Western Skies Scenic Byway connects some of the best birding areas in Iowa and has many places to see birds (& other wildlife). Bird Conservation Areas and eBird Hot Spots are some of the best places for birding, but many other parks, wildlife areas and trails offer additional bird- and wildlife-viewing.
While rowcrop agriculture is the predominant land use along Western Skies Scenic Byway, the route also includes upland, woodland, wetland, and aquatic habitat areas. The Byway crosses four of Iowa's major landforms: the wide, flat Missouri floodplain includes wetlands and oxbow lakes, and is a major migration corridor through the middle of the country. The Loess Hills include the largest complexes of remnant prairies in Iowa as well as many wooded areas. The Southern Iowa Drift Plain includes the rolling hills hills found throughout most of the region. In northern and eastern Guthrie County, the Des Moines Lobe includes the Prairie Pothole region known for wetlands and waterfowl production areas. The resources below include some of the best places to find birds in the Western Skies Scenic Byway corridor counties (Harrison, Shelby, Audubon & Guthrie).
While rowcrop agriculture is the predominant land use along Western Skies Scenic Byway, the route also includes upland, woodland, wetland, and aquatic habitat areas. The Byway crosses four of Iowa's major landforms: the wide, flat Missouri floodplain includes wetlands and oxbow lakes, and is a major migration corridor through the middle of the country. The Loess Hills include the largest complexes of remnant prairies in Iowa as well as many wooded areas. The Southern Iowa Drift Plain includes the rolling hills hills found throughout most of the region. In northern and eastern Guthrie County, the Des Moines Lobe includes the Prairie Pothole region known for wetlands and waterfowl production areas. The resources below include some of the best places to find birds in the Western Skies Scenic Byway corridor counties (Harrison, Shelby, Audubon & Guthrie).
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Bird Conservation Areas - BCAs encompass at least 10,000 acres of public and/or private lands that includes approximately 30% of the area as key bird habitat. They are coordinated by Iowa Department of Natural resources.
Western Skies Scenic Byway connects the Loess Hills BCA on the west with the Raccoon River Savanna BCA to the east. The BCAs website has bird lists, maps, and more. |
Yellow-headed Blackbird. photo by Carter Oliver
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eBird Hot Spots - these places have been identified as having large numbers of species diversity. Click to open an interactive global map and Zoom into western Iowa.
Some of the birding hotspots along the Western Skies Byway counties include:
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Trumpeter Swan. photo by Carter Oliver
Blue jay. photo by Carter Oliver
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Important Bird Areas - IBAs are designated for their significance as either breeding locations for criteria species or as locations important for large numbers of migratory or wintering birds. This website also has species maps and many other resources.
The map below shows county, state, and federal parks, wildlife areas, and recreational trails, all of which have the opportunity for bird & wildlife viewing. Click to open an interactive Google map.
Audubon Birding Tourism
The county and city of Audubon are named after famous birder John James Audubon. Downtown Audubon has a walking tour of birding mosaic tiles, a stained glass art piece, and a sculpture of John Audubon. Metal bird sculptures can be found along the T-Bone Trail in Audubon, Brayton, Exira, and Hamlin. The Audubon County Freedom Rock in Kimballton also features John James Audubon. The Audubon Post Office has a WPA mural called "Audubon's Trip down the Ohio and Mississippi--1820." As you drive east to west across Audubon County, notice that that north-south roads are named after birds!
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Bird Info
Iowa Ornithologists Union Birding Checklists by county
Top row: American Goldfinch, Trumpeter Swan, Northern Bobwhite; Middle row: Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Harrier, Lesser Yellowlegs ; Bottom row: Snowy Owl, Yellow Warbler, Osprey. photos by Carter Oliver