IBA Site Information

Bjorkboda Marsh/Masterson WA/Boone East Marsh

State IBA

Hamilton County (and Boone)

Directions: From Stanhope, travel south on HWY 17 for 4 miles and turn west onthe gravel road marked by a sign. Proceed west for 1 mile, then 1 mile south to an intersection. From there go 0.1 mile west to the signed Bjorkboda parking lot on the north side of the road. Masterson Wildlife Area is just 3/4 mile further west on this gravel road on the north side. Boone East Marsh is adjacent to Masterson on the west and is divided by the east-west road.

Description: This grassland/marsh complex is about 500 acres and is mostly in private ownership. The unique kettle/kame habitat still contains native prairie remnants and home to about 85 bird species during the nesting season. Northern harriers routinely nest here, as do bobolinks, grasshopper sparrows, and loggerhead shrikes. Bell's vireos, least and American bitterns, Forster's and black terns have all been found here in early spring. In dry springs, it is not unusual to find several hundred shorebirds concentrated here.

Criteria for this site
Endangered or threatened species habitat
High conservation priority
Significant species concentrations

Habitats found in this site
Wetland
Grassland

Ownership
Private
County