Birds of the Byway

 

Here are several bird watching locations along the Birds of the Byway. 
For the locations below I provided directions, info, habitat and wildlife. 
Enjoy the Birds and wildlife found at these locations! 

 

1. UPPGAARD WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA (WMA):

 

Location: From Hwy 371 travel 9.4 miles on  County Road 16 between Ideal Corners and HWY 66.

 

Info:  This 110 Acre tract was donated to the DNR in 1987 by the Uppgaard's.

 

Habitat:  Rolling hills, small ponds and wetlands, mixed hardwood and pine found throughout area.  Nice walking trails with wildlife watching areas.

 

Wildlife: No species list available, but a great place to see a great variety of birds during the peak spring/fall bird mirgrations.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.  RICE LAKE LOWELL WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA (WMA):

 

Location:  From Pequot Lakes travel on Co Rd 11 East 1.9 miles to sign and frontage road.

 

Info:  Rice Lake is small shallow lake

 

Habitat:  Mixed hardwoods and some Pine are found along Rice Lake.  Best viewing is from the road.

 

Wildlife:  Rice Lake is a good location for migrating waterfowl during Spring/Fall migration. On 10/30/2011 52 Trumpeter Swans were observed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.  OSPREY NESTING PLATFORM:

 

Location:  County Road 11 5.5 miles west of County Road 3

 

Info:  Active Osprey Nesting Platform, great viewing from County Road 11

 

Habitat:  Mixed forest with near by lakes (Pelican and Ossawinnamakee)

 

Wildlife:  The nesting pair successfully raised and fledged two birds in 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.  CHIARELLA FOREST MANAGEMENT AREA (FMA):

 

Location: From Pequot Lakes travel on County Road 11 7.3 miles to Highway Sign

 

Info: 77 acre tract was donated by the Chiraella family to the DNR. In 1992 the DNR planted 12,800 Red Pines and 500 wildlife-attacting shrubs for wildlife habitat. At the parking area,look for the Byway Interepretive sign.

 

Habitat: Mixed Hardwoods (aspen, oak, birch) with a large Red Pine Plantation. 

 

Wildlife: A nice place for seeing migrating species spring/fall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.  VETERANS WALKING TRAIL:

 

Location:  From Hwy 371 travel on County Road 16 2.3 miles to Veterans Trail sign (Pine Cone Rd).

 

Info: In 1958 a fire burned nearly 800 acres of Timber. The south Loop trail has a newer 500' wetland walk takes you across a wetland that connects back to the island loop.  The North Loop Trail offers views of Upper Hay Lake and is .08 miles.
A map and interpretive panel is available at the parking area and along the trails.

 

Habitat:  Mixed Hardwoods and Pine.  Lowland coniferous forest with mixed shrubs.

 

Wildlife:  A great variety of wildlife can be found here the best time is during the spring/fall migration. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.  US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS (CROSSLAKE) PARK, CAMPGROUND AND BEACH:

 

Location: Located in the city of Crosslake on County Road 66. 

 

Info: Located on the very popular Whitefish chain of lakes, this recreation area offers wooded camping setting with a variety of tree species being present and abundant. Many types of water related recreational opportunities are available. A great location looking for waterfowl and waterbirds makes Cross lake Recreation Area a major destination location.

 

Habitat:  Mixed Pines and some hard woods with open water year round.

 

Wildlife:  Many species of waterfowl and waterbird are attracted to the year round open water source.