IBA Site Information

Fish Farm Mounds and Lansing WMA

State IBA

Allamakee County

Directions: Both Fish Farm Mounds and Lansing WMA are positioned off the west edge of Highway 26 between New Albin and the town of Lansing. Annotated maps and specific directions to each are found at the following DNR link. http://www.iowadnr.com/wildlife/wmamaps/pubh1ab.html

Description: These sites, along with an adjacent Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation project, feature forested slopes and cool, shaded ravines characteristic of the Driftless Area. Lansing WMA also contains grassland habitat (some as hayfield), which is primarily located on hilltops and southern/western-facing slopes. This is a vast area of woodland and grassland; the two listed DNR properties on their own are 1,955 acres (Lansing) and 576 acres (Fish Farm Mounds). Criteria species recently recorded during the nesting season consist of Wood Thrush, Cerulean Warbler, Hooded Warbler, and Henslow’s Sparrow (state-threatened). Based on occurrence at similar sites, Broad-winged Hawk, Black-billed Cuckoo, Pileated Woodpecker, and Kentucky Warbler could all be found here. Other summering species recorded on site include Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Yellow-throated Vireo, Blue-winged Warbler, Ovenbird, Louisiana Waterthrush, Scarlet Tanager, and Eastern Towhee.

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

Habitats found in this site
Woodland
Grassland
Savanna/Shrub

Ownership
State
Non-governmental conservation agency; i.e., The Nature Conservancy, Natural Heritage Foundation