Yellow River Forest/Effigy Mounds National Mounument

County:  Allamakee
Directions:  Yellow River State Forest: From the junction of Iowa Highway 364 (Great River Road) and County Road B25 in Harper's Ferry, follow CR B25 southwest for 4.8 miles to the state forest boundary. Proceed another 1.5 miles to the headquarters, on the left. Effigy Mounds National Monument: From the junction of US 18 and Iowa Highway 76 in Marquette, follow IA 76 north for 3.7 miles to the park entrance on the right.
Ornithological Significance:  With approximately 8,000 acres in Yellow River State Forest and over 2,500 acres in Effigy Mounds National Monument, these two areas combined make up the largest public owned forest area in northeastern Iowa. The bird diversity in these areas is significant, and certainly at least 100 breeding bird species call this area home. Iowa Endangered species, which nest here, include the Bald Eagle and the Red-shouldered Hawk. Important woodland nesters include Veery, Cerulean Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Broad-winged Hawk, Acadian Flycatcher, Louisiana Waterthrush, Pileated Woodpecker, Wood Thrush, Black-billed and Yellow-billed Cuckoos, and a host of others. With the Yellow River and Paint Creek winding through these forests, and with the Mississippi River and its associated bluffs forming the eastern boundary, there exist unique habitats which contribute to bird diversity. During migration time, this Blufflands area hosts one of the best fall raptor migration viewing spots in the state. For the last 17 years, Effigy Mounds National Monument has hosted a Hawk Watch Weekend. This Environmental Education event allows thousands of people the opportunity to view migrating raptors, while biologists record the numbers and species of raptors migrating through. A raptor banding station also occurs at this site. Migrant Peregrine Falcons are occasionally banded here, and at least one historic Peregrine cliff eyrie exists within this area.

Habitats:

Wetland

Woodland

Grassland

Savanna/Shrub

Riparian

Ownership:

Federal

State

Criteria Categories:

1 - Endangered or threatened species habitat

2 - High conservation priority

3 - Rare or unique habitat

4 - Significant species concentrations

5 - Research and monitoring

Web Site:  http://www.state.ia.us/government/dnr/organiza/forest/yr.htm

Click here for breeding bird and concentration data for this site.