Seasonal Birding – Driving Trails, continued


Fall Migration Bring your spotting scope and field guide for some serious


birding! If the weather conditions are right and the prevailing winds are with you, you might see kettles of hawks riding thermals high above a prairie, there could be a dozen species of rare shorebirds resting on a mud flat, or you might look out on a backwater and see a raft of ten thousand snow geese, a bevy of Trumpeter Swans or a single Red-throated Loon singing it’s haunting song! Te shorebirds come through in the last two weeks of August, with teal shortly thereafter, passerines in early September, then wave after wave of ducks throughout September and October, with the geese, grebes and loons passing through in November and December.


Suggested Routes:With waterfowl and shorebirds it is best to plan a driving route that includes a series of quick stops. Use this map to visit places that offer a good view of the river or a backwater lake; skim several sites and linger where there is a lot of activity. A spotting scope will bring distant birds up-close for easier identification.


Starting at the south end of the Illinois River Road, plan a whistle-stop tour that begins at Sanganois State Wildlife Area (50), cross the bridge in Beardstown and head up to Anderson Lake (49), visit both Te Nature Conservancy Emiquon Preserve (47) near Dickson Mounds and cross the river at Havana to scope out Chautauqua National Wildlife Area (46). A series of quick stops at Spring Lake (43) and Pekin Lake, then crossing the river again to head back down to Banner Marsh (41) and Rice Lake (44), will provide a fruitful day of bird watching.


Starting in Peoria, there are a number of overlooks on both sides of the river driving north on Route 29 and then coming back along Route 26. Te Peoria Riverfront and Detweiller Park (25) offer good views of the Peoria Lakes. Stops along River Beach Road driving to Shore Acres (20) in Chillicothe, Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area (18), Wightman Lake (17) in Sparland, the Henry waterfront and Miller-Anderson Woods (14) in Putnam will take you north. Cross the river at Hennepin to visit Hennepin and Hopper Lake’s viewing tower (15), then drive south with stops at both Marshall (18) and Woodford County Conservation Area (19), Lacon riverfront, the marina at East Port Public Boat ramp, and the East Peoria Riverfront Greenway (30).


At the northern end of the Illinois River Road, start at Illini State Park (1), visit Allen Park to scan the waterfront in Ottawa, swing through Starved Rock State Park (7), and then head over to the viewing tower at Hennepin and Hopper Lakes (15) before crossing the river to visit Donnelley-Depue State Fish and Wildlife Area (13).


Winter Eagles Every winter hundreds of Bald Eagles from the northern


Great Lakes migrate to Central Illinois to fish along the Illinois River. On successive weekends in January there are Eagle Festivals in Havana, Pekin, Peoria, and at Starved Rock State Park. If you had to choose one place, the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center across the river from Starved Rock has spotting scopes with excellent views of eagles. Other places you are fairly certain to see eagles include: River Beach Drive between Chillicothe and Peoria, Wesley Road north of Pekin, East Port Marina in East Peoria and Te Nature Conservancy Emiquon Preserve near Dickson Mounds Museum.


Suggested Loops:Plan a weekend adventure driving a series of “figure eights” up one side of the Illinois River Road and down the other with stops at Starved Rock and the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center at the Lock and Dam and the riverfronts of Hennepin, Henry, Lacon, Chillicothe, Peoria, Pekin, London Mills and Havana. In birding there are no guarantees, but it would not be unusual to see 25- 50 eagles in such a trip! Dress warm; bring binoculars and plenty of hot chocolate.


For more suggestions on driving loops and what birds to look for where, please visit:


www.illinoisriverroad.org/Birding


Scan this code using the barcode reader on your smartphone to link to the Byway Birding Sites and Bird List pages on the Illinois River Road website.


(Check your app store to download a barcode reader. Data rates may apply.)


6


BALD EAGLE by CD Patterson


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9