. Te Least Bittern has been known to nest here, as has the King Rail. With four separate access points for Banner Marsh, Bell’s Landing is the best choice for birding.


6. Sanganois State Wildlife Area


3594 CR 200 N, Chandlerville - With numerous floodplain lakes, sloughs, bottomland forests, both tallgrass prairie and sand prairie, this site offers incredible diversity within its 10,360 acres. Te site is operated as a public hunting area, with fishing and boating. Northeast of the confluence of the Illinois and Sangamon Rivers, the rich, diverse ecology is a product of both of these streams. Te prairie northwest of the park office is home to Northern Bobwhite, Dickcissel, Western Meadowlark, and Mourning Dove. Skim the many timbered ponds and sloughs along the levee road that travel west and south through the refuge looking for Prothonotary Warblers, Wood Ducks and herons.


7. The Nature Conservancy Emiquon Preserve


Route 78/97, Lewistown - TNC has embarked on one of the largest wetland restoration projects in the U.S. Beneath much of the 6,700 acres of plowed cropland was a dormant seed bank of aquatic vegetation just waiting for a chance to emerge. Te newly built boat ramp, board walks, hiking and canoe trails were designed to attract visitors just as re- flooding Tompson Lake is attracting many of the region’s mammals, birds, butterflies, and fishes. Within months of flooding, the rare Black-necked Stilts began nesting. During spring and fall migrations the water is covered with tens of thousands of waterfowl, gulls, and terns. Te prairie hosts Henslow’s and Grasshopper Sparrows, and the upland forests provides habitat to a range of woodpeckers and warblers.


8. Rice Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area


Route 24, Canton - Tis officially-designated Important Birding Area (IBA), is a complex of wetland composed of 5,660 acres with shallow floodplain lakes and bottomland forest habitats. Te forested areas, with mature stands of American elm, silver maple, cottonwood, and black willow, are a flutter with passerines in the spring. Check the expansive mudflat near the north boat launch for Great Blue Herons, egrets, gulls, and assorted plovers and sandpipers. Tere is also one of the largest, northernmost, bald cypress trees near the marina.


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GREEEN HERON by Jim Miller


TUFTED TITMOUSE by Jim Miller


GREAT HORNED OWL by Jim Miller


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