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Backbone State Park
State IBA
Delaware County
Directions:
From the junction of Iowa Highway 3 and County Road W69 south of Strawberry Point, proceed 3.1 miles south on CR W69; then turn west on blacktop and travel 1.2 miles to park headquarters, on the south side of the road.
Description:
Named for its 400-million-year-old dolomite limestone ridge, which abruptly rises out of the Maquoketa River valley, this rugged 1780 acre older-growth woodland contains some of the best bird diversity in the state. Approximately 100 bird species nest in and around this park. During the Northeast Iowa Neotropical Migrant Songbird Project (1994-1996), PHD candidate, Bill Norris, noted that more bird species were recorded at Backbone State Park than any other northeastern Iowa site. Notable nesters include Iowa Endangered Bald Eagle and Red-shouldered Hawks. Other important species include Veery, Louisiana Waterthrush, Acadian Flycatcher, Cerulean and Kentucky Warblers, Northern Parula, Wood Thrush, Black-billed and Yellow-billed Cuckoos, and Pileated Woodpecker.
Criteria for this site
Endangered or threatened species habitat
High conservation priority
Rare or unique habitat
Habitats found in this site
Wetland
Woodland
Grassland
Savanna/Shrub
Riparian
Ownership
State
See the Criteria Species Data for this Site
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Birds of Iowa
Pine Warbler
© Doug Harr
American Bittern
© Doug Harr
White-breasted Nuthatch
© Doug Harr
Blue Jay
© Doug Harr
Tree Swallow
© Doug Harr
American Goldfinch
© Doug Harr
American Redstart
© Doug Harr
Mourning Dove
© Doug Harr
House Finch
© Doug Harr
Belted Kingfisher
© Doug Harr
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
© Doug Harr
Pied-billed Grebe
© Doug Harr
Eastern Towhee
© Doug Harr
Pine Siskin
© Doug Harr
Northern Shoveler
© Doug Harr
Trumpeter Swan
© Doug Harr
Sora
© Doug Harr
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
© Doug Harr
Ring-billed Gull
© Doug Harr
Yellow-headed Blackbird
© Doug Harr
Hermit Thrush
© Doug Harr
Blue-winged Teal
© Doug Harr
Turkey Vulture
© Doug Harr
Great Blue Heron
© Doug Harr
Common Nighthawk
© Doug Harr
Northern Pintail
© Doug Harr
Yellow-breasted Chat
© Doug Harr
Common Gallinule
© Doug Harr
Indigo Bunting
© Doug Harr
Northern Cardinal
© Doug Harr
Eastern Kingbird
© Doug Harr
Common Yellowthroat
© Doug Harr
Red-eyed Vireo
© Doug Harr
Prairie Warbler
© Doug Harr
Western Meadowlark
© Doug Harr
Yellow Warbler
© Doug Harr
Lesser Yellowlegs
© Doug Harr
Winter Wren
© Doug Harr
Lesser Scaup
© Doug Harr
Eastern Bluebird
© Doug Harr
Tufted Titmouse
© Doug Harr
Black-billed Magpie
© Doug Harr
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
© Doug Harr
Barred Owl
© Doug Harr
Lark Sparrow
© Doug Harr
Red-bellied Woodpecker
© Doug Harr
Broad-winged Hawk
© Doug Harr
Least Sandpiper
© Doug Harr
Dickcissel
© Doug Harr
House Wren
© Doug Harr
Mississippi Kite
© Doug Harr
Gray Partridge
© Doug Harr
Merlin
© Doug Harr
American White Pelican
© Doug Harr
Cedar Waxwing
© Doug Harr
Downy Woodpecker
© Doug Harr
Eastern Wood-Pewee
© Doug Harr
Ring-necked Pheasant
© Doug Harr
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
© Doug Harr
Scarlet Tanager
© Doug Harr
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
© Doug Harr
Fox Sparrow
© Doug Harr
Song Sparrow
© Doug Harr
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Photos: Carl Kurtz, Larry Dau, Doug Harr
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