IBA Site Information

Yellow River Forest/Effigy Mounds National Mounument BCA
Continental/Global IBA
Allamakee County  
Yellow River Forest/Effigy Mounds National Mounument BCA
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.
Description:  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.
Criteria for this site
Endangered or threatened species habitat
High conservation priority
Rare or unique habitat
Significant species concentrations
Research and monitoring
Habitats found in this site
Wetland
Woodland
Grassland
Savanna/Shrub
Riparian
Ownership
State
Federal
Iowa Audubon

Birds of Iowa

  • Eastern Bluebird
    © Doug Harr
  • House Finch
    © Doug Harr
  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird
    © Doug Harr
  • Yellow-billed Cuckoo
    © Doug Harr
  • American Redstart
    © Doug Harr
  • Sora
    © Doug Harr
  • Western Meadowlark
    © Doug Harr
  • Yellow-breasted Chat
    © Doug Harr
  • American Bittern
    © Doug Harr
  • Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
    © Doug Harr
  • Dickcissel
    © Doug Harr
  • American Goldfinch
    © Doug Harr
  • Turkey Vulture
    © Doug Harr
  • Tufted Titmouse
    © Doug Harr
  • Northern Cardinal
    © Doug Harr
  • Lark Sparrow
    © Doug Harr
  • Ruby-crowned Kinglet
    © Doug Harr
  • American White Pelican
    © Doug Harr
  • Winter Wren
    © Doug Harr
  • Mississippi Kite
    © Doug Harr
  • Pine Siskin
    © Doug Harr
  • Indigo Bunting
    © Doug Harr
  • Least Sandpiper
    © Doug Harr
  • Prairie Warbler
    © Doug Harr
  • Blue Jay
    © Doug Harr
  • Eastern Towhee
    © Doug Harr
  • Lesser Scaup
    © Doug Harr
  • Eastern Kingbird
    © Doug Harr
  • Blue-winged Teal
    © Doug Harr
  • Common Yellowthroat
    © Doug Harr
  • Ring-necked Pheasant
    © Doug Harr
  • Hermit Thrush
    © Doug Harr
  • Scarlet Tanager
    © Doug Harr
  • Common Nighthawk
    © Doug Harr
  • Song Sparrow
    © Doug Harr
  • Northern House Wren
    © Doug Harr
  • Belted Kingfisher
    © Doug Harr
  • Downy Woodpecker
    © Doug Harr
  • Yellow Warbler
    © Doug Harr
  • Lesser Yellowlegs
    © Doug Harr
  • Red-bellied Woodpecker
    © Doug Harr
  • Black-billed Magpie
    © Doug Harr
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
    © Doug Harr
  • Merlin
    © Doug Harr
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak
    © Doug Harr
  • Pine Warbler
    © Doug Harr
  • Yellow-headed Blackbird
    © Doug Harr
  • Trumpeter Swan
    © Doug Harr
  • Great Blue Heron
    © Doug Harr
  • Fox Sparrow
    © Doug Harr
  • Broad-winged Hawk
    © Doug Harr
  • Eastern Wood-Pewee
    © Doug Harr
  • Cedar Waxwing
    © Doug Harr
  • Barred Owl
    © Doug Harr
  • Red-eyed Vireo
    © Doug Harr
  • Pied-billed Grebe
    © Doug Harr
  • Gray Partridge
    © Doug Harr
  • Northern Shoveler
    © Doug Harr
  • Tree Swallow
    © Doug Harr
  • Ring-billed Gull
    © Doug Harr
  • Northern Pintail
    © Doug Harr
  • Common Gallinule
    © Doug Harr
  • Mourning Dove
    © Doug Harr

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